nerve pain please help!

demmilou04
demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
edited 27. May 2014, 05:50 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have nerve pain due to bone growth putting pressure against my nerves.
From the middle of my shoulder blade do to my index and middle finger on my right hand. I have numb fingers pain aching heavy feeling in my wrist, forearm, elbow all the way through my upper arm aches like ive been repeatedly punched and its making me so miserable and unable to sleep!! I have 3 children to look after and a house to keep clean :-(
All I take for the pain is either paracetamol ibuprofen or if its really bad at bedtimes I will take a naproxen. All of which dont do much.
My physio told me to try amitriptyline 10mg which I started lastnight.

Can anyone please give me any advice or tips please, ive had the symptoms before in my left side and learnt to live with it. Now its in the opposite side and im not used to the feeling it feels 10 times as bad xxx ty

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    As I have understood matters from my docs anti-inflammatories such as naproxen work better if they are taken on a more regular basis; waiting until things are tough and then taking one won't do much to improve matters. I am no expert on nerve pain (it must be miserable) so I advise you to get in touch on Tuesday with those who treat you and ask their advice. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Im doing what ive been told dream x its puling me down more than actually painful. My pain threshold is quite good x so annoying!
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have nerve pain I was on Amytriptiline for a while, taking between 2 and 3 tablets at night. I was told when I started to take them that they took up to 10-14 days to start working. For the first week I took one at night and my GP told me to up it to two at night before bed after a week. At my first consultant's appointment he said I coukd take up to three a day if I needed it.
    I'm currently on duloxetine instead which is a similar drug, but the big advantage with amytriptiline is that it helps you sleep.
    Good luck
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks slosh x normally id just get on with it but its making me snappy and its not fair :-(
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    On-going pain does pull us down and make us snappy which is, as you say, unfair; the pain is unfair on us and the snaps unfair on those around us. Please contact your GP etc. and ask if you can take the nap on a more regular basis to see if that improves matters - you're on the sharp end, yes? DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • celebrationb
    celebrationb Member Posts: 134
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have a trapped fermol nerve in my left leg which has now caused oa in my knee. I am on amitriptyline 25mg for the nerve and it works also i am on naproxen for the oa. I stopped the amitriptyline for a while never again i was in so much pain. It does relax the nerves at night, but my leg when watching tv sometimes restless leg sindrome, It does work for me. Now i am trying Red Krill oil to see is it helps too.
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello demmilou04
    I have nerve pain from my neck and back and down my arm and leg the only thing that help or did help was gabapentin they have now changed for the newer med pregabalin they are a epilepsy drug but in smaller does they stop the pain signals going to your brain...or something like that, have you been referred to a pain clinic, they would prescribe it for you..hope you get some relief very soon..
    Love
    Barbara
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you celebration. Thank you barb, I feel guilty when I end up being sharp towards my children or loved ones.... my kids don't understand that im in pain because I do try and keep day to day life as normal as possible and also try and keep my appearance tidy (so I dont look like ive just got up although I feel like sleeping all day lol)

    The only way I can kind of get comfy barb is to lie on my effected side... how do you easy the pains if you don't mind me asking xx
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I also have cervical spondylitis osteoarthritis and osteophites. No one seems to follow up tho once your diagnosed. Even getting in and out of my car is becoming hard for me, I want to work but feel that would be a wring dessicion until I have the correct pain releif :-(
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,280
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello again, I am so glad to be retired and no children to look after, apart from GC...it does get you down, I use heat on my neck..ie a what bagthat you put in the micro, my leg and back pain are much harder to get rid of, that is were the meds help, I do stretch and do excersises the physio gave me, have you ever been refered to one, a good one is worth there weight in gold, wish I could help more, but I would certainly ask your GP for more help
    Love
    Barbara
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I actually saw my physio last week; I was the one who mentioned the pills for the nerve pain she told me to go see my gp. Which I did, I think ill be going back and expressing my feelings to the dr as I also suffer with anxiety and heaven forbid I don't want that to kick in on top of the pain im in at the minute.
    I never usually complain but im going to have to do something xx
  • celebrationb
    celebrationb Member Posts: 134
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi I dont call it pain just discomfort, as i think its sound better. I just try to cope but sometimes its hard. My daughter said that I have been vey quiet. It is hard not to shout and snap at family thats why i go quiet.
    But with the trappped fermol nerve and oa the discomfort can be very bad. I dont go to pysio because the last time i went it was not improving but got worse thats before the oa. I just tell them its sore and if i need help they are there. It hard to stay positive all the time, have bad days but its not ruining my life.
    My doc said that am not bad at the moment, but he doesnt know how i feel.
    Try not to snap at your kids or hubby but i know its hard. Tell them that mum not well and to give you some space. I do feel for you.
    Hope that helps.
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you for your replies x knowing im not alone kind if helps :-D I hope you feel relief soon, please keep in touch. Hopefully ill doze off soon hot bath had and pills taken and the kids settled.
    Night night speak soon xxx
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    From what I understand, nerve pain often doesn't respond to traditional pain relieving medications and may require drugs like; pregablin or gabapentin. Obviously, I cannot give medical advice but perhaps book an appt to see your GP to discuss pain management. Have you been referred to a pain clinic?
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    No star ive never been to a pain clinic. My symptoms started 5 years ago too so 5 years of the same complaint and repeat mri scans :-(
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    demmilou04 wrote:
    No star ive never been to a pain clinic. My symptoms started 5 years ago too so 5 years of the same complaint and repeat mri scans :-(

    Do you/have you seen a specialist or are you managed by your GP? There are 3 really fab GPs at my surgery but as nice as they are, they're not great at helping me with pain management. You may need someone specialist to help you out if that's something you'd be interested in?
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Im getting an emergency appointment at my gps tomorrow, thats if I dont end up going to the a&e tonight. Im on max pain releif and i feel like I could cry nothong is touching the pain at all now, it actually feels worse today
  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    So sorry, hope you get some help soon. Fingers crossed.
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you x
  • Boomer13
    Boomer13 Member Posts: 1,931
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good luck, I hope you get some relief.

    I was put on Gabapentin for nerve pain several years ago. It truly was a godsend and I wouldn't go without it now.

    Anna
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks anna I will ask tomorrow. Im going to end up really weak and ill if its going to keep up like this
  • loulou
    loulou Member Posts: 7
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi there, nerve pain is definitely different. I was prescribed pregablin for my ra about a year ago when I'd exhausted traditional other meds and refused amytryptaline ( just personal choice). I've not looked back! I chose the pregablin over gabapentin as I'm already overweight due to four years of steroids and a tendency to put weight on before that. (You can put weight on with gabapentin, its a side effect.)
    If you've been like this for that long you need to request a referral to a pain management unit through your gp. Although they could say to try the pain meds and see if they work before referring you.....
    Hope you get sorted.....its awful being in pain and we do tend to snap at those we love when pain and lack of sleep join together!! :roll:
    Big hugs
    Loulou xx
    [colour=green]
    Loulou[/colour]
    XxxxxX
  • Megrose489
    Megrose489 Member Posts: 776
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hope things go well at your appointment today, Demmilou. I've had nerve pain too for the past few months - connected with IBS, not arthritis - and a low dose of Amitriptyline has helped. I feel for you as I've found the pain quite debilitating at times. Take care.

    Meg
  • demmilou04
    demmilou04 Member Posts: 24
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you lou lou ive already gained some weight, currently I don't smoke so im eating slightly more anyway. I will mention this to the gp, I dont have an appointment yet as I need to call back after 11.30!
    Thank you meg also I hope you both feel better soon ♡