I was curious what everyone uses for pain control?I am on darvocet tabs, twice a day and starting accupuncture. Was interested in hearing from the rest of the board.. I am in chronic pain from the lyme. It is sufficiently bad that taking a shower is an excruciating process. Sometimes, it takes an hour to get out of bed due to the severity of pain. Thanks, everyone.
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
sorry to read about all your pain skater! i enjoyed your PM last night; thank you.
i use XS tylenol; all pain RX meds don't work on me; and 3 frozen ice packs at a time for my worst areas changing them every 45 minutes. numbing it helps me the most.
moist heating pad too.
Posted by jaime1978 (Member # 11786) on :
I am sorry to hear about your pain levels. And
unfortunatly, I can really understand what you
mean. Right now I take 40mg oxycontin twice a
day.... and ultam as needed for breakthrough
pain...I also take 600mg OTC motrin. My pain
levels still hover around a 6 (on a good day!)
I haven't started treatment yet, and I am
scared to death... I keep hearing I will feel
even worse once I start abx. I didn't think
that was possible. And the LLMD I am going to
see, doesn't prescribe pain, anxiety, relaxing,
meds...don't think anything but abx. SO I am
afraid my symptoms won't be treated adequatly
during treatment. I know my primary won't go
any higher or stronger on pain meds, and he's
not big on xanax type things (which at times
are a godsend)...and pain managment docs around
here, only want to give steroids...and I just
made that mistake 2 months ago... I can't even
tell my doctor right now that I am pursuing the
lyme thing. He laughed when I brought it up.
even though I had 2 ticks burrowed in my back!
And I exibit almost all the symptoms. I've had
it now for 20 years, so yeah, pretty scared.
I have also used the fentynl patch....I really
liked that, but had problems getting it to stick
expecially in the summer when I would get hot.
If you find something that helps you, please let
me know...good luck.
jaime
Posted by charlie (Member # 25) on :
ultram....It's the only one that doesn't make me groggy....in fact it acts like speed which probably accounts for my flurry of posting lately.
turns out I need the pain killer since I have acute tertiary molaria which won't be treated till this Thurs at which point I ought to be able to reassume my normal warped persona...
Charlie
Posted by ByronSBell 2007 (Member # 11496) on :
NOTHING works for me, plus it will help your immune system greatly if you can go without them but it is your choice...
With lyme, I would focus more on natural things that reduce toxins, inflammation, and pain.
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
It will also hurt your immune system if you are in chronic pain.
Pain control methods depend on the type of pain you have. I have mostly muscle pain. I used to get help from flexeril, but I stopped it after 2.5 years because it was making me sleep too much.
I take vicodin when needed, and it helps me tremendously.
I just started Bentyl last week to stop possible spasms of a duct near my gallbladder. I've hardly had any pain since I started it over a week ago. I think it's acting like a muscle relaxer.
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Living with untreated severe chronic pain is not good for you, so I veto the idea of going without meds. If your pain is like mine, and it sounds at least that bad, that's not an option.
I have found that with treatment I am able to go without my pain meds sometimes, except when I'm especially fatigued or herxing.
I take tramadol (generic for Ultram) 4 times daily, but usually only three. I also take Neurontin, with higher doses at night to help with both pain and sleep.
I used to use rice socks (tube socks filled with uncooked rice, tie the ends) which I put in the microwave They provide good moist heat and I could drape on my neck and shoulders, which have always been my worst places for pain.
I also use massage therapy, every two weeks. I found that cold just made my muscles more tense and increased my pain, so that didn't work for me.
Posted by robi (Member # 5547) on :
coffee enema worked wonders for me the other day.
Guess it causes an immediate toxin dump (no pun intended) and therefore pain relief.
robi
Posted by rtartist (Member # 12089) on :
How about Cymbalta? I know that fybromyalgia patients are given this and one friend swears by it. (He is finally being tested for Lyme)
I plan on asking llmd next time I'm there about it.
Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :
Hi iceskater,
So sorry you are in so much pain, I hope you feel better soon.
I have used different things for pain, but when I had it really bad, nothing really worked for me.
I have used: Heat packs Ice packs Massage therapy phycial therapy, by script Vicoden, by script Allerga meds, such as Benadryl Decongestants Aspirin Elavil, by script Relafen, by script Plaquenil, by script Zyflamend
Although some of the above helped me, what has helped the most is treatment for lyme and the co-infections. I had spine pain so bad it would wake me up in the middle of the night..nothing took it away except Zithromax, Plaquenil and Malarone.
Posted by 5dana8 (Member # 7935) on :
((((( iceskater )))))
Hope you can find some relief soon Posted by hanoverw/lyme (Member # 10215) on :
300mg of ultram in addition to 5@800mg of ibuphren didn't help. dr wants me off ibuprofen, i just started cymbalta this am. whats the usual dose of cymbalta for releif?
Posted by jaime1978 (Member # 11786) on :
be careful with the cymbalta, I had a horrible
reaction to it. I thought I was going crazy.
and coming off it was even worse. BUT, I do
know some people that it has helped. For me
it seems as any of the antidepressants make it
worse for me.
Posted by breathwork (Member # 567) on :
I want to add to the lists above a daily simple product that really helps me with the aches and neck pain...
Arnica Gel
It's so simple and helps with the babs aches in particular.
I also use vicodin, ice packs, heat, chiropractic, massage, hot tub, and flexeril for the muscle spasms.
Being in bed so much adds a great deal to my muscle spasms and skeletal aches and pains. Getting up, having a hot shower and forcing myself to get into the day helps more than staying in bed on may days....I sleep better at night when I do this as well.
Posted by iceskater (Member # 8655) on :
Must have been herxing last 48 hours severe eye pain and joint pain again. Nothing has kept pain under control these days. Just able to hold my head off the pillow upright now. Thank you everyone for your pain management suggestions!
Posted by JimBoB (Member # 8454) on :
For the most part I use nothing but Herbs, an occasional ice pack or heating pad.
Once in a great while I will take a couple of ibuprofen.
Otherwise I try my best to endure it. I have suffered a lot of pain, most of my life, long before Lyme, so have become accustomed to it. I became immune to the affects of Aspirin, so quit taking that years ago. Good thing too as it is bad for you, as is Tylonal.
Devils Claw, Hu Zhang, Periwinkle all help.
Jim Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
skater, so sad to learn you are so ill again and your eye pain!
hope people's suggestions will help you/ALL OTHERS reading. Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I was in agony 24-7 for 2+ years BUT I did not use ANY pain meds because I have not used pain meds or any other mind-altering substance for 17 years and have issues with that for ME and me ALONE as a personal choice.
For me if I had used pain meds I do not know that I would have stayed sober and if I had drunk again I know I would not have been able to follow doctors orders to get better...
Thanks to longterm abx I have no pain in daily life at all except my one remaining symptom, less than 1 minute of flare a month in my left knee prior to my menses.
So it all worked out- thank goodness- chronic pain was just terrible!!!!!!!!!!!! And chronic agony was almost unlivable-
Best wishes all, Sarah
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
I have been taking Piroxicam, it is a once a day NSAID it has been glorious to me.
I also had taken the Tramadol wich was great and took away most of my pain with out feelin loopy. It made me a bit queasy, but well worth it. It is a synthetic narcotic and not a controlled substance.
I had to stop taking it because I went back on Zoloft and there is a possible interaction (BUMMER)
So now I take eithrt plain Tylenol ot Vicodin with Tylenol maybe once or twice at night.
The epson salt baths are also wonderful for me. I am newly diagnosed but been symptomatic and in pain for 5 weeks.
Posted by EtherealGirl (Member # 4780) on :
I take Percocet for breakthough pain, but it makes me so very tired.
I did Cymbalta 60mg for quite awhile, and I felt like a new person! It was a miracle drug for me. Unfortunately, like so many people, I had suicidal thoughts on it so my doctor made me switch back to Effexor, which doesn't help with pain.
Yesterday my doctor prescribed Ultram 50mg. I took one last night and it did nothing for me. I'm going to try two tonight and see if it helps. I also took one today, because it does not make me tired. I'm putting a lot of faith in this because I know it works well for so many people.
Good luck with your search!
Posted by imanurse (Member # 7022) on :
Hi skater,
I use tramadol occassionally maybe one - two times per month for severe pain, it takes the edge off. I have a pretty good pain tolerance most of the time.
I also use gabapentin which works well for the nerve pain issues and helps me to sleep at night.
Posted by Blackstone (Member # 9453) on :
Compared to most, my pain is probably not as acute, but hovers at a constant level which over time makes one want to rip his hair out. Mostly my aches are in my shoulders and back, and occasionally I get sharp pains in my hip.
My drug of choice is percocet (oxycodone). I typically don't take any more than one a night, and many nights I try to go without it. Amazingly, it also gives me a clear mind and makes me rather chatty during the first phases, before "warmth" and sleepiness.
Posted by BOEJR (Member # 1734) on :
Hi Ice,
I know that this is going to sound really hard to do but I found that jumping into my pool in really cold 64 degree temp took away all my pain for about an hour.
The cold water will reduce inflamation, I could only take the water for about 20 minutes. I will tell you it has worked for a few people I know as well.
I know that not everyone has a pool but if you have a tub you can get in with the water warm and just keep adding cold water slowly. Until you desensitise (sp)yourself.
I was never one for cold water NEVER, but when I found that it relieved the pain I was hooked...
I hope this helps
kindly,
Julia
Posted by hanoverw/lyme (Member # 10215) on :
i have tried the combo of 100mg of ultra along with up to 4000 mg of ibuphren a day with little to no sucess. most of my pain is shoulders, extreme pain in both legs, and my left heel is a killer. today i revisited dr. he gave me mobic 7.5 mg per day. i took my first dose at noon, by 4 p.m. no pain, just an ocassional spurt of pain in my left heel. I don't know what to think other than if this works Mobic is MAGIC to me.
Posted by DolphinLady (Member # 6275) on :
The photonic stimulator. It reduces inflammation, increases circulation and repairs nerves. It is noninvasive and best yet no pills!!!
It uses near infrared light.
If interested go to cti-net.com or call 801-459-6063.
I have no ties to this company.
I use it on myself and on family members (including pets) successfully for many conditions. It even speeds up healing of sprains, wounds surgery etc.
Posted by lymewreck36 (Member # 4395) on :
O.K. I looked at the website for light therapy. How much does one of those things cost?>
Mary
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I find that:
Magnesium at dinner time and calcium at bed time reduces muscle spasm pain. Also massage and cranial sacral therapy, and a warm tub soak before bed.
Chiropractic along with reducing muscle spasms reduces spinal pain.
Extra water with lemon juice, and detox foot pads reduces heal pain.
Manual lymph drainage, or drainage with Sota magnetic pulser reduces neck pain.
Ibuprophin and prescription cortef reduces pain from inflammation.
Liver detox products and procedures reduce all kinds of pain, after a herx period. Colonics reduce the herx.
Here's to feeling well! Best wishes to all!
bejoy
Posted by kylasrain (Member # 12031) on :
Hi All,
My LLMD won't prescribe any pain meds because it might mask my symptoms...indicators telling whether I am getting better or worse, herxing, etc. I understand the logic, but with a constant pain level, it can get fustrating and depressing. I've been living with the pain for a couple of years and most of the time, I just try to fake that I'm not in pain. When it gets unbearable I:
Ibuprofen takes a tiny edge off. Hot baths. Stretching, believe it or not! Sometimes I take a vicodin a friend gave me if it gets too bad. It helps a lot, but then I usually end up worse because I overexurted myself since I felt better. It can get depressing to feel what its like to not have pain only to have the pain return.
Keep fighting.
Kyla
Posted by DolphinLady (Member # 6275) on :
A photonic stimulation treatment costs $25. And usually a series is required though not always.
The machine itself runs in the thousands brand new. Sometimes you can get them used on ebay or from practitioners etc.
After several successful treatments for various conditions I decided to buy a used one.
It's one of the best investments I ever made for me and my family.
Best wishes to all
Posted by Tori (Member # 11647) on :
What works (for now)?
Baclofen (for the Neuro Lyme muscle spasms)
Toradol- as much as possible but have to be cautious (to decrease joint/muscle inflammation)
Neurontin (neuralgia)
Trazodone ( to sleep. If sleep is poor- pain increases, it's cyclical)
Vit. D - 50,000IU week (chronic pain sufferers usually have low Vit.D)
Hydrocodone 10/500mg PRN- Pretty much useless
MY GP and I are treating my pain because the Rheumy that insists it is all "fibromyalgia" can't be bothered. Isn't that a Rheumatologist's job- to treat inflammatory pain?
![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
![[kiss]](graemlins/kissing.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Mad]](mad.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)