cant stop crying- arm muscles hurting
 

My arms constantly feel like i Just lifted a lot of weights- My wrists feel like they are going to crack and my hand is swelling, my feet feel like they are walking on glass

I am not on any pain meds and dont want to start but want to shoot myself- when and how will this end? (I know know one knows but I just cant take it!) I don't understand why good people have to suffer like this- Its just not fair

anyone have any ideas for the arm muscles- to relax them???

Thanks

Debbie

Dear Debbie

Firstly - hugs. I really hope things start to improve.

Can you stand hot water/ heat packs on your arms? laying them on fleece on pillows?

You will get through this.

Sending you lots of love and hugs

Rosie xxxxxxxx

Oh Debbie,

I am so sorry you are in pain:(

Have you seen a doc. Do you have a dx?

I know you do not want to do pain meds but keep in mind that pain retards healing. You need those arms to calm down. Can you try some Advil, Motrin or alleve just to start?

:hug: I hope your pain decreases.

We are here for you

Epsom salts
 

Epsoms salt bath may help - 2 cups of salt to 30 or more minutes of soaking, warmist water you can stand. I also try to move wrists, hands and arms in water once they calm a little for me usually about 15 minutes of soaking. The movement helps with reflex and swelling. I also squeeze washcloth over and over under water (like a ball)

Gentle hugggggggsssss!

Rain :)

I agreee with Rain 100%

Epsom salts have magnesium in it and that helps the pain alot and can realy go along way to relax those muscles that are cramping and seizing up. Light some candles and listen to relaxing music.. be sure to inform the household not to disturb you for at least 45 minutes because you can find it heavenly an just wanna stay there.

I just keep adding more hot water.. lol

It's realy crapy this is happening to you Deb and I hope you are feeling better soon hon, I take baclofen for the cramping/seizing of muscles too.. but the epsom salts should be in the required self medications for RSD/CRPS treatment.

I sure hope you are feeling better soon,:grouphug:
Sandra

Thanks
 

Thanks for all your responses- I have tried heat but I will try the bath idea- I still work and worry so much about not being able to work- I dont know how we would survive

Deb

Hi Deb,
When I use Epsoms salts in the bath. I have to use about a 1/4 of a cup. I tried to use a full cup before and it made my heart race.

Also are you able to get enough sleep. I had a MD tell me it you have to get to the 4 levels of sleep before healing can begin in your body.
Big Hugs, Roz

Debbie, did you get some relief hon? Sometimes contrast baths help, along with about 800 mg's of motrin. You can even put the epsom salts in the warm water portion of the contrast baths, but the warm/cold helps to expand and contrast the muscles and helps them to actually TAME believe it or not.

Hi Debbie,
 

I'm sorry that you are having such bad days. I honestly don't see how you will get by without meds with RSD. I guess there are some that do but I think it depends on what stages they are in and how calmed down they have it. Mine is pretty calm except for a couple of places so I take Methadone for pain and I am on a very low dosage but I cannot do without it.

I just wanted to say on the warm water bath. Watch that you don't get it too hot. There are some that hot water makes the pain worse, I am one of them. I have heard others say so. Mine might be for other reasons but if I get my water too hot I go into a worse pain cycle.

Also get some heating pads to use for each arm. I found mine at the Goodwill and put new covers on them. They don't have to cost a fortune.

I don't remember if you have the TOS but that will keep you from getting any rest with those arms until you get help with that.

I do feel for you. I have seen those days you are having. I had years of them too. Crying and Screaming for help. My Dr. always told me to soak in a long hot bath and use heating pads. He was really pacifiing me until we got diagnoses. IT didn't help me that much but hopefully it will do you a lot of good.

Also watch with the Aleve. IT does help with the pain but it will cause you stomach problems if you take it too much.

Feel better soon.
Ada

Debbie I feel your pain I can remember when they (workers comp) took me off pain meds all meds and said nothing more can be done for you you are as good as you will get. So I was in pain like you I feel for you sorry you can make it I know you can till you get the help you need! I sorry for sp medatated alot listen to music and just did not move unless I had too, wich is bad because now I must use my affect parts, and learn to accept this monster and just do things in moderation but use my parts.
Debbie you will get the help and make it, I give soft hugs to you, and pray for you too.
flippnout

Dear Debbie -

Under the heading of "Look at All of This Stuff and None if it is Technically an Analgesic (Pain Killer)" I offer a partial list of the stuff I'm on every day, doses included. For the muscle pain, I would specifically suggest two anti-spasmodics for CNS generated spasms (Zanaflex and Baclofen), a benzodiazepine which works great on shooting pains (Xanax) and that all time great and at the same time derided anticonvulsant, Neurontin.

Anyhow, here's my mini-list:

1. Zanaflex (4 mg. 6/day)
2. Neurontin (600 mg. 3/day)
3. Xanax (0.5 mg. 4/day)
4. Baclofen (10 mg.) [1 - 2 tablets/day as need for severe muscle spasms]
5. Marinol (5 mg.) [4/day]

I hope this may be of some help. Good luck.

Mike

Meds
 

Thanks for the advice mike- I do take xanax but I am still working so I think those other meds would give me a hangover.....What do you think

sorry that you are in such pain........hope you get some type of relief soon........

Dear Debbie -

If you're working, I would agree with you about the Marinol (synthetic THC) although you may be able to have some of it when you get home and then counter with a Provigil and a strong cup of coffee in the morning, although I must warn you that (1) coffee is regarded as a vasal constrictor and therefore of no-no for people who are concerned about muscle spasms, although I personally haven't had a problem with it, i.e. I can go off coffee for some time and the cramping remains as bad as ever, and (2) spasms are a known side-effect of Provigil.

Baclofen is a drug that I could not tolerate when I was working because it was an absolute bear on my short-term memory, much more so than Neurontin, by example. However, not everyone has that reaction, so it's something that you might want to see if it works for you.

As far as Zanaflex goes, when I first started taking it, it made me very tired so I only took it at night, and had absolutely no hangover in the morning. Now I don't really feel it al all. Another drug in the same class - which produced no sleepiness in me at all - is Trileptal (Oxcarbazepine). Unfortunately, it can cause a potentially dangerous drop in your blood sodium levels, so they have to be monitored, every 6 weeks or so. I had been on Trileptal for almost 2 years when I got the call that my sodium level were dropping fast and that I had to get off of it ASAP. Still, it's a good drug, when properly monitored, and I should have mentioned it earlier.

Finally, and I mention this more as a curiosity than anything, after close the 3 years on Neurontin, I note that I am having increasing difficulties with it making me extremely sleepy during the day, problems that I didn’t have for at least the first year and a half I was on the drug.

Please let me know if I can provide any more info.

Mike

Hi Deb,

You mentioned in one of your posts about DMSO. This will cause your pain levels do go up at first.

Also, some people experience an increase in pain for the first couple of days of use, and it then improves pain. If given in large dose IV, it can rarely cause hemolyis (breakdown of red blood cells).

Here is a article on DMSO that is well worth reading.
http://www.colecenter.com/therapies/dmso.html

I was on IV's for about a year 2-3 times a week. My Doc told me it was hard on my veins any more than that. He had me take a very low dose orally at times as well. Which I am considering taking the oral again.

The SX I had for about a month was a increase in pain. In my case it was the neuro. & muscular toxicity coming from my body. I would also get some rough headaches at times. Hugs, Roz

Hi Again,
I also truly believe anyone taking this DMSO even orally should be under a MD's care. Big Hugs, Roz

Heya

Soz you are having a really bad time at the moment and that the pain is worse.

I take triphenydriyl (Benzhexol) everyday and it has made a difference with the spasticity and does help lower the pain (the muscle pain that is due to your muscles screaming in spasm).. I also take baclofen (up to110 everyday - works ok - but only use it short term cos I get tolerant really fast - also - some embarrasing side effects at really high doses). Also take Xanax for spasticity.

PMDs (Pain management dr) has said that on really bad spazzo days I can talk 110mg baclofen, can't remeber how much triphen and up to 26mg xanax. (and.. get this - he suggests taking them with either baileys or brandy!)..

dunno if that's any help1!

take care my dear and hope things improve!!

Rosie xxxxxxxxx

thinking of you debbie and sending peaceful days and restful nights to you..linda:hug:

debbie. i know just how you feel. and i am sorry that you have to go thru this. i am having pain in my right arm more so around the elbow. went to ortho and he said tendernitis.so i am in therapy and the heat ultrasound and biofreeze did help a lot today was the first time. maybe if you see your dr and see what he says. don't put if any longer it will only get worse. it also affects my neck and shoulder. the worse thing about pain is not knowing what is causing it. take care

Thanks
 

Thanks so much for all of your responses- I am now getting use to living with pain in my arms...
The DSMO I bought is a roll on topical- I will let you know how it works

Thanks for the article Roz and all the other info you guys gave me...

Has anyone tried Soma for muscle pain?

Hi Deb,
I was on Soma for a couple years. It helped me alot. I just built up to much of a tolerance with it. Valium is stronger, so right now my Doc wants me on that, to help with the horrid muscle spasms we get. But I only take it at night. Soma in my opinion had few side effects, and I could take a light dose during the day and still function. Hugs, Roz

hi deb...tried somma for awhile and worked well except for severe muscle cramps during the night in both legs..the dr said it didn't mix well with my other meds...linda

So sorry to hear your problem...
 

Deb,

I am new to the site. But I had a simular problem with my feet. It was so bad, and I take meds, I couldn't stand it. So, as the previous post recommended epson salts and hot water and add a very light hand message from a professional messager. What I did is go where I get pedicures all the time and a Korean pedicures soaked my feet for about 40 Min. and then massaged them lightly in the same spot where I was having the pains for about a 1/2 hour. When she was done I swear I could not believe how much better I felt and it lasted for about 3-4 days before it started to return slowly. It was totally worth it.

Getting a message is easy. No Dr. perscription no referrals etc....If you do go for a message explain your condition and you only want hand and arm message very light, not to flare anything.

I hope it helps.


Ann:)

thanks
 

i do go for a message every week but if she does my arms -even lightly buy the muscles- they really ache after....

Deb

We can laugh for once...
 

HI Deb,

I spelled "Massage" wrong about 6 times in my post and you did the same in your reply. Shows what RSD can do to a person...

Sorry the "massages" give you a problem also, it was just a thought.

I truly hope you feel better.

Ann:( :confused:

Dear Debbie -

Please excuse me for not mentioning this earlier, but there's some information I just put up in response to a question by InHisHands that may be of some interest to you: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=13005

Mike

hi debbie...
hoping you are doing as well as can be accepted with this frezzing cold weather we are having??? i have been doing the best i can these days by trying to stay warm..clothing has been really aggravating the rsd on the arm and feet have gotten worse..first burning hot then ice cold..socks or slippers are adding to the pain..left foot and toes swollen and can't seem to get any relief no matter what i do...
give you so much credit for all your strength to be going thru all this without medication..i use to stop all meds for some time so i would not get addicted or build up a tolerance to them...but these days i don't think i could even attempt it..without losing what little mind i have left..
i have been thinking about you and wishing you some relief from the nightmare of PAIN...hoping it is working..peace to you..linda :hug: