Advice on pain relief

[Diy2]

Hi, my name is Bev & I'm a newbie. After what seems like a lifetime l have finally been referred to the rheumatology clinic for a diagnosis which may or may not be fibromyalgia. After several years of blood tests, scans, physiotherapy treatment, carpel tunnel operations and in constant pain l was put on amatryptilin. This resulted in an acute allergic reaction resulting in chronic urticaria a over my body. I had 4 weeks of hell !! The dermatologist had never seen anything like it. This has left me with a hypersensitivity to any drugs related to amatryptilin and any anti inflammatory drugs. Therefore l am totally lost as to where l go from here for pain relief until my appointment at the end of April. Any advise would be greatly received. Thanks 😊

[Bolognese2022]

I struggled with the same drug it sent me into renal retention after only six days. The GP informed me I was the first person she had this side effect as it was rare. Therefore I empathise with you.

Can your GP not prescribe any other form of treatment?

[Diy2 in reply to Bolognese2022]

Hi Thank you for your reply. To be honest l am apprehensive to say the least about any other tablets as l never want to go through that again with the urticaria. Accupuncture was suggested & l have had an initial consultation. As for pain relief , cocodomal is an option for the short term .

[Bolognese2022]

I forgot to say my left eye closes when I get tired, I can open it when I need to.

I just thought you could contact an ophthalmologists they can check eyes.

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Hi there and welcome, I hope you get your diagnosis and I am sure April cannot come quick enough, you certaintly have been through the mill as they say. When did you last see your doctor ? I’m hoping they can advice you what to do for the next few weeks until your appointment gets here , let us know how you get on and if diagnosed with Fibro I’m hoping you find the forum helpful xx

[Diy2 in reply to Yassytina]

Hi , thank you for your reply & and yes, l feel like I've not been well forever with one thing after another. I forgot to add that l also had a sinus infection recently & used my normal nasal spray octrivine. Within 24 hours, my hands, etc, were itching & the urticaria was coming back.🙈. I have always used this spray, but due to this hyper sensitivity l had to stop. The doctor suggested accupuncture as an alternative and l am in the process of some treatment, fingers crossed it helps as it is not cheap. As for pain relief he has suggested cocodomal.?

[Yassytina FMA UK Volunteer]

Can have 100% of my empathy too you. , I am currently not sure if another dry Sinus infection but I get antiboctics and nothing has changed , we are having very wet damp weather here in Suffolk 🤣I just want too sit outside in my chair , it seems so long drawn out the weather (must not moan a lot worse going on in the world)but this is our little corner where we can chat and understand 😃x

[Deeb1764]

I have had some severe reactions so I have been thro a lot. I have RA with other autoimmune plus fibro. There was no easy route it was trial and error. My hubby found it as stressful as me when a new medication was started after anaphylactic and 999. So I always started a new medication when hubby home. I start on lower doses and build up.

What has worked co codamol for pain, pregabalin for fibro and I now have baritcitnib nib for RA.

There won’t be an easy path but work with your GP and consultant and nurse and hopefully you will get there.

[Diy2 in reply to Deeb1764]

Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me. Hope you are well today☺️

[Deeb1764 in reply to Diy2]

That’s ok it is daunting and you need to see

Your consultant to hopefully get a diagnosis

[Al10]

Ah bless, you're a dear sensitive little fibro. I shall put my thinking cap on for you. Meanwhile, you are in good company and perfectly normal; For a fibro. We drive our poor drs mad coz they can't prescribe the answer for fear of poisoning us. Isn't that wild?

My feeling is we are the Canaries. When there is gas in the coalmine we are first to fall of our perches; A warning to others. Obviously, no one unaffected cars one hoot about an odd bod that struggles with stuff others can manage fine. Still thinking but it's cold in here. Need to warm up.

[Al10]

Pain - No MEDs Eek! Tough Gig.

Sorry, wrote long. See, I probly thought too long huh? Hate to hear you are in pain. Hope you may find something here that helps.

When you can't take meds your options are more limited or if you look at it another way, you have to be more creative. Keeping active and doing stuff you like doing is number one most important.. Inactivity makes Fibro worse. Of course it does hurt to get moving and too much of anything is bad but still the fibro just picks the bones out and does what they can to keep the body moving. It's designed for movement and clogs and gets poorly without it.

Look at you life and ask, do I do stuff because I love to, or because I have to? Do I put on a cheerful face and do things for others because, that's what you do? If you do, you are likely failing to honour your inner being that has hopes and dreams too. Fibros easily get left with nothing for their own lives on account they are too busy keeping others happy. as fibro eats their lives, it becomes a treadmill of just managing the essentials, forgetting the essential is YOU.

Do you fail to do stuff because of 'reasons'. It's not sensible or it's selfish, risky, others don't want you to Etc? Fibros bodies can just sort of give up if they aren't being true to themselves and living the life they were born to live. It's not about being selfish, just recognising, your dreams for your life matter too?

If you have been doing this and now your bod is saying Stuff You! you can sort of apologise to it and look for what you would like to do that feeds your imagination or your soul, if you like? Likely poor ol' bod has been trying to catch your attention for a while? For ever even?

If there is nothing there. Maybe think about any silly fears you had as a kid steering you aways from certain things. What you were drawn to; Loved? What dreams you had? Your inner being does tell you stuff, even when your head says it doesn't. What you as a child hoped for isn't always childish and silly, just a lot of times we are made to think is must be? We dream big some of us as kids or fancy. Packing those dreams away is tough for your inner being who hoped you would listen and go get what they wanted.

Fears especially those irrational ones we have early, can be (don't scoff) from past lives? It happens. And if you have these and some of us do, you can ask your inner being WHY? You might be surprised at what answers you get. People have done this and it's opened up so much understanding. If you suspect this has happened to you, you can do research to help you know what to do, or you can, like you always do, just talk to yourself?

I'm sorry you get pain intractable. It's a rotten burden. However, if it opens you up to learning about yourself, even now, when you feel so bad, maybe good can come from it?

My advice is to look at what kind folks are saying and look closer and the options that resonate. Don't choose because someone well meaning says they have the answers. None of us do. All of us are individual. Incredibly so!! You have to figure how to do you, your way. And don't forget all of us are works in progress. Jogging along, finding our missing puzzle pieces that fit and that make our lives more complete and satisfying.

[Diy2]

Thanks for all of that advice. I still played netball up until lock down but haven't gone back to that. I work 25 hours a week , all of which l am on my feet covering about 1.5 miles a day. I have been told that exercise is a good thing for fibro so l follow a walk fit programme at-home . Sometimes it's a tough start but l find it helps my mental health aswell as my physical health. Hopefully after my hospital appointment / diagnosis of something l will have a plan