How to deal with pain?

[deckchaironnabeach]

Although I’ve had a lot of health issues over the years I’ve been fortunate enough (I now discover) not to have suffered long term pain. However I now have sciatica. I’ve had it for nearly 3 months, started off mild then got so I could barely move and I was literally crying in pain. It has eased now and I can move around the house but I’m on the maximum dose of ibruprofen and paracetamol plus every single day. All my doctors say is ‘it’ll take time’.

How the fuck to people who live with chronic pain cope? Has anyone any tips? I know sciatica is very common but I thought I had a reasonably high pain threshold but I am really struggling.

I’ve got prescription painkillers but they make me very drowsy and don’t seem to work much better. I’ve got a TENs machine and heat/cold pads.

Get yourself to a good osteopath. Painkillers don't touch it from personal experience and just make you feel even more shit. It's better to do gentle exercise/manipulation, and walking up and down a swimming pool really helped mine too. I've had a couple of really bad bouts and doing nothing made it worse even though it hurts initially to move. Look on Youtube for some stretching exercises.

Sciatica is nerve pain. If you’ve got long term pain it’s often normal to be prescribed other drugs than painkillers which basically “turn down” the nerves.

amytriptyline is a common one, as is duloxetine.
speak to your GP,

I have chronic sciatica at the moment, it is utterly breathtaking and I'm not sleeping much either.

I've been to the GP a number of times and have been prescribed naproxen with cocodamol first. Then swapped out the cocodamol for codeine, then the codeine for tramadol. Also amitriptyline at night, this now swapped out for gabapentin.

I hear you OP. Mine is taking a huge strain on my mental health. I'm not driving at the moment and am fortunate that my kids are older and have been looking after things (in a fashion) around the house. The tramadol is knocking me out a bit but work have been very understanding and are ok with me asking someone to check anything critical before sending emails/implementing processes. I'm awaiting a referral to MSK for a scan to see if there is something else going on, X-ray didn't show anything.

Get to the GP and tell them how badly it's affecting you. Be kind to yourself and reach out for support. Take care.

Slow release morphine patch.. although l was in hospital all weekend with a trapped nerve of my cervical spondylosis... they gave me IV morphine... didn't touch me. Unfortunately im allergic to anti inflamatories... ibuprofen etc..
Im going to have cortisone injections.. the pain is like sciatica but in my neck/ shoulder/ arm/ hands..
I also do get sciatica of my leg.. and im riddled with osteoarthritis...
Im on duloxetine too. I find capsaicin cream helps.

Find a good chiropractor. It’s the only thing that’s ever helped me with sciatica flare-ups. Good luck!

P.S im also on 2mg of Diazepam 3 times a day.. whenever l have a flare up.
I get hip injections under x ray 4 times a year.

I had a course of acupuncture with a Chinese doctor - after trying every kind of pain killer and muscle relaxant, heat pack, cold pack. I was sceptical, but it really did help and he taught me exercises to do as well. Each session was about half an hour and involved placing about 6 needles and passing a mild electric pulse through them. It wasn't cheap, but after 2 months of severe pain and being unable to put weight on my leg, I was willing to try anything.

Thank you for your comments. I can’t take Amytripaline due to side effects and do take naproxen at night as it helps me sleep. I’ve seen my GP 4 times and physio twice but still struggling. I am off work as I can’t think of anything except the pain.

I am so sorry for everyone living with this, I can honestly say I have never felt pain like it.

mine is actually caused by a nerve trapped in my gluteal muscles (apparently) and I am way too scared to go to an osteopath as the first time I saw a physio I ended up bedridden for 2 days, screaming in pain.

has anyone tried hypnotherapy?

Sciatica is awful i get it on and off. I have long term pain from other conditions and im drugged up to the eyeballs. I have heat pads, cold pads at the ready at all times. Plus it does significantly impact your life i can only work part time and theirs a lot of things I cant do anymore. Acute pain like sciatica is worse as your not set up for it with all the things chronic pain people have

if amytriptyline doesn’t work for you there are a whole load of other drugs in that class that may be worth trying.

i’d second the acupuncture. Some physios will do it under the name dry needling.

You could have cocodamol but only during flare ups. Nothing with codeine should be taken longer than 3 days. I got addicted and am on methadone treatment though almost tapered off now

well obviously there is also pregabalin/gabapentin for nerve pain. Have you asked about these?

I sympathy i have two prolapsed discs and arthritis. I get aches, stiffness , pain and nerve pain. It hurts every day sometimes lower end of pain scale, Sometimes agonising. I had morphine initially but was weaned off it. I now take cocodomol and naproxen on bad days. Are you being given lansaprosle or similar to protect your stomach?
its important to do any exercises the physio gives you daily as movement is important for improving things. Walking, Pilates and swimming help.
I found a lumbar support armchair and office chair have helped plus a cushion for sciatica. I also have a lumbar support cushion in the car.

I found rubbing ibuprofen gel into legs (where I get pain) has massively helped

You could try a tens machine (seek advice from physio first)

Heat and ice can bring relief.

If amatriptiline isn’t suitable you could request gabapentolin which is also for nerve pain.
Theres also steroid injections into the spine that can provide pain relief.

I have noted the alternatives to amytriitaline and will ask the GP for those. I have a tens machine (no effect) and already take omeprazole. Drs won’t do injections until about 5-6 months of pain. I’m now getting worried that there is something else going on as absolutely everything I’ve tried is making little difference. Oh well, looks like I’ll just persevere and keep taking the tablets. Oh and look for an acupuncturist.

It’s scary how painful it is isn’t it? The main worry is a condition called cauda equina developing as that requires emergency surgery the symptoms include incontinence and numbness around your bottom. If that happens it’s straight to a&e.
I assume you haven’t had a MRI? That would show exactly what is happening. If you can afford to you can book a private one , they are a few hundred pounds.
ive been in pain over a year now (I’ve had back pain on and off for years but the pain now is daily). I’m on the wait list for injection but it’s a 9 month list in my area so I decided to go private next week it’s (gulp) £1400. And gives 4-6 months relief but I’m hoping it will time with the wait list and I can use NHS next time. We are not high earners I’m just desperate.

You have my sympathy.

I'm over 30yrs of chronic pain, nothing works, no pain killers or injections and it's bloody miserable.

No advice, sorry. I've given up with the NHS, nothing helps.

Oh gosh I am so sorry you are going through that, I am tearing my hair out after 4 weeks, how on earth do you cope over that length of time?

I am really worried this is going to be long term and it’s frightening.

Gabapentin is decent (I’m on it for occasional pain flare ups) but it does cause a lot of drowsiness and is again addictive.

@deckchaironnabeachI do love your username!

You have prompted me to to put in another econsult with the doctors this afternoon, thank you, especially after other suggestions by PPs for different medications.

Make sure you are properly investigated, ask for a referral to the pain clinic and take no nonsense! I have been rubbish and not assertive over the decades, but don't be a 'me'. Keep on and keep on. Don't be fobbed off. I've had so many misdiagnosis so make sure you're pushing for scans and xrays. Go, go, go!!

I put in another e consult (only way to get information to the GP unless you get the holy grail of an actual appointment) and listed all the painkillers suggested - what did I get? ‘Make an appointment to see the physio’ AGAIN.

i am really getting pissed off, they ask what you would like to happen the fucking ignore everything you suggest.

I will try again Monday and start demanding.

thank you @DinoLil,you have spurred me on.

@DinoLil I know exactly how you feel, I’ve been in chronic pain for nearly 25 years. Morphine & Tramadol have no effect on me, so I’ve had 3 operations without painkillers. I had 8 injections under x-ray…..that wore off in under a week.

I came here to mention acupuncture too. A relative of mine had it for crippling sciatica and it helped a lot. Or I think it's called dry needling when done by a physiotherapist - not sure if exactly the same, but I think similar. He'd be quite a sceptical person but just tried it as he was offered it on the NHS (quite a few years ago!)

ETA I'm not sure if having a trapped nerve would affect the efficacy of acupuncture.

Hope you feel better soon OP. It sounds awful. I have an autoimmune condition that was agony until I got treatment and I struggled with the pain too.

Well so much for escalating. With our GP practice you have to phone up at 8am to get an appointment. I did, finally connected at 8.01 and I was 27 in the queue. Wanted a phone appointment- nope, only do those if you fill out a fucking e-consult form. Which can take them 3 days to respond.

Fucking ridiculous. I’ve made an appointment with an osteopath for next week.

If all the pain medications fail maybe try private clinic medical marijuana? You'd probably qualify with your conditions and drugs you've tried but would have to self fund. There's around 50 or so private clinics prescribing this. Just an idea. Also LDN again privately prescribed usually.

OP I have had it since early May. I am now taking duloxetine and it has been a miracle. I took it for about three weeks and then my packet ran out - I didn't realise it because I wasn't having any pain. I have (as a back up plan) contacted the doctor who has prescribed me another box. I also have monthly physio, but upped that to weekly in the early stages. I also used CBD muscle rub as well that helped.