Weird complications from pain medications?

[fireyangel76]

Hi Katie,
Lucky for me I am not in severe pain any longer (knock on wood). I have not found anything that doesn't make me sick and take cares of my pain. At my worst before my first discectomy I could not get out of bed and nothing I took touched the pain, but only gave me more pain from vomiting. I finally took high does of valium with anti nausea drugs. The combination would just knock me out. There is no middle ground for me. It is either deal with the pain or get knocked out.

My pain I have now is managed by rest, ice, and activity limitation. I wish I could find something so that I could be active and comfortable. Depression is my worst enemy now because I feel pretty useless on most days. I try to just do something each day to feel productive and valuable. I still do floors but not windows! LOL! However on those days I sweep or vacuum I can count on the next 24 hours on ice. I'm not complaining because at least I am able to do those things every other week and I still remember the months unable to walk to the BR.

I hope you find some relief for your pain and you win your appeal for ADR surgery.

Betsy

[dshobbies]

I too am a redhead and have unusual and 'rare' side effects from drugs, sometimes even exact opposite effects. I've found holistic remedies worthwhile. I'd like to suggest both acupunture and a holistic doctor who may or may not be an MD. A word of caution though, just as in the medical community, quality and caring varies.

Also a book, Eating Right for Your Type, suggests those with chronic medical problems have something that can be described as blood allergies. The four types of blood are made up of sugars as are foods. Depending on your blood type, some food sugars do not agree with your blood sugars. As an example, when I stick to this diet, my asthma completely disappears. This also hypothosizes that pain and inflammation can be reduced when your blood is not at war. Though giving up foods that you love may be difficult, living with pain and the negative side effects of possible helpful drugs is so much worse.

Please understand that I was never a 'believer' until these things worked for me. Though I can understand the blood thing, it does make some sense, I was beyond skeptical about sticking needles in my skin for whatever remedy was needed. I still don't understand how raisins soaked in gin can diminish the pain of arthritis but it does. And even medical science agrees that cinnamon decreases blood sugar (which I put in my raisins to kill the taste of the gin)

I'd never advocate ceasing any medical care. But sometimes your personal solution may be elusive. Finding other options may be in your own best interest.

Good luck, Dale

[fireyangel76]

Thanks for the info Dale.

I saw you post about the blood type diet before and I looked it up. I saw that I love everything it says I should avoid which didn't make me happy. On the other hand it did make me wonder about the validity of this since I overdo on everything I should avoid. I am thinking about it seriously. The avoiding caffine is the big one...not sure I could live without that. Being an old night shift nurse I am convinced that coffee is what keeps me alive!
I have tried accupunture and it didn't do much for me. I was in much more pain at the time so maybe I will revisit that one. After so many years of pain there comes a point where you start to give up on chasing relief. With all this activity limitations my body looks like I am 80 and I am only 50. What I wouldn't give to be able to get in some sort of shape. At 50 I know I will never look 30 again, but I would settle for looking 50!

I started on cymbalta a few months ago and I thought I was doing ok with the side effects. Recently I have had major headaches, vertigo, and some nausea. I find it strange that it is just now starting after a few months. Anyone else try cymbalta? Were there any side effects? I especially want to hear from the redheads.

I hope everyone is on a road to a comfortable way of life.

Betsy

[Katie]

Hi Betsy,

As to your new symptoms, it may be that you are developing new sensitivities. I discovered something new that upsets the apple cart which I have been around for years with no problem...wood shavings. We live on a farm, and wheat straw sent me into an anaphylactic shock twice now, and I had been using it for years with no problem. Two nights ago, we changed to shavings for animal bedding, and it looked like all the capillaries under my skin had broken where ever the dust had touched, along with a mild itch. Again, we had used it before for years. Just weird! I have used a double mask ever since the first attack with wheat; the second attack must just have gotten past the mask and was fairly mild. I'm much more careful now and limit my exposure significantly.

Dale, I have read that book before and follow it somewhat. My diet is severely limited now as it is with no grains at all, not even rice, etc. and I think the only thing I should be avoiding is potatoes, but I just can't cut them out too! The local health food store used to carry fresh dried fruit and nuts that were packaged for the right blood type, and I loved it and it loved me I guess I should go back and read the again. I have eliminated sugar in the past when I had a problem with Candida, but fell back to my evil ways when I recovered I've been very careful with it lately and hope to see some results, at least with my waistline.

I was very skeptical as well at the beginning with such things, but when they worked when nothing else did, I became a believer. Betsy, I haven't used Cymbalta, but a friend has, and I will check with her about side effects.

Good luck with everything.