It's a pleasure to have Chantel here to talk about her pain condition. Thank you for coming. >> You're welcome. >> Tell us a little bit about your pain. >> Well, I tend to get migraines, and TMJ. >> Mm-hmm. >> And, and I'm not sure which one it is that travels down my back, but sometimes it ends up like in the middle of my back. Under my shoulder blades, in my shoulders. So, it, you know, it's pretty bad, you know, it's not as bad as it used to be but, like now, but it, it can get pretty bad. >> So how often does the pain occur? >> Right now it occurs about two to three times a month, as opposed to, you know, two to three times a week. Is what, as it use to be. >> Now how did it start, when you first, when it first came on? >> You know, I, I started getting migraines, a little over ten years ago and you know, they started out kind of subtle. I didn't know what they were. I did the typical thing that everyone does. You know, run down to the store, grab some ibuprofen and keep on trucking. And then, they just managed to get worse and worse and worse, and then I was finally diagnosed with migraines. >> Mm-hmm. >> The TMJ came on and that was a huge surprise to me, maybe a year and a half ago, that's when the pain started, you're actually I think the one that told me I had TMJ, didn't know what it was. And as far as the pain that traveled down my back, that pain started maybe two or three years ago. And I had just kind of accepted it as, this is a part of what happens, you know? And so I never made a fuss about it and I never actually tried to do anything about it until actually, I think, I went to a neurologist who referred me to you. >> Mm-hmm, so how does the pain, impact your life right now? For instance, what does it interfere with? >> Everything really. my, my high school, the girls from the cheer leading squad and a few other, you know, people, we'd get together, and we'd go out once a month. Kind of a lady's night out thing. I'd have to miss those. It was difficult, you know, my kids like me to watch movies with them. Looking at the TV triggered, a migraine. Doing work. I worked in a call center with a computer and I had to stare at the screen all day and it interfered with that eventually. So, it really, did have a huge impact, you know? I had to change my, my work, I had to change how I interacted with my kids. I had to keep the lights off, you know? A lot of times I'd have, you know I'd replace the lamps and stuff or buy lamps to put in corners so I could have a little light in the room. You know, reading, even. >> Mm-hmm. >> You know, I used to order certain magazines, read books, stuff like that, it really had a huge impact on that. You know, so, I mean it made me very limited. >> So how does it affect you emotionally? >> It, it, it gets kind of depressing when you have to change your life that much. >> Yeah. You know? So it, it really had a big emotional effect on me. especially, trying to explain to my friends because they're like, it's just a headache. You know? And actually having them resent me and thinking I'm being stuck-up or standoffish or whatever because, you know, I'm telling, I'm always turning them down to go do stuff. You know, just because it's like if I leave this house I get somewhere with bright lights, I'm shopping. There's several times I've been in the middle of a mall, my basket full of stuff and you know, I get the aura the nausea and I just leave the basket there and I have to leave. >> Mm-hmm. >> And it's like I really no fun [LAUGH]. >> Yeah, yeah. >> So it's like you know, emotionally it's like it's, it's emotionally painful. You know, especially when you start you know, you're drifting away from your friends cause of it. You know, or you have to distance yourself from, from, you know, my kids don't get it. Mommy, can you watch a movie with me? No. And they look all sad and cry and stuff like that. It, it really does have an emotional impact. >> So, what are the things that you do to sort of manage it on your own? I mean, what, to keep it under control? >> Well, I started out like everybody else throwing meds at it. One didn't work and I'd go get another one. And it was at the point where I had so many prescriptions it was just ridiculous. And, you know, one day I decided to just throw them all away and it's like you know what, none of them are helping anyway. >> Right. >> You know, and I think the second thing I did is look up the different causes of migraines. I also took, you know, the information you gave me, information from my physical therapist, and I didn't just take it, like most people do, and go plop it somewhere and like, I'll look at it later. You know I was desperate at this point to get my life back. >> Mm-hmm. >> And what I ended up doing is just trying different things. Just learn my body. You know, that's the one thing you have to do is learn your body, because everything that works for other people is not going to work for you. You know, but you take other people's experiences and you try to incorporate it into your remedies for yourself. Essential oils is a big, a big one, besides the, you know, the, the information that I got from my physical therapist, do your different exercises and all that kind of stuff but essential oils, teas, herbs, you know, and then some of the things that I have learned about what causes migraines like caffeine. >> Mm-hmm. >> I had to cut that out. That was hard. >> Yeah that's a tough one. >> because I like my coffee. I just like the, you know, exotic coffee drinks, you know, that you pay $5 or $7 for. I had to get creative. You know, like this morning I got a decaf mochaccino. You know, and as far as the essential oils go, ylang-ylang is really great. I carry it around in my purse. >> Mm-hmm. >> Small bottle like this. It is expensive, but it lasts forever. I've had it for about eight months now. >> And how do you use it? >> Sometimes when I feel the onset of a migraine, I just smell it. Take a few deep breaths, you know, and just smell it. >> Mm-hmm. >> And literally it's that strong. Sometimes I put it in some water and use a diffuser. You know, I'll, I'll turn off all the lights, make sure it's quiet. Now with kids that's difficult to do. I kind of have to get creative with that. But you know I get what I call a rice therapy pillow. And I made it myself. It's real easy. You get like a few pounds of rice, pour it in either a tube sock or you can sew up a t-shirt together, but you want to pour it in something cotton, you know, that works best. Put it in the microwave for a few minutes, three to five minutes, depending on how large it is. Put it over your face and just lay there, keep the lights off, put some aroma therapy on. A compress made of lavender essential oil in drops of water, you want to make sure you dilute it if it's going to be against your skin, either lavender oil or eucalyptus, and you want to make it a cold compress. You put a rag in, in some water, washcloth in some water, cold water. And wring it out, put it over your eyes, you know. Also a ice pack on the back of your neck while putting heat on your face. >> Mm-hmm. >> And depending where the migraine is, and I've had to learn this about myself, I get three different types of migraines. You know, and then one comes with the TMJ. I get one that starts behind my eye, one that starts in the back of my neck, and one that starts like, on the side of my face. And I was going to, I always can tell where it's going to go depending on where it starts. >> Mm-hmm. >> You know? So that really helps me determine what kind of remedy I'm going to use. >> So what exercises do you find to be the most helpful for you? >> I learned this exercise, it has to do with kind of stretching the fascia. >> Mm-hmm. >> And, you know, just what the team did, just pulling down. And, you know, I always thought it had to be like this hard massage and, you know, when my brother was available or you know, might have this cousin that's really good at massage. You know, I'd be like, okay, just, just get these few spots. And then it'd come back, you know? But just, you know, I learned you can just some gentle, you know, it's, it's you know, manipulating the fascia, you know, different places. So that's one that really works well for me and there's this other one I'm not going to demonstrate because it's kind of yucky. But your finger's kind of in your mouth and most therapists who do physical therapy for TMJ can show you know. >> Mm-hmm. >> Their patient this. But your fingers in your mouth and you're just kind of pressing and you're kind of loosening the, muscles here. >> Mm-hmm. >> You know. And I didn't know how tight that, actually. I thought that was normal. I'm like, I just have tight muscles. >> Yeah, yeah. >> Around my jaws, you know? That's normal. But it wasn't, you know? Actually, you could see the difference in my face. >> Mm-hmm. >> You know, it wasn't these big knots here like I heard this permanent smile [LAUGH] on my face. So. >> So, what other, advice do you have to people who want to prevent chronic pain? You have to be committed to your recovery. >> Mm-hmm. >> You know, from, from migraines, you have to be patient with yourself. Everything you try is not going to work. You know? Some, some people will swear by something and you try it and it's like, okay, this isn't working for me. And you want to, you, you are tempted to go back to the 800 milligrams of ibuprofen or whatever you can get that's stronger. And that makes it worse. You know, don't fall back into over-the-counter medications. You know, be committed to, trying new things and whatever remedies you're going to use. And even the remedies, they're not going to work the first time. You know? Not, not usually. Like, aroma therapy might. But, you know, the first time you go to physical therapy or something like that, it's not going to, you're not all great. You know? >> It's a process. >> It's a process. >> Right. >> So, you know, be patient with yourself. You know? >> Yeah. >> That's the best advice I can give. And, and you know, be dedicated. Look up information. You know? >> Mm-hmm. >> Don't just take one person's word for it, you know? You know, learn your, learn yourself. >> Good. >> And be patient. [BLANK_AUDIO]
