Hey all, I am a 55 yr. old male and no stranger to chronic pain, However a newbie when it comes to pain meds and treatment. I have complex sleep apnea, severe arthritis, and peripheral polyneuropathy.

I take Tramadol 200mg a day, Gabapentin 1800mg a day and climbing, Diflunisal 1000mg a day, and Citalopram Hydrobromide 40mg a day.

I have had Arthritis pain since 1976 and pain from PN from about 1978, then severe pain 1998 and officially DX with PN 2002 and told to take vitamin B; again 2008 confirmed PN DX with note Tech error due to excessive soft tissue making it hard to find landmarks to explain no response from both sural nerves. This year left knee replaced total and DX both sural nerves dead due to no response on NCV & EMG. Told by Dr. this year permently and totally disabled and started on meds noted above, they never took pain away but slightly took edge off now the pain is becoming more severe some days a little more than I can deal with, giving me negative thoughts.

Symptoms include joint pain, stabbing/ripping pain, burning pain with sensitivity to touch, feet feel broken lately without being on them much, calves feel like going to explode, pain up both thighs in back, lower back pain, pain in middle of shoulder blades, and now tongue sore.

These symptoms don’t deal with pain which are loss of coordination, feeling tired daily, grogginess and hard to focus, phasing out, muscle weakness, bladder and stomach problems, blurred vision, tripping over my own feet, loss of sleep, and not able to stand or walk for more than 20 mins. Anyway if anybody has any ideas, thoughts, advice, or experience, all comments welcome.

Thanks!

Have you tried celebrex. none of those meds you mentioned are for arthi . you need something for inflamation

excuse me... but diflunisal (brand name Dolobid) is an NSAID but not commonly used. It was initially detailed mostly to dentists. It also has anti-inflammatory effects like other NSAIDs.

But it has one useful trait other lack and that is it helps with gout.

http://www.drugs.com/pro/diflunisal.html

Hi ~ I'm so sorry you're suffering so. I too was in severe pain for years because doctors couldn't find meds that would ease it. I'm told I am a hard to treat patient, as it takes much more than normal for me to "feel" the meds. I've awoke on the surgical table several times -- they have to give me enough anesthesia for a very large man!

Anyway -- I learned from a doctor online that the combination of Fentanyl Patch and Methadone is great for treating "hard to treat" patients. I asked my doc if we could try it, and it does work!!! Of course i'm not pain-free -- I never will be -- but I feel better than I have in years!!!

Perhaps this combo would work for you too. It's just a thought. I wish you the very best ~ take care & never give up or stop fighting for pain relief. God bless. Hugs, Lee

You might want to see a pain management doc. This is the only thing they do, and may have a trick or two up their sleve.

Yes, see a pain specialist.
My new one was the first to physically examine me and instead of the usual arthritis diagnosis, which I'd been getting for years, he said my severe headaches were caused by very tight neck and back muscles.
Anyway, remedial massage confirmed that diagnosis, and I am now free of this problem by taking magnesium oil daily.
I was on Tramadol too and while my dosage was much reduced because of the effects of the Mg oil, I was still taking 2 or 3 a day, and sometimes a slow release one at night.
I read an article on headaches and medication, saying that the meds may be worse than the headache.
I stopped the Tramadol and since then haven't needed it on a daily basis, just one 50g about 3 times a week.
So it seems that the Tramadol was actually causing my weird head pains.
I had been warned about this by my wife, but reasoned that the small dosage wouldn't have had that effect. WRONG!
Taking more just didn't help either.
So...get a new examination, treat your muscles and soft tissues with drug free options, and consider the implications of ever increasing drugs.
Pain control is a multi-level activity, and must include life style, diet, fitness, attitude and of course physical injuries.
Opinions will vary too so it may take quite a bit of perseverance to sort it out, if that can be done.
Take ownership in the treatments and question everything.

Hey All thanks for your responses and ideas. Sinse my post I have increases the Gabapentin to 2700 mg a day and gone from the Tramadol to Tylenol 3 to Vicodin and still taking the other two drugs as before. I forgot to tell the reason my Orthro put me on Difflunsal was because I have Edema on both shins the more on my feet the worse it gets after 30 mins on my feet can push a demple in both shins about 1/2 inch deep and stays about 30 to 45 mins. The burning pain with sensitivity to touch from top of toes to my shoulders and sometimes up the left side of my face. A.nd now the chrushing pain that I've had in my feet for about 10 years has moved to both lower legs to include the knees. Also the stabbing ripping pain, Bee stings, leg twiching, leg weakness, and back and joint pain still getting worse. Both sural nerves are completely dead. Anyway I am going to keep trying and thru your suggestions give me ammo to take to Dr. visits.
Many Thanks!