More tablets

[LouLamb]

I went to my GP this morning. I have been getting terrible shoulder and neck pain at night. She checked my neck and shoulders and she said for a 17 year old i am very stiff. She has put me on Naproxen one a day to start with and omeprazole to line the stomach.

She said you normally have 2 naproxen a day but i am not a great tablet taker as she knows. I have only recently found a good way to take my hydroxy which is putting it in a little chocolate custard pot. It has been working amazing for me taking it that way. She does not want to give me to many tablets as i have just become willing to take tablets. She knows me so well !!!

Basically she said my lupus is not under control with the 1 hydroxy. When i go to the consultant if the naporxen hasn't helped a great deal, i need to tell my consultant. She will most likely put me on 2 hydroxy and 2 naproxen a day.

I also asked her for some vitamin d capsules as i tried the sachets and they were nasty. So today i am going to try and buy a pill box as i know with going from 1 tablet to 4 tablet to remember i will likely forget.

[weathervane]

Hope that helps lou , a heat pack on your neck and shoulders is also very soothing 🌸🌸

[LouLamb in reply to weathervane]

Thanks . I'm hoping it helps . I haven't slept through the night in over 2 years . I said to her in the night when I wake up I have to change shoulders . Also if I don't move my neck slowly it helps like it's going to snap .

[weathervane in reply to LouLamb]

Have you ever had a steroid injection in the shoulder?

[LouLamb in reply to weathervane]

No

[weathervane in reply to LouLamb]

I had muscle damage in shoulder and the pain kept me from sleeping, i had a number of steroid injections which helped at the time . It maybe something to ask about in the future.

[LouLamb in reply to weathervane]

Thank you .

[AgedCrone in reply to LouLamb]

What pillow are you sleeping on.....ask your rheumy nurse for some advice,

I slept on a really soft floppy pillow at a friend's house, & could hardly turn my neck the next next morning,.

You need a supportive pillow that holds your head without pushing it out of alignment.

[LouLamb in reply to AgedCrone]

I have a memory foam pillow

[AgedCrone in reply to LouLamb]

I don't know anything about pillows LouLamb, but I broke my neck (ouch) in a car accident & my physio's advice was to get advice on the right pillow ....I'm sure your Rheumy nurse will know who to ask!

[JanW]

I've had a lot of problems with my neck so my doctor sent me to physio at the hospital. They showed me excersises for my neck which really helped. Might be an idea to ask for a referral.

[LouLamb in reply to JanW]

Thanks . I ask my consultant when I go in September . Did you have to go long for physio? Do you still do the exercises ?

[JanW]

About six months and they are very good, my problem was to do with the dizziness associated with Meniere's, but the excersises are the same for anyone with pain in the neck. Didn't think they would help to be honest but they really do, loosens up the neck muscles a treat. I would advise anyone to go, plus if they think you've got certain problems you get a scan I had an MRI and after referal to ENT a neck x ray.

[Cas70]

LouLamb why don't you go to a Chiropractor or Osteopath? I had shoulder and neck pain which also caused headaches. My chiropractor put me on a Tens machine which deep massages for 5 mins. I am free of pain and pills! I go every few weeks. I take my Vit D and B12 in spray form from Holland & Barrett - there are lots of pill free remedies out there. Good luck

[LouLamb in reply to Cas70]

Thank you . I'll look into I really appreciate all the advice x

[Cas70]

Great - it's worth a try - I have used Deep Freeze gel too as it is what both Osteopath and Chiropractor use. I hate pills too and with Sjogren's I have a bad throat hence sprays for vitamins- best of luck - rough deal at such a young age. X

[misty14]

Hi loulamb

Really hope the naproxen helps your shoulder and neck pain. Good you can discuss it with your consultant in Sept. Fingers crossed for you. X

[LouLamb in reply to misty14]

Thank you x

[JenniferW]

Hi Loulamb

You say you think you will forget to take the pills. Can I suggest putting reminders in your mobile? You should be able to set multiple reminders for a day and set them to repeat every day. It might help you get in the habit and I found it very helpful when my routine was out of the ordinary.

On taking pills, I sympathise so much, I choke on them sometimes and that's really unpleasant. My mum suggested doing something she read in the paper a few years ago. The Romans used to stick their finger in their ear when they wanted to gorge at banquets and were full up. That's a gross reason to do it, but it does actually work - cover up your ear so that the pressure is trapped and breathe calmly for about five seconds. You should feel your stomach slightly relax. Then swallow the pill.

[LouLamb in reply to JenniferW]

I have set a reminder for half 6 every night to take the tablets if I haven't already took them x

[Barbara17]

Hi, Lou Lamb. Sorry to hear about your shoulder. I had similar problems a few years ago and my doctor suggested I try yoga. I found a beginners class and must say it's really helped me. I have no shoulder pain now and I'm much more supple all over.