still got bad joint pain...

lizzy100

so iv still got bad joint pain, my hands and feet are killing me today, feel like i cant use my hands at all,even after morphine. dont know why they morphine doesnt seem to do anything for me, i can feel a little bit hot to start with but other than that basically no effect! so odd.
anyway im seeing a private rheummatologist next week thank goodness, i just hope they do somethning and take me seriously. i suppose theyl do more bloods.
does anyone here have lupus? strangely one of the blood results for that was positive, but iv never had any rashes, but if i had one more blood test that was positive id probably forfill the criteria for diagnosis. im not convinved though. just dont know what it canbe. i do get minor swelling, minor stiffness sometimes, but its mostly the pain. I cant open medicine bottles and cant write and things, its ridiculous. its been over 4 weeks now. :roll:

dreamdaisy

Pain is tiring, there's no doubt about that and it can make life such a trial. You are in the very early stages of whatever is happening to you and I can feel your impatience to get things sorted but it can take a deal of time. You are seeing someone very, very soon, and that is a good thing. I hope he can help, at least with being private he can offer you the luxury of time. Let us know how you get on, yes? DD

Stayfocused

Hi dreamdaisy,

Have you told your pharmacy about struggling opening your meds? I told mine last year and they put my meds in dosette boxes which has relieved some of the difficulties..

I too struggle opening bottles and have bought a jar opener off amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Betterware-Jar-Bottle-Opener-Aid/dp/B002N1O4LK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1337340856&sr=8-13

It was only a £1 and is very usefull.

Do you take anti inflammatories with your morphine?

I am a nurse and too enhance the effects of morphine we give patients paracetamol alongside morphine for patients who have fractured neck of femurs or severe fractures elsewhere. I'm not saying I advocate it for you but there is research that suggests the benefits of taking paracetamol alongside morphine. I'd ask your consultant and see what they say? Or just take it and see if it helps.

Hope your pain eases soon x

lizzy100

Ive tried taking paracetamol and NSAIDS, but im not meant to take NSAIDs, but they dont seem to do anything with or without the morphine. nothing seems to help. Iv been all the way up the pain ladder and nothing helps.
yea that might help, but they wont open the push down and twist med bottles will they? because it liquid and not pills would the pharmacist be able to do anything coz i didnt think they would be?
i can barely walk, or do anything now

frogmorton

Hi Lizzy

Good to see you, but not that you are suffering so much...

odd that but some do NOt get results with morphine and some can't take it anyway due to it's effects on them

I hope you can hang on in there until you see the rheumatologist and l will cross fingers for you that he/she will find you some useful help.

Do let us know how you get on

Love

Toni xx

Annah

Just a thought - I'd be interested in what your private rheumatologist has to say - but sometimes pain is caused by nerves, rather than bones, and nerve pain (in my experience) responds poorly to traditional painkillers.

For much of my pain, even morphine was pointless. Paracetamol helped a tiny bit and I couldn't take NSAIDS for long without stomach problems. But when I was put on gabapentin, a drug originally developed for epilepsy, that helped tremendously. I also take an antidepressant which has been shown to help with chronic pain.

I hope this new doctor will have something to help you, but beware of making the common mistake of assuming bad pain = stronger and stronger painkillers. Sometimes, a different approach is needed.

In the meantime, do you find anything else helps, like heat or cold? I find an electric heat pad is amazing for me, other people like ice packs. If my pain is bad, sometimes I have a shower as that seems to help (I'd get trapped in the bath if I tried that LOL).

Try to stay as calm as you can, because getting tense and upset only worsens pain (I've been there). I play casual computer games, watch science-fiction DVDs and Radio 4 comedies on iPlayer. You might have your own interests - just try to find anything you enjoy to distract you.

I do hope you're better soon.

bubbadog

Hi Lizzy, I'm so sorry you've been suffering with such pain, and to hear that morphine wasn't helping is not very good. Glad your seeing a private Rhummey next week. Hope you get something sorted for your pain and that it helps ease the pain so you can get on with living your life. Please keep us posted so we know how you get on. Let us know what day your going to see the private Rhummey so we can do pocket duties for you. Hope the appt is positive and you get what you want out of the appt.