What is wrong with me? How to end the cycle of pain?

[Pinkflipflop]

I feeling especially down this morning.

Over the last ten years I have suffered with recurrent neck and upper back pain. I've been to the doctor many times but they can't do anything. The only thing that helps is going to a manipulative therapist to have it adjusted. I've got used to this- when its really sore I can't even lay my head down to sleep at night so I have to sit on the sofa. I've have a 12 week old baby and I've had a bout of neck pain since he arrived but it's ok now.

The problem is pain in other areas of my body. For the last 6 weeks every few days a new pain arrives; I've had pain in my knees, wrists, ankles and shoulders and each time is worse than the next. I need to hobble around.

The pain has settled in my right shoulder and I can't lift or move my arm. It's so painful I haven't been able to lie down tonight, so I've sat on the sofa all night. My dh is working this afternoon and I don't know how I am going to look after the baby.

This level of pain can't be normal?
What can I do?
I honestly feel so down I just can't cope.
I'm not doing anything strenuous to cause this pain so it's a complete mystery.

[CorrieDale]

I know you've been to a manipulative therapist but have you tried a chiropractor. Dh has had bad knees and lower back pain for nearly 20 years, during most of which time he had a series of osteopaths. Then he saw a chiropractor who straightened him out and gave him some exercises to do daily. Hardly ever gets pain now (but he still does the exercises and has also started Pilates).

[CorrieDale]

Have you been to the Doc about this new all over pain ?

[Pinkflipflop]

Haven't been to the doctor as they'll just tell me to use ice, anti inflams and exercise?

[CountryBelle]

I feel your pain. Literally. Back pain is the most EXHAUSTING pain ever, as you can't get relief whether sitting, standing or lying.

Have u ever had its cause investigated? I went for an MRI scan which found multiple Issues, including scoliosis (curvature of spine), numerous degenerated discs, a bulged disc and a torn disk.
Unfortunately, there's nothing they can do about any of these however, the scan put my mind at ease as i really worried there was a sinister cause.

As I'm only in my 20s, I worry the pain will get progressively worse. Find it unbearable during the working week, often drive home from work nearly in tears.

However, there are a few things I do which offer me some relief:

• chiropractor: I go regularly - 2x per week at the beginning, now down to once a month, costs quite a lot of money (£25 per session) but very worthwhile. Believe it or not, my symptoms were worse than above before I went!

• hot water bottle: heat definitely helps. Even take one with me in the car when commuting to work

• very firm cushion in car: I drive about an hour an a half every day to and from work and find this somewhat eases the agony of the commute

-Pilates: go to a class once a week. find the stretches help, although there are some that I don't attempt as they would make me hurt more. You follow your own body's lead in the class

Hope some of these ideas help, it really is a rubbish feeling