Does anyone here suffer from Chronic Pain?

[catsrule]

Oh yes!

Fibromyaligia is non-crippling, just soreness and tenderness.

 

[Kitty 34]

MJ, that's how I feel about my neck.....it's already sore so why not ride the rides!!!

 

[catsrule]

yes, as long as it won't injure it further. Mine isn't an injury, just pressure points that trigger pain, so it won't injure it any more, it just might hurt a little more.

 

[karebear1]

I have 2 crushed discs in my lower back. Last year I was at the chiropractor a lot. This year- I've been excercising and that has helped tremendously. The only other thing I do is use an infrared heat lamp on my back. THAT IS THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING I'VE EVER PERCHASED! It's weird- when I get that beam to hit the right spot, I can feel that heat all the way down my leg. Ahhhhhh- relief! I used it last night because I was feeling the sharp pain all the way down my right leg. This morning- it's just fine!

 

[Kitty 34]

Karebear 1, where do you get an infrared lamp? Sounds like something that might work on my neck.

 

[karebear1]

Kitty 34- I got my handheld Infrared II Lamp from QVC. I called he to see if they sell them anymore and they do not. So, then I did a search for them for you. They have been discontinued. HOWEVER- if you want to search handheld infrared lamps- try it, look at chiropractor supplier.Otherwise, if you dgo to a chiropractor, I'm sure he would have a source and be able to get one for you. I paid about 30.00 for mine. It's portable- so it's great when Igo to WDW and am so sore I can't move. Sorry they don't make them anymore. I did find 1 for you. It is basically the size of a fat pen. But, it was 179.00 If you're interested in that let me know. I'll email the address for you. Even though thatis kind of expensive- if you're realy interested in getting it, you might give it a try. Mine has been so beneficial to me! I can't sing it's praises lon enough

 

[Lachesis00]

My sister has Fibromylagia (newly diagnoised 2 weeks ago) and I have severe arthritis in my hips and knees.
She hasnt been given a treatment yet. I just go w/the flow. Take Tylonal and Aleve when needed.

 

[Kitty 34]

That was so sweet of you, Karebear 1 to look up that info for me. Thankyou. I guess I'll just wait and see what the doc wants me to do for my neck pain. I'm just not very good at taking pain killers so was looking for other options.....the infrared lamp might just be an option!!

 

[MeanLaureen]

For those of you suffering from Fibromyalgia...

You might want to mention a treatment that my doctor has tried on me with some pretty good success. The elavil didn't do anything for me and they even tried putting me on Ambien to make me sleep. It wasn't until my doctor tried a combo of drugs nicknamed a "california boost" that I actually saw results. It's a combo of the antidepressants Effexor and Remeron. I saw marked improvement on the tenderness pain within 2 weeks.

 

[Talking Hands]

Fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, diabetic neuropathy and siatica. Use Advil, Aleve and Relafen. Hot baths, bedrest when needed.
Sometimes I just cry.
But somehow I keep on going. It will not defeat me!

 

[karebear1]

your welcome kitty34. I just noticed you are from mid- Michigan. Do you mind if I ask where? We just moved from that same area- just north of Ann Arbor- a town called South Lyon- about 6 months ago. I miss Michigan!!!

 

[Kitty 34]

Karebear 1, I live between Lansing and Battle Creek. I bet Oregon is just beautiful!! I'm sure you don't miss Michigan winters......certainly not a good thing for chronic pain!!



{{{{{{HUGS}}}}} to you Talking Hands.....I like your attitude tho. It will not defeat you!

 

[karebear1]

ACtually, Kitty34, I LOVE SNOW! ANd that's one of the biggest things I miss about MI. Last night I had a dream that we went back to South Lyon and snuck into our house to stay there overnight (Where do these things come from!?!?!?! ) The guy that bought our house (by the way- in real life he was single) had trashed it. I was dreaming that my husband was there cleaning it, thinking it was stuff we left behind! DREAMS- what are they all about anyway?!?!? Oregon is beautiful- and we had NO WINTER! But, yesterday it hailed and we got some white hail on the ground and it looked like it snowed - for about 5 minutes- then it was gone. The really nice thing about Oregon is, that we can drive an hour east and be in the VERY snowy mountains, or drive an hour west and bee on the coast! Now that's nice!

 

[Kitty 34]

Karebear, the counties just north of me are under a Winter Watch thru tomorrow so a place with NO winters sounds pretty good right now!!!

 

[megashark]

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 12 years ago.

For about six years, I was on the pain killers and the anti-depressants, until another doctor convinced me that the painkillers were eating my liver, so cut both pills out. I cold-turkeyed it for a while, and hobbled around on my cane.

The only thing I ever found that helped without really bad side effects was excercise, when I could do it. (Swimming or stationary bike. It seems like increasing bloodflow to my legs really relieved the pain.)

I found out that I had sleep apnea about 2 years ago, and after using a BiPap, and finally getting good sleep, the pain was significantly reduced.

I've lost a lot of weight (gastric bypass) and no longer have sleep apnea. I swim almost daily. The pain from the fibro now only comes about once a week, and I can handle it with Aleve. It hasn't gone away, but it's seriously been reduced.

Now they tell me that the anti-depressants would have helped me with the weight, if I had kept them when I dropped the painkillers. But who knew?

 

[Disneymoon04]

Neck and back..... and until I get the insurance company to agree to pay for a... *ahem* reduction, I just have to keep popping the aleve like candy.

 

[Kitty 34]

Gosh, I go on vacation and come back to a thread of mine bumped from March. Kind of cool!!

It's interesting to read this now having been in physical therapy all summer. My PT has helped some but after almost 6 months.......I really have to say that I think exercise and some major "relaxation" efforts has been the key to my decreasing pain.

I will see what happens to my pain once school starts and I go back to subbing.......not the most relaxing type of job!!

 

[Eeyore1954]

Back pain (sciatica) from surgery for 2 herniated discs over 20 years ago. It affects me only when I am in bed. I went to a "pain clinic" and got 3 spearate injections of steroids which did help for awhile. However, the side effects were bad -- weight gain and muscle cramps in my legs. Ugh!

Now I have a night-time "2nd dinner" -- 3 Tylenol, 2 Aleve, 1 Celebrex, 1 Norco plus a healthy slathering of Theragesic creme.

Most nights I can get 4 - 5 hours sleep before the pain makes it impossible to continue. Some nights I end up sleeping in a Laz-y-Boy rocker (partially reclined).

I also like Talking Hands attitude. There some nights I get really mad, but I refuse to let it defeat me. If I have to learn to sleep in a chair, so be it. But in the end I will win -- not the pain!