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I have experienced back pain since childhood, and I have joint hypermobility syndrome. My trapezius muscle is constantly sore, and I often feel pain in my neck, the back of my head, and my jaw joint. I tend to suffer from migraines and occasionally have sharp, 'icepick' headaches. I also experience vertigo at times.

My doctor has referred me to several physiotherapists, and my neurologist once prescribed Redomex. After multiple MRI, CT, and EEG scans, Redomex was the only treatment that helped significantly—it completely relieved my headaches, neck pain, and back pain. However, I stopped taking it due to its mental side effects.

Recently, I started a fitness routine focused on strengthening my core, lifting weights, and targeting my neck and back muscles. Despite this, I am still dealing with persistent pain. After a medical examination at work, the doctor recommended a buckwheat pillow for me.
I also heard of a recliner pillow (which would also help against snoring). I currently have a KLUBBSPORRE pillow from IKEA.

Do you have any tips for a better pillow?
If you think a better pillow is not the appropriate solution, what would you recommend to me? I feel like I have already tried all the options and can't think of anything else myself.

I’ve noticed my hands get very fatigued in themselves when raising them or holding my phone for any amount of time. It’s a DEEP ache and feels like someone’s plucking my veins or pulling them tight. My palms are achy and sore. My wrists hurt like joint pain—not hot but throbbing. This also goes for my knees-thighs and my ankles-feet. I also feel in a way….physically hollow.

I finally got a second look at my charts from another doctor, and she prescribed 75mg Lyrica for the first 7 days, 150mg after. I’m wondering if this is “common” or if anyone knows how to better say what I’m describing ?

This is the first specific med other than muscle relaxers that any doctor has given me. So it’s a new road. Anything is helpful.

Sometimes I need help with things. Doing things.

Usually, I could actually do them. But they would sap me, or be filled with extra pain. Often, I feel this while starting a long series of things, such as emptying my pockets, undoing my belt, taking off my socks and pants and shirt and putting on comfortable clothes now that I am at home. I also need to pee.

None of these things really require help, though my wife would absolutely do what she could. When I think of what I need to do, I mock myself because, again, none of these things really require help. Nobody can go pee for me.

Nobody can change my pants, put on my slippers, walk my legs to the toilet, and empty their bladder for me.

Sometimes I absolutely do need help. But, as I think it through, sometimes all I’m yearning for is kindness.

When all my own body gives me is pain and fatigue and mental confusion, sometimes all I’m yearning for is some body else giving me something nice, as a change. Bringing me a cup of coffee - though I am technically capable of doing it myself.

So. Sometimes I need help. And, sometimes, I just need kindness. You?

Hi, I have MED(multiple epiphyseal dysplasia). I have constant pain in my right knee and hip, but sometimes my left hip likes to catch me off guard.

I’m wondering if there are more comfortable positions to sleep in? Currently I’m switching between just lying on my back or lying on my left side to cradle my knee, but I never feel comfortable. I’ve heard using pillows to relieve the pressure, but I’m unsure where to place them for my hips.

Any advice would be appreciated!

As part of my disability coverage I've had Medicare coverage through Humana and have generally been pleased with their services.

Today I learned that my Medicare Advantage Plan has dropped services like Silver Sneakers (not replaced by anything as far as I can find) and while looking at the changes for 2025 I noticed something disturbing. This is after they dropped my hospital and medical group, the 2nd largest in Texas earlier this year. I can't even get CPAP supplies because I can't find a DME provider that works with Humana now so I've had no new mask, filters or tubing for a year. Fortunately I bought a cleaning with a long brush that can clean my tubing but no help for my mask.

Over on the Medicare site, I found something I found disturbing despite my not needing to take opioids outside a hospital setting for some time.

Apparently they will now only cover "Medically-approved non-opioid pain management services"

I haven't contacted them yet but I want to confirm that they will not cover any opioid pain medications because that is fracking outrageous if true. 😠😡😤🤬

Friday August 9th I couldn't get out of bed. I had started having back pain and sciatica issues but just pushed through until I made my self bedridden. Ugh! Scorpio stubbornness. Long story short... After 3 weeks of excruciating pain I was able to crawl. Two weeks later I could stand. At this point atrophy had set in so I was really weak in my legs. Two weeks later I could walk for 30 seconds before burning pain & neuropathy got bad. I started PT for two weeks. Then added chiropractor and accupuncture and reiki. Did a second week of all 4 healing modalities and could walk 2 minutes!! Then something happened & I'm back at the beginning. I also had done 3 rounds of prednisone taper. It helped alot with pain. I also slathered on tiger balm & used a tens unit. Week 11 of bedridden & regression I finally got an MRI. L5 bulge just as they thought with sciatic pain. After the MRI I did all my annual bloodwork & my vitamin D was 11. Earlier in the year it had gone up to 19. The highest it ever was in 10 years. I started researching sciatica & vitamin D connection and I believe this is why I regressed. My body was tying to heal & I was walking up to 2 minutes. But my body could not sustain it. It needed more resources; vitamin D. So I start vitamin D tomorrow and hopefully can be back at work January 1st. My magnesium level was perfect as were all of the other annual things they check for. I share because I believe someone will be encouraged or helped by my experience. I will come back & update any progress.

In just voted! I wanted to do phone banking too but my pain is just too unreliable to plan out a schedule. I'm happy to have sent in my ballot though. For other Americans here, did you vote via absentee ballot?

This is a quote from a politician named Jim Gray. I own his book. Here's a direct quote:

https://preview.redd.it/b8yv9tzc0dyd1.png?width=588&format=png&auto=webp&s=acaffc1131b04de48ec9eac749e305364296a3bc

I have had chronic pain in my lower lumbar for about five years now. My family has a history of addiction and I know how slippery that slope is. So, on Wednesday, I had a trial neurostimulator implanted and am Ah-MAZED at the results. I am able to walk without pain, and I have slept without jarring/shooting pain in my back every time I go to adjust my position.

This is a great alternative to narcotics and other less effective drugs. Those with experience, how did it go with the recovery from the implant and how are you doing now?

40F, I've got IgA Nephropathy meaning I can't take NSAIDs for chronic pain following a car crash in which I fractured my spine in multiple places.

My doctor has prescribed me Nefopam as co-codamol isn't really helping my most recent flare up. I was quite surprised to find I was being given another option as I'd never heard of Nefopam but I've taken it and I feel like I'm dying.

I felt light-headed, then incredibly nauseous, and then my arms started tingling. I don't feel like I'm in my body. My mouth is dry, I feel like I am slurring my words. I didn't get any warning about any of this, and I'm honestly quite scared at how messed up I feel.

This is just one dose. I'm at my wits end - I feel as if every chance I get to ease my pain is just another door slammed in my face.

Does Nefopam get easier? Do I take it a specific way? Do I just chalk it up as yet another loss? I want to cry. When I was prescribed it I was so excited to have something to try.

ETA: I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and am still waiting for meds as I need clearance from my renal doctor due to having elevated BP. One of my major symptoms was noise in my head. Constant panic. Right now mt brain feels completely empty. It's quiet. It's weird.

hi! for some context, I'm a teen. I've had chronic knee pain in both knees for a year now. I've gone through months and months of PT and it didn't help. I recently got an MRI and the results came back normal, same for the X rays.

It was originally a pain that came in frequent flare ups, but for the past half a year it has been constant and without end. We can't really pinpoint exactly what made it like this.

When one flares up, the other does too, so it's a systematic pain.

I'm a teen and too light for meloxicam.

Any advice? Feeling really frustrated and lost

I found a decent pain scale in r/fibromyalgia and thought I'd share it here too!

Pain patient was on low dose of bupe from PM doc for a short few months but developed tolerance and was having withdrawal very quickly after taking. Instead of tapering off as patient requested, PM doc switched it up and changed from a mcg bupe dose to .5 mg Suboxone 2x a day hoping the naloxone would stretch out the time to w/d symptoms. It only helped for a few weeks. Same problem has developed, withdrawal symptoms after only a few hours. Patient does not want to continue with this drug at all, wants to detox it and get off it completely rather than increasing the dose. Would sublocade be a way to do that? Since the shot lasts for a month wouldn’t this prolong tapering or how would you even do it?

Did anyone do a Procain Infusion? My doctor suggested this after Ketamine Treatment. If anyone did this, please share your experience for pain.

So I have a ton of medical issues. Anklosing Spondylitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's, total colectomy, arthritis, tendonosis and tendinitis in both kneees, two strokes working on another because my pain isn't properly managed, stage 2 hypertension, chronic pancreatitis, bowel obstructions, chronic pain, chronic Anemia, short bowel syndrome, severe chronic depression, aspergers, and other stuff I can't remember.

Anyway I have no real support system. My mom is a covert narcissist and will be nice one day and mean the other. She doesn't want to help me in anyway. She just tells me to get stuff done and be happy. I can't work due to all my surgeries they messed me up. So I'm in constant pain. My dad is in Memory Care with Dementia.

My childhood was hell and I didn't know I was autistic until my 30s. I got verbally abused at home and physically abused at school. I've seen dozens of doctors who proceed to drop me or do the bare minimum. I spend all day in bed and don't have enough energy to do anything. No one checks on me and I live in garbage. I'm done I don't even know how I lasted this long.

I don’t know if this is the right page to ask this but i think i have chronic back pain. I have the worst pain in my back, spanning along my spine, from top to bottom and it sucks. I found out about two years ago from asking my friends at school that it was not normal to have this back pain, I would ask them if it was normal for their back to ache and they say no, which was surprising to me as I thought my back pain was a result of my backpack which everyone else had.

I have a large chest but it isn’t that large for me to be experiencing such a pain, it has been continuous for as long as i can remember and i can’t remember a time where i haven’t felt like this. Even when lying in bed i can still feel the pain. I have tried cracking it but i feel like it goes beyond some knots in my back.

No i can’t talk to my parents about this, they are quite abusive, but other than that they do not go out of their way for me. I went to one doctor who said i just need normal antibiotics but they do not work for me. And if i complain again i will get screamed at to shut up, because they’ve already done “all they can” and that i should stop acting like a baby about things. So as you can guess, they’re not the type of people who you can go to problems with.

So i’m dealing with this alone and asking to go to a professional is out of the question. So if anyone has any remedies or at home exercises that can help with this chronic pain, it would be much appreciated as it’s something that really ruins my day. The only time i get a break is of course, when I’m asleep. Thanks for reading and for any advice in advance 💓💓

I am finally having a good day after weeks of really, really bad ones. Several weeks bedridden...got a cortisone shot and it's slowly working over the last 2 weeks. That helped with the hip/knee/sciatica issues though still hurting but tolerable. Back is still bad.

But, my husband took me out riding in the car today, looking at the leaves and we had lunch together. It felt like a date! We're back home now and I'm laying down resting my back, but it was nice to get out. 😁

Hey guys! Im currently laying in bed hacking a lung up and sneezing enough to replace that dwarf. It all started with lil sniffles from everyone in the house. Nothing huge, no alarm bells ringing in my head.My 13 got better by Wednesday, my husband never missed work. Me...Im on my deathbed. (Bad luck?)

Went to doctor yesterday just in case. He didn't think it was anything. Strep was negative. Covid test takes 3 days? He was the only available doc to see me on short notice. First time with this PC doc and he gave me just in case antibiotics. Im glad he did because I haven't been this sick in years.

So let's talk about karma, bad luck and just overall bad juju. See I haven't been able to keep my house together for 7 years. Im at a point where I could keep up maintaining if it was at a good starting point. We have been here since 2002, so it could use some care. (Bad luck?)

My husband suprised me the idea of fixing up some stuff. His words said that I need something positive, something to look forward to. I need a win guys, just one simple win. I never win.

Im being so over dramatic, you probably think "oh, no...I bet her husband lost all their money for this playing poker. What a jerk. How will they live?".

Nothing so scandalous...I have to cancel tomorrow. I need to be a responsible person and not spread my germs. You see we had a scheduled consultation for bathroom remodeling tomorrow. I was looking forward to this comparable to a six year old finding out they are gonna see Mickey Mouse.

I briefly tried to tell myself...It's not so bad...just don't get in the guys face. Well, I woke up sounding like a version of James Earl Jones with a lifetime 2 pack a day habit. (Karma?)

I woke up with my cat in my face. For a moment she probably thought I had a hair ball. If it was a competition I would win today. When I said good morning, it was just a little scary. Did Darth Vader talk over me? Who is in my room sounding all menacing? Am I being possessed? I don't like green split pea soup and the pain when your head rotates all the way aroundyour neck.Nope,nada, no thank you just kill me now. (Bad juju?)

I finally crawled out of bed. No one is here to baby me or offer to make me a cup of tea. Who am I kidding? Im am lucky to be suffering by myself. (Hey look at that guys, some good luck?) I will take this win and try not to die from my illness.

Wait one more thing. I just grabbed 3 leftover 2pc Starburst. All of them were Orange. How does that happen? Why does this happen to me? Im so over this day.

I hope yall are as well as you can be. If you need be I will be under the covers feeling sorry for myself.

I'm 18 and non binary (AFAB). I live in Australia. I've been trying to see a doctor about my joint pain for the last 2 years, but was told that it was growing pains. It's getting worse and I don't know what to do any more. I don't even care about a diagnosis anymore, I just want a way to handle the pain.

The longer I put pressure on the joint, the more it hurts. While yes, that's normal, it happens so quickly. I can't write with a pen, lean on my elbow for more than a couple of minutes.

The cold makes my joints hurt like hell. Like last night I slept with the fan directed at me because it was hot, and woke up in so much pain.

I'm just tired. I was tested for arthritis but it came back negative, it was the only test that was ever done on me. I don't want to take pain meds 24/7 but at the moment they're the only reason why I can leave the house

Hi everyone,

I am looking for some advice. I am 24 years old and have been dealing with these issues since 2014. I have bulging/herniated disc c4-c5, as well as right disc osteophyte complex (bone spur), thecal sac compression, narrowing right foramen. Those symptoms are also in my c5-c6. I have shooting pain, numbness, tingling, down my right arm, into my fingers and down my spine. I have done every treatment known, 8 rounds of PT, 10 epidural shots, nerve ablation, trigger point injections, acupuncture, all without help. I am in constant pain everyday, some days I can barely move. I am beyond tired of nobody having a way to help me. I can't even describe the toll this has taken on my mental health and I'm about to give up. The last doctor I went to stated that there should have been something done when this first began but because I was only 13, they did not want to do anything. Since the doctors I am currently seeing are "pain management' I didn't know if anyone has any recommendation or has been though something similar. I trust on here more than the doctors. Thanks in advance :)

I have an ulcer from chronic nsaid use even on an empty stomach. I gi to gi dr next week. Bit primary care dr started me on Pantoprazole 40mg 11 days ago and even on a bland diet I'm not getting any relief. How long does it take to get relief from PPIS for ulcers?

Anyone recommend a good pharmacy in Denver area? I am moving from Texas to Denver and need a pharmacy that can fill my pain meds (10 mg oxycodone 6x a day). If it’s anything like Texas it’s hard to find a pharmacy.

Thanks!

Does anyone else feel like this? I'm dealing with one of my worst pain days and feeling like 🗑, and i have to take mom to the Dr, im her full time caretaker. Could use some positive vibes and support emotionally today

I am in so much pain. My normal pain is flared into an acute crisis and I am 3 weeks post op an exploratory abdominal laparoscopy that found a lot. They had to take my uterus, my ovaries were glued to the pelvic side walls, pools of blood everywhere, inflammation everywhere, my bladder is boggy and in spasm. Lots of endometriosis found and dx with interstitial cystitis.

I have a genetic condition where I hyper metabolize medications so nothing ever works! High dose pain meds do absolutely nothing. Doctors don’t believe me. It’s a mess.

Pain management just gave me a few 500mg tramadol to get through the weekend. Is that an opioid? Do you think it will even touch my pain? I need just a few minutes to breathe.

I had my first appointment with a psychiatrist this morning who works directly with the pain clinic I utilize and am curious to hear if anyone else has seen a mental health provider who specializes in chronic pain? I’ve seen many therapists throughout the years, but never one like this, and even after just 45 minutes I already felt more comfortable and reassured than I ever have in therapy before. If you have gone this route, do you feel like it’s made a significant difference in your pain levels?

Granted, this was only the first of what will hopefully be a long, productive relationship, but she brought up some interesting points- one of which was something called “Chronic Pain Syndrome”, described to me as the resulting mental health issues (depression, anxiety, panic attacks, PTSD, etc) from years of chronic pain. Has anyone been diagnosed with this before? Is there any helpful information or research on this that anyone knows of? Would love to do some reading of my own before my next session. Sending spoons to you all 🤍

Hi!

I've had neck pain for years (as far back in my life that I can remember). Through the NHS, I've had bloods done, MRI and X-Rays, they said they couldn't see anything. So instead I'm diagnosed with 'chronic neck pain'. This pain is slowly getting worse and making my life unliveable.

When I contacted a private service about a process to diagnosis for my neck pain, they said they can't go down a diagnosis path or provide any aid until I have a more specific diagnosis.

Through the NHS, how do I go about getting a diagnosis faster? If that's not possible, does anyone know any resources to get a private diagnosis or anything that can help this situation? I'm willing to travel abroad, or try anything.

Thanks in advance! : D

Hi there I'm curious what pillow do you recommend? I have fibromyalgia, hypermobility, thickened tendons in my neck/shoulders. I dread sleep because of the pain I know I'll have when I wake up. Sometimes I'll just stay up to avoid it. Please let me know what works for you!

I’ve been having pain that started in my right shoulder nearly a year ago. I’ve had MRI’s, X-rays, ultrasounds, blood test after blood test. Everything is normal. I’ve been in and out of ED and urgent care for neck/shoulder/rib pain. Gallstones, appendicitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, all ruled out. The pain has been excruciating but I’m getting nowhere. My last ED visit they discussed an admission to a psychiatric ward, so I behaved and stayed quiet so I could go home. I’ve been to a rheumatologist who just said fibromyalgia and sent me on my way. My GP has prescribed tramadol but it honestly does nothing. This week the pain has gotten worse. My right shoulder blade is visibly jutting out of my skin, my shoulder has dropped and my whole right side feels like a strained muscle. I feel like I have multiple fractures in my collar bone, rib cage and shoulder. Has anyone else experienced similar?

I had disc protruscion before and had my operation for myelopathy. That was 2011 and this year I experienced so much pain in my back that I can't stand up. Turns out I have lumbas spondylosis but wait there's more! All my cervical spine have disc protruscion plus the lumbar area and carpal tunnel on my both hands. So right now I'm living and functioning just because I'm taking 3 dosage of pregabalin and 1 dosage of muscle relaxant. Still waiting for my Doc on what can be done.