painkillers

hi melanie , i am seeing the doctor this week , gonna ask him ive made a note of all the pills mentioned on here and will ask his advice because im not sure if all pills are compatible with everyone.

Hi. I hope you're not feeling too bad today. Yes absolutely talk to your GP. they should know what's suited to you, but also sometimes its trial and error. Unfortunately. What do you take now?

hi , i just take over the counter pills at the moment because most of the time it only hurts if i over reach or sudden unexpected movement , but now at night it has stareted to ache and as your probably already aware , its very uncomfortable and annoying , so im seeing the doc to get his/her opinion . stupid things like itching my back or washing hair are becoming annoying as well , it made me realise how much we take simple things for granted , and then lose the  ability to carry out simple everyday tasks.have you had the same experience ?

Yes definitely. That's what I said to a friend, about taking the simple things for granted. Mine hurts/aches constantly, but the sudden movement or someone brushing past catching my arm is agony. Putting my coat on, if I'm rushing with the children and forget for a second when putting my arm in, I've ended up doubled up on the floor. It sounds ridiculous, but the pain is nothing like I've ever known!!!!!!! I feel like I'm constantly whinging on here!!!!! I hide it, we'll try to. It's actually quite wonderful to bring it to the surface on here and almost admit to all the pain. You must make sure you get something from your Doctor though. As you will need it if it progresses.

hi , because i had F/S in my right shoulder and how painful it was , i fear the worsed that now my left is gonna end up the same , it was about 18 months from start to finish with the right one so i reckon i got about another year or so with this one

hey Mel....I have just re read your posts. Your symptoms are identical to mine. Aches constantly, sudden movement or a bump can literally take your breath away with agony. Definately putting on a coat or cardigan where your arm goes slightly behind. I have trouble pulling my jeans up, have to try and do it with one hand. Mine is my left shoulder, if I'm passenger in a car I can't pull the door closed with my left arm, have to lean out and across with my right arm. Does all that sound familiar???

Yes!! Exactly!!! On a occasion, as I said before about rushing, I have used my bad arm to shut the car door, and it is agony. I've cried!!! It's my right arm, and I'm useless with my left arm!!!!!! I can shut the car door but need help with seat belt!!

Yep I pulled the passenger door shut quickly in the rain last week without thinking. I sat there and cried with the pain until it kind of faded off.....my husband didn't know what to do. 

So what are your doctors saying yours is and what are they doing about it?

The pain is incredible, isn't it?!!!

Well mine started through a neck problem. It came on out of the blue last September. As time has gone on my shoulder and arm have got worse. Physiotherapist wouldn't do anything because of the pain. It would seem they're concentrating on my neck still, and thats why I'm now waiting for an MRI. All to do with the nerves in my neck. My shoulder is so much more painful though!!!!

Does an MRI show a frozen shoulder, is there something to see?? I think my shoulder has to wait. I was told to just keep taking pain meds

Well that's what my concern is for you Mel......I have been told that an MRI is very painful for our problem because of where and how they want you to place your arm and your not allowed yo move for quite some time. 

Remembering you have exactly the same symptoms as me......I had an ultra sound ( relatively painless) and it showed I have a full thickness tear in the rotator cuff. Has anyone looked at that with you?

it can just happen for no reason through wear and tear and mine got worse as time went on. Yes my shoulder is frozen as in I cannot move it without pain, but mine is actually a tear in the Supraspinatus tendon, which also caused pain up into the neck and base of the skull. I'm just saying....since your symptoms are the same as mine could you possibly have a tear in your rotator cuff???? Cause if it is it won't heal itself you will need surgery. Mine is next week

hi linda i had never even heard of this condition until i was diagnosed with it in my right shoulder 3 years ago , i now have it in my left shoulder and although its not as badas my other shoulder was its slowly getting worse. it is an awful illness , i sometimes think that the gps dont take it seriously , they seem to just pass it off as trivial. i am going for injections in my shoulder this friday (oh deep joy) it never worked last time so im not exactly confident it will this time.

Hi Linda. The way you describe the surgery and Physio etc made me wince!!!!!

Are you still in as much pain as you were before surgery? Idea of that terrifies me!

How frustrating is it not being able to do your hair properly? Bra? Normal everyday things!!!

Do your doctors think they will fix it for you?

Hi all 😀, I have all the exact same symptoms as you guys. Started off just uncomfortable 4 months ago, but slowly got worse and worse, can't lift my left arm up definately can't put it behind, sudden movement is AGONY and at night it just aches that deep can't ignore ache. I googled frozen shoulder and I fitted all the symptoms, but I had two, one month apart steroid injections that did absolutely nothing that's when my doc got a little suspicious and sent me for an ultra sound, they found a tear in the Supraspinatus tendon, I was then referred to a shoulder Orthopedic specialist who did his own ultra sound and confirmed a full thickness tear. He said these don't repair on their own and I will need surgery to repair it. So a week on Friday im booked in to day surgery for repair or the tear and a clean out under the acromium of the shoulder. 6 weeks in a sling......no movement of shoulder joint, I have 2 friends that have had the exact same surgery for the exact same problem and they are certainly on the road to recovery. It's known as a rotator cuff tear and is apparently quite common in people over 50 and while it can be caused by a fall or accident it is often just wear and tear and has no reason for occurring. So PLEASE if your symptoms seem to worsen or your steroid injections arnt working there could be a reason, there could be a tear in your rotator cuff which will give all the same symptoms as frozen shoulder. Good luck guys....I feel your pain 😘❌❌❌

Hi. Can I ask if anyone gets pain in their hands?? Like the thumb. Mine so painful, but maybe that's just part of my neck pain as its all to do with nerves.

I have had the odd twinge in my other shoulder, but think no!!!!! It is just twinges though. Why does it happen in both shoulders if I haven't done anything to it?!!!!

Are you worried about the surgery? This is when you need a loving family around you.x

Hi Mel......I definately get a lot of neck pain and fatigue in my shoulders and neck and sometimes that dull ache goes right down my arm but seems to stop at my wrist. maybe it's arthritis in your thumb or your right it could be a nerve impingement I guess? Maybe try something for arthritis with your other meds for a week or two and see if that relieves the pain in your thumb. There is Panadol osteo they are just over the counter but you must take 2X3 per day to see if they make any difference. I give my shoulder a rub every night with firstly magnesium spray then Voltarin Osteo girl 😊

ummmm that was Voltarin Osteo GEL not girl....stupid auto correct

Morning Kerri. Sorry for not replying but my partner just doesn't get me talking on here and gets really crappy about it. When actually I'd rather be on here than with him!!!!!

Thank you for your advice. Sounds really wussy saying about my thumb ( but it really bloody hurts!!!!) I hope you not feeling too bad today.x

partners  ? oh hell when i had F/S the first time , my partner didnt really understand , because i couldnt work it caused money problems and we ended up splitting company , i hope you dont go that far .

Well that's like my situation. I can't work and doctor has signed me off indefinitely, so we are really struggling. Falling behind on everything!!!!! He's just so cold and because I can't and really don't want to do things that is expected in a relationship (being very careful with wording so as not to offend) he is even more uncaring. Sometimes I feel like telling him to just go!

Mel, you don't have to apologise 😊

I like getting on here because we all understand each other's pain cause we are all experiencing the same or very similar problems.

i definately did not think you were being Wussy about your thumb, pain is pain no matter where it is and it's horrid and debilitating day in and day out. I'm all the way over here in Australia and I like that people on the other side of the world actually care about how I'm feeling today, like I care about how you are all feeling over there in the UK. 😘❌❌❌

That's really sad Jim......it's not like you enjoy or volunteer to be in pain. 

When your in constant pain that's when you need their support, surely your partner could see you trying to get it sorted. I'm living on painkillers and before it was decided I needed surgery I was at massage, doctors, osteopath, accupuncture, dry needling.....none of that was for fun or because I had nothing better to do I can assure you. 

Do you not have wage protection insurance, that must make it difficult.

i hear what your saying Mel....trust me THAT is the last thing I am thinking about. You might be better off without such a negative uncaring person around as sad as that sounds. I'm sure you would be there for him if the shoe was on the other foot so to speak

Yes, absolutely. There is a part of me that's sad though, because I feel one shouldn't have to find something like this ( not knocking it for a second) to find empathy, someone to talk to and understanding. It is what it is though.

The health care is good there isn't it? X

I've never heard of that wage insurance.

Believe me I keep thinking exactly that. Yes I'm so caring. He had a cold last week, and I was always asking how he felt etc.

I know that if I reciprocated his 'feelings' he would be lovely. That makes me resent him more. My daughter is 16 and keeps saying the same thing. X

Mmmm....I'm not sure it's good, it's all I know. I pay about 150 pound per month in private cover then we pay public medical out of our wages. I don't work though, but my husband pays off of his wages. 

I feel for you....it's bad enough living with pain 24/7 then dealing with personal issues like you are dealing with is tough. 

The wage insurance over here is something you choose to take out like house insurance.....it's called sickness and accident insurance and it covers you in instances just like your present situation or if you had an accident or illness outside of work that was covered by your job insurance. It gives you a wage while you are off work. Do you have superannuation over there, if so look in to it because sometimes there is an insurance coverage with that, it covers you for exactly what your going through now. My daughter had Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 3 years and couldn't go to work......her superannuation had an insurance built in to it which paid her 75% of her wage for the whole 3 years she was off. She had to see her doctor every month and he had to fill out paperwork and my daughter had to submit that paperwork every month but at least she was getting paid for the 3 years she was totally incapacitated. Not sure if you have it over there but look in to it for sure, sometimes no one tells you about it unless you ask

Thank you Kerri x

I hope your daughter is well now? That's the most worrying thing, if your children become ill. Everything else becomes insignificant. Is what your daughter had the same as ME?

I have inquired about different things, financially, but I've been told we are not entitled to anything. It's rubbish!!!!! Want for a better expression!!x

My daughter is fine now that was about 5 years ago. She has since got married and had a beautiful little boy. She had Chronic Fatigue, awful awful tiredness, even though she would sleep for 10 hours she would be exhausted when she woke up and terrible aching all over her body, there is no cure and they don't really know what causes it....although it is often associated with glandular fever and the Epstein Bar Virus showed up in her bloods.....anyway it was a long and awful illness and horrible as a mother to watch your baby suffering and there is nothing you can do. That's bad luck about not being eligible for any assistance. 

That's wonderful, your daughter being well, married and being a mummy herself.

I bet she hates seeing you suffering now though!!!

hi no need for to explain , i know exactly what you mean . i was not interested in anything , sex , drugs or rocknroll if you excuse the pun . she was frustrated i think at mty lack of interest , and looking back i think because of that and money was short she also lost interest in me because she didnt understand F/S . it is without doubt an awful thing to put up with , and because most people have never heard of it they just assume we areall malingerers . the physio once told me that pain can have severe psychological effects on people , maybe you could talk to your man and explain this to him , maybe let him read about some of those in agony who joined this forum .

Hi Mel, pain before surgery was vile  After the surgery I had a nerve block which lasted about 12 hours - again in agony once this had worn off- saw physio just before home discharge & was given excercises to do which I did little & often as per instructions-was agony but I persisted. Next app with physio was10 days post op, she said wooow slow it down too much!! Said if I had just had manipulation & release of the adhesions I could go at it hammer & tooth but because I had subacromiun decompression ( where they shave off some of the bone & cartilage ) I would be in tremendous pain & cause further imflammation  Said all the nerve endings were exposed & not to see any improvement for at least 6 weeks   Pain has now slightly decreased - so sick of taking painkillers!! I am very lucky that I have a caring husband who has put up with me & this awful problem! I met a gent yesterday at physio who was going through the exact same thing and he said his partner didn't understand & as a result they were splitting up - very sad as they had a 12 month baby & he couldn't pick him up out of his cot & she had no sympathy at all  

On a good note my surgeon has said I will get full movement back but he may need to do further manipulation  I should know 26th March. You will be fine Mel don't worry about the surgery I have 2 friends that have had your type of operation and they are doing fantastic & both have full movement back so stay positive  

Hey Jim (I take it that's your name?!)

Exactly the same situation. Lack of money aside all the rest of it, is awful. Not wanting to sound shallow, but money really does make a difference!!!!! A much better one!!!!!

Every time I might do some shopping, food etc,I feel so guilty. It's ridiculous. He makes me feel like s@!#!!!!!

Thing is though, once the resentment is there, I'm not so sure you can go back.

I honestly think he doesn't get it because it's not visible. He definitely wouldn't get this !!!!!!

When do you see your doctor?

Hi Linda.

That all sounds hideously painful!! I'm so happy it's improved, even ever so slightly its positive. Do you still take a lot of painkillers?

It's wonderful to hear that there are happy people out there, thank goodness!!!!

So sad about the man you spoke to. It really is. I understand about not being able to pick your child up. I've not since this all started last year. At first it devasted me. I cried. So difficult. I just don't get people not caring enough to understand the people they're supposed to love?!! I'm so different to that. I've always taken care of everyone. I love it. These other people are just too selfish and self centred. Could say a lot worse actually!!

hi yeah it is jim , its a shame about your partner , it is very difficult to get them to understand the pain , as you say there is no visible sign of anything wrong so maybe they think we are just making it up . F/S shoulder turned my life round , prior to it everything was  fine and dandy as they say , i had no problems as such , if i had an answer for you i would give it ,  the only answer is full recovery and a little more understanding from partners etc etc . i see my doctor this friday , gona have injections , physio said he could do no more :-(

Hi Mel I take Ibrufin 400mgs 3x/day and 30/500mgs x2 Co codamol also 3xday - nothing Ive taken takes the pain away even the Morphine.......I've tried a concoction of drugs since it started last July & just take these now, my GP is good but I think he didn't know what else to prescribe lol. Tramadol was awful but its a nasty drug anyway! I'm 56 & have young grandchildren who bless them don't understand my misery  This has made me very depressed  I still can't use a spoon to feed myself - have to use my left hand lol - cutting up food can be a nightmare Oh and I find it incredibly difficult putting deodorant on! & don't even mention shaving my pits!!!!!! Anyway a glass of wine helps!

Yes the poor man I spoke to yesterday couldn't believe how debilitating this condition is and his partners lack of sympathy so I feel for him and Jim............... I to had never heard of frozen shoulder Jim I googled & googled it lol................

Hey Linda. No the drugs don't do as much as I'd like and I don't think I'm able to take more than I am!!!! Why do some think tramadol is so bad? I've been taking it on and off for quite a while as I've had a bad back for years!!!! Sound like an old woman. I'm 45. I have 5 children and twin 4 yr old granddaughters. It is hard as like you said, they don't understand. But lots of snuggles always helps!!

Yes sometimes I have to ask for help cutting up food too, and I can't use the pepper grinder!!!!!! I think I said before about really struggling with my bra!!!! Sorry if that upsets anyone!

Google is great!!!!x

Lol yes not been able to do up my bra since last summer! That was the first thing to go! I have to do it up when its around my waist then wiggle it round & up!!!!! It's hilarious to watch!!!! And I apologise if that upsets anyone aswell  

Yes agree with lots of cuddles! Twins awwww how fab  

Hummm you get on ok with Tramadol? It can be really nasty, such awful side effects - but its good if you can take it I worked in critical care for years & know full well how vile it can be! 

Love love google  he he

I was fine on 1 Tramadol. I was told I could take 2 50 mg at a time and wound up with my first Migraine and in the Emergency room. After that, only one Tramadol would give me a headache...

it. Is a synthetic opiate...

Oh I know. I have found myself almost crying with frustration and In pain, then see myself in the mirror and start laughing!!!! Hysteria has set in when putting on a bra!!!!!!!

What can tramadol do??? I'm a bit nervous now!!!!!

The children always keep me going. My youngest gets in my bed every night still, it's agony as it's even harder to get comfortable, but he makes me feel better at the same time!!! Do I sound crazy?!!! X

Was it definitely the tramadol ? Why would it do that.....

Was it just one of those things? Scary!! What about codeine? Morphine?

Got a migraine the last two times I took them. I wasn't taking them everyday. My son is on pain management for 4 blown disks. He and a friend who took them after a car accident both said they had the worst headaches of their lives when they took Tramadol. When I stopped about a year and a half ago, I never had another migraine,,,

Yep Terry it can do that!

When I was first prescribed them my GP actually said go to bed and take them whilst you are actually in bed don't take them and wonder round - I was scared stiff! They didn't take any of my pain away or knock me out - just made me very very sick  I have seen it do awful things to some people but then if you are ok with it its a wonderful painkiller! What suits one person doesn't always suit the next...........

Hi Mel awww don't worry about Tramadol it obviously suits you - its just some people can take it whilst others can't.............It made me v sick  Co codamol is converted in the liver to morphine which doesn't suit some people so try not to worry - you are one of the lucky ones who can take Tramadol.

Yep true the children can work wonders Harry who's 5 said " I'm getting older now aren't I Nanny I'll have a poorly arm just like yours" they come out with such wit! 

So folks its trial and error with analgesia personally I think I'll just chop my arm off and be done lol Gunna attempt some housework now, oh the joys! 

P.S Mel you are deffinately NOT crazy!!! lol

Hi Linda. I'm a born worrier!!! Doesn't take much to set me off!

Children are wonderful. I can't wait till they break up for Easter!

Have you heard of the drug 'Targin' ?

I have threatened to chop this arm off a few times!!

Don't over do it with the housework. Really need to do mine!x