Pain Levels

[Cleggt]

Hi everyone, has any one found a really good way of reducing their pain, I have just spent a really painful three days just layingon my bed, this can't be it for the rest of my life, it;s no way to live

[Hidden]

Hi Cleggt

Just popped on and saw your post, I know the pain is something else.

Just going to put a few bits that I do they may help or they may not but I am willing to try anything.

I have really good heat pads I have one that you can wrap around yourself it’s not a kings ransom and can be found on Amazon.

Epsom bath salts I can’t be in a bath for long due to pain but I do try as it helps also cold showers as strange as this seems.

Body pillows help my pressure points and again not expensive.

Last and by no means least get a hot chocolate or a warm drink plump up the pillows put on a film and breath, relax, I use meditation but it’s a bit like torture not for everyone but I helps take my mind to something else the art of distraction, there really is no quick fix it’s finding what fits you.

Panda

🐼🥰💜

[trip77]

This'll probably sound daft, but I am one of those people that in winter, runs around in short sleeve tshirts, vest tops and shorts etc as my body temp is always running high.

I find that wen the cold starts to get to me, usually after about an hour or so, the numbness of the cold can, on most occasions, relieve the pain in my joints and muscles, to the point where can almost feel myself again.

Obviously the downside to this is that wen it is slightly warmer weather outside or ye go bak into a warm house, then the symptoms and pain returns and I feel bak to square one again.

Its a shame that there isn't a way that ye could numb the body without having to feel cold and that doesn't involve meds or treatments or whatever.

[Hazel_Angelstar Administrator FMA UK Staff]

I have a few things that I do to help with pain - some thing's work better one day than another, and some days nothing helps at all

Medication helps to keep my pain levels manageable - I'm still in a lot of pain but I can do stuff. Pacing is important so that I don't push myself too far and increase pain levels

Heat helps - I love my electric heat pad, aromatherapy muscle rubs, CBD as drops and tea, distraction such as crochet, watching TV, listening to music etc, exercise and activity - not moving increases stiffness and ends up with me being in more pain , massage, reiki, crystals, meditation, mindfulness, weighted blanket

Nothing takes the pain away but usually I can do something that helps to take the edge off

[lioncub]

I find I need to move as well as rest otherwise I'm in more pain, so just lying in bed may not be helpful for you. It's a tightrope walk through life where some days you feel damned if you do and damned if you don't. I spend most my life sat up in bed with lots of pillows behind me and available to put under my legs as that's what is most comfortable for me. I also stretch every morning or I feel worse, I take the dog out and as I live alone do all the chores but when I feel able to. Heat helps me but heat pads aren't hot enough, I use microwaved wheat packs. Good sleep and pacing activities reduces my pain levels. Try different things, don't give up hope.

[Midori in reply to lioncub]

Laying in bed weakens muscles further. It's better for your circulation as well as your muscle tone to be out of bed as much as possible, even if you are only in a chair. If you can get a pedal simulater it would help to keep your circulation going and reduce the risk of DVT, (bloodclots in the legs) which can cause nasty problems if they break away and travel to your heart or brain.

[Cleggt in reply to Midori]

I have an exercise bike, ended up with really painful knees thanks for your reply, keep safe

[lioncub in reply to Midori]

Thank you for your feedback but I can't sit in a chair because of hip problems, even a recliner aggravates my hip as my feet need to be level with my hips. I fidget lots and get up and move around even it is just for minutes. As you say I need to avoid further muscle weakness and DVT. Lying down can also cause chest and lung problems long term which is why I sit up during the day unless completely wiped out.

[katiedolittle]

Hello cleggt I started tò exersize every morning only arms and legs using my own body weight started with 5 of each and have worked up to 30 of each over the months the pain has been much less and I had a terrible time trying to go upstairs and some times even walk but now I can make it upstairs without the bad pain and the feeling that my legs are made of concrete and although I still get flare ups they dont seem to last as long I just keep going I hope this helps and hope your pain eases off soon.🙃x

[Cleggt]

many thanks for your reply, but I have already done the exercises thing, and it did not make any difference, i bought an exercise bike but all it achieved was really sore knees, at this age of 81 years i have learnt to accept that i am no longer able body but it would be nice to be painfree

[Midori]

Hi Cleggt,

As I said to Lioncub, you need to keep moving, laying in bed is not healthy and will make your pain worse. It can also be dangerous as Deep Vein Thrombosis can occur, usually in your calves. It is a clot in a leg vein which can break away and cause a heart attack or a stroke if it lodges in your heart or brain.

Also you lose muscle mass the longer you lay in bed, until the time when you will find it impossible to rise. It takes less time than you may realise; It put me in a wheelchair for weeks after my daughter was born, and took ages to get my legs back under me. I had been on enforced bedrest as my daughter was trying to come too early.

It is important to keep moving, and will help ease the pain, as the tendons will not shorten if you are moving around. Staying in bed can also cause foot drop, where the tendons tighten in the back of the leg and your foot will droop and be hard to get moving again.

I am a retired nurse, and I have seen these problems again and again when folk take to their beds.

Please get moving, your pain will ease if you exercise gently.

Cheers, Midori

[JayCeon]

Me?: Legs up (best fairly straight! up), arms up several minutes, the Wim Hof breath-holding exercise, very short cold showers (40''-60'') or cold on wrists/underarms and thighs, if need be heat directly after (esp. on toes).Heat pads and arnica cream for single pains from joints, neck, clavicle and trigger points. And acupressure (after whole body cryotherapy) has changed 4 big things, but the Ache and the exhaustibility still means doing something. I try not to rest passively any more, unless I'm typing on my laptop (lying down), mainly actively as described... And I use the better times to do more of these in time or as soon as anything starts up.