CHRONIC PAIN- things that help.

[picklemewalnuts]

This is a 'no comment' thread, so we can list what has helped us, ask each other questions about it, but not argue or disagree about whether it's a 'valid' treatment or not.

!!Buyer beware!! We aren't medics, don't buy anything or take anything off the back of this thread, these are simply 'things that have helped'!

Me first:

1. Exercising in warm water really helps my tired stiff achey body. I joined a local health club that had a warm pool and jacuzzi, with steam rooms and saunas. I miss it so much now it's closed! It helped with relaxation, and also with flexibility. I could exercise without hurting myself.

1. Amitriptyline. This helps me sleep and is pretty good on nerve pain- the shooting pains in my limbs, and neck pain. I vary my dose up and down by 10 mg, trying to keep it as low as I can manage.

Anything that reduces stress. It took me a long time to realise acceptthat my pain is worse on days when I am feeling low or stressed. It made me think that maybe I was a fake! However, I always have the pain but definitely a lot more bearable when I feel better emotionally.

Tempur mattress and pillow
I bought a Tempur pillow on the back of another mumsnet thread and it is so uncomfortable.

Yoga isn't the one for me at the moment due to hypermobility and need for pelvic stability I'm finding pilates the best. My core is really strong now which I hope supports my back.

Hot baths - I lie with my legs up the shower screen so my back is more neutral, I look very odd 🤣

Yoga nidra which is a sleep meditation, I can doze for half an hour and not feel pain.

Walking is very hard going for me but I try to get out every day.

I'm day 5 on gabapentin - is helping now I've used the dosage to 3x 2 tables a day.

For me a Tens Machine has been a God send,my DH bought it for me and I didn't think it would work at all but it has worked wonders,it's lessened my pain by so much and I no longer have to use it very often and I've been using less painkillers.

My pain comes from several different sources as well,a severed nerve running over my skull and down my neck,arthritis,ulcerative colitis,fibroids and poly systic ovaries and fibromyalgia so I never expected one thing to help,for me it works better than morphine ever did.

Swearing - I’m sure there are some scientific studies as to why it helps but really does. Even if it’s only in your head

Much still to be discovered, @picklemewalnuts, but IIUC antihistamines being effective raises the suspicion that one has an autoimmune disorder.

Whether it's simply causing a reduction in autoimmune-related inflammation, or whether it's reducing other elements of the autoimmune attack, who knows?

IIRC some of the antihistamines I've used are suspected of or shown to occasionally affect memory. But given the state of my memory anyway...

Another thing anecdotally recommended is to switch antihistamines every now and then, as the body becomes too used to them.

NB I haven't discussed regular switching with a doctor, so don't take this as gospel. Although as it's a new area with lots of current research, you might not want to take what your doctor says as gospel either...

Lots of people here will know that particular prob v well indeed. .

Bowen therapy has helped me.

Steam room! In better times I was able to swim (slowly, badly, not very far) and afterwards sat in the steam room for a while. Helped with muscle/joint soreness and I stopped getting mucousy coughs entirely too.

Wine used to help me but after a lot of coedine, I now get a splitting headache every time. I had found a delicious wine from Waitrose, gutted. I'm a non-consenting t-totaler 🤣

Great thread:
Tens machine
Bed of Nails aka Suki mat (accupressure mat)
Hot bath with Epsom salt
Swimming
Stretching
Roller thing
Wine (if I am honest)
Sleep when possible
Massage

Placemarking

Hot air as in blast yourself with the hair dryer. Works particularly well in tooth ache/facial nerve pain. Much more than you think it would.

doadeer wine helps me too. Codeine in the morning.....

Magnesium supplements.

Liposomal Vitamin C (easier on the stomach in higher doses)

Colds shower (I can only manage a couple of minutes after a warm one!)

Vitamin D

Revitive machine (muscle stimulating - reduces leg pain significantly for me)

I second magnesium (supplement, spray or in the bath) - my sleep is markedly different on the days I take this.

Yes to the wine, too. Never spirits or beer, just wine. Seems to relax my painful joints somehow.

Morphine 😆 seriously, for me regular slow release morphine has been an absolute miracle. It took me from bed bound to being able to walk a bit. Good prescription pain relief is vital.
Other than that:

1. Heat; especially my electric blanket.
2. Making sure I get up regularly so that I’m not sitting in a strange position for too long. I’m very hypermobile (I have EDS) and I tend to “pretzel” if I’m not paying attention.

Magnesium malate tablets
Lavender wheat bag on my neck

amazon.co.uk/BetterYou-Magnesium-Oil-Spray-Sensitive/dp/B00P2N1T4G/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=magnesium+spray&qid=1615274634&sr=8-7 this]] magnesium spray was recommended to us by our kind nurse fir joint pain. Sadly DD can't tolerate the smell.
Who said 'steam room'? I don't have chronic pain but all my adult life until DD became ill I would use a gym steam room to help with terrible constant sinus and shoulder/ head pain. Maybe I do have chronic pain?

Me, soover.

I used it for relaxation, I'd get nice and hot then stretch my neck and shoulders. The heat helped me let go of the tension, I suppose.

Just started taking anti-oxidant mushroom supplements for another purpose and they have really improved my aches.

A really good mattress makes a huge difference.
I also like Tiger Balm, both hot and cold.
And 4Head for those horrible tension headaches.

I’ve no idea what many of these are research needed!

TENS machine duh how could I forget life saver

Cold strips sticky for headaches when you can’t stay in one place or hold ice pack on

Cold ice packs for first aid that you can break and then suddenly become cold. I keep under bed for migraine so if can’t move I can reach but also good if need to go out and about.

Cutting out sugar makes a massive difference to my inflammation ( inflammatory arthritis) I've tried it too many times not to believe the effects . I hate it though because I LOVE sugar but I am in much less pain when I cut it out / down

Some amazing ideas here!

Tai Chi. I was doing a class a week which improved my stamina. Since lockdown I've been doing 5 days a week via zoom, and it's massively increased both strength and stamina- and importantly hasn't given me any injuries at all!