What to do for pain short of narcotics?

I really overdid it the other day. I have been unpacking, and I moved some furniture that was really too much for me. I did not have much of a choice though. I will have to do it again too. :( Anyway, I am paying the price today. My neck is so stiff and my back is not much better. Typically, I take medication in the evening because progressively, the pain gets worse throughout the day. When it is really bad, I take either Vicodin or Percocet. I do not like taking them though. Today, I ended up taking some Vicodin. I am probably going to be really groggy because of it, but I am at the point that nothing else I have tried has helped. I can't take NSAIDS, and not much else helps me when I am really hurting (plus, I am starting to cramp from my monthly fun time). I have been using heat, and trying to sit up straight (or other positions that have helped in the past). I do not think that a hot bath would help at this point.

When you are really hurting, what have you done to help ease the pain? It is already too late for me today, but I do have my children with me, and I was hopping to do something with them this weekend. What I was planning (going to a fair or go hiking - it is a beautiful day) may not be possible. I mean, I do have the TV to sit them down in front of, but I do not get t0 spend much time with them and in order to let them enjoy it, I want them to be able to do whatever it is for as long as they want to. What has everyone here done to help (I should mention that I think the neck could be nerve/disk pain, but the back is muscle - most likely).

(Cross-posted in Chronic pain)

I wish Tramadol worked, but it does not. Flexeral doesn't do anything either. Both may as well be sugar pills (The flexeral doesn't even make me tired). Zanaflex gives me temporal lobe seizures. My neuro is baffled. Most meds do not work like they should with me, and the ones that do work, I tend to need more than most people. :/ I really do lik ethe idea of Tramadol though. I do not want to take the narcotics because I do not want to become dependent on them. I have been told that Tramadol is not additcive, I think.

I feel like I am being annoying saying "I can't." :( But I do appreciate the comments.

I am on Neurontin (and a few others - it is one of my daily meds), and I can take Tylenol. It is probably the only non prescription that I can take. It just does not always work.

Let me clarify the advice that I am looking for. I am trying to figure out if there is anything (position, heat, etc) that I can do. I think that since I am currently on Vicodin (which is my last resort at home), the next step would me the ER for pain meds there. I am not ready, nor do I want to do that. :(

I know I don't post that often, so people really do not know a lot about me. I will at least let you know what meds I am taking.

I am on: Wellbutrin, Neurontin, Inderal, Flonaise, (temporarely) steroids, Omeprizole (sp), Vistril, and Plquenil (just started that one). I probably forgot some. I can't think straight. Meh. I am just stuck between a rock and a hard place because I can't take so many pain relievers. I pressed my bariatric doctor about it and he finally gave in and said that I could have the Prednisone, but only if I was on the Omeprizole. It is so much fun when doctors conflict. Not.

Thanks Robin. :) Excedrin is out too. Basically, if there is a chance for stomach side effects (ulcers), then I am told to stay away. I even have to avoid some foods in the same respect. I even have to avoid these meds given through an IV or shot. My doctor says that they still react chemically with the stomach and can cause the issues.

I have tried heat, but not moist heat. I will give that one a try. I will see if I can do the stretching and meditating. I know I can stretch, but the kids haven't been letting me relax enough to do any good meditating. I have never heard of Savella.

At the moment, I am slightly sore, but that is only because I am on narcotics. I can't drive right now because of it. I may go to he park with the kids in a bit though. Maybe a short walk will help the muscles (but it will tire me out. It is one of those "lesser of two evils" things.) :)

Voltaren gel? I will have to ask about that. I do know about patches. One of my best friends has one she wears almost non-stop. I do not know if I could do the patch or not. I have a bad adhesive allergy (I even break out with paper tape - the only 'tapes' that does not cause a reaction are the films they put over an IV site and the clear generic brand band-aids. :) At leas they are generic and not the $10 a box ones).

I ended up doing Vicodin twice today. In between those times, I did more work that is going to make me feel it. I was on my heating pad, but had to remove it because it was making me feel nauseous. I probably should just go to sleep. Maybe I will wake up feeling 100% better. :)

Woke up this morning with no more pain than yesterday (this is a good thing). My neck only hurts when I turn it one direction, not all. I am doing more work today, so cross your fingers that I stay at this level.

I have Flexeril and it does nothing. My neuro gave it to me to try to help me sleep, but it does not. I confuse her.

edit: For a brief explanation of why I cannot take certain meds, you can find it in this thread in chronic pain.

I do not know why medications work the way they do with me. I am so susceptible to very strange side effects. my primary care doctor is afraid to give me anything I have not had before because I developed a severe depression while on a medication to help me sleep (I believe it was depacote). It works, but put me in a depressed place.

I also have to avoid certain foods because of the baraitric surgery. I feel caught between a rock and a hard place sometimes.

Post Edited (SoSt9) : 9/16/2012 10:08:19 AM (GMT-6)