Pregnancy Forums

Posted: 29 March 2008 at 3:07am | IP Logged

two things...

has anyone tried tens machine with regard trying to control the pain of spd?

i am still off work with the effect of being off falling down stairs. my gp has kept me on tramadol, reluctantly gave me a months worth of co codamol 30/500 which has been devoured. i was then told to try the tens seeing as i get upset about taking tablets. i have been diagnosed with a bleeding disorder so i can't have diclofenac but have continued with the nurofen plus and now back on the solpadeine max, to help. the extra codeine in the co codamol worked, but now i'm back to where i was. i mean i was driving the other day and i got the most unbelievable pain in left hip. sometimes it's so hard to get anyone to understand. it's hard to describe how, or where or whn the pain comes. i am sick of being asked, why do you think you are still like this! katie is 11 months old.

work have now atarted me on a capabilty procedure, good old addenbrookes! this looks at whether i am able to continue in my post and to "manage" my sickness, as i am off every month as along with bleeding like a stuffed or is it stuck pig the inabilty to put one foot in front of another is not too much to deal with as the hormones put me in such a position i have left katie on floor crying to be picked up as i can't move.

i have asked about physio, but in all honesty don't know if it's worth it. i was told by gp to get to pain clinic i have to go through a consultant but nothing happening until i do the tens.

would it sound wrong of me to say even i don't understand my own body. i have got to the point where i am questioning what am i feeling, is it as bad as i think, i am i being pathetic, is it in my head? i have got soo much going on, which doesn't help. it's three years since i lost my brother and the inquest into his death has finally arrived. there will be me and nine other families facing the last moments our last ones had and why this travesty had happened. that is why it's so late but i can't stop crying and don't want to go to bed and dream again. i am so scared of all this. please can someone stop the world, i want to get off.

gentle hugs to all sore peoples!

Posted: 29 March 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged

Hi hun

Firstly can I give you a big soft gentle hug.

As for tens I have tried it… it didn’t give me much relief, for me it was as helpful as a hot water bottle… little comfort but not much other than something to cling too, but not as cuddly as a wheat bag. I think it’s ok to be worried about taking medication and tablets as it can have so many contraindications it sometimes seems silly as you end up taking more just to cope with the one tablet you need. If you weren’t concerned with being a pill popper (pardon the pun it’s how I see myself) then I’d be worried, but it should be a reason why they are withholding medication that will ease your pain.

I’m glad you found the co-codamol and tramadol helpful. Could you see another gp or transfer to a different surgery as I personally think that the referral to a pain clinic is the best move but the wait to be seen for initial appointment and the subsequent appointments can be a very trying time! Do you know which pain clinic you want to attend? Because it sounds like Bury St. Edmunds where madz and myself are seeing De. Munglani and his assistant Dr. Schofield might be within your reach. Just need to take the frying pan to the docs surgery next time with you. If you could get to see them you’d achieve a sense of relief as he understands the condition and knows it’s real causes and effects and genuinely wants to help where possible.

I think you should possibly consider counselling as it’s not in your head hun and a sympathetic ear might help. I have family members that try and tell me ‘what’s your problem you’ve only had a baby’. To be honest you’re not imaging it, why would you want to imagine something like this as it’s impossible to imagine the effects and imitations it thrusts upon us.

It makes me angry to know that you’re not getting the support you need from health care professionals. As for work just be aware spd and hypermobility can be seen as a disability so make sure you know you’re rights. Where about do you live if you don’t mind me asking as I have to travel to addenbrookes quite frequently for hospital appointments. Not asking to hound you but I find proper hugs and a cuppa can help a bit with someone you don’t have to explain the ins and out’s of it all too.

As for understanding our bodies, hun all I understand about mine is that it’s well and truly up poo  steak alley without a paddle, or at least it feels like it. So your not alone, other questions I ask myself are how can it be/seem worse now than before with pregnancy? Why does it not seem to stabilise and just keep getting worse but not more manageable?

I didn’t mention the questions I ask to make you think of the why’s and how comes but to let you know your not alone and I think it’s just a big puzzle that’s ever changing. I’ve left my boys crying on the floor before now and when they’ve fallen I’ve had to wait till they’ve calmed down enough to get up and come to me as I can’t move and it’s still ironically quicker to wait for them to come to me.

Hugs hun it’s not easy I hope you get the medical support you need soon. Take care and give us a bell if you need to chat more x

Posted: 29 March 2008 at 12:32pm | IP Logged

Sorry I have only scanned Tsenas reply so I may repeat her.

Firstly medication wise SPD is very difficult to treat. It might be worth asking for Oramorph just for when the pain gets unbearable to use on top of the co-codomol - also ask about Meptid which I found helped me last time I had a flare up (although I'll admit it didnt this time - but then even full time morphine and oxycodone isnt helping).

You need to ask for a referal to a pain clinic. Now at addenbrookes they have an inhouse pain clinic but I would recommend asking to be refered to Dr Munglani at Bury St Edmunds (West Suffolk Hospital). I cried the first time I met him as he understood my condition and offered me a way out - as you know I am now (apart from when I have these flare ups between treatments) able to horseride, do salsa and take no medication at all!

It would also be worth speaking to your GP about the possibilitity of anti depressents and counselling to help you through this difficult time. Make sure you see this as what it is, a positive step for you and your family! It is not a negative thing to do!

It would be lovely if you, Tsena and I could arrange to meet sometime. We can have a good ol' rant together.

I will never understand why some people get spd and some dont - I wish I could tell you. I just hope you can get the help you need.

I have found the only way I have got anywhere is to push and push and to find out things for myself. There is a lovely chiropractor in wyton who did wonders for me and she works in cambridge too - her name is Alison Meadows and she understands SPD fully. If you want any information about her let me know but I recommend you see her in the mean time whilst waiting for pain clinic appointments. (She got me walking without my walking stick!)

Oh I just realised I havent answered about tens! I found it didnt work for me, however I have a machine so if you want to try it out I can loan you mine (i'd just ask you to cover postage costs) - Pm me - Id be happy to help and I know of some people who do find a lot of relief from the pain with TENS.

Hope some of that info is helpful hun - hugs x

Posted: 30 March 2008 at 4:42am | IP Logged

thanks girls,

i am up again at stupid o'clock. feeling sore but have not kept up the meds. i look like i am leaving the country and i'm only away for 4 days ish each time over the next three weeks while this inquest plays out.  for, those who don't know i lost bob 3 yrs ago when the hercules crashed in iraq. if you want to see what a wreck i look like i'll be on sky tomorrow.

i live in histon, just outside cambridge, so we could arrange a meet up. i could come to you as it is less strain for you then. i will be away and then may just need a little down time to lick the wounds that have been opened by this.

i will push for the pain clinic. as far as it seems my hips etc are in lline but i know my core is weak which hinders me and so can you see why i don't understand my body.

must  try and get a bit more sleep. have to be up in few hrs to start my journey.

will check in soon.

Posted: 30 March 2008 at 11:03am | IP Logged

Hun I don't mind bringing the troops to you.... i've got an automatic car so it doesn't cause me to many problems and allows me to still be mobile and your only about 20mins away from me and madz gets stabbed thursday so will be up and about running and cycling no doubt after the 10th April!! Please don't go making yourself sore just so we can meet it's not a problem us coming to you.... promise.

I hope you get some answers hun with regards to your brother bob, the wounds and heartache must still be so sore and i hope they are able to provide you with some answers... Good luck hun, hugs xx

If it helps add to the puzzle my hips are in line and never dropped just self dislocate and i get ligiment pains, with the clicking, grating and grinding, along with shooting pains etc..... however my core muscles are fairly good and my physio calls me her problem patient! lol Not very reasurring but ho hum. What doesn't kill us can only make us stronger!

I'd definatly push for the pain clinic he diagnosed me with having joint hypermobility as being a underlying link and factor.... and i'm now seeing him and rhumetology to make sure i have all bases covered.

Take care hun, i'll be thinking of you over the next few days/weeks.