So so tired

[rowantree]

Sometimes the pain really gets on to of me, other times its the tiredness. I am so so tired. Anyone else fighting it? I guess being in pain constantly just makes you so tired at times.

[Hidden]

Hi rowantree, actually lately more tired than usual sleeping about 10/12 hours at the moment, slept last night 10 hours and this afternoon had to have a nap for 2 hours so a combination of pain, fatigue.

[stampede187]

Finding it harder to sleep due to my pain. I used to get 5 or 6 hours (no more or too stiff and sore) but now I wake up several times in agony; Was easier to stay comfortable previously. So yeh, that and the constant battle with pain making me tired... I know what you mean.

Hope you find some way to deal with it, I'm speaking with the Doc this week to see.if he can help. Take care.

[Hidden]

I need an afternoon nap and go to bed and still wake up tired!!

[Boozybird]

It's exhausting mentally, emotionally and physically but have found that more sleep doesn't make any difference so I try to limit my sleep and have short rest breaks during the day. Others on the site talk about keeping to routine and pacing etc and trying to achieve just one small thing each day. After a few weeks review and you might find that tiredness is the same, pain the same but maybe you've done more. I've just been to a wedding. It was totally exhausting mentally (preparation, worry), emotionally (putting on the 'happy' face for a whole day) and physically (journey, sitting, standing, concentrating) but its over now and I'm back to being normal again. I.e. tired and in pain. best wishes.

[cazzyme]

I know the feeling some days I feel like I am just dragging through the day praying that I get a small amount of respite by sleeping some of the night. I have at least a tiny glimmer as I am due to have another injection into my back which last time helped with the pain there for a while and although still have pain with the rheumatoid arthritis every little helps. Hope you find a little glimmer however small. Take care

[rowantree]

I find it so hard, working full time, exhausted by the time I get home. Spend a short time with the kids and go to bed when they do! Then at the weekends I just want to sit and do as little as possible to build up energy for the next week. Medication probably makes me tired too. And I'm trying out a night splint for plantar faciitis but it keeps waking me up!

[Calceolaria]

Best wishes rowantree.

[leroyjethro]

It's just a never ending circle of pain and exhaustion. Sending hugs rowantree.xx

[johnsmith]

Hi

What is causing your tiredness and what investigations have you done to determine the cause?

Living with pain seems the obvious answer, but it may not be the total answer.

I know the tiredness well however it is not with me all the time. Generally I find the hour or so sleep helps me. Sometimes I spend most of the day in bed but that is rare.

I engage in the following practices: Alexander Technique, Mindfulness and chiropractic treatment. From these practices I have learnt that a lot of my pain problems are due to muscular issues. The one area that the NHS does not know anything about and does nothing about.

Tense muscles cut off their blood supply and thus are starved of nutrients and produce metabolic poisons. I wonder if the metabolic poisons have more to do with the tiredness than one gives credit for. The capillaries in a muscle are one blood corpusal in width. Tense muscle shuts off the capillary and yet craves oxygen and nutrient to keep tense. It does not get the oxygen so it produces latic acid. Latic acid if it cannot be removed from muscle will produce pain.

The Mindfulness and Alexander technique help me keep my muscle tension fairly low, but does not stop the muscle spasms that I get. However I do mange to reduce them to less than it would be without the work.

The McTimony chiropractor I see on the NHS heps remove some of my problems. I have to have this treatment once every six weeks. The chiropractic will never cure my problem. I have extended discs in the neck. It does keep the discomfort lower than what it would have been without the chiropractic treatment.

[petermoore]

Hello Rowantree

I am well aware of your situation personally being in chronic pain 24/7 due to scar tissue as result of two operations on my back for a total disc replacement nine years ago and tumour removal also lower back six years ago.I at worst was sleeping two thirds of the week in a cycle no interest in anything and up to eighteen months ago was not in a good place. I was referred by my pain clinic consultant to attend a PMP (patient management programme) for three months (every Monday in my case for two hours). Three consultants (Physcoligist, Pain Management, Physco) talked over that period to twenty one people and although the drop out rate was high with seven myself being one finished the course. The main thing was it was a turnaround momement in my life.They taught me a lot but one word stood out "acceptance" of my situation and then going forward with the fact that the pain was going nowhere but the rules would now change. Negatives which i faced and still do daily would be turned to positives and i would control this new lodger "Pain" and control it not it contol me 24/7. I broke through the darkness of lying in bed with a long day and fearing the nights with four to five hours sleep.I also which was difficult came off my four hour oxyocontin caps advised by GP and changed to slow release12hours oxyocontin caps which is the gold standard to control pain. I paced myself also doing the jobs i could do well and seeking help if needed for the jobs which were too taxing. I also for the first time in years pushed myself out for small events like a pub quiz or boot sale. You think when you are in the position you describe that that is it for the rest of my life but with careful planning you can swing the power of control back to you. I would suggest your route is GP to Pain Clinic to PMP and i hope and pray you turn this around, I was lucky as i have a supportive family who shared my journey as they wanted their husband,father,and Grandfather back in their midst daily and to a point they have me back. To be honest summing up i still have my pain,and i do get limited induced sleep but the never ending cycle of tiredness and sleeping day into day has stopped. I hope some of this is helpful to you and you turn this round so you can enjoy your life again.

[Calceolaria in reply to petermoore]

That was an inspiring posting,Peter.

[nedd]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tis a bugger int it.

x

[rowantree]

Thank you everyone. It really helps to her other people's experiences. I enjoy my work but it is very tiring anyway, constant brainwork, meetings, decisions. Then I'm so shattered when I get home. I don't have any brain power left for my son and partner. I don't have to do anything, but I would like to be present, able to think and hold a conversation. I don't think there's anything else causing the tiredness, (although the rheumatologist did guest fibromyalgia). I think just being in constant pain is just soo tiring. I'm lucky I don't get depressed. I get down sometimes, and irritable but nt depressed.