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Why is the pain worst at night?
I know this is quite common to have symptoms at night when a person wants to go to bed and get some sleep, but why is the pain worst at night like this? It seems like every time I think I'm going to go to bed and sleep at a normal hour I either wake up in excrutiating pain, or I can't go to sleep for some time 'til after I've taken the pain meds, because the pain is so excrutiating. The pain I'm having reminds me of the the horrible growing pains I endured as a child. So, if I can remember how bad those pains were as a little kid, you know those pains had to have been pretty bad.
I am really glad I'm not the only one who notices that the pain is worst at night when I'm trying to get to sleep. I do know of one friend with RA who has problems sleeping at night, too. She does have a lot of pain, but she has pain all the time due to the RA. But, I do know that she has had problems with RLS. She found out what one of the causes of the RLS in some people is, though--too much salt causes the problem. When she cut down her salt intake, she didn't have any more major problems with RLS. I don't know if she still has some RLS now or not, but I know that for a while she actually cut the RLS problem down to nothing. I have cut down my salt intake considerably, hoping that would help with the pain problems, but it hasn't. One must take in a certain amount of salt daily or one will have all kinds of problems caused by lack of salt.
I myself am not certain if the pain is actually worse at night. But I DO know that if I do not take my medication at night, and if I do not take Ambien (up to 20 mg just to knock me out for 4 hours), I lie there and cannot think of anything but the pain. Personally, to just lie there in the dark, everything seems bigger and more frightening. The pain seems more intense, but if I get up and watch TV, it feels like it subsides. Just my thoughts on it...
My pain is horrible at night. Sometimes I spend the whole night crying from back, arm, rib and stomach pain. I made a post on this a while ago but I didn't get many replies.
I don't know what it is, but I have terrible nights. Sometimes even sleeping pills don't help me. So you are not alone. I don't take as many meds as you do, though, because I can't handle the side effects.
I don't know what it is, but I have terrible nights. Sometimes even sleeping pills don't help me. So you are not alone. I don't take as many meds as you do, though, because I can't handle the side effects.
Thank you, VaBreeze, for your comments. Yes, taking the medication earlier in the evening does seem to help. Interestingly, I just saw my new psychiatrist, so I know that we're on the same page with my diagnosis in regards to why I'm seeing a psychiatrist in the first place. As you know, a lot of us also deal with depression and anxiety, and this happens to be the main reason why I see a shrink. We went over my history and which medications I've tried in the past. I've failed on a lot of them, because a lot of them have made me physically sick. I don't remember why I stopped Neurontin in the past, but it is used for anxiety, too. Well, since I experience plenty of neuropathy, but I also clearly have medication allergies and sensitivities, we decided that I would try again with the Neurontin but on a really low dose of 100 mg, rather than starting at the usual 300 mg dose.
As far as the neuropathy goes, 100 mg seems to be enough for that. My pharmacist told me something important about Neurontin that I thought was important enough to share with everyone. He said that Neurontin should be taken two hours BEFORE taking nutritional supplements or two hours AFTER taking nutritional supplements. He said that this is because nutritional supplements will make Neurontin less effective. I knew this was important to share with everyone, because most of us here are also taking nutritional supplements.
I'm still having pain all the time, even with the meds, but I am terrified of becoming addicted to any of these meds. Although, if I do well enough on the lower dosage of Neurontin, then I feel safer about increasing the Neurontin before I increase the Tramadol. I noticed that both of them will make me nauseous, but the nausea is worse with the Tramadol. The nausea is a lot less, though, if I take Tramadol with food. Then, the nausea disappears, except for just a slight twinge.
One thing that the naturopath told me is that magnesium and calcium are supposed to help with the muscle pain that I've been describing. She believes that I am dealing with CFS/FMS for sure. She told me to make sure that I ask my nephrologist if I will be able to take higher doses of magnesium again, and if he says I can take the magnesium and calcium again. I will ask about potassium again while I'm at it, because I've been low on that in the past and I know that can help with this kind of pain, too. It's kind of tricky, though, because you definitely don't want too much potassium either, because the kidneys don't like that either.
Oh, and, interestingly, while my conventional doctor hasn't been able to give me the official diagnosis, she has told me that I'm definitely right there on the border of whether she can officially call it Fibromyalgia or not. Perhaps it's just a matter of time before I get the official diagnosis to be able to get the appropriate help, like it is for everyone else who is still in limbo and waiting for the official diagnosis. At least I'm not dealing with the Social Security Disability issue, because I'm already on disability.
As far as the neuropathy goes, 100 mg seems to be enough for that. My pharmacist told me something important about Neurontin that I thought was important enough to share with everyone. He said that Neurontin should be taken two hours BEFORE taking nutritional supplements or two hours AFTER taking nutritional supplements. He said that this is because nutritional supplements will make Neurontin less effective. I knew this was important to share with everyone, because most of us here are also taking nutritional supplements.
I'm still having pain all the time, even with the meds, but I am terrified of becoming addicted to any of these meds. Although, if I do well enough on the lower dosage of Neurontin, then I feel safer about increasing the Neurontin before I increase the Tramadol. I noticed that both of them will make me nauseous, but the nausea is worse with the Tramadol. The nausea is a lot less, though, if I take Tramadol with food. Then, the nausea disappears, except for just a slight twinge.
One thing that the naturopath told me is that magnesium and calcium are supposed to help with the muscle pain that I've been describing. She believes that I am dealing with CFS/FMS for sure. She told me to make sure that I ask my nephrologist if I will be able to take higher doses of magnesium again, and if he says I can take the magnesium and calcium again. I will ask about potassium again while I'm at it, because I've been low on that in the past and I know that can help with this kind of pain, too. It's kind of tricky, though, because you definitely don't want too much potassium either, because the kidneys don't like that either.
Oh, and, interestingly, while my conventional doctor hasn't been able to give me the official diagnosis, she has told me that I'm definitely right there on the border of whether she can officially call it Fibromyalgia or not. Perhaps it's just a matter of time before I get the official diagnosis to be able to get the appropriate help, like it is for everyone else who is still in limbo and waiting for the official diagnosis. At least I'm not dealing with the Social Security Disability issue, because I'm already on disability.
I'm sorry you are in so much pain. I'm not sure why it gets worse for you when you lay down (outside of the RLS/PLMD I have, my pain subsides when I rest). I have noticed that while being absorbed in something I enjoy the pain is distracted. I believe that because FMS effects our central nervous system...what you describe can be due to fluctuations of some sort. Did taking the pain medication earlier help?
I hope you feel better soon.
I hope you feel better soon.
Thanks, I am going to try taking the pain medication well before bed time and see if that will help.
I hear you on those dang growing pains, I can't remember a night while I was growing up that my legs didn't hurt so bad. I do the same thing when I try to go to bed. I hurt all day, and a soon as I hit the bed, my pain is 10 times magnified. I'm finally seeing daylight after being down with a flare that has absolutely made my life miserable.
I don't even try to go to bed with out taking my meds at least an hour before bedtime. I found out the hard way I hope you start getting a little more sleep.
gentle hugs
Angel
I don't even try to go to bed with out taking my meds at least an hour before bedtime. I found out the hard way I hope you start getting a little more sleep.
gentle hugs
Angel
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