The Walking Wounded at Coachella

[wstsidela]

Anyone else damaged & medicated and still going to Coachella?

I'm seeing a pain management specialist because my foot is fucked up. I can't imagine it will get better before Thursday but I have a bunch of teenagers depending on me so I just have to suck it up. I will have a bunch of vicodin but I prefer seeing Coachella clear-headed.

Anyone else in the same situation?

[ialvarado2]

Two words:

Medicinal Marihuana.

[baily]

Two words:

Medicinal Marihuana.

Hey retard...put the joint down and learn how to spell...fucking Marihuana...seriously that's how you spell it!?!

Too bad they don't give handicap passes for ignorance or you'd be parking up front EVERYWHERE!

[JustSteve]

wow, baily is bitchy today.

[wstsidela]

I wish it was that easy. I have a pinched nerve that's causing major spasms in my foot. Very painful.

[JustSteve]

Hey retard...put the joint down and learn how to spell...fucking Marihuana...seriously that's how you spell it!?!

Too bad they don't give handicap passes for ignorance or you'd be parking up front EVERYWHERE!

and yes, it can be spelled marihuana, you dolt.

[meyouseek]

Luckily booze is an effective anti-inflammatory. But by the end of the day there's not enough liquor in the world to dull the pain.

I avoid pain meds because I'm an idiot and would certainly abuse them.

Sorry your foot is giving you trouble wstside. At least my pains allow me to dance for a good part of the day before relegating me to the soft grass for rest and stretching.

[nosurprises12]

Ouch, that's a major, major bummer wstside. In 2007 we camped next to a guy who had cut some tendons in the bottom of his foot about a week before the fest and, thanks to crutches and copious amounts of legal and non-legal substances, was able to (barely) make it through.

I know it sounds cheesy/"new wave-y," but have you tried some form of meditation? I often see it mentioned as an alternative method for chronic pain treatment (http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/r...ues-000359.htm). Maybe stop by the yoga class a little early on Friday morning and ask the instructor about some breathing/relaxation techniques; I'm sure whoever is running it would be happy to help!

[bigjerm23]

Anyone else damaged & medicated and still going to Coachella?

I'm seeing a pain management specialist because my foot is fucked up. I can't imagine it will get better before Thursday but I have a bunch of teenagers depending on me so I just have to suck it up. I will have a bunch of vicodin but I prefer seeing Coachella clear-headed.

Anyone else in the same situation?

I could provide medical MJ edibles that would have you in a place where you would feel no pain.

[wstsidela]

I've tried a masseuse, a chiropractor, & an acupuncturist. Someone even recommended a healer that works over the phone. I took a pass on that one.

My GP is sending me to a pain specialist tomorrow. I just want something that numbs my pain but not my mind. Does that even exist?

[Sexecutioner]

i have chronic foot pain as well. been trying for years to fix it, but doctors are worthless. makes coachella hell sometimes. i actually had to use crutches last year.

[GeminiDC]

It's hard to give a lot of advice sans an accurate diagnosis but I would continue pursuing professional advice. Tell them your situation and the fact that you don't want to be affected by treatments while at the festival. Depending on your diagnosis situation there are options available. Also, keep in mind there are good and bad professionals. If for instance, you see a doctor or acupuncturist that doesn't know what they are doing, you may have mixed results. Then again, certain things just need a little time with treatments (see: disc problems). Again, go back to your doctor(s) let them know your situation and they will be able to help you. Above all, research any treatment proposed to you as there may be consequences that aren't exactly spelled out when they are presented to you. I hurt my back skiing the weekend before last year and chiropractic saved me in that instance as I was in much more pain before the fest than during. It's unfortunate it wasn't able to help you this time. Good luck in your search.

[Runlinds]

i have chronic foot pain as well. been trying for years to fix it, but doctors are worthless. makes coachella hell sometimes. i actually had to use crutches last year.

I have an awful feeling that will be me this year. I am recovering from a stress fracture and the dr's recommended I take them but... I just do NOT want this kind of limitation (I love to dance). I have 3 others depending on me for a hotel room so would feel really bad bailing, but I've never been to Coachella so I have no idea what I'm in for in terms of how far I'd have to crutch it from one place to another. I know I can sit when needed.

[JoshTheBoyd]

broke my finger in a car accident this week. pinkys up!

[Jman4321]

I went last year with stitches still in my stomach from having my appendix removed a week and a half prior. When the nurse told me that I had appendicitis in the emergency room the first question I asked was if I could still hypothetically go to a music festival in a week and a half and if the fact that it was in the desert would matter. She seemed irritated but the phlebotomist started talking to me about how awesome Coachella was and that I'd be fine. Definitely being concerned about that dampened the issues of last year's festival considerably, and it all evened out to a really fun time.

[wstsidela]

I see a pain specialist on Tuesday. Yay!!

[thefrush]

Got tonsillitis right now, pretty miserable, hoping it clears up by Wednesday.

[kristieann]

I have a road rash "wound" on my foot that won't heal; haven't been able to wear a shoe (or even a sock) since September. Luckily, i can spend the weekend in flip flops and some sandals that don't rub on the side of my big toe/joint/side of foot (let me tell you how hard it is to find shoes that don't touch the front side of your foot!). Up here in Seattle, everyone looks at me like a freak in my flip flops in the rain (but medical booties aren't any better). Now I just have to manage the pain and hope no one kicks my foot opening up the wound. No standing in close to the stage for me. I'm so sick of having a messed up foot.

@wstsidela I hope your trip to the pain specialist tomorrow helps out! The meds usually prescribed for pinched nerves don't seem to do much do they?

[TheClares]

I've tried a masseuse, a chiropractor, & an acupuncturist. Someone even recommended a healer that works over the phone. I took a pass on that one.

My GP is sending me to a pain specialist tomorrow. I just want something that numbs my pain but not my mind. Does that even exist?

Potentially a cortisone injection, if inflammation is a contributing factor. get it asap, as it might hurt for a day, but if it works, it will get you through the weekend.

[Harrisment]

Injection is definitely what you need. They also make oral steroids, but when you need relief this immediate an injection is the way to go. You should be feeling better by the next day.

[Suffacated]

Pinched nerves in my back plus a newly smashed finger on my right hand compliments of a 1" impact wrench that got away from me last Friday. Pain is just something I've had to deal with for the last 11 years.

[dekelou]

Epidural steroid injection sounds like the way to go. Day one it still hurts but it gets better after that. Nothing like a long needle in your spine! All the other meds besides anti-inflammatories like neurontin and lyrica can take up to 2 weeks to work and can make you really drowsy. Although it is a pain in the ass, crutches to rest that extremity occasionally may keep you mobile throughout the weekend. Hope you feel better.

[dancefreak]

I see a pain specialist on Tuesday. Yay!!

If this is the first appt, your pain doctor may have you come back at another time for an injection. If s/he offers it, beg to have it done today. It's doubtful you'll get a return appointment in time. My wife has had to have several for back/hip pain after a hiking injury and it was an annoyingly dragged out process from the first time she saw the pain specialist. Plus it hurts WORSE for (up to) three days so you're right about at the cut off.

[AKDigitalism]

I hope you made it to Coachella Festival!!

I am also a 22 yr. old male chronic pain patient with kyphoscoliosis and have a bulging disc that resulted in a pinched sciatic nerve.

I take tremendous amounts of pain medications like fentanyl, percocet, morphine and have been on pretty much tired all different types and amounts within the last three years.

Long Story Short: I bought two tickets on layaway within ten minutes of the sale and fast forward to now - I was in San Diego on Thursday(04/14/2011) and was in so much pain I couldn't bare to go to coachella let alone spend three days standing and sleeping on the hard arse ground.

I had four people depending on me for transportation and I bailed on them withing hours because of the pain, I felt horrible. Luckily we were able to brainstorm and thankfully THANKFULLY find a way for them to get to coachella. I sold my tickets today hours before the show and was very excited.

I HOPE ALL OF YOU GOT TO GO AND HAD A FEW DAYS OF PAIN FREE COACHELLA.

[TopBananas48]

Sprained my ankle playing bball. It's getting better as the days go by. I'd love for it to be fully healed by friday but as of now i'm on crutches. I feel for you.

[PBborn]

Pneumonia. Fuck it. I can work, I can go.

[laurensalisburysteak]

I have post tibial tendonitis (the tendon that runs from the base of the foot to the middle of the calf) in both feet, that isn't getting better. I wish literally that I could float through Coachella so I wouldn't have to walk or stand.

[Wonderbot]

I am not wounded, but I insist on being medicated anyway!

[KCsunny]

I have chronic "foot-in-mouth" syndrome, but I can be a lot of fun!