large quantities of pain!!

jenzie06
jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
edited 1. Jan 2010, 16:56 in Living with Arthritis archive
Anyone help? I'm in massive amounts of pain - think i'm paying for christmas.
Have pain from left shoulder to fingertips. I can't bear to sit still. I've been awake since 4am and have left the warm bed to shiver on the sofa so poor hubbie can get some sleep. Am sat here in tears.
Have taken paracetamol but as am pregnant I can't take anything else and its not touching it.
My RA is not in remission as promised with the baby and my consultant says theres a certain amount of grinning and bearing it but how much am i meant to bear?! When he says that it makes me feel like i can't tell him when i'm in pain and he thinks I should be able to put up with it.
Help!!!!!

Comments

  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Jenzie,
    You too!!!!!!!!!! I'm here .. rant at me. (Been gone from the site for a while but have crept back this morning).

    Just going to get my cuppa - back in a second.
    Do
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    can't find a position that eases the pain and having to type one handed!
    Usually would take morphine at this point but can't and baby's now woken up so is kicking (which is lovely)
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Eh! Poor you! I know exactly how you feel and it's my right shoulder, arm and hand that got me out of bed after seemingly tying the duvet in a knot. It's wicked. Know what you mean about the medics and their understanding of pain. How long have you had RA? OA?
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    RA and Fibro for 11yrs. How about u?
    Have spent the last 5 days at my inlaws which has caused a flare up. Was hoping my tempur mattress would sort it out. Plus think shoulder pain is recurrence of calcific tendonitis - its agony!
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Had RA for same time as you. Also got OA besides a string of other things I'm trying to ignore.
    My shoulder, neck and arm problems is my own damned fault at the moment. I haven't had a bath for a year (wonder why people don't sit next to me!). No, seriously I've had to do with a shower but, on Xmas Eve, what did I do......... I demanded to get in the bath! Stupid person! I won't go into detail but it could formulate a new pantomime. I was fine, until Boxing Day, when I realised that I'd pulled all the muscles north of my waist. Now I can't sit, stand, lay, lounge ... nothing. Earlier this morning if I could have got down to the front I'd have walked into the sea.
    But as I'm talking to you I'm feeling a little better. Probably because my mind is on something else - like trying to get my fingers on the right keys. My hands are shot to pieces and my fingers point in all directions.

    What a comfort it must be to feel the baby - I can't imagine what it's like. Is this your first? or will he/she complete the football team?
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    He's my first and rheumy insisted that RA would go away. He's only been kicking for past few weeks and I spent yesterday being prodded in the stomach by my sisters trying to feel him kick.
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Jen,
    Have sent you a message. Let me know you got it. Thought it best, so that we don't clog up the site. Am enjoying chatting and we can continue liike that?
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Jenzie,
    Finally lost you. Have supposed you had to go. Thanks for your company. Enjoyed our chat. As the song says, 'You helped me make it through the night'. I'm feeling a lot better for it and hope you are too.
    Do
  • Wonkylegs
    Wonkylegs Member Posts: 3,504
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    HI to both of you

    sorry to see that you both had a tough night/morning. :(

    Just wondered if a whet bag on the worst parts might help? That is what I do, and you can't harm the baby that way either I don't think :wink:

    anyway, take care & this is a good place to moan in the middle of the night :wink:

    hugs to you both (((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))
  • dolittle
    dolittle Member Posts: 240
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks, Wonky.
    Jenzie seemed to need a boost last night but she finished up making me feel better.
    I'm glad I came back to the site ... you're a great bunch.
    Do
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hiya,
    Hope you are feeling better this morning. I actually slept a little last night so I'm feeling more human. Still needing help getting dressed amongst other things. Spoke to my rheumy nurse who had spoken to my consultant. Unfortunately its grin and bear it time. They can't even give me more steroids due to where I am in the pregnancy and to be honest I want to avoid as many drugs as I can. I wouldn't want to hurt the baby. Its really difficult but I do feel a bit abandoned by the hospital. I understand that their hands are tied. They're even sending me to see an OT for assessment. So really they are doing all they can but I feel a bit on my own with it all.
    Its difficult to grin and bear it at 3am when in a great deal of pain. I don't think the doc's and nurses can appreciate that (hard to if they haven't experienced it I suppose). Its easy to say and difficult to do.

    Anyway, think the main thing is to keep laughing.
    Take care.
  • woodbon
    woodbon Member Posts: 4,969
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, What about acupucture? I know around here the physios use it on some people, who seem to get some relief. Its on the NHS, so no bill! You, being pregnent would need to check it out with the docors treating you first, but it might be worth mentioning. Just an idea. Sorry you're in so much pain, but it'll be worth it in the end!
    Lots of love Sue xxxx
    PS Think of next Christmas, all the fun to come...
  • zechariah
    zechariah Member Posts: 222
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi,
    Sorry to hear you are in so much pain.

    I was the same some months back, the pain clinic have put me on Butrans pain patches and it has lowered the pain to an acceptable level, also it means I am not chucking loads of tablets through my digestive system.
    It is worth asking about them!
  • ritwren
    ritwren Member Posts: 928
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    For most of us keeping control of pain is a big factor in our lives but with you your options are very limited. How wonderful 'tho to hear you are going to have a little baby, congratulations. :) Heat and cold alternating or on their own can perhaps help to relieve the pain a bit for you, also it would be worth trying to see if your GP could referr you to a hospital physio, they do acupuncture and I'm sure some treatments could be safe for you while pregnant. good luck.
    rita
  • jenzie06
    jenzie06 Member Posts: 708
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hey Guys,
    Happy New Year! Well the pain is up and down at the mo. If I don't do anything at all (and I mean nothing, lay on the sofa watching old war films - battle of the bulge etc etc) the pain is bearable. But if I try and do anything then its very painful and I can't even lie on it. Tis a bit of a bum. The urgent appt came through for the OT - its not for almost three weeks!
    I'll check out the acupuncture and see if its a possibility, thanks for the suggestion.
    Anyway, back to doing nothing (I'm getting good at it), although getting teary at Doctor Who isn't good at all!

    Take care all.
  • joyful164
    joyful164 Member Posts: 2,401
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Jenzie
    Have just read your post. It must be so difficult for you at the moment.
    You have had accupuncture suggested. Everyone must be bored about me and my chiropractice sessions. They do treat anyone who is pregnant. I slipped a disk in my neck when I was pregnant with my first. This is going back 40 years mind and gp's in those days thought you were swearing if you mentioned alternative medicine, and osteopath, chiropractice in particular. Medical Council had not accepted it back then.
    If your pain is due to a trapped nerve in your neck (your symptims sound similar) anything like accupuncture, chiropractice is worthwhile looking into. Do check with your gp and nurse. Most important.
    My granddaughter, when only a few weeks old, was having problems keeping food down and in London there is a specialist clinic who deal in Chiropractice for infants. After treatment, Ella was fine. My grandson had to have similar treatment, due to a long labour. I should think now, alternative medicine is becoming so important and the results should be taken seriously.
    Different alternative methods do not suit everyone and you must talk it over with your doctor first. If he is forward thinking you shouldn't have any problems
    Joy