I have found some things that work for pain… headphones and iPod are extremely valuable; the music in my ears distracts my pain… it’s as though my brain can’t process the music signals and the pain signals at the same time! Sometimes at night I fall asleep this way. In the evenings while watching tv I have a small sketchbook and black pens handy and I doodle. When I’m creating something like that it’s as though I’m creating a new energy and I simply cannot focus on pain. I also took a meditation class several months ago that taught me the basics of breathing, visualization etc and I participate in an online/conference call group that is a spiritual based raising your frequency and clearing your chakras and all that stuff (I find it hard to describe)… I always feel better afterwards. Until recently I also needed a chiropractor but in recent months I find that my back is doing better without it, although I do go for a massage about once a month. When I was going through withdrawal from pain meds I wrote a list in my journal of everything I could think of that would help me through pain episodes – a toolbox of sorts. Some things I wrote down were obvious, but in the throes of a very painful time it’s so hard to think of things that might help – all I can think about is the pain – so I can go to that last of things to do / people to call / etc. I also find that writing, whether in my journal or writing poetry or stories for my blog completely take me away (and pass time until I’m in a better place). Time really flies when on the computer, so to get through a very bad day I’ll frequently spend time reading other peoples blogs and looking at their art etc. I hope this helps, as it has helped me. These things also take my mind off chocolate-chip cookie cravings… LOL. Take care Alisha.