Pain relief?

[Smc93]

So as my lap might not be until oct/Nov, I am really worried about all the pain and having to take more time off work etc. I'm currently on and there is no chance I can get out of bed. Does anyone have any pain relief that has helped them? Even a just a little bit? I have tried naproxen, TENS machine, hot water bottles but none of this has helped xx

[weekari]

Honestly, do whatever you need to do to be comfortable and have a good life. Work is not the priority, you health is. Do you know what's sure to make pain worse? STRESS!

I know this may sound like it's easier said than done and I get that it feels like we need to work or... Bad things with happen. But for me, those bad things are happening and do you know what, I'm still OK. I've been off work now for 7 months and had a pretty poor attendance record in the past 4 years since I've been ill. I'm in the process of my contract being terminated on the ground of ill health and I'm having to go bankrupt due to this. If you told me a few years ago this is where I'd be at, I'd be horrified but I'm actually OK with it.

My biggest issue is fatigue along with hip & back pain. I've eventually realised I just couldn't hold down a regular job as some days I can barely get out of bed and my brain is made of cottage cheese. It sounds awful for all this to be happening but I've just seen it as creating freedom so that I can build a life that is manageable. My life was completely unmanageable before.

I've only just been diagnosed but I'm hoping there may be some things I can do and some treatments that will help me get back some energy and decrease my pain. I plan to build up some work that will be flexible. My dream is to become a yoga teacher and to do that alongside writing and some arty things. So they're will be things I can still do even if I'm poorly.

In terms of managing my pain, I meditate a lot which I think helps me not get consumed by the pain, I also do yoga every single day and if I don't, my pain is worse. It's restorative yoga that's really gentle. If I'm particularly bad, i take codeine at bed time, this helps me sleep better and stops the pain from disturbing my sleep.

I hope you find something to relieve you from pain. But focus on you, not work. I wish I'd known it was all going to be OK when I was using all my energy to get to work and having absolutely no life. I wish I'd focused on me a lot sooner. Your life is precious. X

[Hidden]

I was using tramadol, co-codamol, mefenamic acid and diclofenac suppositories (in combination) and when that didn't work I went to A&E for morphine. If all you have is naproxen then a visit to your GP might be order as there are lots of other things you can try.