Dave the poster who advised to get off drugs is on the right path. That said, it is near impossible for any person in pain to conceive of taking no drugs. A little about me: Ski injury to rt knee in 1986. Since then 14 operative procedures on the knee including 4 major (transplant, ACI, Half of a replacement & total replacement). Along the way a nerve was damaged that causes severe back pain. I am fortunate to have a Psychiatrist who cares. I take amyltriptoline which is an anti-depressant but somehow works to remove the pain or at least make it bearable. If I have a bad night, I'll take 5mg of valium. This routine allows me to live full time and drive a 45' motor home which I also maintain.
I spent the first 5 years of this century sitting. The result was a sever loss of bone density. Severe enough that normal walking would cause micro bone fractures. After 25 years I'm not addicted to narcotics.
You can do this! Experiment with ways to sit and lay till you find a way that is comfortable for you. Do that for relief, but keep moving.
Another thing to seriously look at is your diet. Processed foods with more than 4 ingredients aren't good. Eat fresh vegtables and no hormone meats. Do your own research on foods and their relationship to illness and pain.
To all the people who are suggesting an anti-depressant, Cymbalta was originally used and still is used as an anti-depressant. Many physicians are now using anti-depressants for pain control. I would suggest he talk to his doctor re an increase in dosage. Hope you get relief soon.
No idea how to deal with this stuff. Though of just quitting medicines and seeing how it goes. Some other things going on too.
Taking Cymbalta for the Neuropathy and other things. Supposed to be the latest and greatest? Gapentin tried it and don't remember what it did for me. I know that the Cymbalta didn't do anything to stop the pain. None of them have. The last one before this one seemed to work better, I think now. Ate at a steak house Monday. I asked if they put MSG on the steak and was told it was not in theri seasoning. I don't believe it. It tasted like salt. I'm not sure but MSG seems to cause fluid retention and set off the Neuropathy. I say seems because I simply don't know what causes it or what can be done about it. Anyway todaay was good. Maybe tommorrow will be. Thanks for the thoughts Folks. I hope all goes well for you.
I've been in similiar pain due to Rheumatoid Arthritis and rheumatoid nodules developing between the tendons/bones etc., in the feet. Yow-ee - feet on fire and much more painful at night than when trying to walk.
The steak house may not have used MSG, but salt is a standard seasoning used on the steaks and yes, it can cause fluid retention. Might see if dear doctor might put you on a diuretic for the few times you consume sodium. When possible, avoid canned foods - go for fresh/frozen to lessen sodium consumption. When traveling, I do eat canned vegetables, but I rinse the contents before cooking to get rid of excess sodium. It has helped.
I am trying not to take my narcotic med for my feet/leg pain. RA doctor put me on Plaquenil (malaria med) and it has reduced the inflammation. I take Ibuprophen daily and that too helps. I get a liver function test (bloodwork) every 3 months and so far all is good.
If my feet are really on fire, I try to lay with them elevated above my heart. I will put my feet up on the headboard as pillows don't work as well. I also use aspercream.
DH has peripheral neuropathy. I did some research and found that Alpha Lipoic Acid (like a vitamin) has had some success in reducing the symptoms. You can get it in the vitamin section at walmart, but I order ours online to get 600mg tablets. It took a while to notice any change (3-6 months), but DH hasn't complained about his PN in a long time. Just a twinge once in awhile.
It might not work the same for everyone, but it is worth giving it a try.
My husband has neuropathy also and takes Gabapentin. It hasn't done a whole lot for him either. I know how much you hate going to the doctor but they are the only way you will get some help. Can you change doctors, get a second opinion? I hate docs that just shut people up with meds, no real help, just a band-aid for what ails us. I wish you all the best.
I know what your going through. I have the exact same pain and problems. I am 27 and take 12 diff types of meds and still feel like******most the time. This whole keep moving thng is crazy, I have 3 kids and a 8 month prego wife. I hurt so bad and it just makes it worse chasing or even just standing making dinner.
If you find a cure please,seriously please let me know!
I live with chronic pain, also. I take the least amount of pain meds that I can get away with. But that said, I totally understand the unbearable pain - you can't sit, you can't lay, you can't stand == you pace the floor -- makes for horribly long nights.
Try to get it as under control as you can. I dont' like taking the pain meds, but some days you just have no choice in the matter. Every one has a limit to the amount of pain they can tolerate.
I have grandchildren that really give me incentive to keep going. I did get a scooter to use if we go with the grandkids to an amusement park or something. I don't like using it, but it's gotten to the point if I want to participate, I have to swallow my pride and use Scooty.
I have problems with my feet and legs swelling when we travel. If you dont' have a recliner in your rig, you might want to look into one of those zero gravity outdoor lounge chairs. They are very comfortable and you can get your feet elevated in those, to keep the swelling down.
I got us a pair of them right after we first got our MH. I seriously couldn't travel without them. Hubby loves his, too.
Best of luck to you. I can totally empathize.
Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
If you want to avoid another pill -- in place of a diuretic (water pill), some of the tips below may help:
Nutrition and Supplements
Following these nutritional tips may help reduce symptoms:
•Eliminate suspected food allergens, such as dairy (milk, cheese, and ice cream), wheat (gluten), soy, corn, preservatives, and chemical food additives. Your health care provider may want to test you for food allergies.
•Reduce salt intake.
•Eat foods high in B-vitamins and iron, such as whole grains (if no allergy), dark leafy greens (such as spinach and kale), and sea vegetables.
•Natural diuretic vegetables include asparagus, parsley, beets, grapes, green beans, leafy greens, pineapple, pumpkin, onion, leeks, and garlic.
•Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).
•Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
•Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy), or beans for protein.
•Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
•Reduce or eliminate trans fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.
•Avoid alcohol, and tobacco.
•Exercise lightly, if possible, 5 days a week.
We are all individuals and react differently to similar issues. When I advise somebody to keep moving it is because I spent years in pain so severe I thought I couldn't move and didn't. Then I received a replacement knee which was supposed to fix it all and didn't. The result was micro fractures with every step due to poor bone density. Another 5 years of pain. I was later diagnosed with osteoporosis and took Boniva for 2 1/2 years. Bone density is created by the impact of your feet on the ground when walking and you replace your skeleton every 7 years. Who knew?
I think that in this or any forum you'll get support and many suggestions supported by individual experience. All posts have some validity, it's up to each of us to find what works for us. Chronic pain sucks and unless you have experienced it, you just don't know.
"raindove" has some very valid suggestions concerning diet, that I think apply to us all. Processed foods are full of inflammation and only God knows what else. My Wife is alergic to corn and if she eats anything with a corn enzyme she will react from difficulty breathing to a migraine to nausea. You can also seek information on processed foods at http://www.naturalnews.com .
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