Getting ready to go see the pain management doc. I have to say I am so tired of being broken. I get that I have to live with the pain. I get that I am broken and it is not healing. There are 4 discs that have herniated inward and are lodged into the 4 broken vertebrae and there is not a darn thing we can do about them. SO yes, pain is expected.

However... I keep getting joint pain like you would not believe to go along with the back. Morphine didn't work now I am on some oxymorphone which is also not working. The problem being that my body processes the meds too quickly thanks to my zombie thyroid being overactive again. Neither of these drugs has done a thing for the joint pain.

The Voltaren worked great for a while, now I am taking 4 times the original dose and I still cannot sleep at night because no matter how I lay something hurts.

Last night it was the right hip (no shocker I have torn hip flexor and bursitis), my knees were locking up, my back hurt. There was just no winning. I finally fell asleep (thanks to the super extended release ambien mixed with pain killers) and I woke up with my back and my knees screaming at me.

SOrry so long. But does anyone have a magic pill or ointment or other treatment that helps with joint pain?

im sorry you continue to struggle. here are a few things that help me. Sometimes nothing helps. sometimes a few tricks make it bearable to fall asleep.

heat. a heating pad or electric blanket help the muscles relax

a warm/hot bath. Relax in the warm water. Epsom salts do help. Baking soda makes your skin feel great.

Meditation. Fake it till you make it. Meditate and focus on feeling your muscles relax. even if they are not listening. Force your mind to feel them let go. This is best done after that warm bath.

muscle rub creams. Bengay or tiger balm. Many names to choose. They do help if you lay down and let them.

Massage. I have a hand held vibrator massager. I allow it to help the muscles to let go.

A TENS unit. I got a wrap around belt for my tens electrodes. its like a belt you see on those workers in Home Depot, but you can drag it up or down as you see fit. The electrodes do deep stim of the muscles and that helps.

Sleep! sleep is huge! Sometimes I will take any pill that will make me sleepy enough to nod off. xanax or a muscle relaxer or even my pain pills just so I can refill my cup.

Last but not least is avoidance of those things that trigger you. Carrying a child on your hip. Groceries or laundry baskets on your hips dont help. DONT cross your legs! it throws your back out of aignment. Find time to lay flat and stretch those muscles. Do daily yoga or stretches. it really helps.

oh yea, chiropractors are amazing for me. Some folks get no relief, some folks get great relief. For me, I will keep going because it works.

Feel better!

Be careful mixing all those pills, Legzz. We want you to wake up, ya know.

I tried something called Salonpas for my tendonitis in my elbow. I've even put one on my side/back this morning after I twisted it trying not to stumble up a stair on the patio. Ouch!

I hate taking meds and will try anything else to relieve the pain and avoid taking the pills. I still have my whole prescription of Lorezapam minus one pill. It helped me sleep but made me feel so out of it. I hate that feeling.

Have you tried something like IcyHot patches?

Thanks guys. Oh how I miss my Chiro. He won't touch me since I broke my back. He was great he used to pop my shoulders and hips back in when they would start migrating to places of pain. I wonder if I can get an utlra sound massager for cheap. It worked on my hip. So far nothing else is helping.

Stupid pain management doc changed my appt to the 18th and didn't bother to let me know so that was a waste of time. Man, that guy gets under my skin. Ever since he let me run out of Morphine and made me fight for a week to get the new meds because the scripts he wrote were either no longer being manufactured or my insurance wouldn't cover it. I no longer like him.

Going to try the tens unit tonight followed by the myoflex stuff I used when I first hurt the hip.

I really liked the lidocane patches, but my insurance wouldn't cover them...yet they had no problems paying for morphine. Go figure.

Sending you gentle healing hugs and prayers..

I remember you being kind to me before my surgery. I am so sorry you are hurting with your back. I was told nothing could be done to my neck to correct it more. However six years later, when one was folded on top of another,(there is a name for that) they did indeed do the difficult surgery. In my case I took meds for six years fully thinking I would live in horrible pain for life. I was told I needed the surgery and found a good dr. 8 months later, I am doing so much better. Gosh, maybe I would have to hunt around. My pain dr. was the one who wanted me to have the surgery. There was no med. or infussion that helped for long. I belive help exists, or a combination of meds. that will help you. Don't stop trying. ginnie

hi Legz,
sorry you are still in such pain can't offer much except to say the astaxanthin I got (4 mg a pill) has eliminated the arm pain I was having and seems to be helping my husband (have him on 2 pills a day) who has degenerative disk disease, arthritis, and numerous back problems.

hope you feel better soon

I'm digging up this old thread whilst on my search for pain management tips and wondering, Legz, did you ever find relief and what happened next?

Leggs FELL while walking her dog and almost ripped her foot off her ankle! Its been horrible and painful and she is now in a cast, and riding a wheel chair. They have her on big boy pain meds now, and since the surgery to reattach her foot to her ankle with screws, pins and the like she is really miserable. Will tell her you asked for her. Perhaps she will drop in.

I am sorry to hear you fell, and the injury that happened to you. You are still in my thoughts, and I have not forgotten about you. ginnie