Is this old age? How it’s going to be from now on? 🤦‍♀️

[DollyDaydream55]

I’m taking HRT tablets (Kliofem). My GP stopped them last year as she felt “you’ve been on them long enough” 🙄 and at 59, I was plunged back into sweats/bone pain/sleep issues and all the usual. Three months later, she restarted HRT, at my insistence.

Im not sure if it’s “just” old age but my body is wracked with aches and pains. I also have cervical C1-T2 degeneration. Some disc bulges and stenosis (narrowing) of cord. I’m in agony. Last MRI scan (have them usually every couple of years) showed it had worsened significantly in the past two years. Also have lumbar spine pain but the neck’s the worst. Up to now I’ve been on paracetamol and occasionally, codeine 30mg at night if desperate. Can’t take Bruges but have used Voltarol gel (utterly useless).

The hospital consultant told me to take Gabapentin but ten days in, I was very woozy still and the pain hadn’t changed. I stopped. Can’t see GP till March and I’m struggling massively. I also have a very physical job so, that’s beginning to be a big problem too. I’m 60. Am active. Walk miles with the dog. Eat reasonably well.

Would anyone recommend I give Gabapentin another try? See a HRT special clinician(???) Will the dizzy/wooziness wear off. I drive as part of my care job.

Also for your elbows book a GP appointment and ask them to examine them & see if it's tennis elbow. I had exactly what you describe & was given a steroid injection in each elbow. It helped massively & inflammation/Pain & sensitivity disappeared . I only get occasional bother with them now if I've bn over strenuous
Self care is what you need.
My recommendations
Magnesium flakes & Epsom salts baths, I also add deep heat bubble bath.
Magnesium spray or lotion. Apply before bed, really helps the constant aching
Magnesium vitamin supplement
Sleeping with a full size U shaped pregnancy pillow
You can mould it around you body to suit, supports legs & back too, plus the horrible Fibro neck/shoulder pain.
A heat pad, around £25 on Amazon, you can put it wherever hurts, the soothing heat helps relax the tense painful muscles. They have auto shut off timers and different heat settings.
I go to sleep with it on small of my back, being held in place & supported by pregnancy pillow.
Anything to get comfortable enough to sleep 😁

JinglingSpringbells it was the women’s health/menopause nurse.

Risks of clotting are with tablet form HRT which go through your liver. Transdermal doesn't carry this risk.

I have spinal issues. I take pregabalin, which is similar to gabapentin but newer, has fewer side effects and is more expensive, so you may have to beg for it. I've just increased to 50-50-150 and it's helping my back. I take a lot of other meds too but I also have other problems. I've been in a medical menopause for endometriosis for 12 years and do t use HRT. I do t know if I'd feel better with it but endometriosis made my life miserable so don't want to risk it.

Well, the same thing applies. They ought not to be advising/ prescribing etc until they are properly trained. This is such basic knowledge, that it's pretty shocking she doesn't know.

Hi
I can see that this discussion is 3 months old. I came here to say that I have a cervical disc prolapse and awaiting surgery after the nerve block brought limited benefit. I was unsure about Gabapentin first as it took a few weeks to help but am able to use paracetamol and less codeine now to control the pain. Gabapentin only helps neurological pain, for me that s pins and needles/ burning feeling in my hand and arm, with some cramp feeling behind the shoulder blade. No neck pain , weirdly. Physio is essential as part of the management too. Worth asking to see a neurosurgeon even if the wait is long for proper diagnosis and treatment. Have you tried a nerve block injection?

As for HRT the first 5 years are at least risk neutral with more benefit than risk, and after 5 years the risk increases so must be discussed but transdermal is much safer than tablets and you must be prescribed some form of progesterone with the oestrogen if you still have a womb. Oestrogen comes as gel, spray or patches (other than tablet) and progesterone comes as tablet, capsule or Mirena (coil) . I am 54 and my GP prescribed it without needing to see a specialist, so please ask to see a younger GP who has been trained in menopause . HRT protects your heart, bones, from dementia etc so essential and not just for comfort so push to see a doctor who knows about it, as many GPs are trained in it now.

gabapentin is not a miracle and I still need surgery but at least it makes the pain bearable. Hope yours is better controlled too.

@Carpediem2007

Thank you so much for all of that information. I appreciate it.

I have had my Sertraline increased and changed my HRT and (dare I say it????) I’m feeling a little better.

The physio has put me on a waiting list but I’m not entirely sure for what. He has said steroid injections are not beneficial, but they’ve helped massively in the past so 🤷🏼‍♀️

Today for the second time I had a hot pain from my neck down my shoulder, under my arm to the bicep and along into my hand. Lasted no more than 3-4 mins. Am beginning to think I’m just falling apart! 😂

@DollyDaydream55 Just coming back as you have.

I asked if you'd ever had a bone density scan and I think you said not.

Is this not something that is being offered?

X rays can diagnose some things but a DEXA scan diagnoses loss of bone density.

If your vertebra are collapsing, has osteoporosis been ruled out?

Had something (can’t remember what) years ago and it was ok for osteoporosis.

If it was a few years ago you need another one at your age. It's called a DEXA scan.

Thank you.

They need to be done every 2 to 3 years @DollyDaydream55 .

Bone density crashes by up to 5% a year after the menopause.

It's all very well being told you have 'degeneration' and issues with your spine but you need a diagnosis.

It comes over as if people are treating the pain. That's a symptoms but what is the cause? You don't appear to know.

You need to push for this.

If your mum had osteoporosis, then the chances are you may as it's hereditary.

You need to take control of this and insist on a DEXA scan. MRIs etc can show fractures but they don't look at the density of your bones.

If you are still seeing a rheumatologist, what are they saying to you?

No. The rheumatologist discharged me back to GP and physio. The physio made me feel a bit stupid. He said “people can have similar conditions yet feel pain differently. Or, feel no pain at all.” So, I felt a bit of a wuss. Like, it’s not that bad, it’s just my “experience” of it.

My mum had spine issues for many years and they said it was wear and tear (she died at 79). When she went into hospital before she died, the scan showed she had several collapsed vertebrae and multiple fractures through C to L but mostly T (thoracic). No wonder she chewed paracetamol and rubbed Voltarol on the parts she could reach, like crazy.

I think there’s less and less prevention now. It’s all about treating “an event”, provided you a) survive the event and b) it’s a true emergency which needs immediate attention.

Both my parents had cardiovascular problems/surgery. My mum was 51 when she had 9 coronary artery bypasses. Nowadays, I know my sister and I will need to have an ACTUAL stroke or heart attack, survive, and maybe (maybe) get some form of treatment, depending on waiting lists. My own cardiologist has said that the blockages I have need to worsen before I get on the list for a stent. I have blockages but not to the right %, as yet!

I should add; I’m not overweight/a never ever smoker/ I run most days. I walk my dog a couple of hours a day and am pretty fit but, I (like my sister) have inherited a shit cardiovascular deal! My angina is mild. Sister’s more pronounced and she had stents at 59.

I’m a ticking time bomb. We all are.

I’m a ticking time bomb. We all are.

Only if you don't ask questions or push for more investigations.

You ought to push for a DEXA scan. If you keep waiting for the NHS to jump to, they won't. You've seen that already.

Just make an appt with your GP and insist on one.

If it's years since you saw a rheumatologist, things will have changed.

You can even pay for a private DEXA scan- about £200 if necessary.

I hear you.

I was discharged from the rheumatologist after Xmas BACK TO … physio. Who discharged me last March 22.

Im like a ping pong ball.

I will speak to the GP.