Achey

[Guest guest]

Dear , have you ever considered going into a pain management program?

My pain has been at a high chronic level now for over 5 years. I have no

doubt I would be dead without pain management. When I first walked in their

door, I didn't think they could help me, and I really just thought it would

be a waste of time. It took us sometime to get the right combo down, but

once we did, I can deal with the pain I have now, most of the time. I have

fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, erythromelalgia (which is where your

skin turns red and burns like fire, without any real relief. I carry cold

gel packs with me where ever I go.), spinal stenosis, facets disease, nerve

root exposure in my lumbar disc that is herniated, severe TMJ damage,

spondylitis, neuropathy, lumbar disc disease, asthma, PA, RA, osteoporosis,

and occasional IBS. So basically it boils down to somewhere on me is

hurting all the time. Believe me I'm not bragging about all these illness,

but I just wanted to let you know that even with my level of chronic pain,

they gave me hope and have helped me live my life these past 4 years to the

best of my ability.

One thing that might really help you is going on a time-released form of

narcotic pain medication. I'm on one now, and it makes the difference in

keeping me level. I don't have the ups and downs that normally come with

pain medication. I also have breakthrough medication to use if I can't wait

until its time for the next dose. No one has ever asked me if I was on

medication, or implied that I was " out of it " . I know mentally I could

work, but unfortunately I still have too many problems to work right now.

You are right that muscle pain is very painful and one of the worst types of

pain. Another really good muscle medication is Zanaflex, which I take at

bedtime. It makes me sleepy so one pill is all I need. I know a lot of

people who take more than that, but I seem to do ok with that level. I hope

some of these suggestions help. Ask your family doctor about pain

management unless he is willing to work with you now. Vicoden is one of the

worst medications for the high and low feeling that the narcotics can cause.

I hope you can find some help soon. Believe me if I can get help anyone

can.

Take care and don't wait too long before you see someone. The longer you

live with the chronic pain the harder it is to get rid of. All my best,

Fran

Aloha Carol,

I too struggle with muscle pain. It actually may be my worse kind of pain.

About 4am, I awake with horrible pain in the muscles of my neck, back,

shoulders, and arms. I can get some help by using lidocaine patches at

bedtime, but my copay is so high that I really can't afford them. I'm still

hoping the enbrel will start working, but right now, I get up, moaning and

growing, and take a vicoden. Then I lay back down for an hour. After that

I can begin my day, but I wonder if trying to function in the real world

after taking narcotics is the smart thing to be doing. If there is another

answer for me, I'm listening.