Facet Joint Arthritis

Hello ferby54. I don't have this. I have RA with OA. With pain meds it's often a matter of horses for courses. Your GP might be able to prescribe a different anti-inflammatory and / or different pain relief. There are others out there. I know some on here take gabapentin or amitryptilene at night to help them sleep. I hope one of them will be around soon to help.

Hello, it's nice to meet you and I empathise. I have PsA, OA and fibro and getting comfortable at night is really a thing of the past (like walking without aids, dancing, cycling, hiking etc. etc. etc. ) I sleep with a pillow running length-wise from groin to ankles to support my upper hip and knee (I am a side-sleeper) and because I no longer move naturally in my sleep getting going in the morning can take some time. On the really rough starts I take a couple of cocodamols and read whilst they get to work. I then practise my range of expletives as I rise from my bed of nails.

The meds will not do anything much for the pain - the stronger the pain relief the more you are removed from the pain, not vice-versa. I was on naproxen for some time but they gave me only oral thrush. I now take the occasional diclofenac (always with a stomach protector) and they do help. I also take 30/500 cocodamols, I have tramadol available but choose not to take it on a regular basis so that I have an escape route when things get really tough. I wish you well. DD

Hi ferby, and Welcome
I have OA of the facet joints, which was diagnosed by x-ray (Nov 2007) and MRI (March 2008), plus OA of both sacroiliac joints. The pain is horrendous at times isn't it ?
I also suffer 99% of the time from muscle spasms in my back so can relate to how you feel.
I was medically retired from my last job 2 years ago after the pain became too severe to travel to/from work. That was after having reasonable adjustments in place at work for 4 years.

My prescribed pain meds are as follows -
2 x 500mg paracetomol, plus 1 x 400mg ibuprofen, plus 2 x 30mg dihydrocodeine, all taken together 4 times daily.
I also have Voltarol gel on prescription, to apply 3 times daily.
About a year ago, my GP also prescribed 1 x 25mg amitriptyline to be taken at night.
I can't take stronger NSAIDs like Naproxen or Diclofenac due to sensitivity - both of those caused severe stomach pain after only 1 dose, so I had to return them and inform my GP.

I'm in a no win situation because doing anything for too long - standing, sitting, lying down, walking, makes my pain worse, (very strong burning pain in the affected joints - which become hot to touch) , my joints stiffen up, and all of my back muscles to lock up in spasm. Its hurting right now just sitting here typing this reply.
I've also been having problems with my feet, which started to swell a lot about a year ago and now have pain in the joints as well as swelling.
My hands joined in a few months ago, with joint pain in all of my fingers. I'll be 47 next Tuesday (= 20 more years of being interrogated by those imbeciles at ATOS and DWP before I can get my pension ! :x ).

Regarding my pain meds, I take the paracetomol and ibuprofen 4 times daily as prescribed, but with the dihydrocodeine, I take 2 with my first dose of paracetomol and ibuprofen then space the rest of them out throughout the day up to the maximum prescribed dose (8 x 30mg = 240mg/day). I find them more effective that way - taking 2 with 1st daily dose then 1 at a time after that.
The amitriptyline does help (it blocks the pain receptors in your brain), but it also makes me extremely drowsy. After taking one I end up crashing out for several hours, although (for me) it can take anything from 30 minutes to 4 or 5 hours before I get so drowsy that I fall asleep wherever I happen to be. I've actually fallen asleep quite a few times while sitting at my computer after taking my amitriptyline .

I use the Voltarol gel in between my paracetomol/ibuprofen doses. That really does help, especially with my back pain and when my muscles are in spasm.
Other than that, I also use an ice pack on my back at times when, during a flare up, my pain meds don't really touch the pain. I keep 2 Theraflex gel ice packs in the freezer at all times so they are always ready to use.
Just make sure if you use an ice pack, that you ALWAYS wrap it in a damp cloth before puting it against your skin, NEVER use one for longer than 20 minutes and if you need to use it again, ALWAYS leave at least 1 hour after use before reapplying another ice pack. Applying ice packs for too long or directly against your skin can cause permanent tissue damage (frostbite) - this is advice I have had from both physiotherapists and a chiropracter. I bought the ice packs from a chiropracter.

Hi Ferby54
When I was having real pain at night I bought a memory foam topper for my bed. I'm not saying it was a miracle or anything but it certainly has helped me a lot.

I also had a lot of pain higher up my back, my surgeon put it down to the rest of the spine taking the strain. It has cleared up since my surgery.

I forgot to say that I used Naproxyn rather than diclofenac and it was much better. I also used a stomach protector (omeprazole) though.

Hi there. I have worn facet joints in my lower spine and was told I also have osteo arth. Waiting for results for my neck. My fingers have been changing shape for about 3 years now. My knees are grating. My hips feel like they need replacing. I've been in intense pain on and off for 20 years. But only just been diagnosed. I was getting a sharp pain in my left side keeping me awake every night for 8 months until I had 6 injections in my facet joints 4 weeks ago. The pain has subsided and I slept for a straight 8 hours. How brilliant is that. I was advised to use hot wheat microwave pads or hot water bottle on lower back when I go to bed. This should help with pain and stiffness and it has helped. Try to use heat at least 4 times a day, I take ibuprofen and paracetamol before bed. I have not had any days off work despite the pain and not being able to put my own socks on in the mornings and refuse to give in because I haven't finished living yet at 44, I hope this will help also Pilates is very good to . Good luck in your quest for proper sleep xx