Flare help please!

[amberly87]

Can anyone help me please???

Just a short background...I’m 31 and have had chronic pain, headaches and migraines since 15. I got the diagnosis of fibro at 19 and psoriatic arthritis at 30, but I’m almost positive the arthritis being undetected is what caused a large portion of my pain over the years. Needless to say, I’ve dealt with countless flare ups and I have no idea what a pain free day is. Due to new opioid laws in the US, I do not have access to pain meds except Tylenol 4, which I am taking the max amount and it does little other than take the edge off for less than an hour. I get Remicade infusions every 6 weeks, which help for about 2-3 weeks REALLY well. I also get joint injections, trigger point injections and Xeomin injections for headaches and muscle inflammation.

In the past month I’ve been to urgent care and my rheumatologist for steroid injections (emergency care for flare up both times). I’ve been really flared for several weeks and an intense migraine set in due to tension/stress last week. I went to the emergency room and had a migraine IV and steroids and continued the meds after. I AM STILL FLARED...all the tricks I’ve learned over the years...moving, heat, ice, massage, bath, stretching, medicine, emergency care...NOTHING IS HELPING and I’ve been flared for over a month now with the past 2 weeks have been beyond intense, quite possibly the worse I have experienced in pain and length. Can anyone suggest anything to help me please? I’m desperate...I have an extremely high pain tolerance I’ve built over the years and I’m at my wits end!

[Hidden]

Hi amberly87, why not try a day of bed rest to give your body the rest it needs and maybe try watching tv or reading to distract yourself. A flare may mean you have done too much and need a proper rest.

[Lolarufus123]

Hi Amberly86 I am so sorry to hear about you're current flare. It's terrible that America has denied opioid meds to people that really need them. Australia is doing much the same thing and I find it really annmoviesoying. I can only suggest that you spend a few days lying on the couch watching movies and try to relax. Try not to think about the future and just focus on the present. I know this is easier said than done but it's all i can recommend. Wishing you all the best lola

[johnsmith]

Try seeing a massage therapist. This may be helpful for the muscle cramps you have. Injections, drugs cannot prevent muscle cramps.

Look at meditation and mindfulness. This will give you the tools to help prevent the pain from being worse than need me.

Google "Thomas Myers". You may find information that could be useful.

Find a local Alexander Teacher. You have years of bad muscle usage habits which need replacing by better muscle habits.

alexandertechnique.co.uk/

is a web site worth looking at.

[amberly87]

Thank you all for the replies. I had tried most of the techniques listed to no avail. I FINALLY received a call shortly after my post from a pain medicine doctor my rheumatologist referred me to that will be able to put me on pain medicine! I’m so grateful to get relief soon, but it is a double edged sword; I don’t want to have to take meds or admit at 31 that I have to have them to have any quality of life...but I know I do. The ONLY medicine I have tried in the past 1.5 decades that has worked has been Nucynta. However, I am VERY hormonally sensitive and towards the end of using it I completely lost emotional response, much like a lithium effect and I was snappy...sometimes down right mean. So I’m scared to resume it even though I know it works. Any suggestions on medications you all have found to work that doesn’t impact emotions as much?