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Neck pain and med patches that dont make one dizzy or ................

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Posted 3/19/2012 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hi I have arthritis in my neck and disc problems.. I cannot take

any anti inflamatories or any meds due to hypersensitivity to 99 percent of these meds ...

I am in Canada.....  and need to know if anyone uses any pain patches

that are holisitic or over the counter that would help my neck pain

the pain goes into the back of my head and causes me the vertigo too.

I want to call my rheumy. he know I cannot take any of the meds or anti inflams out there.......

any ideas of what I should ask him for

or pehaps my pharmacist..???????

something that will take most of the pain away...without side effects of DRUGS.

Maybe a soft neck collar would help too but they are so wide ..I cannot stand anything on my neck. not even turtlenecks

perhaps a collar that isnt so wide....???

THANKS SO MUCH.... I AM IN SUCH PAIN TODAY EVEN MY EYES HURT AND I AM SO OFF BALANCE. AND FEAR VERTIGO..

 

Posted 3/19/2012 5:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Starry-Eyes,

I'm in Canada, too. Never used the pain patches myself (can't stand the thought of anything on my skin) so I can't speak to that, but calling your pharmacist and the rheumatologist are sensible ideas, and they would probably know better what would work for you. You could start by telling them what the problem is - severe neck pain that your eyes hurt, causes vertigo, etc. - and then ask what you can do for it. Can you get in to see your rheumatologist right away?

What I can tell you though, is that I used a neck collar for a while after my car accident, years ago, but found it was bothersome and irritated my neck because even a size small was too big for my short neck and it caused friction on my skin that drove me nuts. With everything that's going on with you, I don't know if you would find it helpful or not.

Oh you poor dear, being in so much awful pain today! I'm not so great myself - change in weather is creating a tsunami in my body and I feel so sluggish on top of everything else. Sigh ... I keep telling myself, this too shall pass ... keep us posted, please.
Posted 3/19/2012 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Can you get lidoderm patches in Canada? They are lidocain in them, really helps a lot for fibromyalgia. I also use a bed buddy. It is a fabric tube filled with rice or beans. You heat them in the microwave, wrap a towel around them and wear them around your neck. The moist heat really helps.

I hope that you find something that works for you.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 3/19/2012 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I cannot use anything with lidocaine in it because of an extra heartbeat
and I think that a neck collar would just irrate me too as well as make me feel like I am suffocating...

I cannot get to my rheumy right now.. he is only in Monday and Tuesday
and there is not way I could go an hour in a car with a volunteer feeling like this...

I will call his office tomorrow .. he knows all about it. I need to go for an Mri but had to cancel 4 times due to dizziness. .. I am severly claustrophic too and have a hard time in even an opened machine.... my late husband used to go with me.. and they would let him in to be with me.... and now I have no one to go with....

I am so sick today. woke with severe neck pain, burning in neck too and it went into my head and when I opened eyes I thought vertigo would strike..

I have what feels like anxiety but not... so waiting for blood test results when my general doctor comes back on thursday an calls me.

I am also having a problem with blood pressure dropping.. and he did an adjustment on my meds for blood pressure and I am keeping a chart. on bp and heart rate... they like to keep my heartrate at 60 ....since my grave's disease... but I am like at 50-52-55 .

my doctor knows about this that is why he lowered the dosage...

but I will talk to him on thursday..

I feel very bad right now.. lighthead if I bend down and get up..

I am so tired so very tired too and so cold..

so it could be anything.. iron pills need adjustment.. thryoid pills need adjustment.. I dont know...

I know what you mean with the change of weather. feeling like tsunami hit your body.

I hope I explained all this well as when I don't feel well I cannot even explain things well..
Posted 3/19/2012 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, Starry-Eyes, you explained things very well and I feel so badly for you, I wish I could get over there right now and get you to an urgent care facility. Sounds like you have an awful lot going on and being alone is not the best thing! Can you call someone, a friend, a family member, or a volunteer, a neighbour, someone, to sit with you for a while? Also, what about calling the pharmacist? The pharmacy would have a list of your medications, and would be able to tell you if something natural could work for you.

If you tell them at the MRI facility that you are claustrophic and that you are prone to vertigo, they will have someone with you during the test. I had a CT Scan a couple of months back, and am also mildly claustrophobic (it comes on when I feel panicky, but goes away when I force myself to concentrate on, say, a Bible verse) - I told them at the desk when I checked in and they immediately had someone attend with me, so I know for a fact they won't leave you alone if you explain your condition, and you're right - you do need to have that MRI done ...
Posted 3/19/2012 6:40 PM (GMT 0)
I don't want to go to an urgent care place. I also have my little dog who is not well and doesnt see. and she has been thru too much since my husband died. we are together 24/7 and she would not be ok without me..  and I have no one to be with her..  

 I do need to hear from my doctor.

My friends live an hour away and work....

I went to one Mri place in the building  where my doctor is to see the machine when I was at my doctors office last time and they said no one in with me...


I am going to look for another place and see....

right now I am not good.

you know sometimes by the time I go to bed I feel a bit better

then I wake up the same way...

thank you for caring .. reallly

I think you told me where you were from in Canada. but I forget.....

sorry foggy brain here

Post Edited (STARRY-EYES) : 3/19/2012 12:44:34 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/19/2012 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I do care - I'm in Manitoba, where are you, Starry-EyesÉ (oh brother, that should have been a question mark - keyboard went into French for some reason and I donèt know how to undo it) ... no, you don't sound good, you poor dear. What would help you to feel better *right now*?

It sounds encouraging that your friends could be available - living an hour away, you could always phone them when they get home from work, yes? They care too ...
Posted 3/19/2012 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you.... I am in Quebec...
I don't know what would help me to feel better. I guess to be able not to have vertigo and feel better... but that isnt going to happen..neither is my husband going to appear. he understood this illness. always said sweetheart it is not your fault you are sick. . he knew . he understood......ok I am crying now..

My friends have kids and I dont get to see them very often.and by the time they get home from work it is late.. know what I mean.. and on weekends one they also work saturdays which only leaves sundays for them to grocery shop and all that people do..

I have my neighbours who I call sometimes but i dont like to bother them
as even if they say it is ok. one doesnt want to take advantage .. so I only call if it is urgent....
Posted 3/19/2012 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
Besides not having vertigo or this disease - is there absolutely nothing else that would lift your spirits and make you feel a little bit better, not even for a few minutes?

If you start out with the negative thoughts that your friends work and you don't want to impose on them, that works against you. They don't know you are in a deep dark place in your mind, and nobody reads minds - you have to be the one to change that thought, and replace it with a more positive one: try, "maybe they won't be too busy for me, let them be the ones to tell me if they are, I'm not going to try to make assumptions and draw conclusions about how they are going to respond, but instead, I am going to make the big step and phone".

Then you said you don't like to "bother" your neighbours. How do you know *for sure* that it's a bother to them?? have they actually said, Starry-Eyes, you are bothering us? I would say that this is a pretty urgent situation anyway - you are in rough shape. Why not phone?

Crying is good - tears are healing. I'm all for having a good wallow now and again, clears up the system. But dwelling and sitting in a rut is Not. And I'm very concerned that that is where you are right now, and have been for quite some time. You can use the memories of your husband in a positive way. Thinking about your husband's kind words can be uplifting, not just filled with sorrow for his loss - you say he understood, so can you think of what he might say if he knew you were this low? I know, nobody knows *for sure* what someone else would say, but it can be therapeutic to let your mind go there. Sweetie, No one can help you if you don't want to move forward - that's gotta come from you, Starry-Eyes. But moving forward is a slow process, and you must at least try ... will you please try?

off to my physiotherapy torture appointment now ... :(
:)
Posted 3/19/2012 8:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hi. when I am not feeling like this and I hope when I speak to the doctor re my bp chart and blood tests there is going to be an adjustment on my meds and I will feel better....  how is that for somethning to lift my spirits. 

 

and when I look at my little dog .. she makes me so happy as she needs me and I love her so much..

 

My friends do know how I am..  as they call me 10 times a day to see how I am so they live it with me

even if they are not here. and for this I am greatful..

 

But I cannot ask them during the week to come here with all they have to do  it would not be right...but we talk constantly.

 

As for my neighbours I do ask them .. but they are not around for two or three days this week. I only have two neighbours who are married and they help me alot....   so when they come back I will speak to them...  really I will.

 

I do ask them to take out my garbage can for garbage day when I cannot and her husband comes to do things for me in the house.. plus other things.

 

My dogs vet comes to get her and brings her home

and her groomer comes to get her and my neigbour picks her up.  so I do call people.. 

 

Yes and I know what my husband would say and lately I have had long talks with him and I am getting a bit more positive...

 

Just the vertigo gets me down and keeps me in the house.....

 

I will write more later... as I said eyes hurt.....

 

thanks so much for your caring.. and I hope your appt. goes well and you wont hurt too much ......:-)

Post Edited (STARRY-EYES) : 3/19/2012 2:36:45 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/19/2012 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
Starey Eyes,

Just wanted to say that I think you are a sweetheart. Keep posting when you feel up to it. We all care about you.

Hugs to all,

Karen
Posted 3/19/2012 9:01 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Karen.. people say that all the time to me.. I am not a bad person.. I am a very giving person. and would give more if I felt better...
I really would.. I used to be a ballet dancer but had to give that up..... oh that was years and years ago. and then I worked for the clergy .. we had
2000 congregants and I loved working with people.. till I got sick.. and then you know what happened.

you are very nice too and people here have been very nice to me ...

I cannot always post back to them on how they are feeling when I dont feel well but I do read everything....

I want to feel better with this vertigo and bp thing so I could help people too..

I love to help people.. I really do..

my little dog is my little love of my life. she is 11 now and was my husbands little love too.. she has her health probs. and if something happens to her I will fall apart. she is all I have. I love her so so much. she is my baby..

hugs Karen
Posted 3/19/2012 11:37 PM (GMT 0)
turn :-) Starry-Eyes, way to go! good on you, those were some really uplifting and positive statements you made! I'm uplifted and relieved just reading your post :)

Oh my gosh, I can't believe it - you were a ballet dancer, and so was I!! Yes, many many many years ago from when I was 5 all the way into my 20's - and now we are both suffering with this disease. I became a hospital chaplain and you worked for the clergy - we seem to have a few things in common, and that's something positive and uplifting, too smilewinkgrin

Thank you for your kind thoughts about my appointment - I'm back from physio and in one piece, though feeling a bit nauseated at the moment (as usual, after the torture sessions). So I'll have my dinner and go rest with my feet up for a while. The nausea will eventually go away with rest.

I understand about your beloved doggie - ours was the love of our life, too - she was a Basset Hound and such great company. They really worm their way into our hearts, don't they? It's wonderful that you give each other such joy. We adopted a cat recently from the rescue shelter - couldn't bear to get another dog - our Basset was one in a million and it was very hard to get thru the first year after her death. But time does eventually heal the pain, and she's in a place without pain and suffering now and that's the most important thing.

<warm gentle hugs> to you, Starry-Eyes ... keep hanging in there, we're here for you.

blessings and peace
Posted 3/19/2012 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
well my eyes are really hurting me and not a good sign for vertigo.. and all that.....

I am hoping with the blood tests it will show something...

I am really off balance and my pulse rate is low. but I will speak to dr. on thursday...

trying to stay off computer as it is not helping my eyes.. at all

small world huh... I did it till I was 32 years old.. I danced and I taught and ran a big dance studio too.........

lol and I worked for a reform liberal rabbi....
big big congregation..   I used to know alot of chaplains from all the hospitals .. of all denominations.. wonderful people... very compassionate people..  yes....

look how our lives have crossed.... wowwwwwww

sorry you have nausea.. I know how that feels for sure.. I have that alot.....

yes eat dinner and rest.....

aww my dad loved Basset HOunds.. you must miss her so much.. I cannot be near kitties
as I am very allergic to them but love them.. I have a 4 lbs yorkie. She was beside my husband on the night he died... with me..
she went thru a big trauma from it and began loosing her sight.. from trauma and she has a heart valve problem.. I truly love her so so much.. she is my last link to my husband..
I take such good care of her. even with vertigo
I crawl on hands and knees to feed her..

they do have a very special place in our hearts for sure...

yes your furry baby is in Rainbow Bridge.. and one day you will see her again. of this I am sure.!

Have a good night..... take a rest now.. and I hope to stay off computer....

gentle hugs to you too!

Post Edited (STARRY-EYES) : 3/19/2012 5:58:18 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/20/2012 10:26 AM (GMT 0)
I have disc issues in my neck from a severe car accident years ago. It use to feel like I had a hatchet in my neck at times it was so bad.

What helped me was a good chiropractor, my daily stretches, eating healthy, and being on beneficial supplements.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/20/2012 11:04 AM (GMT 0)
Starry-eyes, I had ruputered all my disks in my neck. I had them all fixed with bolts and screws. The severe pain went away. My arms began to work better also. I just wanted to tell you don't put a collar on unless your Dr. Told you to. Sometimes they can cause more problems if worn to long. The muscles in the neck get weak. I feel like I could wear one all the time. My neck feels real tired at times. My Dr. Doesn't want me to wear one because of muscle atrophy. I hope you can get your scan done. Cat scan are just less then 10 min. Now. MRI are longer. I am not sure which one you are having. Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 3/20/2012 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
Almost medfree thank you.... I am glad that the chiro works for you.
I went to a chiro who was very very reputable and all it did for me
is cause me more problems especially vertigo on the first try.....

so it is not for me.. I do daily stretches tho.. and I try to eat healthy
Posted 3/20/2012 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
 

Hi ak angel.   omg that must have been awful.. I am glad you had it fixed....I know someone who also had that done.. and felt better.

I hope that never happens to me.  I have arthritis in my neck and a disc prob.   I won't use a soft collar unless my dr. tells me too... not to worry.. I don't do anything without asking first....  

I should ask if they could do a cat scan instead of mri..  I once had cscat on my lower back as I have disc probs there .. and it took

5 mintues...     maybe that would be good for me too...... I will speak to my doctor....

actually from my recent findings the new mri's are like 20 or 25 mintues  but that is too long for me to go in...  but I am going to try to find out if I could get someone to come in with me.. even if I have to have my doctor call the MRI place and insist!

hugs

 

Posted 3/20/2012 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Starry, I am horrified by your experience with the chiropractor - and of course, you have no recourse because they make you sign that waiver, releasing them of any responsibility should anything like this ever happen! UGH! I was suspicious when I saw a chiropractor a few years ago before the fibro hit big-time, and I questioned him and argued about signing that waiver. I told him, I want to have recourse if I should be paralyzed in the process. He told me, oh, nothing usually happens, it's just in case it does, we want you to understand that we didn't cause it to happen. Wow. Unbelievable ... but I signed it reluctantly, went twice then stopped going - I did not feel well after he did something to my pelvis and hip and I could barely sit or stand and the drive home was agony. I'm so so sorry, what a terrible thing to have happen to you!

I'm so glad you are going to try to have someone attend with you to your appointment - I really support and encourage your idea to have your doc call them for permission to have someone go with you, and I really really like the strong stance of "insisting" that you will take! Good for you, Starry! :) If we are not proactive about our own health and making our own care plans, then no one else will do it for us. You must try, for the sake of your little doggie who needs you to be healthy enough to take care of him.

Just a thought: when my dad had to have his MRI years ago, we couldn't go in with him - but - because we advised staff in advance that he needed complete physical assistance with everything, there were staff in the room who were attentive to him and his needs. They talked him through the experience and he was fine. My dad was visually impaired from the stroke he'd had, and paralyzed on one side but walked with a cane leaning - he had a difficult time with anxiety because of the unfamiliar medical experiences and not being able to see where he was, but the staff were really great, very helpful. They just need to know in advance, so I'm relieved that you will communicate your needs to your doctor.
Also, if the MRI facility is in a hospital, could you ask for a chaplain to attend with you? They'd be more than happy to accompany you.

AK Angel and AlmostMedFree, I am so sorry that you have disc issues in addition to the Fibromyalgia - it sounds like you are in a better place now, though, with pain issues and I'm very glad to read about all that helped you. You can offer others much hope and a more positive perspective - God Bless you.

blessings and peace, and <warm gentle hugs> to all of you :)

Post Edited (angelfeather) : 3/20/2012 3:10:34 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/20/2012 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
well no it is not in the hospital as they dont have the open machines.. I am going to do it privately...  if and when I do it...... 

I will speak to my doctor first and see if he could speak to them at the mri  clinic...

right now I need to be able to get in a car without freaking out.... and once I could do that .....  I will call for an mri...

problem is I never know how I will feel when I wake up...so I have to cancel so many appts...   thank goodness my doctors understand..


we had a mailman where I used to work.. he went to a very fine chiropractor so to speak..   he got paralized... yup  from the neck down..   sued the pants of the chiro...

I wont go back to one EVER.....  if I want vertigo I could produce it myself lol...

Geez and look what happened to you at a chiro..  sighhhh  sometimes they do more harm than good...

I am glad they were so kind to your dad!   that made me happy to hear....

I hope when I go ... it will be ok....

I get nervous thinking about it..

My late husband came in and as long as he had no metal on him

it was ok with them..   he even held my hand........

 

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