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Music therapy for pain?

Posted by mrmacabre @mrmacabre, Feb 8 6:08pm

I found this forum about a week ago, and it's nice to know that I'm not the only person having to deal with chronic pain from osteoarthritis and neuropathy in my feet.
One thing that helps me deal with the pain, especially when I'm having a really bad night(it's always worse in the evening) is to put my feet up in my chair, and listen to music on my headphones. Loud music, very loud music. The thing is, the type of music that I listen to would make most people think that I'm nuts. So here's my story.
I'm not exactly normal, what ever that is, I listen to heavy metal music, have been for almost 50 years. It's been my chosen lifestyle, and always will be. I have long(ish) hair, I'm heavily tattooed, and have always worn a concert shirt from one of the dozens of bands that I listen to 7 days a week. And I've been told by my co-workers, as well as some of my own family members that I look like a serial killer.
I definitely look the part of a metal head, but I've always been a responsible adult who's been married to my awesome wife for over 42 years. Before I had to retire in July of '15, I always had a job and supported my family. In 35+ years of working full time, I never received a penny of unemployment, I always had at least one job. For the first 12 years of our marriage, I worked multiple jobs 6 days a week, with only Sunday as my day off.
Even though I listen to this genre of music, and have been to countless concerts and shows, I've never consumed alcohol, smoked, or did any drugs. I've never needed it. The music is enough for me.
I'm also a non-theistic Satanist/Atheist, I've never believed in any of it, even after going to Catholic school for 9 years. I just wanted to get this out in the open, I'm not a believer, but my wife and kids definitely are.
I'm a decent human being, but I'm different from most others as well.
The genre of metal that I've been listening to for the last 20 or so years is Black/Death metal, and I 'frickn love this music. I listen to bands like WATAIN, BEHEMOTH, INQUISITION, MARDUK, BELPHEGOR, PATRIARKH, AKHLYS, etc. It's very dark, atmospheric, epic, aggressive, and haunting, and for whatever reason, it always put a smile on my face. You either love this music, or you hate it.
So, whenever I'm having a really hard time with pain, my wife knows to get my phone and my headphones when the pain meds aren't doing their job, and I just sit in my chair, close my eyes, and let the music help to drown out the pain. Sometimes it takes over an hour, but it definitely helps me.
I'd go so far as to say that listening to this music has saved my life on at least 2 occasions, when I was very suicidal, and having surgery an average of 3 times a year on my neck, knees, and elbow.
Things aren't so bad now, but the pain and numbness is always there, and always will be, unless medicine can come up with a solution that works for chronic pain sufferers like ourselves.
Does music, whatever kind it is, help you deal with your pain?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | Feb 12 9:19pm
In reply to @bobweller "Many people criticized outward appearances. It's call discrimination. This is how racism develops. People are not..." + (show)
@bobweller

Many people criticized outward appearances. It's call discrimination. This is how racism develops. People are not comfortable with others that look different than what they see in their mirror. It's a fear like people who fear certain types of animals like snakes or dogs or other animals. It's societal issue where people who fear the same things tens to ban together. Like people who are of one skin color, like Caucasian, and then dislike others with tan, yellow, or brown or black skin. I feel bad for how your been mistreated by ignorance around you. I see this with people in good health who are around people with disabilities in public places. These good health people do not like to see or bring around these disabilities. They have deep seated fears within themselves they cannot face. Good luck.

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I'm actually proud of the fact that I look like an escaped lunatic from a mental ward. It means that people don't mess with myself and/or my wife whenever we're out in public. In fact, people don't/won't make eye contact with me, and often times will go in the opposite direction.
I don't go out of my way to look the way I do, it's just who I am. I've always been different. I'm just an old metal head trying to deal with the hand that I've been dealt.

REPLY
idontgetit2024 | @idontgetit2024 | 6 days ago

I was watching a Star Talk episode on YouTube yesterday with Neil Degrasi (sp?) Jr. about music and the brain. There guest there was talking about music for pain therapy. He said it didn’t matter the type of music. The only thing that was important was that the person in pain picked it.
I’m not any type of professional in any way, but I agree 100%. I tend to pick out all sorts of music depending on the mood I’m in. Music, like smell, transports me into the experience of the memory. I can feel like I’m there and the emotions that were happening in the memory rise in me while listening.
If Slayer puts you in a place and emotion you find relaxing….then go turn it up! We all have different ways to experience good vibes. Who cares if others don’t like your favorite music.

Getting to feel good is like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

There’s more than one way to make it!

REPLY
mrmacabre | @mrmacabre | 6 days ago

Slayer are overrated IMO, I have a few of their older CD's, but I can't remember the last time I listened to them.
Lately I've been listening to PATRIARKH, BATUSHKA, AKHLYS, and INQUISITION a lot. Whatever genre of music helps you deal with your pain, crank it up.

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