posted
Many days I get by ok with my pain. I should! I am on three different pain pills twice a day. What do others do when they have a horrible flare and just about can't take the pain? This only happens three or four times a year.
kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
If it's a flare from medication, you can ask your doctor for a lower dose to work up from, or stop for a couple of days to let the body settle down.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
dorothy, hugs/kisses
what are the 3 meds you are on and dosages?
i'm sorry to read the pain meds aren't working or you. have you tried MOIST HEAT from heating pad or my own solution .... frozen ice packs!!
IP: Logged |
linky123
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 19974
posted
I have really bad headaches, shoulder, and neck pain.
I use those squishy blue ice things, wrap them in a towel and pack my head and shoulders in them at night.
It keeps the pain down.
I know ice helps inflammation.
Many on lymenet say that lyme hates heat.
But in by case the ice helps the pain.
I also use them on my heel which has levaquin-tendonitis, and it helps that too.
Hope you find some relief.
Linky
Posts: 2607 | From Hooterville | Registered: Apr 2009
| IP: Logged |
bettyg
Unregistered
posted
linky, my frozen ice packs are the squishy 3M frozen packs also
IP: Logged |
nenet
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13174
posted
When the pain is really bad, I'm afraid I just kind of lie down in bed and try to tough it out. All I have is low dose vico, and I am afraid to take more for fear of tolerance issues, and liver, etc. Crying and moaning helps sometimes. And sometimes, I am able to meditate, to see past the pain somewhat.
I know I am not much help. Oh, another thing to try is removing any foods that might be adding to your inflammation. Any time I eat anything with nightshade plants in it, I get much worse pain (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, bell and hot peppers, paprika).
Also gluten, dairy, sugar, caffiene, any stimulants, fried foods, artificial ingredients, MSG, etc.. All of these can cause inflammation, and if you have a constant inflammatory state from a chronic disease like Lyme, it can predispose you to becoming sensitive to them, or even developing an allergy.
Also, like others suggested, it might be a good idea to take a short break from the meds to lessen the Herx - with the approval and advice of your Doctor, that is.
Carol in PA
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 5338
posted
I've found that taking supplements to reduce the inflammation will reduce the level of pain.
Wobenzym Fish oil Magnesium
Hope you can find something that helps. Carol
Posts: 6947 | From Lancaster, PA | Registered: Feb 2004
| IP: Logged |
AZURE WISH
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 804
posted
my pain is always bad. Trying not to aggravate it - which is impossible cuz everything does. So I try not to aggravate it past a certain point.
detoxing helps. (I also take supplements listed by Carol) heat helps (either heating pads along my whole spine or if i got to go out an thermacare heat pack on my neck) and advil.
I hope you find something that helps make the pain so you can stand it.
posted
I've found that a hot bath works best for pain, even if the relief is only temporary. No pain killers help, they may lighten it for a while but I'd rather sit in a bath than take useless meds if it's gonna have the same result.
-------------------- Jennifer Posts: 266 | From Ocean County, NJ | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
posted
I take Ultram ER 300mg, and the generic, tramadol 50mg if needed. I take Bromelain for inflammation (recommended by my LLMD, she says it is good for the biofilms, too).
I take muscle relaxers 3 times a day and see my chiro every 2 wks.
I take Chitosan if I feel it's from a herx and sometimes a salt bath. I get a lymphatic massage about every 2 mos.
I found hypnosis helps me and can't wait until I master self hypnosis. I found that a low dose of salt/C helps my pain, too. As a matter of fact, it was one of the two that really helped my pain level to drop dramatically about 1.5 mos ago.
liz
PS Magnesium shots really help with my pain level, too. Plus, I take mag. supplements (recommended by LLMD)
Posts: 471 | From NJ | Registered: May 2009
| IP: Logged |
posted
The pain has always been the hardest part for me. I know what you are going through.
I can tell you with treatment it will get better.
I also know, there are very little words that can make a person feel better when in those situations.
I am guessing you told your doctor about how the pain flairups are just too much to take.
I see you are located in Iowa, I am in NYC and here there is a WONDERFUL pain specialist who understands the complexities of lyme disease. And he understands when the pain ramps up to unbearable levels. he has helped me more than I can say.
If you would like to talk to him or perhaps get some information from him (he might know a good pain guy in your area) personal message me.
I have been in your shoes, and I know that you should not have to suffer like that.
IT is so awful that people like us have to live like this. Sometimes I get SO ANGRY when I see normal people walking around with out a problem feeling well, not experiencing pain. Sometimes I can't help but get so jealous and angry that I can't know that life.
But, we are stronger people for it. We know how to truly appreciate life and all the little things.
IT will get better. And then we will be on top of the world.
TerryK
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 8552
posted
Lots of good suggestions, many of which help me too.
Other things that help are keeping blood sugars under control. You may not even know that you have a problem but reactive hypoglycemia or high blood sugar can both cause pain.
Dehydration causes pain so make sure you are drinking lots of clean water.
A major help for the neck pain is having my husband work out the sore spots along my shoulder blades. Around the bottom particularly. This will sometimes give me days of relief when otherwise my neck is so stiff and sore that I can hardly sleep.
The other things that have been mentioned that are huge for me is inflammation/toxins.
I got miraculous relief from pain with IM ceftriaxone. I'm still amazed at how much it helped.
I know how awful constant pain can be and my heart goes out to you. I hope you get some relief very soon.
Terry
Posts: 6286 | From Oregon | Registered: Jan 2006
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic