Living With Chronic Pain: How I Got My Life Back

During one of the most stressful years of my life, while battling type II diabetes, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

Before visiting the rheumatologist I thought it was just joint ailments and a bit of arthritis as I was in my late 40’s and figured that was to be expected. However, when the pain from the violent electrical shocks began to affect every part of my body, I sought professional help. It was becoming a debilitating condition that was affecting my personal and professional life.

For several years after I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I was prescribed the following:

1. Gabapentin

2. cmybalta

3. Piroxicam

4. lyric

5. Tramadol

6. baclofen

7. Steroid injections in the neck and shoulder area.

And at one point, I was at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the Same time.

The pain was still present and the side effects of the medications made my brain so cloudy that I could barely concentrate at work, which affected my livelihood. Y ingress.

I was taking all these pills and was still in excruciating pain. Why? What was the point? For a while, I had my daughter help me with the chores and help me get dressed, but after my daughter moved out, I hired a nurse to help me dress and bathe, and a professional cleaning service to help me with the chores.

Shortly after my last steroid injection, I made the bold decision to discontinue ALL medications. Nothing was working and my quality of life was horrible. My rheumatologist was not happy to say the least.

I slowly weaned off the medications and sought help from a holistic doctor I had heard so much about. This is where I learned how to use spices to heal my body and how to live a chemical free life with an organic diet.

I thought I was eating healthy, but I wasn’t. I thought having instant oatmeal for breakfast was good for me, and a healthy choice lean cuisine or frozen entree for lunch was healthy for the body. Dinner used to be a Zaxby salad drenched in fattening dressing. I was also using saccharin sweeteners in my oatmeal, coffee, and sugar-free cereals. She cringed when I told her that last. Say oh!

I learned a lot from her about the chemicals in processed and frozen foods, and started eating only food that she made from scratch with fresh ingredients, using the spice blends that cured high sugar and inflammation. Some of the spices are:

• Turmeric

• ginger

• Cinnamon

• Cayenne pepper

• ground nail

• Sage

• Rosemary

• curry powder

• Oregano

I also don’t eat red meat and limit starches entirely, unless it’s a “cheat day”. only one item is allowed – so I can’t wait to have a sandwich with bread. yummm! j

He also instructed me to cook everything in a wok with organic coconut oil. Most of my lunches are beans or a delicious salad with Annies organic dressing. For dinner, I usually cook Asian dishes with boneless skinless chicken, shrimp or scallops, vegetable mixes, Thai jasmine rice or Asian rice noodles and delicious sauces.

I also learned about foods that make you ‘feel’ full, like beans, any kind, black, kidney, etc. and cook them with the spice mixture as well. I found that sauteed kale (with coconut oil and a mix of spices) fills me up too!

I also found solace in CBD oil, which helped with some of the chronic pain and allowed me to restart my exercise routine, which I had missed so much for over four years. Having a home gym makes it easy to jump in at any time, and my Fitbit motivates me by tracking my steps and workouts and cheering me on when I hit personal goals.

Additionally, I have found comfort in essential oil blends that decrease anxiety, appetite, and relieve pain. I have a full shelf of authentic oils to treat just about anything!

Today, I am still prescription drug free and have lost over 30 pounds. I still have pain, but it is much less severe and does not paralyze me in my personal and professional life. And while managing all of these methods is a full-time job in itself, it’s worth it to me.

My hope is that this article will help inspire someone to explore other options when treating chronic conditions. You never know what can help.