In doing this I find that everything helps a bit. Gabapentin ( Neurontin) works best for me. I usually take it in combination with Cymbalta. Right before my periods my pain flares up to the point where I have trouble distracting myself. I dub this “ PMS pain,” and have found that adding ibuprofen helps.
I have tried acupuncture which can ease pain for a few days and, since I live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, I have tried this too and it helps. Marijuana has two active ingredients …CBD, a muscle relaxant, and THC, the one that causes users to get stoned. I have found that the CBD- only chocolates have enough impurities in them to get me stoned. It took me some time to find a source that I felt comfortable using in front of my children. A hybrid of both ingredients works best for me.
The 1-10 scale, the use of which asks you to evaluate the level of your pain, is a pet peeve of mine. To me, if the pain is intense and I ask myself how much I am hating life at the moment, I decide to treat myself to something delicious. Today it is cheesecake.
Living with Brain Injury 