Ive been prescribed amitriptyline for suspected nerve pain

Hi

thanks for your response - the doc has only prescribed the drug for a week (although he's given me a month's supply) as the drug should help if it's a nerve problem. He's convinced it's my jaw that's causing it all, but it's been ongoing for weeks now, to the point that I'm getting panic attacks, sleepless nights so going to see another doc tomorrow. 

Hi Gloria

No, just a jaw problem .... But I've had it now for about 5 weeks, and am totally desperate! I can handle ear ache but not the intermittent ringing in my ear. Going to give CBT a go. 

It is Ankylosing Spondilitis  which is a severe form of arthritis of the spine. It can affect other parts of the body too, skin, lungs, heart and all other organs. Joints too...which is why I have jaw and shoulder and knee and hip problems too. It is very debilitating and now I need a wheelchair to get around. Can stand for a few minutes and walk a few steps but nothing more than that. I was given Amitriptyline for all over nerve pain. Only taking half of a 25 mg tablet at night but other meds too. I've had a very bad week with severe pain and very tired...exhausted actually. It affects all of us differently depending on what stage this disease has got to.  There is lots more info in the forum AS here. 

I run a clinic for the poor in a remote part of Bali and we do have patients who experience tinitus from time to time. This may sound crazy but we tell them to use the ear drops we give them and chew on a carrot to enable the drops to go right into the ear canal....chewing does help. But as we don't have chewing gum...we advise a carrot...lol

Oh ok. I had thought I had that. I have a lot of those same areas with same issues. Not sure what my problems are from. They can't seem to come up

with anything. When I proposed AS to my doctor - he said no.

Hello Gloria I have the same illness as you do but, I am fortunate I am not in a whealchair although, I was told unless I had Surgery I would be in a whealchair within 5 yrs ,  that was when I was just 35yrs of age.

I have had 2 spinal operations & endless Steroid injections in my spine, but, I will not give in to  it. I am 70yrs next month & have lived with Chronic pain for years. I take ZOMORPH for pain relief plus Prozac, Diazapam, & plenty of Paracetamol. but, I insist on walking albeit with a stick but, I am very stubborn & will not give in. Plus a few years ago I fell & broke my back.

Jackie  best of luck x

Hi Jackie...we seem to be on a par..I'm 70 in two weeks time.( October 6 )..and I won't give in to it either. But going round the supermarket is impossible unless I am in my chariot. I have 10 vertebrae affected by AS, an enlarged heart too...I'm like you, countless cortico steroid injections into spine, groin, hips and hands.....helped for about 6 months and then back to the roller coaster again. I was given Diazepam a while ago but the specialist took me off them saying they are very addictive....Yes well...we all know that many pills and potions are addictive...but I think it doesn't really matter at our age...and I'm gonna go back on them again as I have so many problems with muscle spasms.....and Diazepam is so good for that. I take Tramadol for pain...but sometimes that doesn't help much either. Have had morphine patches...but so expensive here...so I don't use them now.  I have been to Thailand to see two specialists there....who both say my condition is inoperable now...so grin and bear it...phew. I also broke my back many years ago...got butted in the rear by a bull...lol Tomorrow I'm gonna get my stubborness back...coz the past week I have crumbled into an emotional heap....lonely I guess. Thanks for your message..it motivated me....Hugs too.

My advice is...don't take NO for an answer...get an MRI done asap and it will show where the problems are...Good Luck...be strong.

Hi Gloria, we are on a parr together, well if we were in a a canoe together at least we could have an oar each.I like you am 70yrs on the 25th October same yr born. 1946 was a good year , one year after the 2nd WORLD WAR we were celebration babies, but, what lives we have lived. Pain pain & more pain, but, we are survivors. Why don,t you ask your GP for ZOMORPH it is Morphine based but , it not to expensive for the NHS & GP,S will prescibe it & it is better than the patches, I think so anyway.

Plus I am on DIAZAPAM so what , it is addictive but, why should I care, I have been on them for about 40yrs now, so I do not worry anymore.

Chin up & enjoy your 70th, at least we have just about reached our THREE SCORE PLUS TWENTY which is actually young nowadays.

Lovely writing to you Gloria .

Ask for anything , sometimes you may have to keep on & pester a bit, but, you will win in the end.

Kindest Regards Jackie x

jACKIE

Hiya Jackie...if we had an NHS I could probably afford it.But Indonesia is no known for it's health care....I will try anyway.

I agree with your thoughts on Diazepam..actually have just taken half of a 5 mg coz still haven't got any sleep and it's 4 a.m. here. I'm hoping my cuppa tea and a pill will work...pain is less anyway...just the mind won't shut up...!!  Loved your message....you cheered me up no end. Hugs and nice things to you....Gloria

Hello jacqueline, as I am going down this reading forum, I came across you. I don't mean any disrespect over the fact that you suffer cronic pain and other ailments but I can't help it, I laughed with endearment over your reply to Gloria. You sound like a fiesty lady and I love that. Own it and God bless you. I am 65 and a 10 yr. breast cancer survivor. I had 24 lumph nodes removed. Nine had cancer and 15 were in danger spreading so they were removed. Since then, I've had issues like pain and numbness on my right side of my leg, hand, and arm. I also delevoped insomia, neurophathy and restless leg syndrome. I've tried meds like Mirtazpine (same as Ropinirole), Lyerica, Gabapentin, RusPIRone HCI and countless other meds for my problems but all the pills I mentioned have given me very mysterious dreams, dizzyness, nausia, confusion, headaches, fatigue, confused, and restless. I love Lorazipam for sleep & aniety but doc wants to take me off of it because I also take pain pills for my hip & arm pain and she says that I'm not suppose to take Lorazipam w/Oxy because they're both highly addictive. 

I think like you if I'm taking something that has worked for the last 10 yrs., why the heck take me off of it. And guess what Jacqueline? I'm not addicted because I've gone 10 days or more w/out taking the Oxy & Lorazipam w/out any problems except not sleep very well and endure arm & leg pain. It's my body and if I have to take something for the rest of my life because of the what the after effects of the chemo & radiation did to my body, so be it.

We have the drug problem in this country to thank for our pain and suffering and I don't think you or I are gonna win. STILL...at my age, who the heck cares if I become depended on certain meds? I can walk, talk, think straight, I take care of two grand children, I cook everyday, I do house chores and yard work. If I were depended on pain med and Lorazipam, do you think I'd be doing all of the above and more?

Thanks for listening. It was nice talking to you. Have a wonderful, blessed day. 

Hello Mollie & thank you for finding my letters interesting, YES I laugh at life & everything thats in it, if I did not do this I would be a sobbing mess, instead I take my life day by day & enjoy every minute of my life.

Yes I can too talk ( sometimes to much) plus half the time it is incorrect wording as I have had several Strokes as well, so what comes out is a mess, but, I just laugh WITH MYSELF & accept whatever life' challenges throw at me, I cook & make a mess I love my Garden ,& my grandchildren as well, I am a daft happy stupid woman with one very big sence of humour  & I live with pain but, I love alot with my heart. Thank you for writing to me xxx Jackie