Pain

Everyday living
1

Hi all

I am in the most awful pain tonight. My left shoulder, left arm and right foot are just unbearable.

Is there really anything that can be done about MS pain?

I have taken codeine high dose, had a steroid injection, but it is so intense I really don’t know what to do.

It has driven me to tears tonight/ I can’t sleep an I just don’t know what to do with myself.

Bernie

2

Hi Bernie

That sounds awful. There are other drugs that can help with neuropathic pain, things like Pregabalin, Gabapentin or Amitriptyline. Years ago, I had painful spasms that stopped me sleeping, so I got prescribed sleeping pills. They’re not a long term solution, but could help you get some sleep in the short term. Also, ask to be referred to a pain clinic. And I’ve found mindfulness meditation can be surprisingly effective.

I hope you get some relief quickly.

Dan

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3

Thank you Dan

i have tried those medications but I always suffer from the side effects.

However, your suggestion about mindfulness sounds good my partner has been banging on about it for ages, and I haven’t been convinced, but I shall give her suggestion another go.

if I could only exercise I know that would solve it, but I am not feeling so bad this morning and I feel positive again…

4

hiya

just to agree with dan (and your partner) i used to take various doses of amytriptyline but through mindfulness and meditation now i dont take any. its not as simple as mind over matter (if only it was!) but about other ways to cope with the pain.

hope you get some benefit too!

ellie

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5

I agree with Dan, meditation is amazing x

6

I was very sceptical about mindfulness for pain at first. The idea of focussing on the pain & doing nothing about it & accepting it sounded like torture, the last thing I wanted to do. But weirdly, it did begin to help. I began to notice that the pain wasn’t constant, but had variations within it. And I saw that it was actually only a very tiny bit of me that was in pain. I used to say that my leg was in pain, but it wasn’t - most of my leg would feel its normal sensations. And noticing how the rest of my body was feeling made the pain smaller somehow. It’s like looking at a map & zooming out. If you google ‘mindfulness for pain management’ you’ll find plenty of resources.

Dan

1 Like