It Could Be Worse

[Jimmy1]

Every morning usually before the sun is up (a legacy of past service) I am woken by pain. My hips and back have that deep pain and I am only a spring chicken. The only way around it is to stay up till the wee hours and take a handful of pain meds.

I was counting my meds this morning and am so over it. How long before my liver decides to shut down.

 

[reddevil1111]

Get off anything you can mate. I am about to do a lot of surgery as I am finally getting some real medical coverage not VA crap. Might do weight loss surgery and fix the legs... I am hopeful they can improve the current situation.

 

[Wagon]

Ever think about trying natural methods?

 

[JarHed]

Hey Jimmy

Chronic pain can be an impossible thing to deal with. It's just something you can't ignore, although I try to do that myself. As I often mention, I get acupuncture treatments on a continuing basis. Now it's about once a month but there were and are times that I get it more frequently. It can be a help. Although I do have to mention that like many, I have areas that have damaged nerves. Acupuncture won't change that but it helps in other ways and does help with some pain.

I know and I'm sure you've tried many things and I wish there were something that I could do or tell you that would be better than meds. You've been through the mill lately and that just makes everything worse. Like Wagon says, explore some natural methods or pain clinics, try to find a solution or something that might help. Sometimes when you think you've done everything something else can come along to help. I say this 'cause I hate to see a Mate in a bad way.

Jar

 

[Friday]

I don't have enough pain meds to do both nights & days... So I trade off / takes breaks.

But I'm terrible.

I'm finally gonna take my meds so I can get a good night's sleep and then? I just lay there enjoying every blissful second of pain free living (it's not the euphoria thing, I've had euphorics, it's "just" not hurting). Until it wears off. And I hurt again. Dammit. Stop that. Stop that. Stop that. You took them to sleep! Sleeeeeeeeep.

 

[woodsie]

I too suffer from hip and back pain, weird zings and tremors. I am going to try acupuncture tomorrow and see how that works. I'm kinda at my wits end and don't want to take pills anymore than I absolutely have to. Kinda giving up on the VA. What they have offered me in the past 8yrs really hasn't helped, I kind of think it may have prolonged certain feelings and side effects. I let ya know how the acupuncture goes. I'm not putting all my eggs in one basket. Just going to give naturopathy a whirl. Maybe you can try the same?

 

[OldDoorGunner]

I to am dealing with chronic pain...hips, back and shoulders. The VA has gave me a few Rx's of pain drugs, but they don't work or make me sick. So I take 1000mg of Ibuprofen, it only works 5 to maybe 6 hours. I only take it when the pain is real bad. I only take the 1000mg once a day, maybe twice, but 12 hours apart. If I take it twice in a day, I will stop using it for 2 to 3 days. If used only once a day, I will, if I can skip the next day. Sorry I can't offer more help....

J R

 

[JarHed]

I am going to try acupuncture tomorrow and see how that works.

Hey Woodsie

The one thing to keep in mind is that any care you get you have to be a good consumer about. If you don't get the desired affect the first time talk to they practitioner that's administering it. Like any good doc they will ask a lot of questions and also respond to your concerns. Be patient with it as well, it's not like taking a med. It can take several treatments before you see some real change.

It's main function is to help your body to heal itself. If you have any questions or concerns let me know. I've been doing this for a few years now and it's helped me. I hope you find the relief you're looking for. Pain has a way of taking control of your life in the most awful ways, been there and hope not to be there again.

Jar

 

[reddevil1111]

I suffer from Chronic Pian as well. The VA tried to shove a lot of hydrocodone on top of the problem but its not a great answer.

Currently I do what I call a reset about two sometimes up to four times per month. I take 20-30mg of flexeril and 1 or 2 10/325 mg of hydrocodone just before I go to bed. I don't get great sleep from the drugs, I tend to stay half awake all night. I benefit from no pain for the night and my muscles are allowed to relax as well. The pain meter get a "reset" of sorts.

I grind and clench my jaw all day and night from the pain. I HATE pain meds as they don't really work and have the side effect of being VERY addictive. But what I am doing is my method of coping. I know over time it wont work as well. I am already there. It sucks.

 

[Sarg]

Yeah, Red, it took me a long time to wean off of the morphine type drugs the VA gave me. They simply quit working. So, I tried physical therapy, fail. I'm doing acupuncture now but not feeling much relief, (might just be me). Thinking of asking my PCP for a referral to an Orthopedic Dr.

I need to find out whether I've chewed through the cartilage and it's bone on bone or if the calcium has built up so much it's doing the grinding. I'm beginning to understand the pain you guys are going through.

Sarg

 

[OldDoorGunner]

I was put on 47mg morphine pills, was told to take one at a time. :) So I take one, 1+ hours later, no relief so I take another. In 4 hours I take 6 pills, still no help. Call doc and tell him it not working, he says take another. I told him, I have taken 6 in the last 4 hours, hell don't even make me sleepy. He tells me to stop taking them, you think?

Next on the menu, hydrocodone. Did nothing for the pain, just made me sick and out to lunch!!!! Think I will ask for some Codeine next, it worked when I was younger.....I hate to say this, but I think I am starting to like the pain. :coffee:

J R

 

[woodsie]

Hey Woodsie

The one thing to keep in mind is that any care you get you have to be a good consumer about. If you don't get the desired affect the first time talk to they practitioner that's administering it. Like any good doc they will ask a lot of questions and also respond to your concerns. Be patient with it as well, it's not like taking a med. It can take several treatments before you see some real change.

It's main function is to help your body to heal itself. If you have any questions or concerns let me know. I've been doing this for a few years now and it's helped me. I hope you find the relief you're looking for. Pain has a way of taking control of your life in the most awful ways, been there and hope not to be there again.

Jar

when I spoke to the doctor on the phone, she was adamant of getting me in ASAP. she has dealt with combat veterans and claims to have helped them. I am looking forward to my appt today. been a little depressed/anxious for a few weeks now. just really need to try something new and different. something to buck the system so to speak.