[MargaretR]

At one stage in my life I never had a day without pain. The diagnosis was osteoarthritis.

I used to long for a week without pain now and again so I could catch up on a lot of physical activities which I had to forgo.

Paracetemol didn't even take the edge off it. I spent a few years taking distalgesics to make life tolerable, but then the NHS withdrew it from prescription. I was prescribed Solpadine which contains codeine. I became addicted. I can remember the feeling of euphoria that it gave me.
I was a pain free zombie.

My health further deteriorated until I realised that I was surviving but not living, and the only help I could get (if any) had to be self help.

Taking responsibilty for your own health is a difficult step to take, and I admit that I wouldn't have done it unless I felt at 'rock bottom' and had 'my back against the wall'.

Now after a few years of using alternative medicine, most days are pain free, and the days I get pain are very tolerable - I don't even take an aspirin or a paracetemol ever !!!!

I still have osteoarthritis in several places (confirmed by xrays), but the pain I found intolerable wasn't due to it. The NHS failed to diagnose what the true cause of my pain was. I had to find out for myself by trial and error. Too many doctors take the easy way out and drug people to mask symptoms.

I realise that many medical conditions are not curable by 'alternative' medicine,
but don't automatically assume that yours can't be.