Can anyone help me with pain management ideas?

Question

I have osteo arthritis. I was on morphine based pain killers but suffered serious side effects. My GP took me off the tablets but i am in terrible pain. I have a tens machine which helps during the day but the problem is lack of sleep at night.
My mattress is not a problem as i sleep ok sometimes. But when i get a flare up the pain wakes me and keeps me awake..
I have regular injections in my spine and hips and am having knee surgery on Wednesday.
Can anyone suggest alternative ways to help with the pain?

I attend a pain clinic.

I would rather not take any more pills.Thanks to those that suggested that, but it is not what i want.

Answer 1

If tens or morphine aren't working then you really are on the technology edge. Try alchohol if it's allowed. There's more than one flavour electric pain management machine and some of them are programmable. Worth hassling you GP for more details.

Answer 2

I had insane pain for over ten years.
After years of heavy narcotics, I got tired of being high and out of my head most of the time. I decided to research this and found that I could try a drug called Subutex. My thoughts were," just a pill that takes away the pain, but doesnt mess up my thoughts process" This is exaclty what I found.
It is used to get people off of narcotics and heroin and methadone. I found it also is used for severe pain.
It has no side effects as it is a partial agonist which doesn't completly fill the opoide receptor, but only partially fills it. This makes it very much less addicting if you would need to stop.
Before I was taking a huge amount of pills to make it through the day and now I take one 8 mg subutex 3 times a day and never get high or mental even once.
Pain management docs should be able to give you this but you have to tell them you are doing it for the severe pain it says it takes care of, without resorting to full agonist meds.
I am so happy since I made the transition off the bad meds onto this.
You may have a problem if the doctor is stubborn, thinking it is only used for rehab off narcotics. It is but also it kills severe pain with no side effects.
It is expensive so you really need insurance. I didn't have it in the beginning so I got an internet card called " RXdrugcard.com for $5 and it surprizingly saved me 45% off the medications.
Hope this works for you as it has for me.

Answer 3

I'm so sorry for you and for the pain you're suffering. Look in your telephone directory and see if you can find someone who does massages at home. Have one weekly. Ask the masseur to use a quarter of a pint of olive oil into which has been added 7 drops of eucalyptus oil. To be used on the most painful areas. This should help you greatly. Why don't you ask your Doctor to prescribe some sleeping tablets you can take so that you can get some much needed rest. Buy some vitamin C capsules also and take as instructed. Hope you find relief soon.

Answer 4

It really depends on what is causing the pain and whether the person is ill. If it's a medical condition, your GP should sort you out something. If it's like arthritis/sciatica etc., then a warm soak in the bath followed by a hot drink and if the person has a better half, then get some ibropophen or deep heat cream and your partner gives you a real good massage (not to violent) before you go to sleep. If it's something like toothache or post tooth removal, then it will have to some pain killers that suit and are fairly strong, then lay in bed a practise yoga relaxation techniques until you fall asleep.

Answer 5

Meditation.

I have a related condition which when hit home feels like someone is slowly pulling my joints apart a rentless pain.

Meditation can allow you to detach your conscious self from the pain. Remember that pain is a series of electric currents fired by the synapses in your nervous system. Its function is to warn the brain of injury so you can take action to remedy or eliminate the danger.

What you must do is learn to ignore that sensation I imagine myself in a battle and I have been shot. But the enemy is closing in on me and they will surely kill me if I don't pick myself up and fight through the pain.

Ok i probably have watched too many films but it works for me. You have to find some sort of inspiration in your mind to shut those receptors out.

Answer 6

I would try to find 3 or 4 that work well, and switch between them. Maybe stuff like Codeine, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone. Your doctor should be able to help with this.

The reason I would want to switch periodically is to keep from building up a resistance to one of them.

And as far as arthritis itself, cut back on refined sugar, and take a Glucosamine Sulfate / Chondroitin Sulfate supplement.

Answer 7

Hi there,

Have a look at the website www.enikken.com.au/deborahmcneil
These products really do work. We have had people with arthritis whom have been virtually at breaking point and these products have not fixed the problem, however they have taken away much of the pain and allowed these people to get on with their lives.
Also have aloo at the guaruntee offered too!

Answer 8

go to a pain management class and learn self hypnoses and meditation. use a heating pad use a body rub with menthol in it stay away from pork and pork byproducts take a really hot bath check with U.C. Davis med center for help thy have a program to help people with arthritis. do exercises and push threw the pain if you can be shere to ask your doctor what type of exercise you can do and start slow

Answer 9

I fractured my pelvis twice and put a lot of strain on my lower back. I use to be on strong pain relief. I kept fit and got back on my feet with Water aerobics.

I stopped taking pills all the time and eventually stopped completely. I found cutting out red meats reduced my pain considerably and with plenty of cardiovascular exercise I am back to normal 90% of the time.

Answer 10

Xango juice is a natural anti-imflammatory and will help ease the pain, it will not slow down the continuing erosion of the bone in weight-bearing joints.
Xango is a juice made from the Mangosteen fruit, safer and powerfull in pain relief.

http://www.mangosteen101.co.uk