Fighting to keep awake. Is it the medication?

I have spinal stenosis and since December last year my life has changed completely. Before I was going out several times a week, able to walk to the shops, about a mile, nearly every day. Also active politically and in the anti fracking movement locally. I live in Yorkshire, England.

At the end of last year I started being in a lot of pain and landed in hospital on Christmas Day for 17 days. The Drs don’t know why the pain and lack of mobility suddenly happened but there is no cure. As I am in my mid 70s and due to the problem being caused by different areas of the spine they can’t operate.

I am on pregablin twice daily but it doesn’t seem to be helping now. I can’t tolerate putting the dose above 120mg. I won’t take morphine now as can’t tolerate the side effects. I’m on the waiting list for an epidural steroid injection and to go back to the pain clinic but could be a long wait.

Does anyone else have a problem staying awake and if so how do they cope?

Thanks for being here.

[Hidden]

Hi

I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Could your Dr give you a steroid injection! There are also patches you can put on. Please take care Lynne

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks I have to have the injection done in hospital in an operating theatre as they have to X-ray my back while they do it to make sure they get the right place. The neurosurgeon I saw last week said I need the Pain clinic to review my medication.

[johnsmith]

See a chiropractor. There can be a good explanation called muscle micro cramps for the sudden lose of mobility and pain. Doctors have little if any understanding concerning muscle behaviour and pain.

epidural steroid injection sounds nice. However, you could end up in a worse situation in the long run.

spine-health.com/treatment/...

The tiredness may not be the drugs, but a side effect of pain and sleep reduction. The brain only gets rid of certain waste products when asleep. Research is also indicating that as we age the brain may not remove waste products as efficiently. Have some more reading to do on the subject before I can be more definite about this conclusion.

"The Glymphatic System and Waste Clearance with Brain Aging: A Review"

karger.com/Article/FullText...

Get a kitchen timer and have a catnap of an hour or so during the day and see if this helps. Fine tuning of muscles is affected by lack of sleep.

[Hidden in reply to johnsmith]

Thanks I have been regularly seeing a chiropractor for several years. It was her who told me to go to the GP as it needed more than a chiropractor could do. Thanks for the links I will read them in a minute. I’ve had an injection before so know what to expect.

[SecretlyDisabled7]

I am a slug, too!! I am 72 and still work, but think I am at the end of this. I have used huge amounts of coffee. An example of what happens. I was teaching a class of student writers. I fall in love with my writing students. What they say is beautiful to me and what they speak when we are just sitting and talking is even better. At night they give a reading of their work to an audience. It is an important event for them. I sit and try to take notes, not to forget their words, and soon the pen goes off the page and I wake up to the sound of it being over, praying no one saw me go to sleep. There are times during the day I take a break and nap, but that isn't embarrassing. I take many paid meds, but know those are not the culprit since they are the same ones I have taken for many years. The culprit is I have severe fatigue because of a chronic illness and just can't help it. It is embarrassing and humiliating, but I am exhausted, aging, and simply doing too much while trying to survive illness and chronic pain.

[Mapagab]

In April 1918 my husband aged 83 was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, he was crying with pain (not like him). He was prescribed strong pain killers which affected him badly and did not relieve pain much anyway. Specialist, who was very sympathetic advised he could not operate, but suggested a physiotherapist may help. Next step, we have a sports therapist in our village, so appointment made, he had seven, one a week for seven weeks, he was given a sheet of exercises which he does every morning, never misses, wouldn't dare!!! He is 84 now and swears by the physio he had. Worth a try!!! Forgot to say it was private £35 a time but pay as you go.

[Hidden in reply to Mapagab]

Thanks. I went to group physiotherapy last year prescribed by GP. It wasn’t very helpful though I do the exercises added to the ones I was given before by another physiotherapist. I might see if I can see someone else. Problem is getting out to see people at the moment but will see.

What else did the physio do apart from exercises?

Thanks

[Mapagab in reply to Hidden]

Manipulation for about 20 to30 minutes every appointment.

I used to take him and pick him up in car in beginning then he decided when he could go himself but didn't walk he drove. He doesn't walk far.

[Hidden in reply to Mapagab]

Thanks will look into it again

[Barbola in reply to Mapagab]

Yes, physical therapy and stretch exercises help me! Spinal stenosis, spondilosis, herniated disk, bone spurs all in the lumbar spine. I go 3 times a week and do exercises at home. The sciatica down The leg gets bad sometime, cant walk far without sitting down, take small dose Tramadol when it gets very bad. Bit keep moving at all cost! Good luck!

[Mapagab]

Should be 2018 last year not 1918 obviously wasn't even born then. Hahaha!!!!

[Hidden]

Thanks will take a look.

[Heidi44]

Hi there, I have had the pain block injections you are waiting for several times. I used to get 3 each side of my spine from my waist down to my coccyx. They really really helped but the procedure was painful as the anaesthetic had to hit the nerve which was causing the damage and pain. It was worth it. Eventually they cauterized the nerves that were giving me the trouble but, as happens, the pains came back just in slightly different spots. I'm now on on Butec patches and Zomorph tablets and still having problems with pain control.