Pain better as the day goes on, including early night

[desev]

Hi all. I have chronic pain either from neck/ear/tmj area (doctors can't tell), and was wondering if anybody also gets symtoms reduced as the day progresses, regardless of what you do or do not during it or your sleeping patterns?

I have read on some websites the theory of spinal pain possibly following that model, and also the contrary theory, which says spinal pain is better in the mornings. It would be helpful if anybody with a similar pattern and what's your issue if so, as i don't know what could be causing this and if this gives info on the possible cause...

Thanks

[cyberbarn]

Pain in the morning that reduces as the day goes on could be caused by an inflammatory disease. Basically the inflammation builds up in the night so that you are stiff and in pain in the morning, which eases through the day.

I have this with neck and shoulder pain at the moment in addition to other joint pain. But it isn't from inside the joint, it is due to inflammation in the tendons, caused by psoriatic arthritis. So I get this type of pain first thing in the morning, and by evening my neck and shoulder and even my knees and feet feel better and I can walk more freely.

Muscular pain does the opposite, it builds up during the day and then recedes over night. So my low back pain and sciatica starts at lunch time and builds until I go to bed, then is gone in the morning to be replaced by the inflammatory pain.

[silverbadger]

This is my own personal view that I offer based on my experience of Chronic Pain and not that of an expert.

Chronic pain is often thought of as something that is continuous and never changing when in reality it is not that simple.

Chronic pain is for ever changing. While it is always pain and not nice, when one stops and takes the time to view what is happening to oneself one finds that it is made up of Ebbs and Flows. These ebbs and flows quite often follow a pattern of their own. This can be that it is higher in the morning then gradually ebbs away as the day proceeds or the other way around. It can be that this happens hourly, or over a few days. It can be that certain activities or emotions influence theses ebbs and flows. Everyones pain is personal and unique to oneself. This is why it can be so difficult to explain to someone else what one is experiencing and why it so difficult for that other person to also understand another’s pain.

Maybe this is why it is often so difficult to find a pain control that works for one. Generally ones Doctor has a set parameter of choices open to them. They can listen to the person who is experiencing their pain and then have to fit that pain into one of a pre-set category of boxes that then gives a option to that box.

Such as ‘Pain level 8, Worse when one walks, Pain particularly worse all down 1 leg. May put one in the Box with heading ‘Sciatica’ that gives a subheading of issue= Pain killers, Use a walking stick, Heat application such as hot water bottle.

I believe this is why it is so important to see specialists in pain. A specialist pain team that has the time and resources available to them to present a pain ‘Tool Kit’ that is personalised to that person who is experiencing that Pain. This pain ‘Tool Kit’ will preferable be tailored of offering a multiple of ‘Tools’ that a person can then apply as their Chronic pain forever changes or Ebbs and Flows. Such as Pain Killers, Mindfulness, exercise, rest, stress reduction, anxiety control and defusion. All of these tools need to be learned and understood to of be of any true use. Again this is why it is preferable, if not essential, for the person who is experiencing Chronic pain to be given the time, attention and understanding. This can only really come from such options as a residential week or weeks away in a specialist pain program. One can then personally learn these pain control techniques and apply them, as and when and to what degree, in reference to these Ebbs and Flows by the person who is experiencing the Chronic pain, a chronic pain that is personal to them.

This is only my personal view and should not be seen as the view or directive of a specialist. I have offered the view based purely on my own personal Chronic pain journey. I would also add that I believe Chronic Pain for some can very often not ever be taken away. But it can be better controlled to better manage the influence ones Chronic Pain has on ones quality of life.