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There is this line from the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough that has stuck with me since I watched it. Sophie Marceau, who plays Elektra King, whispers to 007 in one scene, "There's no point in living if you can't feel alive." It's a line also found in the title track sung by Garbage. When I heard it, it once again resonated with me. Indeed, what is the point of living if you can't feel alive? Now, you're probably thinking about delicious food, travelling to beautiful far-flung places away from maddening crowds, and for petrolheads, the soul-stirring experience of driving an exotic car. Surely such experiences make one glad to be alive. But there's another way for us to be reminded that we're still alive and kicking and it's whenever we feel pain. For this story, I'm going to talk about physical pain as opposed to emotional or psychological pain. Medication only goes so far. The best cure (if you can't prevent something, that is) is to change your lifestyle and habits. (Photo: Alexander Grey, Unsplash) Frailties Humans are smart, but we are also incredibly frail. If our body temperatures plunge or increase past a certain point, we'll probably die. Meanwhile, animals like the arctic fox can survive in insanely low temperatures, seemingly without issue. Anyway, this bout of gastroenteritis I'm recovering from (it's day three as I type this) got me thinking: What are the three types of pain that will cause folks to be down until it goes away? Photo: Road Trip with Raj, Unsplash Headaches More specifically, migraines. My left sinus used to periodically get congested, and I resorted to using sprays, decongestants and paracetamol to keep the congestion from turning into pain. Left untreated, the pain would radiate upwards and become a full-grown migraine, leaving me curled up in bed with my eyes shut, fighting nausea. This hit me particularly badly during a trip to Bangkok. Not having suffered sinus congestion in more than a month, I thought I was over it. Stupidly, I did not pack any medication. The episode not only left me down the entire day but also resulted in me upchucking all over my T-shirt. In public. If you're wondering why I didn't stay in the hotel, it was because I didn't want to waste the day. Fortunately, the sinus problem eventually resolved itself without the need for expensive surgery that doesn't guarantee the problem going away (the ENT specialist's words, not mine). I no longer need nasal sprays or decongestants. And when I do get a headache, it goes away after popping two Panadols. Photo: Kenny Eliason, Unsplash Toothaches There is a reason why folks fear going to the dentist. The thought of your teeth being drilled or extracted without anaesthesia is enough to make you wince. Heck, even the sound of the dental drill might cause some to flee for their lives. Now, I've been fortunate enough to not have had a toothache due to a cavity. But I can relate to this because I remember the post-op pain following the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. As the dental surgeon explained, since the two teeth were growing sideways and thus impacting my other teeth, they would need to cut open my gums to access the offenders, before breaking them with what resembled like a chisel. Look, I'm not a dentist, so I can only describe this as such. I could tahan my mouth being kept open by a medieval-looking metal contraption and two suctions to drain blood, but the hammering is something I will not soon forget. When it was over, I was warned that I needed to get on my painkillers before the anaesthetic wore off. This was easier said than done as my first attempt resulted in the water and tablets flowing out of my numb mouth. For the next five days, the swelling made it look like one side of my face had been pummelled by a boxer. Talking was difficult and eating was nearly impossible. Thank heavens wisdom teeth cannot grow back. Photo: Julien Tromeur, Unsplash Tummy troubles Migraines and toothaches are bad, but to me, having a tummyache is probably even worse. It's downright debilitating. I can't recall where I read it or who told me this, but it is true. When your stomach isn't good, the rest of you isn't, either. Gastroenteritis has sapped my appetite and my energy. I have beers in my fridge that I'm not interested in drinking. Pizza and nasi lemak are a no-go. Even cai fan is a lot to take for now. Key takeaways As bad as these episodes were (are, in the case of stomach flu), they have taught me to be grateful for three things. My body's ability to recover is one thing I'm glad for. Had my immunity been any weaker, I might have to be hospitalised. Secondly, the concern shown by friends. I don't need anyone checking in on me every hour. But messages like 'Please recover soon!' or 'Please get well soon!' are encouraging. They make me want to get over this stuff as soon as possible. Lastly, while pain and discomfort aren't celebrated (who celebrates falling ill anyway?), they are a sharp reminder of what it is to be frail and human. Pain is part of life and there is no point in living if you can't feel alive. (Main photo: Sander Sammy, Unsplash) – Jeremy

Quite a healthy lifestyle, never over or under weight all my life. Don't drink or smoke and does half marathon runs weekly. Recently I had a bad issue of upper right back pain (close to spine C7 or T1) and right chest pain (close to Sternum, slightly higher than nipple). Sometimes the pain can extend all the way to the back of my upper right arm and behind the armpit. Saw 2 doctors, took Xrays of right chest and all just gave me anti inflammatory medicine and muscle rub. Breathing is painful, deep breaths are even worse. Many times the pain feels worse after waking up from sleep (why is that so?) Doctors told me it should be cartilage of the ribs and back muscles that are inflamed and overworked. Took the medicine for 2 months and the medication doesn't seem to work. Occasionally it seems to bring down the pain but it will come right back soon after (even without me exercising). Have anybody here deal with this type of pain and how did you manage to overcome the problem? Thanks in advance.

Anyone having this problem? apparently i just cross 50 yrs old and this came along. about a month ago i was doing some exercise consecutively for a few days, and i believe due to the wrong posture and suddenly one day the shoulder having sharp pain and couldn't lift up beyond shoulder height from certain angle. The pain persist for a week, tried rubbing and doesn't help. went to polyclinic and now waiting for an appointment to see a physiotherapy. Google more on frozen shoulder and can 99% confirm i have it. For past 2 weeks trying to relax and loosen up the shoulder, it get very painful in the evening after 2 'not so painful' days, the cycle repeat. Funny thing is i can really feel the stiffness as if it was 'frozen' in certain part of the shoulder and front chest. Any way to ease the pain or relief the stiffness?

Anybody with chronic prostatitis?

I think this really deserves a thread on it's own. Poor guy really look emotional towards the end and I can understand that pain.

Hi all, would like to seek help on my knee, after every ball game my knee always swollen and pain, take about 4-5 days to heal, still on glucosamine , would like to see a sinseh for help.

Want to seek some advice from bros here who also suffer from lower back pain I am having lower back pain for few months already. Initially only pain when I do some awkward motions like twisting and bending down. But now it has worsen to constant pain/ache no matter standing or sitting, to the extend that when walking I cannot really straighten the back. Of course i had been to the doctor's several times, every time he will take an x-ray and tell me that there is no problem with the spine and bones. and there's nothing he can do except prescribing some physiotheraphy. I went for physio for a while but it did not help. So i went back and the doctor said the x-ray did not show anything and he really dunno how, so he suggested to do an MRI scan to check if the nerves are ok. My question is: are MRI scan really useful? I am worried that after i go through this expensive scan the doctor is going to say that the scan shows nothing and direct me to physio again. then i would have wasted money to go back to square one any bros can advice? or any bros know of any good places that can treat back pain?

Hi folks, after doing extensive research, it seems that conditions like Fibromyalgia, Costochondrities and related information isn't being discussed extensively in Asia. I brought this up because the above conditions are not life threatening but has a big resemblance to life threatening problems. Most doctors will brush people off suffering from the above conditions as having a mental breakdown. As these type of conditions are not well understood even in the medical community, I hope this thread will be a good avenue for people to share and encourage those who has contracted these painful conditions. These are some of the useful links I have found but are mainly not in Asia, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321635.php http://healthiculture.com/fibromyalgia/newsletter/3paintypes/paintypes-9.php https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/costochondritis/

Just saw a doc... Part of the medication he prescribed was leftose = $7.49 for 10tabs. Before that i went guardian and bought it at $6plus for 30 tabs. Walau eh... 300% mark up sia... And thats excluding consulation fees... If i know I would had told him no need that medicine.

Has been suffer from that for like 10 yrs. I had torn ligament and stop running since 2000. and slowly suffer low back pain/sciatica? Some suggest it could be due to the low back spine pressing against my nerves. I wonder what specialist shall I go to? A SGH specialist suggested me to either cycle or swim. I would like to go back to running but... due to the torn ligament. Sigh. Last but not least. torn ligament is on inner right knee and I am bow legged. Anyone can share their experience here if they suffer the same.

Hello everyone, Does Glucosamine help reduce kneel joint pain and rebuild cartilage? Pain is very bad when climbing stairs. Does this pain has anything to do with gout if a person has high urine acid? Thanks.

Dear all, Over the last few months, I am encountering some heel pain problems. The pain is most severe when I just wake up in the morning. It occurred on both legs. It is most painful in the morning and as the day passes, the pain eases off, but not completely. Then the torture repeats itself again the next morning. This has been going on for about 6 months. Is it a symptom of some medical issues? I don't want to die yet. Anyone encountered this problem before? What is your solution? Please kindly advice. Many thanks.

I usually go to gym on tuesdays to train on chest n biceps. After that, i will wake up with lower back pain on wednesdays. Can anyone help explain what went wrong??

Mother in tears after seeing her baby's severe burns from being left on heat packs When she saw her baby in pain with a large part of her back burned pink and raw, all Madam Farah (not her real name) could do, was to bawl her eyes out. According to a report in The Straits Times, on Oct 31, 2011, the toddler, Alya (not her real name) was at her babysitter Madam Mardianah

It's like that.. I have this mild tingling pain on my right ankle this few days and its not going away by itself it seems.. It just happen, and i didn't sprain my ankle or hit anything i could remember.. Now, with age catching up, I think this could be old man stuff, minor or major and thinking of getting a doc to check it out. Then I'm stucked, I don't know who to look for.. Don't think normal gp could help, then if need to look for specialist, don't know how and who to look for..I heard if I just walk in, sure kena carrot and better to have polyclinic referral letter. What is the right approach to get an appointment to the right section to check up without burning a big hole in my wallet?

Index and middle fingers and wrist (where i rest on when i type/use mouse) pain... googled a bit something similar is carpal tunnel finger. somehow it don't seem to be the same... and that tunnel thingy looks scary.. anyone here has had similar issue? will it go away if i don't use that finger to type/use mouse for, say, a month?

Dear all, Any good doctor to remove ingrown toe nail. Never kena such thing in NS now, so old kana than understand the pain. Those experince bros please share the cost. Thanks

Have neck pain for 2 weeks laio, sometime pain can shoot up to the top of head and having headache. Today went Ma Guan saw TCM and acupuncture and crack neck only feel good for 2 hrs then pain start again. anyone got recommendation for other TCM that can sure neck pain?

this is happening to me of lately..anyone experienced this??

Luckily the jockey was safe and no injuries or property damages on the ground. Just wondering how the SK fire station official could inititally identify it as the ugly Warthog but I guess maybe the mangled wreckage was unidentifieable or/and he was unfamiliar with jets. Anyway US$18.8m excluding ordnance and others up in smoke.... Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynam...Fighting_Falcon From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp...1190349/1/.html US military jet crashes in S. Korea, pilot safe Posted: 21 March 2012 1520 hrs SEOUL: A US military F-16 jet crashed in southern South Korea Wednesday during a training mission but its pilot ejected to safety, US authorities said. The plane crashed into a rice paddy around noon (0300 GMT) near a US air base in the western port city of Gunsan, the US military said in a statement. "The (lone) pilot safely ejected before the plane crashed. Emergency response teams are on scene at this time," it said. There were no casualties or serious damage on the ground, a US air force spokesman said, adding details would be released later. A local fire station officer in Seocheon county near Gunsan said previously the pilot was injured and taken away by ambulance. The officer had identified the aircraft involved as an A-10 tank buster. The crash came as South Korean and US troops stage an annual joint military exercise, called Foal Eagle, from March 1 to April 30. It was unclear if the F-16 was involved in the drill. North Korea habitually fiercely denounces annual joint exercises by US and South Korean troops as a rehearsal for invasion. Seoul and Washington say they are merely defensive in nature. The United States has based troops in the South since the 1950-53 war and the force currently numbers 28,500. - AFP/ck

Kana at car park. This morning notice a long scratch of around 15-20cm x 2cm wide on right corner of front bumper. I guess whoever is turning out of the lot or reversing in didn't judge properly and brush against my bumper. I guess its time to accumulate the scratches and then go for respray. That car is probably dark colour cause the paint marks are greyish in colour.

They looking like very suar Khoo talking loudly with the funny mandarin and fashen sens also bad...

Heart pain.. I tried calling the number to do a verbal appeal.. but also rejected Realize that they actually have a system whereby they tracked the vehicle number and the number of appeals submitted, Was told that I already over the grace, thus had to lan lan pay.. 10mins for a fine of $100.. this kind of revenue.. very profitable.. if listed in SGX, I believe this will be dubbed as another blue chip. Definitely, I will invest in them.. Second fine over period of 2 months.. $200 gone like that.. Still thinking of spending some money to do some interior.. now, have to donate to the garment.. This year seems to be a poor one for me.. 6 months passed, till date, already donated $1850 to the garment.. Yeah.. my bad.. I don