Sorry, long post but I feel lost. So got 18 months I've had increasing neck and shoulder pain. Caused I think by change of job to one at pc all day, and poor posture. Work have paid for a desk assessment which came out as my workstation was supposed to me fine. So not really able to change anything there. I've had 3 blocks of physio on the work bupa scheme- all hands on no real excercises to do- nice at time but no lasting effect. Sympathetic Gp. She tried me on atriptaline (sp) but it turned me into a zombie in the day and after a week gave me annodf sedated insomnia. Then we tried gabapentine but I felt faint dizzy had ringing in ears and headache so after a small emotional breakdown in her office she put me on an antidepressant and diazepam to tide me over till it kicked in - in knowledge I was about to have an assessment at the pain clinic.
Well I went full of hope and left gutted. Apparently 18 months is not that long to have pain, and as there's nothing on my MRI, I'm not that bad. I told them about the physio not helping, so they've put me on a list for more. I told them I can't correct my posture without knowing what's right or wrong and that what I think is right really hurts. They said when I do get my physio I will be shown that. I told them sleeping is painful, they said how thick my pillow needs to be(it's as close to that as I can get it).
The only drugs advice was to stop taking the ibuprofen the doctor told me to take and to take paracetamol instead (something I'd previously been told to stop as it wouldn't help at all).
So now I feel helpless. In pain all the time but apparently not enough to get treatment other than vauge advice to get more exercise. I'm back at gp for review next week , but I'm at a loss. I feel like that's it now, a lifetime of pain and not sleeping. I've dumped this here because I hope here at least there will be some understanding.
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Plinth
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Exercise might help, depending on your options a good Pilates teacher might help. Or a gentle Physio who can provide graded exercises over a period of time. Dee
See an Alexander Teacher. You problem could be posture and muscle use based. I am concerned that all the doctor has done is painkiller and no MRI scan.
You need an MRI scan to check that there are no hidden causes for the pain you have.
If there's one thing worse than Constant Pain, it's people not taking it seriously-How long have been in pain? HOW LONG????? Not long enough, what utter 'crap'. You need to start 'banging your drum' and HARD! Surly any time, in pain, is too long-and 'they' think it's not "bad" enough-or that you haven't "suffered" long enough? Just read back what I have written, then your own 'post', preferably twice. Are you still prepared to 'put up' with this?
Please do let us know how 'things' progress, for you, Plinth.
In the mean time, I know, that we all send you our very best wishes.
I guess that all that is left to try is self help (at least while waiting for another lot of physio). I believe that either pilates or alexander technique can be really good for backs/necks, so I think if it were me, I'd be trying to find someone who could show me how to do either of those techniques. Even if it didn't fix everything, if it did just knock pain back one point on the pain scale it could be the difference between coping and not coping. Another thing would be water exercise - not swimming as such, but just floating in the pool (using noodles or float bands) and stretching out and moving arms and legs. Hard to explain, but really just doing a range of stretching and moving using the support of the water. Actual swimming can be quite stressful on the upper back shoulders and neck so I would avoid that.
For pain relief, unless you aren't allowed to use it, then one of the NSAID gels (ibuprofen gel or voltarol) over the area may help. I find that just using voltarol once doesn't really do anything , but if I use it regularly over the same spot it does have quite a good effect on keeping inflammaton down, and that in turn makes it easier to move and less painful.
Thanks all. I'd put so much hope that the pain clinic would give an all round help, but I just felt dismissed. I will tell the gp all this - she has been good and I'm sure she thought the pain clinic would be helpful. I have started a balance class but it's hard knowing what's "correct" excercise.
I'm sorry to hear how you're hurting. If I may offer my advise..try to find a buckwheat pillow. You can usually only find them online these days. For approx. 3 years I had unrelenting neck and shoulder pain. Probably due to my job as a nursing assistant.
I Went to a chiropractor for a while..took pain meds... Then I started sleeping on the buckwheat pillow. Now at first you won't like it..but give it a chance. It really helped me. I hope you find relief. X
I know we're your coming from I really do I suffer the same, mri came back normal, had nerve blocker didnt work and the pain clinic said nothing more they can do lol, back to doctors don't know how many times, and now think there sick of seeing me ,and actually listening, I would say perceviour or change doctors x
The pain clinic is there to make the NHS appear compassionate, rather than just tell people honestly that they have no clue what to do with you and admit that medicine barely knows a thing about how to deal with chronic pain - the dishonesty and lack of any meaningful solution is what frustrates everyone, because they've been falsely convinced that the NHS has a solution, but they're just not giving it to you, when actually, they don't have one, and if they'd just tell people that from the start, it'd save people a lot of trouble
Body balance once a week, yoga at home every day, walk during lunch time
The ibuprofen stopped making any difference, have small dose of codine for bad days
Physiotherapy did include some massage but it only gave relief for 24 hrs
Relaxing and heat help in the v short term only
Pain has made me depressed, so on antidepressants which help
Since the original post I’ve had more physio (but that’s also finished) , was recommended a neck roll for my pillow, and am basically doing everything the physio advised But still in pain
My GP is amazing, she listens and does what she can; she can see an improvement in my movement etc, but the pain is just ever present She’s also advised me to keep a record of pain in case there’s s pattern There is - work - I was much better over Xmas!
Anyway thanks for the comments- sometimes it’s just good to know people are listening!
The pain clinic is there to make the NHS appear compassionate, rather than just tell people honestly that they have no clue what to do with you and admit that medicine barely knows a thing about how to deal with chronic pain - the dishonesty and lack of any meaningful solution is what frustrates everyone, because they've been falsely convinced that the NHS has a solution, but they're just not giving it to you, when actually, they don't have one, and if they'd just tell people that from the start, it'd save people a lot of trouble
Its the stringing along that's worst. Also true for mental health. Put on waiting lists then on some cbt or pain course for the magical 6 sessions. You think oh that will help me, but no it doesn't. Because just as it might, guess what its finished. It's a way the suppliers of these sessions/courses get income. Whilst doing sod all for the patient.
All the while many things are totally ignored like vitamins, nutrition and life style factors including stress.
I think the NHS has done me more harm than good. If I known I was on my own I'd have done a hell of a lot better.
I too find myself here because I'm at a loss. I can definitely relate to your point about posture and exercise. Like you, I find maintaining the correct posture for any length of time painful. I find sitting or standing with correct poosture painful. I find slouching painful. I find lying down painful or uncomfortable, whether on a bed or on the floor, on my front or on my back. I find sitting on the sofa or a chair uncomfortable.....and on and on........
I've tried numerous exercises and stretches in an effort to correct my posture and to strengthen and stretch the related muscles. One day it will feel like I'm making progress and I've found the solution.....the next I will wake up with a new pain or an increase in the pain I'm trying to get rid of.
The pain is so widespread and random that I know it's not just a problem with incorrect posture. I see other people in far worse physical shape than myself and with far worse posture than me and yet they're not in constant pain and discomfort so surely it must be something else......?
Some days nothing at all will help and I'll end up taking far too many painkillers just to take the edge off.
I'm now obtaining additional painkillers outside of my prescription just so that I have enough to get me through the days. I know this is not right but I feel I have no other option as I'm not receiving any other help. In short I'm now a functioning drug addict.
I really hope we can both somehow find a solution or find someone who will take the time to listen, understand and advise how it can be treated or managed.
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Constant pain, no end in sight because of the virus
Constant pain
constantly in pain.. 
