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Chronic Pain
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Posted 8/6/2023 2:04 AM (GMT -8)
A recent bout of chills and fever came out of the blue last Saturday night. It passed quickly with Tylenol but left me with muscle pain and spasms so bad I couldn't walk, for which I went back on the Oxycodone I had quit only two days after hernia surgery because I didn't need it.

It seemed to get better...then got worse. It has now resulted in two doctor's visits, the second of whom advised me to get off Oxycodone and do McKenzie's exercises to deal with the muscles. That first night I was up all night in pain. There was not a single position where I didn't hurt. Second day I continued the exercises and was walking better though, almost normally.

Second night, I couldn't sleep despite 'sleepy time tea,' aromatherapy lotion, ice, heat, white noise on my phone. I hurt constantly. I took a hot bath and fell asleep in the tub, in a position that I think made things worse.

Third day my husband, a veteran of many surgeries and PT, pushed me to not hold onto anything while I walk and saying it'll hurt now but it'll pay off soon and if I don't decide to be tough, I could have this problem forever. I did the exercises, walked without holding onto anything, and the pain seems to have centralized in my right hip (it had been moving around).

Once again, without Oxycodone, I have not slept a single minute all night. My heating pad gave out on me. It now hurts to put ice on it anymore. Tylenol and Ibuprofen don't do a thing to stop the pain. A hot shower didn't help. I can't find a single position, sitting, standing, or lying, that isn't hurting again within 25 seconds (usually 5). Even now, I've moved to at least 6 different chairs and couches just trying to finish this post because any position hurts.

How does anyone sleep with chronic pain?
Posted 8/6/2023 9:27 AM (GMT -8)
Sleep can be difficult for many people. Look at the age of your mattress, perhaps trying a new mattress topper may help. I cannot sleep on anything soft, I need a firm mattress.

Some people take Benadryl at bedtime because it will make them drowsy. A dear friend of mine suggested Tylenol Sleep Time, without Tylenol in it. I had nothing to lose so I bought some & it worked. I took it for 2 weeks straight & managed to break the cycle I had been fighting for 4 years. Sleep deprivation will cause your pain to escalate.

I make sure that I am as calm as possible at bedtime, nothing to trigger keeping me awake for any length of time. Another thing that also helped me a great deal was being referred to a great psychologist for talk therapy. She was very helpful in so many different ways, especially dealing with chronic pain.

I hope that you can find something that helps you.
Posted 10/23/2023 11:16 AM (GMT -8)
We all have to live with pain especially now with the so called opiates crisis.
I've been one of the lucky ones who buprenorphine works for my pain. I just pray they don't start restricting it's use already saying it's being used on the street ( of course because people have been shut off their regular medication)
But I digress.
Sleep is tough while on pain and I often sleep sitting on the side of my bed.
Try and find a position that works and of course get a diagnosis so you can target the cause.

Glen
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