Pain relief needed

[Whitch]

I am in constant pain with my back - an area to the right of my spine and between my waist and shoulder blade - A & E doctor says most likely a pulled muscle may be a cracked rib but muscle most likely - my neighbour suggests I get a tens machine - could anyone advise of their experience with this please

Doctor at A & E said take co- codamol but these are giving me just a small amount of relief and also constipation !!! I am a very active person - if I half lay in my chair and get into one position - pain is relieved a little but still quite bad

Many Thanks for reading

Olive

[Badbessie]

I use a tens machine for my back due to osteoarthritis. I would not advise using a tens machine. Firstly it may not help if your rib is cracked and depending on the location of damage it could cause more problems. Secondly depending on where the damage is it may be too near the heart to use safely. You describe a fair!y large area of pain which would make placing of the pads very difficult to be effective. When I first started using a tens machine I rang the community physiotherapist for advice and it took some time to get the right positioning. There are also different settings on the machine which can also effect how well it works. I would take advice before using one.

[Whitch in reply to Badbessie]

Thank you I now have an appt today with my doctor as I was not going to use without medical advice - I was told it could be muscle pain and if he confirms this then I think I may get a tens machine and try it

[peege]

Hi, I can't advise on a tens machine - I thought they're quite expensive, no?

Re the co-codamol, if they're helping with the pain then add some ground flaxseed to your breakfast cereal, it's marvellous. There's also some great fruit about at the moment, if you treble your intake it should help. Apricots are excellent, peaches as well as the usual prunes.

I've a rotator cuff injury at the moment, I'm 7 months in with it. When it's bad I take 1 co-codamol and 1 paracetamol though most of the time I use Volterol to rub on skin, it has diclofenac as pain relief and muscle relaxant (remember we cannot use ibruprofen/Nurofen).

If you can get a diagnosis then you can get the right treatment for it. Good luck, P

[Schmicter]

I am quite prone to pain from muscle strain and pulls around lowest rib facet joint. It causes a stabbing pain in the area you describe, also the only relief I get is when I sit in a certain position. I am also very active and sometimes just a quick movement or something will bring it on, and it will last for weeks. So far I have found the only thing that helps is NSAIDS and rest/time...and that certain position.

[Whitch]

I was in so much pain when at doctors that I forgot to ask about tens machine !!! But was sent for X-rays and they took about 7 in different positions - results will go first to main hospital for analysis and then to my doctor - so a few days for result - bought tens machine and a friend who has used one is going to come and help me with it - also doctor gave me stronger painkillers - which seem to be helping a bit !!!

[Ergendl]

TENS machines can help with pain - I used one for an arthritic knee. You could try visiting an osteopath or chiropractor. They made a real difference to my damaged back.

[Whitch]

I did get a tens machine but have not used it yet - doctor gave me Tramadol slow release tablets and also sent me to local hospital for X-Ray's - results later in week - I came home and took 2 Tramadol - after a little while I realised the pain was less - not wanting thepain to come back - 4 hours later I took 2 more - then I became quite woozy and out of it !!! Realised if you can take 4 doses a day that should be 6 hours apart and not 4 !!!but no pain after 9 days of almost constant pain this felt good - I a, still very very tired all the time and have been reading up on this and think I should ask for a test for hyperthyroidism- I take levothyroxine every day and have done for many years but when I was reading about the hyperthyroidism is seems to suggest they are not connected - anyone else have this condition xx