Hi everyone. I'm new here and hoping to find help with pain which makes it impossible to walk other than very slowly and for no more than 5 to 10 yards before my hips and back flare up. It sometimes feels as if I'm walking on balloons when the energy cuts out.
I am 77 and have arthritis and a wonky heart valve and it is often impossible to tell which is causing the various symptoms as well as the pain.
I have used morphine patches for years and omeprazole for IBS as well as a cocktail of drugs for my heart problems and I am careful with my diet. These all help, of course, but the pain and the limitations it creates seem to be beyond all these remedies.
My GP is very good but after 11 years of this I think she's tired of my presenting problems she can do nothing about. I feel very much on my own despite having a loving and caring husband who does all he can for me and being in regular touch with my 3 children. Chatting with them always gives me a lift, and my younger daughter pays for my lovely cleaners to come in and make the place habitable which does more for my blood pressure than anything else! I think I have probably gone on too long so I'll stop and hope that I can find some help from you all.
Take care of yourselves.
Love, Anna.
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annacruachan
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First, welcome to the best site for Fibro sufferers, you will find help, care, comfort, understanding, support and love. We are your bestest med friends, never worry about how long your post/reply is, no one is ever judgemental on this site, we don't allow it.
Second, a bit more information would be helpful. Do you still use the morphine patches, what pain killer meds are you on, are you taking nerve blockers like Gabapentin, where in your back does the pain hit, and is it both hips affected and equally ?
None of us are medical experts, but like you, over the years we have learnt a lot by trial and effort. Remember, any suggestions should be discussed with your GP first, before you try, even over the counter remedies. Only you and your GP understand the full extent of your symptoms.
So, back to,welcome, hope you find us the friendliest bunch around on the net.
With regard to painkillers, I have tried the lot over the years and Buprenorphine is the only one that relieves some of the pain without upsetting the applecart somewhere else in my bod. I have been using them since 2005 and still do today. I also take Paracetamol from time to time in rather more than the recommended dose, I'm afraid!
Another thing I use to help muscles to recover quickly is D-Ribose. It is tasteless so can be put into a favourite drink. I keep it for flare ups rather than take it daily but both are acceptable.
The pain in my back is at the site of an old injury to the sacrum at the very bottom of the back. At the same time both hips are screaming. This then travels down my legs and I have to grab hold of something not to fall over. I feel 'safe' indoors where there is furniture and door frames to keep me upright. Outside I use 2 sticks or a wheeled walking frame with a seat. The walker is good and enables me to chunter round the village and keep in touch with the community. My arms suffer though! It seems sometimes as though every little gain has to be paid for.
Despite all the moaning I am lucky in that my interests can be followed indoors, books, internet, music, TV, sewing and craft work of various kinds. Rio at the moment is working well at redirecting my concentration away from the Fibro!
Just saying hello. Crhonic illness can be very isolating. Please come on here and tell it how it is. We all need to let off steam and who else can you vent all over and not feel guilty. Life is tough and we know it. There is plenty of friendship and laughs along the way. As Ken would say I hope you have the best of possible days.
Thanks nedd. There have not been many laughs recently and I am encouraged by the response from you friendly people. However much someone loves you they really have no idea what you're going through.
Can't write any more just now as my arms have given up!
No hassle. Sometimes I don't fetch up here for weeks,With limited energy and all consuming pain you have to grab your pleasures where you may, and thinking outside the box is a sanity saver. I read somewhere that on average we may spend 3 hours a year with health care professionals and that leaves over 8 thousand hours to find boxes to explore! And this is one of those!
Luckily I have found no problems that can be directly related to Omeprazole. I'm really lucky that it does such a good job on the IBS. I take probiotics as well which helps.
Welcome to the forum and it is wonderful to make your acquaintance. I am so genuinely sorry to read of how you are suffering and struggling and I sincerely hope that you can find some resolution and relief to these issues. I have pasted you a link below to our mother site, FMA UK which hosts loads of useful Fibro information:
I was wondering if you have ever tried a TENS Machine for your pain? I have pasted you an excerpt and a link from an *NHS / Arthritis Care pdf below so I sincerely hope that you find this useful:
.
*What is TENS?
A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) machine works by creating a
tingling or buzzing sensation on your skin. This can help to block or suppress pain
messages to your brain.
TENS machines are small, lightweight, battery operated devices that fit into the palm
of your hand. They have rubber electrodes that attach to your skin, with leads
connected to the machine. The electrodes are either self-adhesive or attach to your
skin using water-based gel and adhesive tape. They are usually positioned either side
of the area of most intense pain. You will be able to control the strength (or
‘volume’) of the current that is passed through the electrodes, with a rotary knob or
dial. Some machines have larger controls that are easier to use if your hand
movements are limited.
Some TENS machines have two electrodes and some have four, used to treat a
larger area of pain. A low voltage current is passed through the electrodes and you
feel a buzzing or tingling sensation. This can be increased until the sensation is
slightly painful. You can then turn the current down until it is fairly strong but not
uncomfortable.
.
NHS / Arthritis Care - FACTSHEET. TENS machines – an electronic method of pain relief:
I do use a TENS Machine myself and I personally find it quite effective. I have a compressed sciatic nerve on the right side but it does not hep that? However, where I get Fibro pain in shoulders or spine etc it works well for me. Good luck my friend.
Hope the above gives you the encouragement you hoped for, we are a really friendly bunch, you should read some of the replies left around 4am this morning (Monday), by the non sleeping night owls, always cheers me up.
Thanks to our wonderful Ken, who is one of our administrators. They often find useful links or info and put in the replies, it's good for all of us to be reminded about what's out there at times.
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