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specialistlast Wednesday at 3:14 PM1 replyview on HN

Have you tried any of the neuroplasticity stuff for mitigating chronic pain?

I experience referred pain. I'm told my brain's intepretation is out of sync with the stimulation. Phantom limb syndrome is an example.

Swedish Hospital (Seattle WA) Pain Services clinic got me on the right path. https://www.swedish.org/services/pain-services For me, it was a 4 week course, 3 days/week. Learn (or relearn) meditation, breathing, the current best available science about pain, life skills, etc.

Maybe call them up to help find a clinic near you.

The curriculum seems like total bullshit. But it somehow worked, despite me thinking it wouldn't. I now do a daily regiment that's supposed to reprogram my brain. Including tai chi and HIIT. Seems to be working. A lot of initial progress (like clearing a plugged drain) and now slow and steady improvement. YMMV.

I'm sorry about your pain. Of all my chronic pains, the nerve stuff is by far the worst. So I can sympathize a bit. I hope you find some relief.


Replies

codingdavelast Wednesday at 5:16 PM

Gabapentin is what worked for me. I won't presume that the same answer is going to work for all of us, but I'm in agreement that there are a number of things that can be tried between "suffer through it" and "cut it off". Besides, if the amputation of the end of a nerve is causing so many problems, more amputation will just give you another cut of the nerve at a different point. I'm no doctor, but that sounds like it could backfire bigtime.