Pain
 

I have read and also seen many posts about pain/MS. Can some of you desribe what the pain is like. Here is why.

I've had pain before in my body in numerous parts. However, I just dismissed it as growing older, out of shape, etc.- anything to think otherwise due to all of this 'being in my head' theory.

Yesterday I freaked out a little. I had severe pain in my forearm, wrist area with my lf hand starting to tremor. The left hand has never tremored before- always the right. This has me a little concerned. The pain felt horrible. Tylenol didn't knock it out. I've been taking Vicoden for pain due to the sprained foot: from falling. Stopped taking the Vicoden to one pill if pain is to point where I'm immobile. Just do not feel comfortable taking that Vicodin. It causes stomach problems.

Right now I feel like I'm driving my DH up the wall. I feel so horrible not being my normal self in so many ways. The guilt is so horrindous that I tell him he deserves a better life with someone who he can enjoy life with. That is how difficult this has been over the summer.

one frequent kind of pain I get is burning pain in my feet. Its like I am standing on hot pavement, and cant get off it. burns! I am told that is a nerve pain caused by the MS. I have had back issues for years, so I get the muscle spasm stuff there, but bacolen helps.

dear CG,

i'm sorry you're in so much pain. you need to see your dr about it.
i've had several kinds of pain with my MS. i have a lot of generalized muscle pain. i also have some neuropathic pain in my feet.

there are some meds (neurontin, lyrica) that are specifically for neuropathic pain. there are others that can help muscle pain.
i also have actually found a pain dr. i found mine thru a local rehab hospital.

i use heat and get wkly massages to help this pain too. very successful.

don't give up looking for answers. take one day at a time and do the best you can. even some counseling might help you to cope. i did that too. it helped me a great deal.

keep us posted.

My pain is mostly in my feet and legs. Besides the burning, I get the weird stuff like feeling like I have been bitten or stung, the feeling that my feet are "broken" or sprained, feeling like water running over my feet or lower legs, light touch triggering jerk reactions, the feeling that my toes are being pulled out, or smashed under a huge weight, buzzing feelings, or like I am walking on broken glass or sharp rocks . . . all the fun stuff. I have to alternate shoes because what works one day doesn't work the next . . .

I take Norco (reduced acetominophen Vicodin) and I use medical marijuana . . . and I use yoga breathing and relaxation techniques. Breakthrough pain is an issue, but I do give myself permission to just hurt sometimes.

I get several kinds of pain:

I have knee pain because some of my leg muscles aren’t working properly. This causes extra strain on the leg muscles that do work, and causes my knee ligaments to yell at me loudly. Most often it is the right knee, but once in a while I get it in the left knee as well.

My neck and shoulder muscles will get stiff and sharply painful. I often have what feels like a really stiff neck with the inability to move my head in some directions. When it gets really bad the pain will go down the arm and messes with my back as well. After a really bad spell I become temporarily numb in the areas where the pain was worst.

I get burning feelings in my feet and also on other parts of my body. Sometimes the burning feeling is very strong and I have to check to make sure I’m not touching a hot stove or something.

I get shooting pains in my head. Sometimes the pain is nearly overwhelming, but it only lasts for a few seconds at a time. This happens randomly, and usually involves the right side of my head.

I’m so sorry you are going through such a rough time. I found that after I was diagnosed, the pain wasn’t such a surprise or worry, and that seemed to ease my mind and put the pain in perspective.

As for your hubby, it is always difficult for a partner to see the one he or she loves in pain. Give both him and yourself time to learn to roll with the punches. Hang in there. Better days are ahead.

As for those who believe it is all in your head, just wait until you get a diagnosis, and then go rub it in their faces.

Extreme burning pain in feet/lower legs. This is all the time. The first few steps every morning are hard but so far it doesn't interfere with life/work.

Periodically I'll have a period of very sharp "shock" pains in my upper legs. 1 leg at a time. They'll last 20 minutes. If I'm walking when it hits, I'm on the ground. Hit me once when I was driving and I was able to pull over. These are really bad. I take 20 mg nortryptylene daily to curb these attacks. I think it helps but I had a doozy on August 7 at 11:10 am. They're very memorable. The one before that was June 11th.

Pain started 4/07. Shocks started 6/07. I've had MS since 1/88 so I've been fortunate.

Tom