Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

2,902 Members

21,876 Posts

0 Online

IvyPhoenix 03/16/2012

For the first time since I started my new job in October (and really for almost a year now), I had to call in sick to work yesterday because the pain was so instense I couldn't breathe. The switch from the nucynta to the vicodin is doing zero for the pain.. and the insomnia has been so intense that I know that isn't helping at all.

I know I could go to to the ER for a pain shot.. but the concept of waiting in the lobby for 5 or 6 hours, only to be treated like a junkie by staff who can find no reason for the pain and who think you are drug seeking when you tell them that their "normal" pain medications will have no effect.. I just do not have it in me.

All I want to do is cry right now.. and I am just too tired to even do that. I did manage to sleep most of the day, thanks to a double shot of muscle relaxers (not the safest I know...but I was careful) but now the pain is so intense I can barely breathe and I absolutely HAVE to go to work today. It is 2:12 AM and all I want to do is make this nightmare stop. I know you all understand.

thanks for letting me vent.

in peace and friendship,
Wen

debsue123 03/16/2012

I hope you get some sleep tonight. I just watched a program for people with pain from fibromyalgia and were told to take melatonin to help sleep and pain. I have taken melatonin before and it does help with sleep. I'm going to try it for pain...maybe it is something you can try tomorrow night. It is sold with the vitamins. It is safe. Hope you do ok with work.

IvyPhoenix 03/16/2012

Thanks.. I have tried melatonin and valirian for my chronic insomnia. Unfortuntely I have some weird genetic condition that reverses most sleep and pain medication, and they make me hyper and cause pain more than they relieve it... leave it to me to be backward.. of course, i even thought, hey, if they reverse maybe things like DayQuil would put me to sleep.. but no such luck.. ugh!

Right now I am packratting in the dark, hoping to get sleepy and bypass the pain. Sorry to see you are awake at this hour as well

cherrychanga 03/16/2012

Are you feeling any better this morning Did you get any sleep?

Hugs...

IvyPhoenix 03/16/2012

nope, been awake pretty much all night..I slept off and on yesterday finally thanks a non-prescribed but carefully research increase in my muscle relaxers.. not something I usually do but I was desperate.. now I am shaking and just want to cry as I lie here and think about getting up for work here soon... I just don't know what to do....

jancam 03/16/2012

Damn it.......Wen....DS just wiped out my reply to you...

Sorry you're in this particular Hell...I have a lot of experience with insomnia...seems a number of folks on here do...

Pain and exhaustion combined is just torture...
I'm lucky that occasionally sleep meds will help for a bit...

If you know muscle relaxers help you with this...have you talked t doc about increasing that as sleep med?

I'm really sorry you're in this...and havin' to try to go to work too...
Sucks a lot.

Hugs...jc..

Jenna77 03/16/2012

I know exactly how you feel. If I would have had a ride last night I would have gone to the ER and just dealt with them thinking I was a junkie. Been up off and on since 230. Woiuld have posted earlier but was having trouble seeing. Now it seems to be doing ok. But I m still in severe pain. Im sorry you are going through this.

Jenna

deleted_user 03/16/2012

I went into the ER once because the pain was really bad and what I did was say that my doctor told me if the pain get unbearable to go in that they would give me something as she has nothing like that in her office. They gave it to me and then that was it.

IvyPhoenix 03/16/2012

Thanks guys..
I relly tried to get up for work but I got dizzy and started cry and had to sit back down. I HATE this...

So I am home again today

serenityha 03/16/2012

can you safely talk to your boss to see if you can work remotely or any kind of arrangement?
i can't imagine having to go into work everyday any more.
i hope you get some relief.
hugs!

HappyNonie 03/16/2012

Hi Wen, I'm so sorry you are suffering so much. Can you call your doctor's office today and talk to them. Sounds like you need something to get you through this flare or whatever it is that's causing you so much more pain. Maybe a med increase or some new med but I wouldn't be just trying to ride it out. I'm not sure how much sick time your work will allow but with my employer they required a doctor's note if you were out for 3 consecutive days. Best of luck and I hope you can get this under control and get some sleep too. I know what insomnia is like, no fun. Big healing hugs,
ssLisa

heatherhurts 03/16/2012

Dear Wen, What an awful dilemma you are in? I am unable to work because I would be in your shoes. There is the Family Medical Leave law which allows you to take care of your health (or of family) without losing your position at work. I think it lasts 12 weeks. This flare sounds like it is too much for you. I am sorry to hear how bad you feel.

I hope to hear from you today. Please take care!

IvyPhoenix 03/16/2012

You guys are amazing. Can u hear me crying? Rough afternoon at the pain clinic. He gave me a double dose of steroid and numbing injection and I came to in even more pain than before. I sat there and just cried and I NEVER cry. He gave me 10 pills of dilauded and made me promise that if in a few hours I was still in this much pain that I would consent to the er for an MRI and some other tests to make sure there isn't something else going on.

Join the Conversation