Reply #8: I hate that.

[Lurking Dem]

I have been offered every version of a seratonin re-uptake inhibitor there is - for my pain, for my stomach, for whatever. Seems to be the panacea drug of the century. Crap almost killed me once.

My favorite is, "are you under a lot of stress? Do you have a therapist?"

"I'm under a lot of stress because I HAVE INTRACTABLE PAIN THAT YOU ARE NOT TREATING!" ahem

For flat out pain relief I found that low doses of morphine sulfates work better than higher doses of other crap.

Alas I cannot sleep on opiates (I get really wired for some reason) so that doesn't help me sleep. But at least I get stuff done.

Things that have helped (take with individual grains of salt):

potassium at bedtime - helps with the cramping
CLA Plus - (conjugated linoleic acid) - helps with inflammation
Masada Dead Sea bath salts with eucalyptus - temporary but indulgent
Tequila - doesn't help (in fact, makes neuropathy worse) but you don't care

The biggest relief I have gotten is from acupuncture. Many will nay say it but the first time I went, I slept through the night for the first time in almost 10 years.

I have been going now for over 3 years and have told my doc if she goes back to Mongolia, I am going with her!