[Bronwyn2]

I have an appointment with my surgeon on Tue and I want to ask for something to help with the pain until I can have surgery. I've been dealing with a serious increase in pain for the last 6 months with nothing. I would prefer not to take heavy duty pain pills (I'm allergic to hydrocodone) and am looking for other options. Do muscle relaxers work for any of you? I will take any suggestions at this point. Thanks!

[olecyn]

Most patients use diazapan for the muscle spasms. Many patients are given buckets of brain difusing meds to cut off the brain neurons. Medications play differently on all patients but as I am told "pain meds" do not touch nerve pain.

Unfortunately, a TOS patient has so many addtional contributing factors and conditions such as migraines, shoulder pain, allodynia, dystonia, tummy, sciatica, heart and BP issues, RSD, FM, RLS, depression, insominia, etc... it becomes a whirl wind . Then the drugs can cause adverse reactions depending on the sensitivity of the patient

I personally use Lidoderm patches for the burning nerve pain and placement on the scalenes even the neck and bottom of the feet for the neuropathy. There have been many ER visits where morphine has been the only ideal drug to calm everything down. But then the professional docs say morphine only rewards the brain, so frustrating

[Sheri_TOS]

Bronwyn2,

Good luck with Dr. Johansen on Tuesday. Hopefully, you get some answers and help. I seem to remember that my appointment was short but I think the schedulers double booked him to get me in quick.

[Bronwyn2]

Thank you! I really hope my appointment isn't super short as I have LOTS of questions.

[astern]

I take a 10mg Flexaril every night before bed. keeping a steady level of this in my system helps a good bit - and it's non-addictive! Additionally, you could try an Aleve - it works better on swelling than the OTC pain meds. Yes, diazapam (valium) is another great pain reliever for nerve pain. I had to stop taking that as it causes severe depression for me now.

#1 helper: ICE.

good luck Tuesday!

[mspennyloafer]

skelaxin
ICE but my body stopped burning once i got my magnesium levels up *knock on wood*
neck brace when sitting (i am weak and i am guessing this would aggravate most tosers)
clonopin-- i srsly believe ive got like PTSD from all the pain that tos has caused me. my autonomic nervous system is a mess and giving me panic attacks that trigger neck pain and tingling. clonopin helps.


lying down and breathing thru diaphragm

i wish i could do that all day

hot baths with epsom salt

another thing, im not big into stretching but i stretch my levator on my left *tight* side daily it feels awesome. otherwise my shoulder creeps up to my ears

[chroma]

Brandy.

Unlike wine, an opened bottle doesn't spoil. Unlike beer, you don't have to drink a lot of it and go to the bathroom like nine times.

Alcohol has the added benefit of increasing circulation throughout the body. Just watch your alcohol in combination with prescription meds.

Often after the buzz has subsided, my symptoms are improved over what they were before drinking. I'm guessing that's due to the circulation, but don't know for sure.

And no I'm not on brandy right now. Okay I am. That was very observant of you.

[astern]

Yes, hot baths with epsom salts (I prefer Dead Sea salt - you can find it on sale at Marshalls, a giant cask of it is $15)!

Dr. Annest told me I should start my day and end my day with a hot soak in a tub.

[ElyseHart]

Olecyn, your post really struck a cord with me. As I read your mention of the other conditions, I just kept nodding my head - yes, yes and yes. Why is it that as a TOS sufferer, I do also experience almost every other condition you listed. I am so stunned someone can relate and put it in writing. I have felt so alone with all these issues and so overwhelmed as my world keeps getting smaller and smaller (able to do less and less).

[SD38]

Originally Posted by chroma

Brandy.

Unlike wine, an opened bottle doesn't spoil. Unlike beer, you don't have to drink a lot of it and go to the bathroom like nine times.

Alcohol has the added benefit of increasing circulation throughout the body. Just watch your alcohol in combination with prescription meds.

Often after the buzz has subsided, my symptoms are improved over what they were before drinking. I'm guessing that's due to the circulation, but don't know for sure.

And no I'm not on brandy right now. Okay I am. That was very observant of you.

I hate to promote alcohol.........but for me personally, a good couple of glasses of red wine -" LARGE ONES", helps me to relax! In mind and body ( muscular/neurological). I work damn hard to resist perscription drugs BUT "the vine does me fine!" .................. hey, give me some credit, I'm quite proud of that quote.
Hey VINO........... it worked for the Romans during battle!