How to deal with constant pain for years

It was various therapies. Conginitive Behavior. Relaxation biofeedback lessons, occupational and physical therapy. Physiology lessons behind pain and learning different techniques to deal with the anger,guilt,depression, anxieties pain ic etc. Was a very intense 3 week clinic with meetings one on one with the providers. I highly recommend it! Check out the Pain Rehabilitation Clinic ay the Mayo. I attended the one in Jacksonville Fl.

I lost a lot of weight and use Tok-sen Therapy (Hammer Massage Tools) to relieve pressure from my nerves (between spine vertebras where I have bulged disks) for pain distractions. Using Thai sticks for foot massage also to circulate blood where I have pain.

In Chicago at University Pain Center of Rush Hospital.

Does anyone have a medication schedule? I have hydrocodone prescribed as needed three times a day. I took it upon myself to just go ahead and take it at 10am, 3pm, 8pm. Not entirely enough relief but helps. I would like to schedule gabapentin, Robaxin and Naprosyn I have to help also. Problem is how to control pain and not be a zombie or couch potato. ANY one have this down to an art?

My help is to not focus on the pain, but rather focus on what is good: flowers, trees, birds, butterflies, cats, birds, ... there are many things that exist in this world that are beautiful, comforting, awe-inspiring! If I can get myself to looking for happiness, beauty. Focusing on the good things that are happening around me like a child playing in the yard, anything good. Makes my life easier.
Practicing distraction helps a lot. If I find a book, I'm interested in, I can distract my mind from the pain.

I also suffer with Costachondritis. Thankfully I have a PT who acts like a DO with hands on. She finds I am often rotated to the right and after a session I have improvement for a short while. I have applied pain patches to my rib cage and that gives relief. I also have used lidocaine prilocaine cream on chest areas. I use a power chair due to other problems but I walk in the pool. She told me to push the noodle I hold for balance forward with one arm and then the other. It substitutes for not being able to swing my arms when I am walking and has helped a lot with rib pain. Hopefully some of these ideas might be helpful for you.

I think by "narco" you mean Norco, which is Hydrocortisone, which can be prescribed in different strengths. I've been on it for years for lower back pain. They say that it becomes less effective over time. I wish that it stopped the pain, but it only lessens it. The bottle says, "HYDROCODONE/ACETAMINOPHEN 5-325 TB". I assume TB means tablet. Max daily 2 tablets. In between doses, I often take a Tramadol tablet - 50mg. I can't walk a great distance without sitting down. Standing for long is also a problem. So far, two different surgeons tell me they can't do anything for me. I'll keep looking though.

I now have prescription for Journavx, which will be delivered next week by the mail order pharmacy. I realize it is currently approved for acute pain treatment, but hoping it does provide pain relief even for a short time.

@kenc, I hope you will keep us updated on how this new med works for you. What meds are you currently taking? Wishing you good pain relief.

I also go to University Pain Center at Rush in Chicago for CRPS. My doctor is the best.