Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Pain killers?

I haven't been round for a while. Nothing much to report from that time either, really.

But since last Friday I have a major flare-up. I was doing alright before that, apart from the middle of my spine being quite senstive (the rheumy told me I have a fracture somewhere there).

Since Friday the pain in my neck has returned with a vengeance. It is the back of my neck and kind of near the base of my skull. I can bear it during the day, as long as I remember to get up from a chair carefully. But I cannot get comfortable in bed. And it is starting to really, really get to me. Last night I was just in tears. And believe me, I have not cried because of pain for years and years. I woke up every 30 mins to an hour, all night. Sometimes I had to immediately get out of bed because no matter how I tried to position myself, I could not stop the pain when lying/sitting in bed.

I'm at work today, but I know I cannot have more nights like these.

I suspect that it may be either caused by me smoking more again (I'd seriously cut down), but when I'm feeling this bad is not the best time to quit. Or it could be that I've been eating too much starch, but I'm also not in the right headspace to quit eating carbohydrates.

Soooo, I need a temporary fix. I have been taking lots of paracetemol and codeine, but it hardly makes a difference at all. I could try the mix that has mercandol in it too, but from experience, it may just make me very sleepy but not take the pain away which makes things even worse as the pain keeps me awake.

Any tips on what else I could try? I'm willing to go to the GP for a prescription, though I might have to wait a couple of days for an appointment now.

Cheers,
Lin

I am sorry about your pain.....ice may take the edge off a bit, when its numb it doesnt hurt. I take ultram but It may not work for your severe pain. are you sure something is not dislocated, a disk? I would see the Md...if you are in that much pain, something is up.

sweetie- plain and simple you got to stop smoking period. smking i s teh worst thing ou can do you for your bones worstthan booze or anything else.
give it up even if it means the patch.
iam on dilaudid and it just barely touches it. i been on pain meds for years.

here is what i read to day which is sad.

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2009/09/18/Pain-may-accelerate-aging-by-30-years/UPI-67901253297661/

Hi Lin.
I get that a lot pain from neck into base of skull agony. I take co-codamol 30/500 and a tramadol 50 mg at same time makes me dozy and a bit spaced out but do sleep keeps the pain at bay over night.I also wear a soft coller when its really bad.
Kevin

Yeeew, shoot gal - have jsut ocme thorugh a major neck problem. Yes, almost in tears. Blue muuuuuurder! I put my TENS machine on it, and did hot soaks. Also, I use a travel neck pillow in bed at night, and also use it sitting up to watch TV. Can't go anywhere without my neck pillow - life saver. Pain meds? yes. I take Paracetamol 400mg /Codeine 20mg. Do have Tramadol to add in IF required (but am a tad reactive to the Tram.)

Agree about the smoking. Give it up. I did, cold turkey, some 25 + yrs ago. TG I did.

Molly C (France)

I will give up the smokes, but doing it when I'm in more pain than I've been for ages is probably not the wisest decision. I do get some serious comfort from sitting outside with a cigarette waiting for the pain killers to kick in so I can go back to bed.

I took paracetemol/codeine/mercendol last night. 3 lots of 2 between 6pm and 2am. It did help somewhat. Woke up less often than before, but still had to get out of bed once because of the pain. And this morning I was too groggy to drive for quite a while. My daughter dragged me out of bed eventually and got to work only 20 mins later than usual.

Will visit the doctor and ask him about other pain killers and also the soft collar. I only ever take pain killers as a last resort. Mainly when I cannot sleep.

Doctor prescribed me valium and strong codeine tablets. Took 2 of each last night and didn't make any difference. I'm at a loss at what to do now. Rheumy has proved to be rather useless.

The only other option I see is to go see a good osteo, but it may take weeks to get an appointment. I don't know what I'll do in the meantime. I'm a wreck. My house is a mess, we've no clean clothes to wear, no food in the fridge, the dog hasn't been walked for 3 days and I've no motivation to do anything...

Hi... I had a really bad fortnight recently with major spasms, no sleep, tears you name it... it was the worst this AS stuff and the pain has been for me. Had an emergency meeting with Rheumy and he gave me valium 10mg a day, and endone 5mg 3 times a day. The valium sort of settled the spasms down and let me relax for a start, but the endone was absolutley amazing for the pain. Broke through and settled everything within an hour. I don't like codine based stuff cause it make my stomach digestion go wrong but haven't had any problems with endone. Oh and i just take two at night, 10mg total and it seems to get me through the next day aswell without much groginess... with valium aswell though i was pretty spaced out plus headache.. So i'm gonna see with my rheumy if i can keep it ongoing as needed. I haven't had this little pain in about 5 years. Good luck with it really hope you get some relief asap... Rob....

ENDONE!!

Linella - sorry to learn that things haven't gotten any bette. Pain is the veritable pits. But, would seriously reconsider visiting an osteo... 'Can' do more damage than helping in matters! AS isn't just about the skeletal system being out of whack, it's about inflammation, and inflammation of just about everything to do with the body. Osteo would be unlikely to help and IF the osteo, not truly understanding AS, pulls you around they could do untold damage!

Can you get to see a different rheumy? Sounds like yr present fella aint upto snuff - can't hack dealing with the AS condition?

Hope you are able to sort out summat soon, trying to cope like this just aint on.

Molly C (France)

Hi Linella.
Take the codeine every 4 hours and let them build up a bit that should give a better affect. I know its really difficult when ypur in a lot of pain but you must fight it and keep going you will often find by doing things you will feel better. I know you are thinking its easy for me to say but Im in that position a lot of the time and I do every thing at home because my wife works and it is painfull sometimes and I feel like just going to bed and staying there and doing nothing but thats the wrong thing to do you must keep moving your joints.
Kevin