David~
Being in the nursing field for the last 8 years I will tell you that Vicodin will absolutly make you itch! That is one of the secondary side effects from the drug. Less worrisome side effect, but no less a side effect. Actually it is a very powerful drug. Very addicting. Also has some very serious side effects you might want to concider. Ask your Dr. or look them up on the web. Please concider you use of this paticular medication! It's a hard drug to get off of when your back is feeling better. Allot of the stars have gone to rehab for Vicodin drug addictions!!! bad bad bad
This is really good advice from Geri, David. I occasionally throw my lower lumbar back out. It can be quite painful and somewhat debilitating, but I never take medication. Instead of medication, I alternate applications of heat and cold. I find this gets rid of the problem within a couple of days at the most. Apply a good steady heat source to the painful area of your back (I use an infra-red lamp) for approximately 10 min or so, followed by an application of intense cold. I take a pack of frozen peas from the freezer and apply it to the painful area. Wrap the peas in a tea towel, otherwise the shock of the intense cold on the freshly heated area of your back will create too much of a shock to the system. Repeat this process as many times as you can. For some reason, this alternating of heat and cold does the trick every time. I was advised to do this by a doctor. Alternatively, get yourself to you local New Age centre and have a lovely, relaxing back massage. If this isn't possible, purchase a little hand-held massager, available at all electrical appliance stores. Anything is better than those nasty ol' meds.
In her book,
"You Can Heal Your Life," Louise Hay defines three areas of back pain, describes the cause, and prescribes an affirmation to be recited in order to rectify the problem:
Upper Back Pain - Caused by lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved. Holding back love. Recite the affirmation,
"I love and approve of myself. Life supports and loves me."Middle Back Pain - Caused by guilt. Stuck in all that "stuff" back there. Get off my back. Recite the affirmation,
"I release the past. I am free to move forward with love in my heart."Lower Back Pain - Fear of money. Lack of financial support. Recite the affirmation,
"I trust the process of life. All I need is always taken care of. I am safe."No nasty side effects. No rashes. No withdrawal. No more back pain!
Louise Hay also prescribes an affirmation for those who may be inclined to be
accident prone -
"I release the pattern in me that created this. I am at peace. I am worthwhile." She suggests that being accident prone may be caused by an inability to speak up for oneself, or through being rebellious against authority.
I'm a firm believer in the positive power of creative visualisation and affirmations.