wanting advice for relief for unbearable pain from disc issues & fibromyalgia & Arthritis

[tigerlilly6]

My Gp said there's nothing else?on Morphine slow release & Oramorph pain still persists!need sleep!have steroid injections every 3-4months. tried pain patches,sprays gels etc even infusions no help really )O: can anybody help me pleeeeease!!

[Emmax]

Hi there,

Snap morphine, but fast release, a load of nerve blocks, on my way to my first lidocaine infusion. Feeling very desperate but one thing that definitely got me sleeping again was amitriptylene - I can never spell it! Also the morphine really keeps me awake so I try to manage my pain as well as I can early evening so I don't need to take morphine close to sleeping otherwise I am on the computer for half the night as I can't sleep. Try relaxing with an epsom salt bath. I get really bad tension headaches so rub lavender oil around my forehead in bed that helps a little. Chamomile tea.... I know we are fighting a very strong force of pain and when someone mentions things like chamomile tea, I roll my eyes, but its trying to make a relaxing routine in the evenings to get some sleep is so important. Sorry going on as in a rush but wanted to reply to you. I spend every evening lying on hot water bottles, loaded with morphine watching box sets. I have watched everything. I know the worst is when you climb into your once comfortable bed and just know you won't be able to get to sleep. Hang in there and keep looking for answers. Emma x

[wall in reply to Emmax]

Hi Emma well spoken ...it is a misery ....I agree night can be very lonely and painful ...I also suffer sever diverticular so a double whammy ...I watch foods very carful ....I really have a good pain threshold for years of it pain with arthritis and back problems you have to live with it and manage as best you can I believe as many meds can do other things to one ....Good Luck ..Bless you ..Margaret xx.... ...

[tigerlilly6 in reply to Emmax]

Hi was on 200mg of Amitriptyline for years felt hungover all day & gained weight so had to reduce it still same side effects,had infusions no help!I go to bed about 4 or 5 am just get minutes sleep before pain awakens me again take 3 hot water bottles,use heat patches & spray etc too!have headache or migraine daily,worse now as the 1 place I could lie on is too tender & painful to stay on long aaaargh!!newest is the spasms & numbness/pins & needles told caused by prolapsed discs in my back what next?Doc said I'm depressed I'm not I'm angry they can't help me!!thanks for taking the time to share your ideas with me it is appreciated Sarah (O:

[tigerlilly6 in reply to Emmax]

hope you got relief from the infusion Emma (O:

[wall]

I am sad to read of your pain and suffering ..I also have arthritis and suffer sciatica up till 4.30 both sides playing up last night !.

.I massage and do stretching exercises ...knees to the chin, for poor back there are good ones if you are agile certainly do help to be more supple .......try to have a positive attitude difficult I know but better if you can ...

I use a with a mineral jel quite effective ..and also keep moving as much as one can ..

.I really need a new knee but am not going to get it done so that is not good much pain and gets very swollen makes walking difficult good /bad days ..I wear a small support for it ..but at 78 I do not fancy operations I WILL keep going though desperate as it is .. ....so you are not alone so many suffer the same ... ...and I sympathise with you very much ........I take a low sleeping tab from time to time helps ...but I also have a sleep in the day if my body tells me !!!!so Good Luck I am sure you will get more answers ..to try to help you ...God Bless Margaret

[tigerlilly6 in reply to wall]

thanks so much for the support it's so hard as people don't know what it's like to struggle with constant pain do they?I have had disc problems & Fibromyalgia for 20 years I'm 46 now.I have also had 13 operations for various things a lot for internal & stomach problems,I have raised 2 sons 1 who has Autism & still here with me he's nearly 22 so have managed pretty well but the pain is the worst it has ever been now so I'm really struggling!!)O: I understand why you want to avoid surgery it's a lot to consider I wish you well Sarah (O:

[anna2]

I've just bought a TENS unit for my sciatica - it got good reviews on Amazon but I can't give any feedback yet as it's just arrived. But it wasn't expensive so maybe worth a try? The pain relief is supposed to continue after use.

I believe you can get a TENS unit at least on loan from the NHS? If it works for you, you can buy your own. Would ask the doctor about this - in fact I'm surprised it hasn't been mentioned.

nhs.uk/conditions/physiothe...

As for night time, I just got some antihistamine for the dog - it's diphenhydramine which is the same active ingredient as the US version of Benadryl. I understand this is the same ingredient as Nytol (but it's a whole lot cheaper). In fact some people do use the older sedating type of antihistamines as a sleep aid - whether they should or not is another matter! But it might be worth asking the doctor about this too if it is interfering with your sleep.

[wall in reply to anna2]

yes Tens machine I bought years ago I have two ..they work like acupuncture and are good .you will get used to it .Good Luck with it ..Margaret x

[tigerlilly6]

Hi best of luck with the Tens machine I have 1 sadly it doesn't help me my doctor said my pain is too severe for it to help I hope it helps you.I thank you for your reply regarding the lack of sleep I would need knocking out as if I drop off the pain is so bad it wakes me up I'm lucky to get 30mins!best of luck Sarah (O:

[Kholoud]

From my humble experience anti-inflamatory local cream along with hot fomentation on the same area regularly 2-3 times a day can help alot.

[tigerlilly6 in reply to Kholoud]

just bought some new cream with msm,Glucosamine & emu oil used 4 times now sadly no help may take longer?tried Ibuprofen & other gels but no good can't take anti-inflammatory tablets due to stomach irritatation.glad to hear you found something to help all i can do is keep looking & trying thanks sarah.