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

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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.

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).

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

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

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