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Dr. Stoll:
I'm currently taking several meds for my painful and severe Levator Ani Syndrome. I am taking 50mg Elavil (pain), Ultracet (pain) and Baclofen or Bextra(muslce relaxant). My doc is also adding Celexa to cut down the anxiety and depression. Will any of these meds affect my SR that I'm trying to do twice daily? I've been using Centerpointe for 30 minutes, twice daily so far. I'm just beginning, so the effects of it haven't been felt yet. I think it will take a while for the chronic "knot" to unwind in my rear end! I'm also running a good 15 minute jog three times a week into the mix.
I do feel that taking some meds is good to reduce my pain level to make relaxation easier for me, don't you agree? This is only until I get things more relaxed, then hopefully I can slowly reduce all my meds and then only have SR to do daily.
So, are meds good or bad to take while doing SR daily?
Thanks for your advice! I look forward to your comments.
Dayne
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
Hi Dayne,
Congratulations for beginning a wellness program to work on the cause of your condition. Doing SR and exercising sound like a good combination.
So you're taking four different medications? That sounds like a lot to me and I'm sure Walt will have something to say about it.
There are other ways besides drugs to help bring about relaxation. Have you looked into herbs? They might be a good substitute for some of those medications. There are many to choose from.
How about receiving regular full-body massages? Some people I work with are so tense when they come for their first massage. I have to coach them over time so they can learn how to relax their bodies. It works. That might be helpful to you.
Are you eating sugar or drinking caffeine? Avoiding those substances can also help your body relax.
Some people also are low on magnesium, calcium and potassium, and the deficiency keeps their muscles in a state of tension. Sorry I can't advice you on amounts -- ask Helping You for specific recommendations.
Also -- soothing music, hot baths, etc. There's many ways to learn to relax.
Best wishes,
Happygal
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
Hi Dayne, I can relate....Although I have never been one to take medications until I have exausted all other avenues. Do the SR, chew your food properly and drink PLENTY of water.
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
Hi, Dayne.
Listen to Happpygal. There are better, and safer, ways to temporartily reduce tension.
I believe that even one psychoactive drug will slow down the results you want from your SR, However, you are taking 3 with the doc recommending 4? There is no way he can predict the interactive effects of more than one. The complexity increases logarithmically each time a new one is added.
Walt
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
Hi Dayne,
There are physical therapists who specialize in conditions like yours and I'm wondering if you've seen one? I think that the same U-control biofeedback device that people with interstitial cystitis use can be used for levator Ani Syndrome (although with a different probe). I've posted a link to the device below.
I have interstitial cystitis and experienced a dramatic reduction in pelvic floor bracing through physical therapy in conjunction with SR. For me, the physical therapy helped in strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and in developing an awarness of which muscles I was bracing. Although these muscles were constantly being tightened, they were very weak.
Take care,
Daisy
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
I do understand that doing SR twice daily for several months will most likely lessen my severe Levator Ani Syndrome. But you have to understand how bad my case is. I have burning in the buttocks, back of thighs, and the perineum. I feel like I have a urinary track infection (but don't) and the burning and stinging even goes down the penis. In order to keep my pain levels down I feel like I do need some sort of medication. All four meds? Probably not necessary and I don't think I will start the Effexor. But the Ultracet and Elavil are a must for now I think.
Don't you think that it is wise to get my pain levels down via medication at least for a while? This will make work and doing relaxation much easier and also reduce my stress that is caused from the pain.
Will these meds really affect SR so much that it is pointless to even do SR while on them?
My goal is to stay on the meds to reduce pain, increase SR and exercise and hopefully get to the point where the only think I will have to do is the SR.
Look forward to your comments.
Dayne
In Reply to: Re: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Daisy on December 07, 2002 at 13:40:30:
Daisy:
I have the U-COntrol. But I don't want to do Kegals because my muscles are overloaded already. Did your PT do internal massage and stretching or were there other exercises that you did? I'm very interested in what you have to say. Please email me at dayne1234@yahoo.com.
I'm going to start to see a PT within the next several weeks for internal massage.
Take care,
Dayne
In Reply to: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 06, 2002 at 17:05:52:
Dayne,
IME, taking Ultram (same thing as Ultracet without the acetaminophen added) completely blocked my ability to enter the Relaxation Response, and even the EEG showed this when I was attending biofeedback sessions.
tDoesnt mean it's impossible, maybe you could buffer your reduction of meds with alternative techniques like massage, acupuncture, floatation, or train with biofeedback so you know if its hindering your progress a great deal.
good luck,
Jared
In Reply to: Re: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Jared on December 07, 2002 at 16:46:18:
I would think the opposite. The reduction in pain from meds would make it much more easier for one to relax muscles overall. I still feel like I hit SR even on meds...I get the heavy feeling in all limbs and feel relaxed. In fact, I can't even feel my arms or legs because of the deep relaxation.
In Reply to: Re: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Dayne on December 07, 2002 at 18:02:26:
Well, then it sounds like you are doing fine with SR . For me the Ultram had a stimulating aspect that interfered, but I was taking higher than avg doses due to naturally high olerance, about 300 mg per dose. Checking with biofeedback would styill be a good idea though, IMO.
namaste,
jared
In Reply to: I'm confused now... posted by Dayne on December 07, 2002 at 15:45:10:
Hi Dayne,
Meds are one choice for the short term. I think what people are trying to tell you is that meds may not be the best choice for the long term (side effects!) and that you have other options for the short term anyway.
In bad cases like yours, you need to be doing EVERYTHING you can possibly do to make your body relax. You need to make relaxation the main focus of your life!
Here's some other otions besides meds:
My first suggestion for getting rid of the burning pain is to find a skilled massage therapist and start getting focused deep tissue massages around your pelvis, buttocks and thighs where you're feeling the burning pain. Expect to need a number of sessions. If you get a good therapist, she can help alleviate your pain immediately.
My second suggestion for getting rid of the burning pain is to start learning some stretching and do the stretches daily. Stretching should be done slowly and should never hurt.
My third suggestion for getting rid of the burning pain is to do some contrast therapy in that area: ice for 5 minutes, heat for 10 minutes, ice for 5 minutes.
Then, look into other ways of relaxing. Your body is tight from head to feet and ANYTHING you do ANYWHERE to relax will start to loosen up your whole body. Hot baths, herbs, muscle creams, etc. Do the SR religiously. Learn about diet. Exercise. All of it.
BTW, I had a similar burning/stinging condition in my tailbone area and buttocks. I never took a single medication, except maybe an occasional aspirin. It was very painful. It was massage, stretching and SR that resolved it.
Best wishes,
Happygal (Certified Massage Therapist)
In Reply to: Re: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Walt Stoll on December 07, 2002 at 09:52:02:
You stated, "There is no way he can predict the interactive effects of more than one. The complexity increases logarithmically each time a new one is added."
>>>>>Is this true for ALL medications? (or just pychoactive meds)
Thanks!
In Reply to: Re: Do Meds affect Skilled Relaxation? Trying to beat Rectal Spasm/Pain posted by Daisy on December 07, 2002 at 13:40:30:
Thanks, Daisy.
NMI
In Reply to: I'm confused now... posted by Dayne on December 07, 2002 at 15:45:10:
Dayne,
Sounds like a plan.
Walt
In Reply to: Dr. Stoll posted by Mike on December 08, 2002 at 00:25:26:
Thanks, Mike.
At least all prescription medications.
Walt
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