I've been suffering from headaches for as long as I can remember. As a child, it could usually be associated with dehydration, as I never drank enough. As I grew to a teenager, I developed back problems that eventually turned my headaches into severe tension headaches. When Kaiden was a baby, something happened to my shoulder that made both the headaches and the back/shoulder pain nearly unbearable! I just made do for so long with any and all over-the-counter medication I could get my hands on. Finally, last August was the last straw. I thought I had meningitis! I couldn't move my head and had the worst headache of my life. I finally went in to see my doctor and he referred me to a physical therapist. That was the best thing I've ever done for myself! I felt good for months! At the time I was going, I felt it was a fairly cost effective way of helping me through my pain. As it turned out, they were only charging me half what I was required to pay when I went in, and then slammed me with a HUGE bill when I was done. Needless to say, physical therapy is now off the table for pain treatment. Well, I turned back to my over-the-counter medication, which did help, but in recent weeks isn't even touching the pain. It was time to look for something new. I remembered once when we were in Las Vegas, we came across this thing called a Massage Mouse, that is a little electric device. It has wires attached to sticky pads that you stick to places on your body that need a massage. This device is a much smaller version of one of the machines they used on me at physical therapy! I thought if I could track one down, that would help. Well, I was able to find quite a few at Amazon, with different prices. Although it's a price that I would have cringed at a few weeks ago, when I got thinking about the price for physical therapy, this is less than half the cost of just one session! And it should last me at least a year! So hopefully that works. Also, another thing I've just started trying is Ultra-Strength Bengay. I found it on sale, with a peel-off coupon on the box, so I got it for a great price! I tried it on my shoulder and neck last night before bed. I was a little worried, because when I first hurt my shoulder a couple years ago, I'd tried Icy Hot, and it literally burned me! When I tried this Bengay, although there was a slight burning sensation at first, within several minutes I was completely numb. I think that was the most relaxed my neck has been in months! The final step to my new self-medicating plan, is the key. I'd asked Linda about what she could suggest that may help, and she mentioned that the ladies that work with her swear by Excedrin Migraine. The ingredients are basically Tylenol, aspirin and caffeine. I'd never tried aspirin before and I'm always nervous when trying new drugs. Well, I tried my first dose last night as well, and I must say, I was actually comfortable for the first time in a long time. Between the Bengay, and Excedrin Migraine, I think I may have found my miracle drug combination...for now...until I grow immune to all that too. Now, when my massage mouse gets here, I should be feeling really good! Now, for suggestions. Nothing that I've found that really works, works for a long period of time. My body gets used to it and it loses its effectiveness over time. I need suggestions for anything else that may have worked for anyone reading this, or someone you know with a similar problem. Here's what I've thought of that I can still try, but I don't want to yet, for varying reasons: chiropractor, massage therapy and cutting my hair shorter (it's really long and heavy). Suggestions?
I'm finding it hard to be mad at the snow today. Yes, I know that it's technically spring, and yes, I do hate snow typically. But today, I feel a little different for the following reasons: 1. I don't have to drive in it. 2. It's not sticking to the roads and sidewalks. 3. Snow on flowers is SOOOO beautiful!
