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Mind Altering Medications
I have several conditions that cause chronic pain, and am on medications that are mind altering.
I wish to be free of these medications, because I believe they may effect my abilities to meditate and practice mindfulness and such.
Last year, my doctors discussed putting me on morphine, which I refused.
But now, I find myself taking more of the medications I'm already on, that are of an opioid derivative, to ease my physical pain.
I am also on an anti-depressant that I don't want to keep relying on. But the constant pain does make me very depressed.
I would never take any action whatsoever without consulting my physician, but I would greatly appreciate any recommendations that could lead me away from taking so many mind altering medications, so that I can have a clear mind in my practice.
I also drink alcohol in excess to help relieve the pain and to help me sleep.
Alcohol and opiate medications combined can be a deadly combination. But I find myself in such unbearable pain and can go days without adequate sleep.
Are there any natural means of dealing with physical pain? And insomnia? And depression? Maybe there are even some books that deal with this?
Some of the alternative medicines aren't covered by my insurance. And seem to be more expensive than traditional medicine.
I would be so very grateful for any feedback on this.
Ruby Faye
I wish to be free of these medications, because I believe they may effect my abilities to meditate and practice mindfulness and such.
Last year, my doctors discussed putting me on morphine, which I refused.
But now, I find myself taking more of the medications I'm already on, that are of an opioid derivative, to ease my physical pain.
I am also on an anti-depressant that I don't want to keep relying on. But the constant pain does make me very depressed.
I would never take any action whatsoever without consulting my physician, but I would greatly appreciate any recommendations that could lead me away from taking so many mind altering medications, so that I can have a clear mind in my practice.
I also drink alcohol in excess to help relieve the pain and to help me sleep.
Alcohol and opiate medications combined can be a deadly combination. But I find myself in such unbearable pain and can go days without adequate sleep.
Are there any natural means of dealing with physical pain? And insomnia? And depression? Maybe there are even some books that deal with this?
Some of the alternative medicines aren't covered by my insurance. And seem to be more expensive than traditional medicine.
I would be so very grateful for any feedback on this.
Ruby Faye
0
Comments
There is a book of recommend called "The Presence Process" which taught me how to mediate many different pains. That does not mean eliminate them and it does not mean that it would work with any kind of pain, but I have found very effective for certain types of pain.
The author Michael Brown, experienced a condition called Horton's disease which is chronic as well. There is no known cure for this disease but he has been able to manage his pain quite successfully this way.
As mentioned earlier, taking yourself off of medication is not a good idea. This approach needs to be used as an adjunct to medication.
You might want to try and see if this approach works for you experimentally. Relax and use your breathing initially. Then focus on the pain and do not try to make it go away. Give the pain attention and kind consideration. Pain can be mediated with acceptance.
I initially tried this approach with cramps in my feet and I found it was extremely effective with them. Headaches are another pain that seems to respond very well to this approach. I suggest you try it first.
Namaste and the best of luck.
I also have degenerative disc disease which has progressed faster than most (I guess everyone has degenerative disc disease) and causes lots of pain in my back.
I have Fibromyalgia which flares up at times to the point that I am bedridden, and it even hurts to lay down.
I have arthritis in most of my joints.
But even with all of this, I believe I can control a lot of the pain by strengthening the surrounding muscles for the stenosis and disc disease, and practicing home physical therapy exercises.
I'm just wanting to be more aware of my life. The medications make my life and practice sort of dull.
Thank you for the recommendation on the book, and for your reply.
Don't worry, I would never attempt going off all my meds without being overseen by my physician. But my physician isn't all that informed outside of traditional medicine. Every new pain gets me a new prescription.
Thanks again,
Ruby Faye
I went through something very similar with my meds and not being able to meditate because of the drowsiness. But I'm very fortunate to have a doctor who understands pain control and we explore every method we come across, traditional or not. It was he who insisted I learn how to meditate even before I came to Buddhism.
But when it came to my meds it took about three years to get the dosages just right. After much experimentation my doctor and I finally found the right combination at the right dosages. I take just enough of the meds to keep the pain at about a 5 or 6 on the pain scale on regular days (good days) so that neither the meds nor the pain will distract me so much that I can't meditate. The meditation itself, of course, is a crucial part of the pain management. So I have to be able to meditate and I have to be able to get out of bed in the morning because if I stop moving I'll really get into trouble. I manage the rest of the pain with lots of Buddhist reading and listening to audio teachings and putting the things I learn into practice. I'm doing whatever I can to become completely saturated in the Dhamma. I also have cats and although I'm very allergic to them they are a surprisingly deep source of joy and constant fascination for me.
But the real key to keeping me sane, keeping the panic attacks (which are catastrophic and I'm not exaggerating) at bay, was the managing of the pain with the medications. I also take an anti-depressant which I will probably have to take for the rest of my life. I have a sort of 'like-dislike' relationship with the meds now. I used to be very anti pharmaceutical and wanted to be able to treat any illness with alternative medicine. Unfortunately with the levels of pain I have to manage, nothing alternative, not even in combination, ever came close to helping me except for Buddhism.
So it's a balancing act with the meds. I have to take just enough to control the pain but not so much that I can't meditate.
My advice would be to work with your doctor on getting the meds and dosages right, just low enough so you can still meditate but high enough so that the pain doesn't prevent you from meditating.
The thing that probably helped me the most was changing the way I looked at the pain. When I finally accepted the fact that it was going to be permanent I stopped looking at like it was an infliction I had to bear and started seeing it as the teacher it could be. It's a great teacher too. It's always there, 24/7, doesn't listen to excuses or b.s., and forces me to practice patience, compassion, meditation, mindfulness and so on. Pain can be the best teacher if you let it be.
Take good care of yourself and remember to think and treat yourself with compassion. You deserve it.
The second thing I'll say is that the notion "I cannot meditate unless I am pain free".. that too is just thinking. Meditation isn't any certain experience. If pain is your experience then that is meditation too. Please do not think that you are having the 'wrong' experience.
I haven't used it to treat chronic pain, but I've heard from a lot of people on Grass City that it's great for chronic pain.
So I recommend you buy enough to get high a couple times (this should be like $10) to try it out, and if you find it helpful you can take advantages of your state's medical marijuana laws if it has them.
Make sure the D.O. is still board certified. In my personal experience, mine helped me get through an extremely painful broken back without using any pain medication other than Tylenol.
I hope your shoulder bothers you less.
I don't know about you, but when I drank to excess (and I did for many years) I didn't want to sleep because I knew once I closed my eyes, in what seemed like a 'blink' I'd open them again and it was morning and I felt extremely tired and hungover.
I'm far from being anti-alcohol, but I know what drinking to excess is like and its not much fun and it can't be helping your depression any.
Take care,
Tosh
That's good to know. My fibromyalgia is one of the worst. Second only to my back pain due to disc degeneration.
Thank you, Bridget! Your reply was very informative!
I have several doctors, but haven't been able to keep up on appointments, because I was 24/7 caregiver for my mom with Alzheimer's Disease.
I have a spine specialist that I think would help me the most, and now that mom is in a home, I think I can pursue that help.
Of course, he wants to cut into my neck and spine, which doesn't leave me with any warm fuzzy feelings, I can at least now look further into it, and maybe not be so afraid of the options available.
I have another friend who took about three or four years of 'tweaking' her meds to get it right. She was prescribed medical marijuana, and offered some to me, but I didn't like the after affects of it.
I have a perfect doctor here in this little town but my insurance doesn't cover his services because it's 'alternative' medicine. And it's also very expensive. He uses a lot of vitamins and supplements, and does a lot of his diagnosing with physical responses to certain actions (sorry, can't remember the name of it). I think it's called something like kinisiology.
Anyway, thank you so very very much for your encouraging words. I know I will find the answer. It will just take time.
Ruby Faye
Hi Jeffery! Thank you so much for your response! I think you're right. I can probably never get completely rid of the pain, but I can change the way I respond to it.
And from what I've read so far on pain and meditation, it can be a great teacher!
I hope to get an appointment with my teacher (new teacher, because I'm new to Buddhism) and ask him to counsel me on this.
Thanks again for your very thoughtful response!
Ruby Faye
Hi Questionful! And thanks for your thoughtful reply!
I really don't like the effects of marijuana, but if that ended up being my only choice, I know I could deal with it.
Where I live, we can have an ounce of medical marijuana at a time. I really don't know how much that is. But a friend of mine offered me some of hers and is knowledgeable on this, so I can pick her brain on this!
Thanks again,
Ruby Faye
Wow! Just Tylenol??? That's amazing!
We do have a doctor of osteopathy in our clinic, but he mainly uses physical manipulation from what I hear from others. But I'm sure with this last go-around with my MD, he may be a little more agreeable to try other things.
So, anyway, THANKS!
Ruby Faye
Hi Tosh!
Actually, when I drink to sleep, I feel pretty good afterward, as long as I don't overdo it.
But I just don't want to rely on that, because I know it can hamper my natural processes.
But when one is in a 'hopeless' situation, they will try anything to get some of that precious sleep!
Thank you so much for your reply and your thoughtfulness. I really don't want to drink alcohol. But it seems to be what works for now.
Ruby Faye