Pain

[hattycat]

Any tips for controlling pain?

At the moment, I am on volterol and co-dydromol/Co-codamol but although these helped when i first started them a few years ago they are becoming less and less effective. The doctors refuse to put me on anything stronger because of my age. I've been taking my current painkillers to the absolute limit advised by the doc.
I have tried loads of different painkillers, e.g. ibrobrufen, naproxen, celebrex, paracetomol........and all seem to stop working.

[Clare.T]

Hi Vikki

I almost wish I knew from personal experience so I could help you ! It seems very wrong that your age should mean you have to suffer unnecessarily. I wonder when a person is old enough for maximum pain relief so they can live their lives as well as possible.
Is there any chance you could see a pain management specialist ? They are often anaesthetists by training. Pain relief and quality of life are a major concern in lupus management these days.
I do know that there are techniques for making inevitable pain more bearable and some complementary therapies that can help, both topical remedies, depending on what's causing the pain, and things like acupuncture. Therapies like Reiki can enhance general well being. There are several other mind/body techniques that could be invaluable to coping.

All the very best

Clare

[Lily]

(((((((((Vicki))))))))))

I'm so sorry you are suffering, ongoing uncontrolled pain is not something that we should have to put up with, we realise as lupies just how debhilitating and life altering it is. :hugbetter: :(

Clare has given you some good suggestions. I am wondering how close you are to your GP, he/she may have more time to help with going through your options with you. It may be a case of identifying 'what sort' of pain we are talking about here too. There are many options depending on the type of pain.

A pain specialist may be something to consider if your docs cant/wont come up with anything. They are after all the experts in this area.

If its Neuropathic pain there there's a different class of drugs that can help too, so a visit to a Neurologist might be helpful. After all they deal with the nervous system and know a fair bit about switching off or altering pain sensations.

Sending gentle hugs and keep pushing for some relief, no-one should have to live in constant uncontrolled pain these days, there's just so much around to help us. However sometimes it takes some fiddling to find a good cocktail of pain meds for you, we seem to have a combination of needs in that respect. Part inflammatory, part nervous system etc.

:hugbetter:

love
Lily

[halfpintfl]

:) Hi Vikki, nice to see you here, do hope that you stay. You may be like me, as far as pain goes. I have a very high pain threshold.
People around me that can get a big bruise and a headache, they
can take an asprin, not me. I need the strongest thing that I have in the house, and sometimes that doesent even work. Well, you
get the idea.Everyone is different. When my Rheumy was trying to get me on a pain med for lupus, he was getting no-where. I finally said; "instead of trying to find a pill from your list of general pain
meds that you use for lupus, can we just look at this as trying to find a pain pill from the catagory of severe pain, nothing else. He
said o-k, we went thru two tries, and then it worked. It was all just how ya look at things. I hope that you give this a try, and maybe it will help you. luck and hugs.:wink2:

[sadieone]

hi hattycat,

I feel your pain. As i have lupus, fibromyalgia and 2 slipped disks in my lower back. I have an rheumy who is part of an arthritis and pain management group. He has worked wonders for me. I went from being bed ridden to walking a mile on the treadmill 3 times a day now.
I think the key is to have someone who knows how to manage different types of pain, and knows their medicines.
My doctor has me on 4 different type of pain meds at one time that work for me. Celebrex for arthritis, tramadol for extra pain relief when needed, Ultram ER, which is tramadol extended relief and a muslce relaxant which helps with the muscle pain.
Some people find that taking cymbalta helps with pain because it affects the brain like tramadol does.
I'll be thinking about you and i'm sure you will find somehthing or someone soon to help you manage your pain.
Take care
Vonda

[lupie98]

Everyone has given you some great advice. The first thing I read in the book Everything you need to know about lupus says that if your dr won't give you pain relief, fire them. I have had a lot of pain and been on several pain meds. When you are on them for along time, your body builds a tolerance and they no longer work. We have had to play with it and we still do. You definitely need to talk to someone who will help you... pain management specialist. Physical therapy has helped me alot but my pain is also controlled with meds. I really wish you relief soon:). Let us know what happens!