OT: Chronic pain

[TomP]

I have been dealing with chronic pain for several years. Other than multiple joint osteoarthritis no explanation. I can generally manage with Ibuprofen, Tylenol, the supplements turmeric and glucosamine, and ultra-low dose naltrexone (off label, but my physiatrist prescribed it and it helps). For those of you who also have chronic pain, what works for you? Many thanks, Tom

[fmradio516]

My mom has been dealing with Fibromyalgia for 10+ years and she hasnt really found anything that helps besides doing some thinking on her diet. I dont know all the details, but one thing i do know is that caffeine is a trigger for her. If she has a couple sips of coffee or diet soda, within the hour, she is in a lot of pain. So definitely the caffeine and i assume, the aspartame does something inflammatory.

I hope you are able to figure things out. It kills me to watch her in so much pain with no end in sight. and fwiw - she decided she cant live without either things, so she pains through it. Thats the part that boggles my brain.

[deluz]

I have idiopathic neuropathy in my legs and feet that is limiting my riding.
I have had it for one year.
I just started taking Lyrica (Pregbalin). I am only on 25mg, some people take a few hundred mg. I don’t feel much pain relief but I feel it has helped with anxiety and sleep and that I am able to do more riding. I am hesitant to increase the dose as long as my sleep and riding improve. No side effects that I have noticed.

[Likes2ridefar]

I was given meloxicam when I had a nearly frozen shoulder a few years back and find it to work great. I was told it was less harmful to take regularly and only requires one pill every 24 hours. I still have a bunch and will take them occasionally instead of ibuprofen.

[buddybikes]

I am on max 600mg (200x3) Lyrica have been for years. Does it help, a bit but nerve pain doesn't like anything thrown at it.


Tried the low dose naltrexone but f'd up my sleep and couldn't justify continuing. You should run a liver panel after being on it a while.

Hope, in my lifetime, one of these sodium channel blockers (google vertex) comes to life. Heard from my back pain doc this is optimistic new research.

Guess I can say, "I can feel your pain"....

[Ozz]

Have you tried Voltaren? Topical gel (Diclofenac)....works OK for my arthritic ankle....

I quit the daily Alleve last summer and only use the Voltaren occasionally....decided I didn't want risk of kidney and liver disease.

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by TomP

For those of you who also have chronic pain, what works for you?

A dozen or so years ago I went to an orthopedist for some chronic pain in my knees. Long story short, she gave me four options:

- 1) surgery (to repair some torn ligaments and clean out all the schmootz created from bone-on-bone grinding)
- 2) an injection into the joints of a steroid/lidocaine solution
- 3) physical therapy
- 4) "Harden the fcuk up." Seriously, the doctor offered that as a viable solution. (In fairness, she was a competitive athlete herself, a fellow member of the same recreational cycle club, so she knew I wouldn't be offended.)

For my knees, I opted for #3 for maybe 6 months, and then have been falling back on #4 ever since.

More recently, I went to a (different) doctor for some chronic pain in my hands. She gave me #2 from the above list, the injection.

It may be too soon to tell, but I have a feeling she may as well have just told me to "Harden the fcuk up."

iow, nothing really works.

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by Ozz

Have you tried Voltaren? Topical gel (Diclofenac)....works OK for my arthritic ankle....

I quit the daily Alleve last summer and only use the Voltaren occasionally....decided I didn't want risk of kidney and liver disease.

Funny you mention Voltaren, I was thinking the same thing. Likely not a solution if pain is really severe but it does provide comfort. I used to bring tubes home from Switzerland for my mom, she swore by it and now I occasionally use what was left after her passing. It's available in the US now, but I'd be concerned the formulation is different than what's been in Europe for decades.

[noonan1970]

Originally Posted by TomP

I have been dealing with chronic pain for several years. Other than multiple joint osteoarthritis no explanation. I can generally manage with Ibuprofen, Tylenol, the supplements turmeric and glucosamine, and ultra-low dose naltrexone (off label, but my physiatrist prescribed it and it helps). For those of you who also have chronic pain, what works for you? Many thanks, Tom

Hey Tom, I'm sure you have had a few tests. Have you ever been bitten by a tick? Have you ever had a more extensive test for Lyme disease? I now know a few people that have tested positive that have been having a variety of health issues. It wasn't the normal test that doctors may prescribe. My cousin's first test said it was inconclusive and was told nothing further was needed. He is on a good path now after testing positive for it.

Just a thought! Tim

[TomP]

Hi all, thanks for sharing your story and ideas. I really appreciate it. I neglected to say what I’ve tried and didn’t help, or only minimally. Had cortisone injections for my thumbs, but lasted only a week. I’ve tried all the NSAIDS, and IB works the best for me. Hadn’t thought of a tick bite, good idea. Finally will be seeing a rheumatologist to look for any underlying inflammatory conditions. I did give up diet sodas, eat a really clean anti-inflammatory diet, and drink very little. Topical voltaren does help. Heat also helps. One odd thing is that after a hard work out eating some beef seems to help.

[onekgguy]

Any chance you're on a statin? I had been on 10 mg of Rosuvastatin, aka Crestor, for a little less than a year when I began to get knee pain that left me soft-pedaling. It also began to affect any muscles I stressed through my workouts to the point where it felt like my muscles weren't able to recover between workouts. I've been off it for one week now and the pain is mostly gone.

Kevin g

[TomP]

Hi Kevin, good thought, it not on one. Thanks

[cash05458]

Tom, have you tried CBD stuff? Look, I am not a weed guy at all...nor do I take CBD's...but I have heard from many I know with chronic pain that it actually helps...I personally have no idea but many say it does...I know there are non thc versions as well that supposedly are the same so you don't feel stoned etc...I personally hate what weed feels like and won't touch it, but I have heard many personal stories from folks here in Vermont via this and pain...good luck.

[Seramount]

was afraid I had rheumatoid arthritis, my hands were so painful they were almost non-functional...specialist said it was only the osteo version and gave me Rx for meloxicam. meh, doesn't do squat...

tried some Voltaren, didn't notice any relief.

google suggested red krill oil...been using that for a year and find my hands are vastly better.

started combining the krill oil with glucosamine/chondroitin...still have a few bad days, but overall a noticeable improvement.

ymmv

[TomP]

Originally Posted by deluz

I have idiopathic neuropathy in my legs and feet that is limiting my riding.
I have had it for one year.
I just started taking Lyrica (Pregbalin). I am only on 25mg, some people take a few hundred mg. I don’t feel much pain relief but I feel it has helped with anxiety and sleep and that I am able to do more riding. I am hesitant to increase the dose as long as my sleep and riding improve. No side effects that I have noticed.

Glad to hear you’re getting some help.