Epic Failure! My first nights trial with Zapain...

[ZedT]

Admittedly, I was exhausted and went to bed at 9.30, so maybe i started too early. I took two of my newly prescribed Zapain, and fell asleep reading quite quickly. I was jolted out of sleep screaming two hours later, and lay there sobbing while i tried to change position and go for a wee. I went back to sleep an hour later, and the same thing happened at 1.15. In tears, and shaking with the pain, I managed to half sit up, and my husband got out of bed and helped me to stand. I decided to go downstairs so I didn't disturb everyone any more. I tried sitting in a large leather (and quite firm) armchair with my legs up on a footstool, a pillow behind my back, and googled sleeping positions for sciatica on my phone.

Then, after watching a video of a physiotherapist showing how to position yourself, i took two more Zapain (never had this much Codeine in 8 hours in my life) and decided to make a bed on the floor. I used a cervical pillow for my head and a big pillow between my knees and lay on the rug in the living room. At first there was some relief, and i dropped off thinking "well, I'm not sure if i can sleep like this at home every night but camping won't be a problem!!", but woke again an hour and a half later with the same agonising jolt. I rolled onto my tummy and tried to stretch my leg for a few minutes. i dragged myself across the floor commando style and pulled two big cushions off the settee. i rolled onto these, put the pillow between my legs again and tried to sleep. At 4.30 i gave up.

Then the WORST part. For over an hour I was desperately trying to get off the floor. I rolled, i turned, i pushed, i pulled; every movement the pain was so intense i thought i would pass out! i was sweating, the tears were wetting my nightie, and my need to wee again was getting stronger. At one point i even considered ringing NHS Direct to see if I would be out of order ringing an ambulance!!! About half an hour ago (5.30) i made it to my feet.....and promptly wet myself

This is a living hell.

I have posted this experience knowing that probably, some of you reading my optimistic post yesterday will have suspected that this would happen. I think in the back of my mind i knew too. But i had to try. I have work in a couple of hours, i feel like death, and i know i've got more of the same to face later. i don't know what to do from here.

Incidentally, has anyone had to ring an ambulance when they got stuck like this? What happened? I'm glad I didn't have to, i don't want to waste resources, but what if next time i cannot get up? Please share your experience with me, as I'm running out of ideas. The one thing i didn't do which might have helped was perhaps using a hot water bottle, i forgot! I am going to go make one now, because i am in worse pain than usual for daytime right now, and need to get moving.

Thank you for listening.

[teadrinker]

That sounds awful for you. I hope the hot water bottle helps. Have you tried the stick-on heat pads that last for several hours?

I've tried various codeine medications & sometimes they work better than others, possibly depending on how bad the pain is when I've taken them. So maybe if you have another go with the zapain it may be different? I do find that codeine can interfere with my sleep a bit though.

As for not being able to get up - if someone falls and can't get up it's usual to advise them to call an ambulance, but it might not necessarily be classed as an emergency so they may be lying on the floor a little while. It might be better to ring 111 or NHS Direct - they can advise you, possibly maybe get an out of hours GP to visit, or an ambulance if needed.

Hope you have a better night.

[ZedT in reply to teadrinker]

i think that's a great idea teadrinker, and that did occur to me that night. Better to just have one medic out than an ambulance, they can always call for more help if they don't know what to do. thank you for your sensible words.

[Calceolaria]

So very sorry to hear all that. I don't know how you are managing to get to work ! I can't remember - are you awaiting investigations? This sciatica sounds extreme! I know when my pain started I had some very undignified moments as the inflammation feeling was all round the lower back/pelvic girdle and I had to make sure I was near a loo. I learned never to drink coffee if out for a meal! Best wishes.

[ZedT in reply to Calceolaria]

ehehe...yeah that's me! i rustle with the sound of massive pads in mi pants! Generally, i don't go out any more, pain is too bad and i can be suddenly wet through without any warning which is humiliating. I am still waiting for neuro report on MRI results from 6 weeks ago. they are being chased up by my GP. i do drink coffee...i think, sod it, if i'm going to be wet anyway, i might as well have a coffee! doesn't seem to make a difference whether i do or not. x

[parki1953pc]

Does your local council social services run an alarm system wherby you have a pendant button to press and they contact you by phone and if no reply ( you cannot move) they send someone to check.. Your house key(s),are duplicated in a key safe outside so the visitor can gain access.

[Hidden]

I'm so sorry you are having such a dreadful time. I personally think you should have called an ambulance. They would have given you some Entonox (gas and air) to relieve the pain for a while, and made you comfortable. I doubt you can blame the Zapain: it is not a drug for neuropathic pain. Sciatica is neuropathic (nerve) pain. The best meds for this are from pain clinics so I suggest you ask your GP for an urgent referral. I have similar pain to you but it has been controlled with neuropathic medications and also Pulsed Radio Frequency injections into the facet joints in my spine for 8 years now. This doesn't work for everyone and not all pain clinics do it but there are other procedures. Wishing you luck.

[ZedT in reply to Hidden]

hi Bowbells, thanks for responding. Tbh i wasn't really blaming the Zapain, i just found myself in an awful situation I wasn't expecting to be in, and zapain didn't help the way i thought it might (by giving me enough relief to let me sleep for longer). It will still be useful to make me comfortable at bed time i think.

You are dead right about pain relief for nerve pain, it is totally different, and i haven't tried everything yet, but Amitriptyline didn't suit me at all, so i wanted to try some more "physical" solutions first before i start experimenting with other medicines. i had the Zapain because i knew what it felt like to take it, and that made me feel more secure. i am getting there....slowly! x

[superannie]

My daughter lives in London and has four children. She suddenly got terrible pain in her back and was literally unable to move. Her good friend came around and did the school run for her, saw to the kids all afternoon. By six pm she had to go home and my daughter still couldn't move. They phoned an ambulance and the paramedics gave her medication ( not sure if it was an injection) and then assisted her upstairs to bed. She came right after a couple of days. At least she managed to get someone out to the house. Hope this helps. Good luck in future, Ann

[ZedT in reply to superannie]

God, your poor daughter Anne! thank you for sharing that with me, it helps to know we can call someone. Trust me i wouldn't unless i was really desperate, but i think it's important to recognise that sometimes things become an emergency. Just because your life isn't at risk doesn't mean you cant ask for urgent help. I have been to A and E before to have a muscle relaxant injection, if i cant get up off the floor then i HAVE to call someone! Besides, i really do not have any other support apart from my husband, who frankly, would have as much a clue as i have as to how to get me up!

[Teresa50]

Me again, seems we are having similar experiences. I got so angry and bored with feeling crap I decided to grab some paint and a roller and start painting the bedroom. At first the gentle bending and stretching felt good on my back, nothing strenuous and it felt so good mentally rather than just hobbling around in pain. But then it went, my back just went into spasm and I went onto all fours to try to release it. Luckily I grabbed my phone as I went down. Went into recovery position telling my self it would ease in a minute. But it was just complete agony and I couldn't move. I thought, so this is definitely bad enough to call the doctor out. But the surgery said they couldn't help as two people would be needed to lift me. They told me to ring 999 for an ambulance. And as you say you just don't want to waste resources but if I was elderly and fell of course you would call an ambulance. Anyway I did and this lovely paramedic came and gave me gas to relieve the pain enough to lift me onto the bed. I thought it was quite funny having a strange man in my bedroom when my husband got home but I think that was the drugs making me laugh, ha ha. Strangely hubby and daughters were not so amused by my escapades, but sometimes you just want to deny you are stuck unable to do much and just want to fight it and be normal. So in short definitely ring for help, I did, especially if you are alone because you could pass out or something.

[ZedT in reply to Teresa50]

LOLOL, Teresa50, that sounds JUST like something i would have got up to! Don't do it again! I never bathe when i'm on my own, because i have been stuck in the bath more than once, and I am certainly not letting a paramedic hoist me out of a bath! (I might ring Justin Timberlake though, I'm sure he could help )

I wasn't really even on my own that night, everyone was upstairs in bed as i dragged myself around the living room floor. My husband could sleep on a washing line and didn't hear a thing, although i really was screaming out in pain. He wouldn't have been able to help anyway, as i suspect i needed gas and air like you had, to get me off the floor. If it happens again I, without hesitation, WILL ring for help.The dog ( a Border Collie called Mabel) came to investigate, but basically thought i was playing some sort of strange game and just got in the way! So much for Lassie!

My husband knows better than to try to warn me about doing something, but we try to have a giggle together about my various pains and symptoms. When i make stupid noises for example (gasping or yelping from pain.....I don't just make stupid noises!), i don't get offended when he takes the mickey slightly, i laugh too...it helps! Aren't we lucky having these special people to support us? Even my little one who is 5 helps unload the dishwasher and pull the laundry out of the washer. She see it as fun...don't know how long that will last. I also have a 16 year old boy and a 21 year old girl (she lives with her boyfriend in a different town though). The boy is less than useless at helping. He is a pain in the bum actually. but I'm hoping its his age!

TBH, I couldn't even attempt to decorate at this point, i'm just too "crumpled" to achieve more than one line of paint at about waist height...not very useful really! I need something to lean on to complete tasks, which is how i get through work, and i have a perch stool. I do try and do things i shouldn't though; last week i pulled all my old clothes out of cupboards and the wardrobe etc in attempt to de-clutter. After getting stuck sitting on the floor, i gave up. They are still there!!!

Have you tried ringing the OT? They can help you get gadgets and things to help around the home while you are incapacitated. Mine was lovely and she referred me to another lady who is chasing up my Incontinence referral. Try the "throne" method Teresa, on a night before a morning where you don't have much to do just in case is doesn't work and you're tired. If you have a physio you could ring them for suggestions and maybe to show you how to get your body in the right position. If you dont have a physio....get one! I really hope you find some relief, it makes all the difference, and is one for the "achieved" side which makes you feel good. Little steps every day.x