Living With Chronic Pain: Learning My Body, Protecting My Organs, and Finding Relief Where I Can 🌿



I’ve been battling chronic pain for 16 years. Long enough to know that pain isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, mental, and deeply personal. For a long time, one of the biggest lifelines in my pain management was weekly massage therapy. For 16 months straight, my health insurance covered it as a medical incentive, and honestly, it helped keep me functional. When that incentive was discontinued, everything shifted.


My doctors and I fought hard to get it reinstated because pharmaceutical technology wasn't doing much for me and in some cases, was creating more risk than relief. When the massage therapy stopped, my pain intensified, my sleep deteriorated, and eventually, I spiraled into a deep depression. I was out of work for a month just trying to recover and regain some sense of strength. That period was heavy… and humbling.


After seeing three different pain specialists, I was officially diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, extreme fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties (often called “fibro fog”), and heightened sensitivity to pain. There’s no definitive cure, and treatment options are limited and they mostly focus on symptom management rather than resolution. For many of us, it becomes a lifelong balancing act.


One thing I knew for sure: I wanted to avoid pain medication as much as possible. I had been relying on Motrin for years, but long-term use can take a serious toll on the kidneys, liver, and stomach, and I’m already managing multiple health conditions. Protecting my organs became non-negotiable. So I had to recognize my options 😊.


That’s when I leaned all the way into alternative and supportive pain relief. My toolkit includes:


Salonpas and lidocaine patches

CBD salves

Heating pad

Ice pack

Massage lotions with menthol and lavender 🌿

Personal massagers

Long soaks in boiling hot Epsom salt + baking soda baths 🛁 (a game changer for my muscles and sleep)

A heavenly mattress topper that has absolutely saved my hips and back 😇🙏🏾


I also take Vitamin D once or twice a week, which supports both my pain levels and my mood. This matters when chronic pain leads to depression and discouragement.


Stress is another huge trigger for me. I’m very psychosomatic, and when I’m overwhelmed, my body lets me know immediately. Those are the nights I wake up every hour, tossing and turning from aching muscles. During flares, my doctor and I agreed on a muscle relaxer taken only as needed. Not daily, not long-term; just enough to help me get through a work day and other days when I have to be active running errands.


Somewhere in all of this, a good friend casually mentioned cayenne pepper for inflammation and chronic pain—and I had one of those moments like, wait… I’ve already been doing that. 😲🫨 I just didn’t know that it helped in that area. I ended up investing in whole dried cayenne peppers and seeds instead of the powdered seasoning. I have so far used it in 3 brews in 10 days and IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!


Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which helps:

Reduce inflammation

Block pain signals to the brain

Increase circulation

Relax tight muscles over time


I now incorporate cayenne into my brews and concoctions, alongside other supportive herbs and roots like ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and lemon. It’s not a cure, but it’s relief, and sometimes relief is everything.


Another reality I live with is being on medical notice to avoid strenuous activity. No running. No long-distance walking. No intense workouts. I used to run six miles a day and practiced yoga regularly. My body simply can’t tolerate that anymore.


These days, my “exercise” looks like:

Cleaning the house

Doing laundry at the mat

Walking the grocery store aisles

Carrying bags into the house 😆


It’s funny… but it’s not. If I stretch for 10 minutes a day for four consecutive days, I can injure myself and be out for two full weeks. When this happens, I start feeling guilty about my limitations and inabilities. Chronic pain that leads to being incapable of tending to your daily life is like grief.


I wanted to share this blog so people can understand they are not alone, and share the resources I have found most useful. Mostly, the heating pad, the personal massager, the vitamin D, and the beautiful CAYENNE PEPPER 🌶️ 💕 🤕 ❤️‍🩹 


Cayenne pepper has become one of those unexpected aids. It's small, fiery, and powerful, just like my resilience.


If you’re living with chronic pain, please know this: you’re not weak, you’re not lazy, and you’re not imagining it. Sometimes survival looks like hot baths, herbs, rest, and listening to your body even when it breaks your heart a little.


One day at a time. One flare at a time. One breath at a time. 💕🌿



© 2026 Priestess Ziona. All Rights Reserved.

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