pain

Every so often I suffer from a bout of gastritis, which can feel like an intense, piercing stomachache. I know that stress can aggravate it as can spicy foods and caffeine. The foods don't usually trigger it for me, so I typically eat what I want, and as much as I try to avoid stress, it always seems to find me. So when gastritis hits me, I find it comforting to put a heating pad on my belly or to drink chamomile, an herbal tea. You shouldn't take ibuprofen (e.g., Advil) when you have it, and I try to avoid medication, when possible, but have any of you taken acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or used an antacid when you've suffered from gastritis? Or when you had an intense stomach pain? Did it help?

I'm an avid golfer, but have had to stop playing as much lately. I'm experiencing this strange clicking sound that's sometimes accompanied by a shooting pain in my elbow during and after swinging my clubs. Could it be that I'm just playing too much? I really don't want to pay to see an orthopedist ... anyone ever experience this?

My hands are so sore these days, my wrists and fingers just ache. And I feel like I'm dropping things all the time. I work as a receptionist and have occasionally had issues with my wrists before. But this feels somehow different. Could it be arthritis? What do I do?

I have ongoing back pain, which is probably due to a combination of stress and bad posture. My friend sees a massage therapist once a month and I'm beginning to consider doing the same. I know what she pays, and it seems expensive. I'm curious, is there an average? What's a fair price to pay for a 60- or 90-minute session?