For the past month or so I have had fairly severe pain in my shoulders, neck, back, and hips. Usually my knees are thrown into the heap also, but they haven't been bothering me which is good I guess. I think it is mainly joint pain, but there may be some muscle pain thrown in there for good measure. I'm not sure, though.
The worst has been my right shoulder. If it makes a difference, this is the shoulder I have had cortisone injections in, the last time about 2 years ago by my Rheumatologist, and that helped the pain for quite a long while. It gets inflamed and hot, it hurts to move my arm (or to do anything with my arm/hand for that matter), and the pain radiates into my neck and my shoulder blade, and down my back. I take Ambien in order to sleep, and the pain has been so bad the past couple weeks I wake up through the Ambien. Normally the Ambien knocks me out and I don't wake up for anything at all. I can't even hear my alarm clock.
Heat typically helps, and I take a hot bath every night before bed, but it is hard to get my neck and shoulders into the water without drowning. lol It helps my back and hips, though. Things like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, or Naproxen don't seem to help so I don't bother taking them.
Can anyone suggest any supplements, vitamins, or anything that might help? My sister's mother in law gave her a product called Fibralgia by Nature's Sunshine, which is basically just Magnesium Malate. Has anyone heard of this before? She said it helps her with pain in her knees and ankles, but hers isn't nearly as severe as mine.
I thought of going to a Chiropractor, but with the type of insurance we have, we have to pay out of pocket up to $4000 per year and we can't afford to do anything that isn't basically an emergency. I'm pretty much stuck figuring out a way to deal with it myself.
Last night I gave in and took a muscle relaxer. It helped some, but I still tossed and turned in my sleep. It is my right shoulder, and my dominant hand is my right hand, so I can't just stop using that arm. Even doing things like smashing wet cat food with a fork makes my shoulder scream in pain.
I would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks!!
The worst has been my right shoulder. If it makes a difference, this is the shoulder I have had cortisone injections in, the last time about 2 years ago by my Rheumatologist, and that helped the pain for quite a long while. It gets inflamed and hot, it hurts to move my arm (or to do anything with my arm/hand for that matter), and the pain radiates into my neck and my shoulder blade, and down my back. I take Ambien in order to sleep, and the pain has been so bad the past couple weeks I wake up through the Ambien. Normally the Ambien knocks me out and I don't wake up for anything at all. I can't even hear my alarm clock.
Heat typically helps, and I take a hot bath every night before bed, but it is hard to get my neck and shoulders into the water without drowning. lol It helps my back and hips, though. Things like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, or Naproxen don't seem to help so I don't bother taking them.
Can anyone suggest any supplements, vitamins, or anything that might help? My sister's mother in law gave her a product called Fibralgia by Nature's Sunshine, which is basically just Magnesium Malate. Has anyone heard of this before? She said it helps her with pain in her knees and ankles, but hers isn't nearly as severe as mine.
I thought of going to a Chiropractor, but with the type of insurance we have, we have to pay out of pocket up to $4000 per year and we can't afford to do anything that isn't basically an emergency. I'm pretty much stuck figuring out a way to deal with it myself.
Last night I gave in and took a muscle relaxer. It helped some, but I still tossed and turned in my sleep. It is my right shoulder, and my dominant hand is my right hand, so I can't just stop using that arm. Even doing things like smashing wet cat food with a fork makes my shoulder scream in pain.
I would appreciate any help I can get. Thanks!!