Alternatives to Pain Relief

My microwaveable wheat bag is good for muscle pain and I have used things like deep heat gel on particularly bad areas. Thankfully I don’t get much pain and if I do a combination of wheat bag and Ibruprofen do the trick and that sorts it. Regarding tablets, after swallowing issues a few years ago my GP made a note on my records that liquid forms of meds should be described. It does mean that you might have to wait for the pharmacists to organise it and some taste pretty bad but it gets round the choking on tablets risk.

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with Beckers, yes the one where it is only supposed to effect “Males’ with pain, but alas all the tests show I at 51 have it. Pain is my major issue, as I am sure most peoples are. I have a old injury which requires heavy dosages of Oxycontin and that has no effect whatsoever on my leg agony strange enough. I suffer from severe constant pain in the legs which hasn’t responded to Eplim, Endep or Allegron. So now I am on Cymbalta, which gave me some paid relief to begin with but now a few weeks into treatment it has started to wear off. I am sick of the pain, and my life surrounded and run by pain and nothing I have found has any long term pain relief. I can’t take Codeine as it gives me migraines, which my Neuro has told me usually gives quite a few people pain relief, so I am still struggling.
Sorry no help from me but when people tell you that you ‘shouldn’t’ take all this medication because it is bad for you, I would like to see them in the same agony as we all are, and see how they cope. Pain itself does damage to the body after a long period of time let alone your daily life and family. Good luck if you find something, let me know.

Wendy

Hi, my pain toolbox consists of (and similar to others’)

1) Neurofen liquid and or paracetemol (calpol 6+ which is same as ‘adult’ in the sense of less to swallow/stronger).
2) TENS – loads of different machines that give lots of ‘buzz’ types – the right placement plus right buzz mode takes
away some of my pain completely (I use it mostly on lower back which helps back, hips, thighs).
3) Heated microwave wraps – GP said these should give good relief and I agree in my case – neck mostly.
4) Heat pad / electric blanket – keeping parts of me warm makes the pain less – – thanks to forum bods for that one!
5) Mental imagery / psychological stuff – according to some traditions in different cultures you can totally take away pain through a kind of self hypnosis or mental imagery techniques…. I’d rather hard core drugs to be honest but if you are desperate you might want to give it a go!
6) Cry and get a hug – hugs apparently release natural pain relief if the pressure is right! Makes me feel better anyway.
7) Massage from hubs – perhaps this should be number two as it’s really good for helping aches that can cause pains.

When a pain gets really bad I am yet to find a solution :-/ but most of mine is posture related so the solution for me is better posture – but when that’s not possible I don’t seem to be able to take stronger pain stuff as they cause drowsiness which means they render me unconscious.

I have recently seen a physio for my pain management and have the option of a pain management clinic but havn’t tried that.

Well said, Bikerblob.

Sybylla

Hello and welcome Chantel. I too have very bad muscle pain. It extends throughout my body with the exception of the right side of my face, and, like you, I have tried pretty much every painkiller under the sun. Whilst we cannot recommend particular types of painkiller in this forum we can try and help with a strategy. It would be helpful to know if you have been to see the pain clinic and what advice that they have given you. They, and of course the neurologists, must be the best place to go for help, providing you ensure that you do not get fobbed off. It is often quite hard to stand your ground when seeking help, especially in these times of cutbacks within the NHS.
You have also not indicated where the pain is. Again this can help us to understand your problem. For example when I get unrelieved pain in my lower back I find that using heat works wonders, as it does for my legs as well. Medicated plasters also help me.
What you need to consider, as I have heard from many medical personnel, is that the cause of your pain may be many and varied, and may not just be from your MD. For example some of my pain comes from my loosening joints. They are doing that because of the MD but the pain comes from something which is not MD. You may therefore have to take a ‘cocktail’ of meds before you find something that will work for you, and this will mean an active and proactive approach by yourself and those helping you. You might also consider other avenues to pain relief than just medication.
Catatude, another moderator on here pointed me in the direction of these links

I would urge you to read through them as they are very helpful.

Mike