To better target the med to be most beneficial, three dimensions of pain have been established to classify yours.
When I visit the Rheumatologist, I answer an even more detailed questionnaire about what type of pain I am experiencing, do you?
PAROXYSMAL PAIN - sharp, shooting, radiating, hot, electrical.
SUPERFICIAL PAIN - tingling, numb, itchy, sensitive, cold.
DEEP PAIN - heavy, throbbing, cramping, dull.
Unfortunately, I have them all.
Hmmm never thought of tingling or itching or sensitivity to cold as pain. Neuropathy puts me in all categories but I am fortunate it is not daily.
I wish there was a scale for the stiffness and difficulty with movement.
How do you treat each type of pain?
Personally I am on Lyrica for the neuropathy pain and use Ibuprophen sparingly. For deeper pain I use heat. I am trying to avoid prescription medicine for pain relief. When ibuprofen doesn’t work I just bite the bullet and try to keep myself going so I can focus on something other than pain. Of course my nephrologist just thinks that’s crazy. She said if you’re in pain you should take something. My rheumatologist has yet to offer anything for pain.
What does everyone else do?
Ditto.My doc doesn't really categorize like that but he does ask me for words to describe my pain and if I"m at a loss for words.he will suggest ones like those listed here.
I have a pain management doctor as suggested by my rheum. I used to be like you and be "tough"but eventually I couldn't function AT ALL. So he put me on the maximum dose of morphine as well as one for breakthrough. For a while things were better however now there is constant deep and paroxisimal as well....It's getting to the place when I can no longer function even to do the little bit I used to do. I still try to go out of my house sometimes but there is hell to pay.
Cassi - there's a scale I use - I track my health conditions on patientslikeme.com. They have a Pain and Fatigue rating scale (PFRS) that measures the types of pain as well as stiffness, difficulty with daily living tasks, etc. This is the link to the test - but I don't know if it works if you're not a member there: https://www.patientslikeme.com/outcome_scores/fmrs/new
This is a link to my profile, which would at least let you look at how PFRS varies over time for one person (me) :) https://www.patientslikeme.com/patients/view/232766
I don't know if it will help, but it helps me track all the side effects and treatments and symptoms over time.
Take care,
Jane
All I get is " on a scale of 1 to 10"
This is great info.
Thanks.
I too get all 3 types of pain. My doctor also asks me to describe the pains. I take neurontin for the nerve pain I get and tizanadine for muscle spasms. The tizanidine works for a couple of hours then it’s gone. I have tried so many pain meds but get no relief with them. So I just basically lay down and cry. (If my eyes will create the tears. Lol)
Take care,
Wendy
Ha, you and me both. Unfortunately no, I am not asked all that. The focus will be on my dry eyes and mouth, from which she moves on to my fingers and knuckles which are fine. Then she will focus on the pain I am in at the time, and turns to my blood work results, which always point to the inflammation in my body. This last time she listened to my lungs and said sounded like I had pleurisy. I shared the pain I get in my ribcage, which gets real bad for days at a time, then gone like it never happened. Said I had gout in my ribs, and gave me yet another medication. I am feeling overmedicated and over diagnosed. Please!
So as I was heading out the door for my first therapy session, I got a call it was canceled due to a family emergency! Can things possibly get any worse? Yes, I am thankful I woke up today. Yes, it is a pain free day. My mental state seems to be falling apart at the seams though. Hung up the phone, shed a few tears, then went back to bed. So thank you, my therapy for the day is unloading and all of you. Thank you!
Oh some days gma!
Have you asked about costochondritis?Ha, you and me both. Unfortunately no, I am not asked all that. The focus will be on my dry eyes and mouth, from which she moves on to my fingers and knuckles which are fine. Then she will focus on the pain I am in at the time, and turns to my blood work results, which always point to the inflammation in my body. This last time she listened to my lungs and said sounded like I had pleurisy. I shared the pain I get in my ribcage, which gets real bad for days at a time, then gone like it never happened. Said I had gout in my ribs, and gave me yet another medication. I am feeling overmedicated and over diagnosed. Please!
No, but I have wanted to, before she rushes out of the room and I am left holding my notes. It is 12:42 AM, and recovering from yet another meltdown. With this said, I hope to fall asleep soon, and try and begin anew. I have faith something good will come of all this, God is good.
Seems to me that the superficial is the toughest one to deal with and get relief.
The nerve pain, even the Sciatica, Lyrica handles.
The joint and bone pain, though ever present, the Daypro helps.
The new problem I'm having, I was blaming on Raynauds, but since it was warm today, are my fingertips. They got worse when I washed them in warm or hot water, I now wonder about what that is about. It's as though there are very tight rubber bands on the tips of them. They are red, swollen, itch and throb! UM BOY!
My rheumy has a paper i fill out when i get their that ask about all those plus sleeping and eating patterns
Hey pb,
How's life at LWF? Besides busy? Now that's a new one, don't think anyone besides my Chiropractor speaks to me about eating.