In so much pain .. any words of wisdom please?l

[FleetwoodRaincoat]

I went to A and E yesterday as I woke up with agonising pains in my chest, back and neck. Thought I was having a heart attack, but it turns out to be oesophageal spasm. This is obviously a much better diagnosis, but I'm in so much pain. My back, chest, neck all feel so painful, the sort of pain that takes your breath away.

Just wondering if anyone else had had this and how long it lasted? I've been given lansoprazole 30mg.

I get these, and also once ended up in A&E as a result. Shockingly painful. The one thing I find eases the pain is drinking ice-cold water. At least they don't usually last long. But when I've had a big spasm, the ache can linger for a day or two. I think of it like a cramp - even once it's passed there is often a residual bruised feeling in the leg. A leg is sort of on it's own. But your oesophagus is in the middle of your chest, everything around it is affected by the pain, and it's not possible to stretch it out and massage it, as you could with your leg. Plus you've probably been tending your shoulders, back and neck against the pain. So stretching and massage might help.

Did they say what caused it, or what you can do to prevent it happening again?

Thanks so much for replying. I'm in more pain now than when I went to A and E. I thinks it's reflux-related, as my mum suffers with digestive issues.

I've had a similar thing years ago, but don't remember it being so painful, nor lasting so long. Hard to believe that your oesophagus can cause so much pain all over!

I have reflux, too, but I don't think that's what triggers the spasms. I haven't been able to identify any triggers for the spasms.

Hope the pain eases soon.

Have you got painkillers as well? Cocodamol is good for this type of pain.

Thank you.

I do have some co-codamol in the house (DH was prescribed it a while back) but I'm a bit scared to take it.

Maybe I'll give it a try tomorrow - thanks for the advice.

Some pain killers, might cause constipation, please read data sheet in pack.
I take some and have a Macrogol every evening. sometimes two.
Good Luck

Gah I get these! They're awful and I haven't found much to help at all. Painkillers don't seem to touch the edges at all and seems to be more of a wait it out thing. Sorry to be so utterly unhelpful but you have my sympathy 💐

Would buscopan help? It works to reduce gastric spasms. I’m only guessing here, but might be worth asking a pharmacist. Really hope it improves for you soon.

If you're in so much pain, then seek out more medical assistance, like 111. If it gets unbearable, then ambulance.

I don't advise taking other people's prescribed medication. If it's co-codamol 8/500 then fine as you can get this over the counter. But stronger may cause extra problems and I personally don't know anything about your condition.

No health profressional will think you're bothering them/causing a fuss etc. If you seek advice. So please don't think that. Anyone in severe pain should always ask for help from the NHS.

Good luck. Hope you feel better soon.

You need a muscle relaxant - and as someone else has said buscopan is good. The lansoprazole will help with acid reflux but do nothing whatsoever for the spasm.

I have a problem called SOD - Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction - which happens to some people who have had their gall bladders removed. It too is spasm - of a sphincter in the biliary system. It is truly excruciating. I have buscopan for this, but to be honest, when it is bad, there is nothing that will settle it down.

You can get versions of buscopan over the counter I think.

Wow thank you all for your advice and sympathy. I haven't taken the cocodemol but will definitely speak to a pharmacist about buscopan. The paracetamol is taking the edge off it but not much!

Do you have a wheatbag? Heated bag held against chest helps with pain from peptic ulcers, and may also help you.

I’m going through similar right now. Last night woke up at 4 with sharp pain in my solar plexus and have been in agony all day. I get flare ups very rarely and they can last about 24-36 hours. I’ve had them for 25 years but have never been Formally diagnosed. So I spent all morning making myself sick to try and bring up or dislodge the acid, took a zantax and paracetamol, tried to get up and stretch but couldn’t as felt too bad to move. Drank some milk, slept on and off a bit. Then the pain killers kicked in and I was able to go out for a couple of hours which helped with the pain. I grabbed some gaviscon, extra strong mints and water which helped a lot. Now I am in bed with hot water bottle. Pain has subsided. I’ve just eaten a brioche. Feel totally wiped out. How are you doing OP?

Forgot to say I think mine is an ulcer and triggers are kiwi fruit and - now it seems - too much pineapple.

@ididitsocanyou sorry to hear you're suffering too. I'm still in agony. Got up at 3 and took paracetamol and gaviscon, which must have helped eventually, as I didn't wake up til 6.45.

There is literally one position that I can sleep in - if I move fractionally from that it's unbelievably painful. I can't understand why it's still like this after 72 hours. Going on holiday today too (in the UK) first time in over 2 years and I'm dreading it now. So disappointed. I don't usually feel sorry for myself but at the moment I really am!

@anormalperson how long do yours last for?

Don't take gaviscon (or any antacid) at the same time as anything else, as the Gaviscon can prevent your body absorbing the other medicine properly. You have to alternate them. Two hours either side of the Gaviscon IIRC.

It doesn't seem likely that the pain is still the oesophageal spasm. They don't last this long IME (though I'm not a doctor and could obviously be wrong). Have you tried a wheatbag? Any chance you could get a massage?

If your pain is still severe, you need to go back to the doctor.

Good advice @dibertion

@FleetwoodRaincoat i have looked up your condition and it seems your condition is more chronic than mine. I hope you get better soon. Os there a chance your family can go on holiday without you and you catch up when the pain has subsided?

Thanks again for the advice. I'm actually on holiday now. Not drinking, not eating nice food, no coffee ..

I suspect my problem is that reflux hasbdamaged my oesophagus or I have an ulcer, and it's causing both the spasms and referred pain in my back

Either way, the treatment is diet changes and lansoprazole, which is what I have.

Thanks for all your support and words of wisdom. Mumsnet never lets me down!

IME the pain from oesophagitis caused by reflux is a punching ache low down, sort of below left breast and towards the midline of the chest. Some people feel it as a burning pain, I don't. The pain from oesophageal spasm is distinctly different: an awful breathtaking clench that starts behind my sternum before spreading upwards and downwards. It can go right up to my ears, but when it goes downwards it's distinctly more to the left of centre.

Does any of this resemble your pain?

Drinking ice-cold drinks helps with both, though for the first it has to be sips whereas for the second it has to be properly drinking.

Lansoprasole will take a few days to kick in. Add Gaviscon, avoid caffeine. Take Paracetamol.

I was taught body relaxation by a psychologist for a different reason - (jaw twitches that she thought were due to stress). Anyway, the relaxation turned out to be very useful for quickly getting rid of cramps, including Proctalgia Fugax - painful cramp inside the anus.

It's easy to teach yourself relaxation - eg imagine yourself floating on water, letting tension drain from your body starting from your head and focusing on each body part as you imagine it working its way down. There are many images you can use - whatever floats your boat. I hope you can give it a try and get some relief.

OMG! I'm currently in agony with this too! Was woken in the early hours to such sharp pain I was clenching my teeth and in tears! It eased off after half an hour and drinking water. Like pp said I've felt bruised all day in my chest.
Now i've come to bed and its starting again. I bought Gaviscon today and have drunk 1/4 of the bottle and am still in agony.
I thought it was heartburn but maybe it's spasms.
I hope I get some sleep :(

Sorry to hear that you are struggling too Arabella. Mine seems marginally better than it was yesterday. Still sleeping sitting up, taking gaviscon and paracetamol. If this is something you haven't had before then you should probably go to A and E to make sure it isn't anything else. Hope you feel better soon.