How do you deal with being in pain much of the time?

[undeterred]

I have a pinched nerve root. My hand tingles and my arm just aches off and on all day. The stuff that makes it stop hurting puts me to sleep. But when it does hurt and I've taken nothing, it can be agonizing for a few minutes here and there. It doesn't do me any good to leave work. It hurts wherever I go and I don't get paid if I am not at work.

[EstimatedProphet]

1. I medicate a lot

My knee is messed up. The ligaments don't hold it together, which means the muscles have to, and they are bretty much contracted at all times. Consequently my leg muscles ache continuously. So, lots of naproxen, and I have no idea what else to do.

[ThomCat]

2. Medication, meditation, and pure stubornness.

I stayed home today because the weather is bad, and I have weather induced pain. I have a 3 pill migraine today, and muscle cramps in my left leg, left him,and throughout my back.

Days like today, I stay home and hibernate. I'm not doing anything productive today, and I don't do any good by trying.

But on most days, I suck up and deal with the pain and keep going.

[havocmom]

8. All that and a glass of tonic water for the help a bit of quinine gives

Sometimes even better with vodka thrown into the mix. ;)

Seriously, the quinine in the tonic mix is helpful for some muscle cramps.

[ThomCat]

11. I've heard that quinine is one of the best muscle relaxants ever.

I was also told that no pharmacutical company makes it any more. :shrug:

If it's still available I'll mention that to my pain management doctor. He says he used to swear by the stuff.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. It's still in Tonic Water

Not quite the same as getting a pill, but at least you can get some.

[havocmom]

16. BINGO. No perscription needed.

My bro's doctor put him on to it. My brother wrote me about it when I complained that muscle spasms were giving me hell of late. Told him I have been using it for about 15 years now.

Hard to take at first, but when one realizes how much it does help, one had incentive to acquire a taste for it.

Bit of lime juice helps.

Also makes a nice, modified wine spritzer when mixed with some chilled white wine.

[LynzM]

10. You, sir, are amazing.

I just thought I'd throw that out there :) I'm sorry you're hurting so much today. It was wonderful to see you this weekend, and I hope we can meet up again soon! :hug:

[ThomCat]

12. Hi LynzM!

:loveya:

I am so glad I went out to Connecticut for your party. I had such an amazing time.

I hope we will meet up again too. I'm talking it over with my housemate and trying to get some plans for a dinner party moving. :)

:hug:

[Haole Girl]

3. Hot baths... swimming...

..and alternating between anti-inflammatory meds and alcohol.

[Parche]

4. Dealing With Pain

I am nice to other DU'rs...................:hi:

[Rising Phoenix]

5. meditating

stay calm and treat yourself well....

[Nikia]

6. Aleve

I don't know how well it would help your problem. It has helped me with back problems though although those may have been muscular in origin.

[undeterred]

7. I have the hard stuff to take now that I am at home

but I take motrin and aleve at work. I might as well be eating candy for all the good it does.

[Deja Q]

9. My neck and shoulders tingle

I don't think it's affected my strength - heck, I can do some reps with 80 pound weights again - but it can be an annoyance. I just stretch my neck back and forth for a while.

[Skittles]

14. I wonder that myself anytime I have ANY kind of pain

I don't know how they do it but it amazes me

[lizziegrace]

15. Take it easy with Advil and Aleve

I broke my left arm in February and got tendonitis from over-using my right arm. I popped 4 ibuprofin (prescription dose is 800 mg) every four hours. I ended up with a duodenal ulcer.

I'm allergic to most pain meds and the others either don't work or make me too fuzzy to function. I deal with the trigeminal neuralgia pain because I don't have a choice. :(

[ThomCat]

17. I wish I could bring you to my pain management doctor.

He seems to know every medication, and knows the difference between the formulations different manufacturers use. If there is something out there that you wouldn't be alergic to, that would help you with minimal side effects he'd know about it.

:hug:

[flamingyouth]

18. I've built up a freakishly high pain tolerance.

I take several different things for pain (cancer, trigeminal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, migraines, herniated discs) and mostly I just deal with it. Hope you feel better soon.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. I wonder if acupuncture might help...

It sounds like medicine only treats the symptom in your case. You need someone to address whatever is pinching your nerve root.

[The Straight Story]

20. I got a divorce :) (nt)