Anyone else got chronic pain?

[nickytwotimes]

It is wearing me down atm.
I have long term back ishhos, but had a few years pain free before I was pg with ds an dI thought I was safe! Sadly not.

My current bout has lasted a year and it is really getting me down.

How do you cope with it? I feel like an old woman and am only 35.

Btw, I have a fab chiropractor, but it is £30 a go and we are skint,m so I can't see her as aoften as I would like.

I have chronic back/shoulder pain (Scheuermanns Disease/crushed discs). I used to take 2 types of prescription pain-killers on a daily basis, and they barely controlled the pain, just took the edge off. I redularly had to take a month of work (ie 2 or 3 times each year).
About 8 years ago I discovered Glucosamine Sulphate. Back then it wasn't as widely heard off as now, but I was willing to give it a go. It completely changed my life. Whilst I still have spells of bad pain, it is now at a totally manageable/almost forgettable level. I rarely have time off work (and never for more than 1 day at a time). I never take painkillers, apart from the odd paracetamol for headache!
Brand can made a huge difference, so its much better to get a decent brand as opposed to something like Boots/holland barret. You need to take 1500mg, 1 per day. For most people the benefits are noticeable within about 2 months (for me it took about 4 or 5 months).
Whenever I do have flare ups of pain I use Celedrin for a few weeks (it usually works on pain within about 3 weeks). Solgar and Natures Aid both make good quality ones.

You mentioned being skint...I forgot to mention price!

Celedrin is quite pricy, but fantastic. Both brands I mentioned are E25 for 1 month.

Quest Glucosamine is about E12 for 2 month supply.
Natures Aid Glucosamine are really good value, but good quality. E12.50 for 3 month supply.

Do you swim? I find it really helps and try to go once a week.

? (just checking to see whether euro signs are working on mumsnet yet)

sorry don't know prices in £ (might be more expensive as you guys pay VAT on supplements)

Thanks for the replies.
I have tried Glucosamine but noticed no effect unfortunatley.
Yes, I guess swimming would be good, just need to get off my bum.

Herbie, the front of my pelvis is usually fine, occassionally a bit niggly, but the SI/lumbar bit is bad. I was lucky to have a very good physio during pg which i'm sure has saved me from far worse pain, adn I am very grateful. However, I do often feel grumpy becasue there is laways pain of some level or another. I just find it so wearying too. I really envy dh who has never had back pain at all.

No, I haven't had the injections.
Sounds bliss atm!

I am off to see my gp soon again. He is a good chap, but not too up on pain related stuff.

I have lived in pain for about 15 years, it affected my whole body (joints, muscle, bowel, urinary tract) and it was one of the reasons I stopped working. The source of the pain was unknown but I always felt it was something to do with what I ate. Doctors always disagreed and dismissed me because they could not find an obvious cure.

It affected my whole body to the extent that I have not slept a single full night sleep in that time. Then a few years ago I got gallbladder problems on top and had severe stomach/bowel pain for two years - my friends said I looked grey and aged by ten years.

I hardly ever took pain killers. Instead, I have always found excercise was helpful, it kept me mobile, it releases endorphines and actually made me feel more alive. I taught myself to use reflexology and I occassionally fasted myelf to clear my system and eventually led me to the solution to my pain. I stopped eating at night to reduce pressure on my system and tried to eat well. I got my gall blader removed. I have recently found that removing milk and gluten from my diet has transformed my life and all but eliminated all the pain. I did that after reading MN advice!

Obviously, I realise some excercise in not possible with some conditions (e.g SPD) but any excercise of any muscle group that gets you breathless is good. I also know there are specialist units in some hospitals that help train people with long term pain about how to deal with it and come to terms with it. I have a friend who has a severe orthopedic injury and she has used these services, uses the Alexander technique and also some reflexology.

I have every sympathy with anyone who is in long term pain. My final bit of advice is try to live some normal life. For example, I used to occassionally have a big meal, wine and so on at night with friends. I knew it would make me feel ill the next day but it also made me feel normal. I tried not define myself in my mind as an ill person. A lot of the impact of pain is in the mind although it has a physical cause.

Interesting post thanks ABetaDad.
I am glad you have found ways to cope wth the pain.
Can't say I've tried any diets for pain as my problems are mechanical rather than systemic, iyswim? Excercise is a help though yes. And I agree about the normal life stuff. I am keeping up most of my normal activities, but it is so knckering, isn't it?

nickytwotimes - it is knackering both for the person and their partner. I hope you find a way through at least to make life bearable.

Do think about talking as well to your GP to see if you can get some kind of conselling for dealing with the long term pain itself not just the mechanical issues. My friend said it put her in a better positive frame of mind and helped her enormously.

Here is a link you may not have seen to the NHS website about getting help with long term pain especially for arthritis etc. Many GPs really do not know this kind of service exists. They focus only on treating the condition itself.

NHS Long Term Pain Management

No, I hadn't seen that, so thanks for the link.

It must be a drag for dh too, yes. Luckily he is a very patient and loving chap.

Thanks Sazzles and Nuffy.
I am going to ask the GP for a bit more help, perhaps a consultant referal or pain clinic.
I have found doing strengthening excercises for my core muscles helps, as does not putting on too much weight. I have lost half a stone lately which has helped a little. I am not overweight, btw. When I was overweight it was MUCH worse.