Living with increasing pain

[JanetM]

Hi everyone

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia 8 years ago, but have had it for 17 years. It took a while for them to diagnose. Since 2009, I have been on Amitrypteline at night. I started on 25mg and now up to 50mg a night. My GP is not keen for me to take more than that, although I am allowed to increase it when I have flare ups. I am also on Paracetamol 1000mg and Ibuprofen 800mg 3-4 times a day. It doesn't take away the pain, but does dull it.

Alongside 'normal' Fibro pain, I get odd flare ups in particular joints which seem to ease on their own. Nothing shows up when they check my inflammatory markers. A few weeks ago, the back of my right knee started giving me trouble, so much so that I have at times had to walk with a stick. I saw the GP (not my normal one) and he gave me Codeine and Naproxen to take alongside the other pain relief. Sadly, they have not touched the pain and now I am feeling increasingly less mobile as my whole body is now stiff and in pain, even when I am just sitting down. GP also told me to lose weight, which I am addressing, but that doesn't help me in the short term.

I am planning to go back to my own GP when I can get an appointment with him. Does anyone have any suggestions for pain relief that actually works? There has been no obvious reason for this increase in pain levels, apart from that I have had a lot of stress with getting essays finished for my studies. However, this has never been a huge factor in the past and I have been good about resting at regular intervals when needed. I am not sleeping well at the moment because of the knee and other body pain, so I know that is not helpful.

Any advice before I go back to my GP would be appreciated.

Thank you everyone. I hope you are all managing your pain levels better than I am.

Janet xx

[Hidden]

Hi JanetM ,

Hope you are feeling a little better today!

Although we have different conditions I wanted to let you know some of the things I use for pain (other than medication)

I use hot and cold. Either hot water bottle/microwave bag for heat and I use a gel called Biofreeze (which I get from my chiropractor but can buy on eBay/Amazon etc) I find this gel easier that ice packs.

For many years I have had a Tens Machine. Although this doesn't cure the pain, I find it can take the pain away for a good 20/30 minutes. If I know I need to get something done I use that to enable me to get on with the job.

Epsom Salt baths. Personally I love just sitting in a bath to relax. But have now found Epsom salts and I find that helps a bit as well. You only need to sit there for 20mins and your body absorbs the minerals.

None of the above have cured my pains but a mixed of these things as well as pain meds and ALOT of rest gets me through the day, I'm always willing to try something new so if I find anything else I will let you know!

Best of luck with your knee, the doctor and all other pains!

X

[JanetM in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. That is really helpful xx

[Tuppence71 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, I just read your post re Epsom salts. I began buying them at the chemist but they were so expensive for a small pot. I looked online & found many sites selling them. The best deal I found was bulk buy on eBay, 25kg for approx £20, that usually lasts me about 6 months & I used to bath daily, unfortunately my mobility has reduced medically & I have 2 carers. I now only get a bath 3 times a week as it takes 2 of them together to assist me. They are definitely good for the body in the majority of people unless allergic as our foods no longer contain enough due to back to back crops & spraying. As you said 20 minutes min & the body absorbs what it requires. I have a large double bath with 24 jets, 12 base air jets, 2 neck, 2 shoulders, 2 feet, 2 arms, 2 hips/pelvic & 2 Lowe leg which also help immensely however like everything else it’s a bit of short term relief x

[TheAuthor]

Hi JanetM

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? I am so genuinely sorry to read that you are suffering and struggling as a result of your pain issues.

I use a TENS Machine and I find that this does help me somewhat when my pain becomes too much. I would also discuss how you are feeling with your usual GP to ascertain if there is anything else that they can afford you like a referral to pain management or physiotherapy, if you have not got these in place already?

I want to genuinely wish you all the best of luck, and please take care of yourself.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken

[JanetM]

Thank you Ken. Does anyone go to an Osteopath and if so, have you had any good results from that treatment? I went twice to one, but then couldn't afford more and you are supposed to have at least 6 treatments before seeing results. Just wondered if anyone thought it was worth it.

[brown9 in reply to JanetM]

I got told not to see an osteopath once the Fibromyalgia was diagnosed

[TheAuthor in reply to JanetM]

Hi again, I had 3 sessions with an Osteopath but I felt worse for a week after each session so I stopped going! We are all different so although it did not work for me it may well work for you? I want to sincerely wish you all the best of luck if you decide to give it go?

[brown9]

I have slow release dihydrocodeine it means it is still effective after four hours to get you through the night. I also see a great Physio regularly she uses ultrasound and tens on my back. It can be costly but I don't drink or smoke so I spend my money on keeping my pain reduced.

[ladyinpurple]

I found it interesting that you said nothing shows up on your inflammatory markers. I have relatively mild rheumatory arthritis and was recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It was almost funny to watch the arthritis nurse go 'aha' as I described my symptoms and tell me she had her suspicions what was the matter. Sure emough when she went through the fibromyagia symptoms and did her pressure tests it all rang true. But my blood tests show no worsening od the arthritis.

I have been given Co-Dydramol which I only take if I am having a flare up. Sometimes it works, although it takes a while to kick in, but more often in a bad flare up it doesnt touch the pain. I have found that a heat patch or hotwater bottle applied to the worse painful areas help to dull the pain, but I am very interested in the other comments about what works to ease the discomfort.

I also try to keep moving regularly because it's a fine line between resting so I end up stiff, which then agrivates the pain, and being mobile so i function as notmally as I can! I havent got that balance right yet.....

[Tricia7048]

Oh bless. You sound just the same as me, this constant nagging pain. Mine has got worse in the last week to virtually unbearable I wish I could tell you something which works but I cannot, apart from the hot water bottle. I would get no sleep at all without it

I will tell you the moment I find something because its getting desperate now. Just wishing you all the best and hope you find relief soon.

[Blueboy69]

The only things that worked for me were morphine and tramadol. They will try to make you have tramadol but it’s awful it takes away the pain but it makes you feel like a zombie and in my case made me have fits which resulted in 4 dislocated shoulders so avoid it if you can. Good luck and be prepared to feel like a junkie as that’s how you will be treated if you are given opioid painkillers