Need ideas for dealing with the lvl 6 P A I N

[SunSpot]

Hi all,

Some of you may know that today is exactly a full month since I've quit opiods, 5 days for quitting vaping and 3 days since my last kratom dose. But a huge f***ing obstacle has bloomed in my path, one that just keeps growing so it seems.

It happened like this: Either it was because I've started working out with a weighted staff (30lbs 6ft long 1 inch rebar), or because I slept bad from insomnia. Either way, I remember waking with stiff neck and aching arm. That was 5 days ago. Long story short Ibuprofen isn't helping anymore, and now my muscles are spasming from pulling my shoulder up all the time. Bolts of pain make me see stars more and more Got diagnosis for cervical neuritis today with prednisolole pack prescribed. I'm real wary of taking it so I'm trying to tough it out to my upcoming trip in 5 days to take it then. This couldn't be worse timing

I'm obviously using ibu, i'll go for a massage later. couldn't get into physical therapy today or this week on such quick notice and cause it's holiday. if this grows worse though I'll make a fire under their arse to get my appointment. pardon me. since typing hurts too i'll just finish by saying, does anyone have some ideas? any non-addictive substance is fair game or anything else. i'm no stranger to pain but this is something else .. i'll take a dislocated shoulder any day. and my ether is empty too

 

[Moreaux]

The only things I can think of are massages and acupuncture. You may want to try some Biofreeze. There is a prescription topical rub that contains neurontin that works well from what I've heard, I've never tried it. I love Biofreeze for deep tissue issues. When I have problems I'll take Biofreeze to my massage appointment and have them use it on the injury. I'm so sorry you're in so much pain - I hope it gets better soon.

 

[Kittycat5]

What are your worries about the steroid?

 

[SunSpot]

Thanks for the tips and well wishes, i know it's bbq time and here i am lurking around. My issue with steroids are mainly the experience of my mother, who to this day claims her severe psoriasis was triggered by a course. I've had a basic genetic analysis (23andme) and it showed much higher chances for the disease as well. She also got it near my age, and she's instilled in me a deep (and mostly unreasonable) distrust of the entire medical establishment.

And of course steroids raise bp, not the smartest thing after i measured 97 to 156 today. And make you susceptible to infections, especially fungal ones, which is really bad mojo as I'll be trekking through swampy rain forest for over a week!

Couldn't even dress myself or drive this afternoon, that felt horrible in a totally different way. But at least my support network is good. A friend even bought me some kratom at a head shop at my request, he was full of praise that i reject opiates so completely (its cute when people know nothing of my former habits ..)

With krat again and tons of ibu my pain is down to bearable levels again. @moreaux: Tomorrow I'll look into gabapentin, the dr left it open for me to get if steroids don't work. Does anyone know: Do steroids actually help shorten the disease with their anti inflammatory action? Or does the slower wound healing on 'roids mean a longer time being sick? Btw I'm not worried about psoriasis, anyone who got that or MS on the maternal side showed clear signs I their twenties already. Just saving the tabs for that trip!

Anyways thanks to you all for your concern ❤ hope everyone's well and enjoying the start of summer!

 

[Moreaux]

@SunSpot- if you do decide on Gabapenton try the topical rub - I think it's less invasive. As for steroids being systemically hard - I wouldn't be so dismissive of what your Mom says. My husband get frequent steroid injections in his shoulders and has eczema. Good luck!

 

[SunSpot]

Moreaux - will def check out the gaba cream, i hadn't heard of it before until you mentioned it in your posts! Bengay cream is only marginally effective, as i don't have much muscle injury, just a bit from being tensed up. Gaba cream might be perfect for numbing the nerve so i can relax it and let things heal.

As for the prednisone, you're right I'm wary. Had to take some once before on account of mononucleosis swelling my windpipe shut. That infection became chronic then, and flared up for years whenever i got stressed until it finally went away 2years ago. So yes I'm real hesitant! Im sorry your husband suffers from excema now, hope it resolves like my half decade bout with chronic mono! Sometime these things just take time.

Our modern pharma arsenal is powerful stuff and drs are too blasé about using it imo. Gonna catch a few more zss it's still dark out, sunspot

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Stay strong! I can't handle pain. It makes me so miserable. I wish I had better advice

 

[Moreaux]

Sorry you had mono for so long! My Mom had mono for ten years, she got it when I was two and then she got pneumonia, and an infection in her liver. It was touch and go for several years. It's a nasty disease.

 

[SunSpot]

Hi Moreaux, you wouldn't believe how much better I feel today. That's probably on account of the Ibu I take every five hours sharp (set alarms for it and everything). Plus I wear a neck brace now and had that massage, and the kratom too. As for mono, it's honestly the weirdest disease I ever had. After that really severe initial infection (happened right after I found out at 21 that I was becoming a dad, and then went on kind of a travel / bender with a friend) my former PCP Dr. wouldn't believe I had chronic mono, or order tests. The symptoms were weird: Whenever other people got a cold / flu / whatever, my right tonsil swelled dramatically. For a day I'd feel as if I'd smoked half a joint (really!), then at least a week of depression and even longer lasting chronic fatigue would set in. I didn't get a classical cold / fever for 3 years! My wife was so cute, she'd say "that's just your mono talking" if I was down. It was true.

I did get my chronic mono status confirmed finally two years later and kind of against my will, after I apparently got a lot of people sick at a college graduation party. The college nurse station did a blood test and asked me to be careful when I'm infectious. I really tried to be, I had no clue before I got infectious Another sad story is when my daughter got mono at age 5 and developed a high fever (that's pretty normal). I got talked into taking her to the pediatrician, a real posh Dr who gave her a shot of antibiotics, and she instantly developed this terrible rash and was in real danger of dying from anaphylactic shock. That's a known interaction between childhood mono and high-dose antibiotics. Thereafter she was allergic to all regular milk products for 2 years on account of the residual antibiotics in them. Not organic though. To this day she doesn't like milk.

Anyways now that mono's finally gone 8 years later I know I can expect a much higher risk for lymphoma and all that good stuff. Be sure that your mom is aware of the EpsteinBarr / cancer link! What were her long-term symptoms btw? My mono also seems to have dethroned the cold sores I used to get, but that could just be that my life is much less stressful nowadays. But it sounds like I had it much easier than your poor mom. Chronic diseases suck!!