I get em 2 to 4 times a year usuly very mild. But on Supper bowl sunday, I got some that lasted for three months, that was the longest I have ever had. The doc gave me the choice of expensive surgery, generic morphine (and a cool metal and glass syringe), or expensive ultrasonic threapy which usualy helps, but sometimes it doesnt. I chose fuk you I got a sack and a stick to bite on at home. If you dont have health insurance having something which frequently comes back sucks. I used to get em alot like 5-6 times a year and they were very painfull (put you on your ass pain), but I changed my diet and now I get em less. Ibeprofane is what helps for swelling, I take about 800mg and some brownies and some bong bowls. However if the pain is intens I find smoking like a train (preferably hash or realy potent bud) and of coars walking or moving (dancing, ti chi, any Kata or Movement exercies) and lots of water help. I find when extrem pain hits after the adrenalin and endorphins kick in smoking aids in pain, and the effects of getting high are nolonger their. The effects change greatly than if you were to smoke in no pain.