Things I tried to cope with Bertolotti Syndrome related pain

• Pain medication, e.g. pain killers, opioids, nerve pain blockers, muscle relaxers

• Physical therapy

• Chiropractor

• Deep tissue massages

• Steroid injections

• Dry needling

• Cupping

• TENS device

• Acupressure mat

• Memory foam pillow

• Mental counseling

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy self-help book for chronic pain

  “ACT is a therapy used for many purposes but this book in particular is about ACT for chronic pain. It's changing the way we perceive pain and that, fighting against it is futile since it's chronic, finding a way to accept it and figuring out what our real values are and commit to it is a way to live with the pain, to let pain be on the passenger seat so that we can be on the drivers seat and living our lives. It might not work for all, but it's worth the shot when we have nothing to lose”

  
  

• Get a dog :)

  “Some say, “it’s just a dog”, to me having my chocolate lab near me changed a lot of things and I think I would’ve ended up worse without him in my life. Often times it’s hard to get out of bed but as soon as I moved in the morning, he was breathing in my neck and giving kisses, I knew I had to fed him and let him out, so it was an extra motivation to get out of bed despite the pain. Or at times when I was in too much pain, but I had to let him out, I felt bad to not walk him and so I did despite the pain, but once outside it made the pain more bearable and I perceived it differently and was proud that I chose to get up and make the effort to be with him outside and to see him happy. Also, crying hits differently with him as comfort :)”

"What's yours?"

Drop it in the comments and let's make a list to help our Bertolotti friends!