Neuropathic pain and OA flares.

mellman01

Does anyone on here who has chronic neuropathic pain syndrome get warning signs of a pending attack?.
Personally I find that my OA kicks up and then the Neuro pain starts to become active, it begins with tingling numbness and a feeling in my toes and feet, I also get a increasing feeling like my feet and lower legs are in cold water then after a day or so of this the pain slowly starts to comes through, I also get really tired even before it’s really got going. It also drags me down mentally really really quickly.

Also I've talked to a couple of people at work who have OA and they say you need to work through the pain but all this does for me is make the neuropathic pain much flippin worse.

magenta

Hi Mellman,

I have chronic nueropathic pain and OA too but unfortunately for me, for about 3mths now, I've not had relief from either. I've not noticed any warning signs-it's always there in either a moderate way or severe. I'm on Pregabalin but think I may need to up my dose again but I wonder is the pain from the nuero side of things or the OA?

As for working through the pain-that's a killer. I'm constantly being told by physio and GPs that exercise 'helps' OA but I have to disagree-strongly :sad: I'm struggling morning till night just getting by with work and my home-life is suffering-it's c**p isn't it? As for being tired, that for me is the thing that really gets me down.

I hope someone else can help you with regards warning signs but I just wanted to let you know you're not on your own. Hope you're not suffering too much today,

Magenta x

valval

hi not got same thing, but when have flare coming get down and feel like some one put needle in me and extracted all energy few days later flare starts stiffness first then heat and swelling kick in hope this helps but the down feeling awfull val

dorcas

Hi mellman,

I've no experience of that type of neuropathic pain but it doesn't sound as though it's something that can be 'worked through' as suggested by your work mates. :roll:

Just wanted to say I hope things ease up for you soon... you've had such a hard time of it lately.

Iris xx

mellman01

Thanks all, yes magenta it's like that for me goes on a long time, I fing it takes a few days to get going and then if you mess with it it reacts fast, and only prolngs it, also it takes about a week to calm down then I'm just left with the OA pain, what a relief!, it also makes me really tired and strung out, I also finds it effects me mentally quite badly it's like acid it erodes me on a mental level, changes my thinking and reasoning moods the lot, and I can't focus even on my hobbies, I just have to rest and let it pass, once it does I bounce back like a spring and go almost hyper, I think it's the relief of it passing. but if I just get a sniff of the warning signs I drop like a stone.
Sorry to go on but this fecking thing has torn my life apart.

valval

if you can not share with us who can you share with val

skezier

Hi Mell,

I never get any warning it just whack in and stays a while. I do work with it rather than through it i that makes sense?

I am lucky as I can take the pregabs ans so wish you could find something that you can tolerate that would help knock it back for you.

I can't see you being able to work through that one Mell.. your work mates might be talking either standing up or about ordinary oa pain in early stages.....

Are you able to take anything for the nerve pain now? Hang in there Mell and wish there was an easy fix or you. Cris xx

magenta

Hi again,

I agree with everything you've said and it's horrible. I (we) live with it every day and therefore we work through it every blooming day. It's taken over my life lately, I wake up and it's the first thing I think about ie. How sore am I and where? Can I get through today or phone in sick? Can I be ar***d washing my hair cos it hurts to hold my hairbrush-list really is endless. I hate it and what it's doing to me.
I'm still trying to think if I get a warning sign of when it's coming but I can't think!
Cris made a good point, to work with it rather than through it.
I've actually seen you posting before about chronic pain but I've not had the energy to reply so I apologise for that.

I also agree with you about 'springing back'-I do that too, never really thought about it before. My workmates must think I'm bonkers

Always here for a chat,

Take care,

Magenta

mellman01

The really odd thing with me is it creeps in almost undetectable and once it's here down I go I only need a sniff of a warning sign and the black dog and the rest of the pack turn up and break my door down, there is nothnig I can do about it I'm mentally defencless, I think Subconsciously it reminds me of how seriously stuffed I/we are with this b*****d, right from the get go it gets me really depressed, black dog comes no where close as i said I get the whole flippin pack, I ended up coming home from work in a right old state Thursday blubbing like a girl, it gets me every time I don't see it coming, but on the other hand once it starts to leave I bounce back almost hyper, then guilt and embarisment set in and so it goes.
I't not like OA pain that I can handle much more quantifiable and is a known but this destroys me and is master even 3 and a half years since it came knocking at my door, that said it isn't as bad as when I first had the OP, Jesus how I mamaged to stay sane beats me, I know I'm a bit mad but ye Gods this thing is totally crazy and highly umpleasent. Can't take Gabapentin or Pregabalin at high enough dose they make me ill and I start seeing things melt and I also hear people who arn't there, that's not nice always use to get me when I was half asleep I'd wake in a panic looking for the bat I have by the bed I'd be up and ready to go then come fully too wondering why the dogs arn't barking, mad that not good!. But not as weird as seeing my PC screen melt Matrix style, Yeah Neo follow the white rabbit mate!, just take a fist full of these little tablets then well see who's loosing touch with reality!.
Sorry but I've got to laugh or I'd bloody cry.

magenta

Hi Mell,

I can't take Gabapentin, it made me like a zombie and I felt out of my face on them. Thankfully the pregabalin seems to be working (although I've put on weight-I hear that can happen?) and I'm now scared of having to stop them.
Have you ever been referred to a pain clinic? There must be another drug for neuropathic pain that you can try.

It does mess with your head. I've got the problem just now of not being able to speak properly-do you get that? I come across all confused and I see people looking at me thinking 'what is she on?' When I try telling them it's my neuro pain you can see them thinking 'Aye, right-weirdo'

Glad you're sounding a bit more cheery,

Take care,

Magenta x

mellman01

Hi Magenta well I haven't been back to a pain clininc the last one was pointless I got more and better info from the neurologist to be honest.
I find I can't think straight and it also alters the way my mind works, and yes sometimes I can't get the owrds out right?.
Thing is I beat myself up when it's here, it's not at all like OA it's sneaky and totally unpredictable, I thought I'd got away with it today but my legs are telling me it's still down there and growing again I whish it would **** off.