Pain Management

I may have said this before but here in the states --at least where i live - the medical people do not want to hand out narcotics for chronic pain issues.  I guess too many people depend on them too much.  I also believe if a doctor is handing out too many narcotics that might not be good.  I do believe there is a system in place to spot a red flag .like over prescribing.  Just sayin.

But no still tired & dragging around.  I am not young anymore (only in my mind) but my friends are doing this or that & here I am.  I know it can be better than this....

I have considerable pain on a daily basis, using Zomorph 200mgs am and another 200mgs PM, along with an array of meds inc Ponstan which also helps the pain.

I know how you ladies feel, it does get you down alot and yes a pain free day would be so wonderful but somehow I don't believe that will happen anytime soon. 

I do feel for you, and those who have replied and shared their pain,  I also live a life of pain and have been told there is nothing that can be done,  keep taking the meds.  Meds are good,  they help keep the pain in check to a degree but they come with side effects.  I keep busy,  keep my mind busy with anything and everything,  I walk as much as possible,  it hurts and can make other parts of me kick off, makes me sore but it keeps me going,   I find that if for some reason I can't get out for a few days I just slow down to a crawl and drag myself round the house, then when I can get out the pain is horrendous!!  I keep going and walk as far as I am able knowing full well that pay back is going to be bad,  then I take a little extra meds to ease things up and the next day I go out again,  it is bad,  I keep going and it eases a bit,  or I cope with it better,  next day it is a bit easier again...........   point i am getting to is you have got to keep active no matter how much it hurts,  the painful thought of not being able to walk at all is the worst pain I have and I will go to any lengths to keep me out of a wheel chair.  Keeping joints moving is so important,  my spine is badly affected and other joints in my body have become bad over the years .   

I live alone,  no family to call on so I have to get on with things best I can,  I think this actually helps me,  no one nags me for being slow or taking my time - heck I have to !  if i don't do things they don't get done,  this is motivation for physical activity which helps my muscles keep my joints moving.   I don't over do with the meds a they can slow me down, make me sleepy etc and by not being regular with them or taking them at max strength I am left with the option to take a little extra when the pain gets to much.  One of the meds is via patches so I am stuck with that dose but find my body absorbs it as it is needed,  so by being careful, being slow and pacing myself I can get the best out of them.  

The mind plays a big part in our pain level and pain control,  keeping that busy and the body as active as possible goes a long way to keeping pain levels at a bearable level ........  will never be pain free,  that is just a dream and something other people are.

This winter weather is bad to deal with,  it will pass  -  big sigh,  being slow when out in the cold is no fun but on frosty days when the sun is out and I am well wrapped up can bring a big happy smile to me.    Clothing I find is important to comfort,  forget fashion !  thin layers of light easy wear clothes helps,  padded trousers that fell walkers wear are wonderful for cold weather,  skiing jackets are so light but warm,   wool socks and good comfy boots.   It is good to get out for a walk fresh air is a tonic in its self.

Hope you all have a reasonably pain controlled winter --  stay warm!

Warmest regards

Jessie x

I have fibromyalgia and have tons of pain to deal with so I understand your delema. Have you ever tried trigger point injections? I get them ever month and they work wonders for me. I didn't realize how much they help me until I missed a doctor's appointment one month. They couldn't fit me in on the day that I showed up for my appt.(the nurse scheluled me for one day but wrote down that my appt was for the following day) ithout those I had to wait for another 4 weeks to see my doc. Without those shots life became almost unbearable, I have also been told that a horse linament called Biggle helps quite a bit. I have never tried it myself so I can't say if it works.

Staying active helps a lot also. I know how hard it is to get out and do something when you are in so much pain and you are so exhausted from dealing with that pain. If you can stay connected with family and friends on the phone or on Facebook it will help. You are never too old to join Facebook. I am 54 and get on there daily. Keep your outlook as upbeat and sunny as you can and it helps to ease the pain.

Neurontin may help you as it works on nerve pain. It can make you groggy when first starting it so starting at a low dose and increasing a bit each month is the way to get around that side effect. Neurontin has helped me a great deal and I would be lost without it.

You might want to start a food diary because some foods can trigger pain. If you find that your pain is worse a day of two after eating or drinking something that bugs your system the you can start avoiding that trigger. Alcohol was a big trigger for me. I would have a drink or 2 to kill today's pain only to feel twice as bad the next day.

Keep doing your research of different drugs and therapies for your condition. Your doctor doesn't know about everything that is out there and doesn't have the time to do the research so you have to do it for him. suggest different options and keep pushing until you get something that works for you and your pain. Try different drugs, try yogo, try meditation, try swimming, try standing on your head and sticking your tounge out (just kidding). Do what ever it takes to find what works and never back down. If your doctor tells you something won't work but you think that it will make him let you try it. Chronic pain is an exhausting struggle but you are not alone. Millions of people live with extreme pain every .day but we are strong. We push through each day and try to put on a brave face and smile when all we want to do is crawl in a hole and die. We can get through this struggle. We can find a way out of this cycle of pain and depression. We just need to keep trying different things untill we find something that works for us.

Normal days are rare but they can come along. Here it is almost sunrise and I have been up all night because of my pain. But I will drag myself through today and hope that tomorrow (and tonight) is better. So lets all keep our chin up and try to  get through this day without killing anybody. Seriously, just keep trying different things until you find the right combination. And keep doing research!

Best of luck to you and everyone with chronic pain.