By Mei on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 12:35 pm:

Have been waking up in terrible pain for a few nights in a row now. Getting pretty fed up with it. I need some sleep here! Plus the pain causes me to have nightmares whenever I do get to drift away for a while. So after a little sleep I am awake, in pain and anxious. For the pain I have tried every NSAID there is. What can I do. I am not a very big fan of sleepmedication, but I am concidering it. Does anyone know a natural way to sleep through the night, preferably without pain or nightmares? Maybe I'll try a bottle of beer to knock me out tonight. (one bottle should do the trick, I am not a regular drinker). I hope someone has a better suggestion.

By Gwen on Tuesday, September 25, 2001 - 03:23 pm:

There are several herbal remedies said to be effective in relieving pain. Arnica and Belladonna is one that comes to mind, also infusions of willow leaves which contain the natural forerunner to aspirin. Any good herbalist would be able to tell you what to use or maybe make up a specific formulation.
I find that a soak in the bath before going to bed helps relax me but I also take Zopiclone which is a short acting sedative, just lasts long enough to get me off to sleep and an analgesic. This way I know I will get at least six hours before the pain starts kicking in again.

I used to hang out and not take pain killers until I was ready to bite chunks out of the wall but recently saw a rheumatologist who said I should take my pain more seriously and the best way to deal with it was basically not to let it get a hold. She put me on Vioxx which was magical as far as my pain level went but unfortunately upset my insides so I am now back on Digesic which, altho not as long acting, has no noticeable side effects for me.

By Mei on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 04:03 am:

Tried Vioxx, it ruined my stomac. As did the other NSAID's I tried. Think I'll see a herbalist. Or read some books on the subject. Nice excuse to get me another librarycard.
Thanks for your reply!

By Gwen on Wednesday, September 26, 2001 - 01:31 pm:

Have you ever tried Digesic? Comes under other names such as Paradex. The generic name is Dextropropoxyphene and Paracetamol. It is not an NSAID, just a straight our pain killer.
It is member of the opioid family and maybe for this reason doctors don't prescribe it commonly as a long term analgesic. However I've been taking it intermittently over ten years at least, probably closer to fifteen and am most certainly not addicted.
I haven't found any side effects with it, can still drive a car, have the occasional glass of wine etc. Most importantly it gives me the level of pain relief I need to sleep and function as mother and employee and also get some pleasure out of life.

By GZ on Friday, September 28, 2001 - 02:14 pm:

I USE A COMBINATION OF MEDICATIONS TO KEEP GOING. SOME ANTIDEPRESNATS SUCH AS ELVIL HELP WITH SLEEP. OTHERS SUCH AS PAXIL HELP WITH PAIN. NEURONTIN HELPS CONTROL SOME OF THE PAIN CAUSED BY IRRITATED NERVES. HYDROCODONE IS TYLENOL AND A SYNTHETIC NARCOTIC TO CONTROL PAIN. WITH THESE MEDS. I AM ABLE TO SLEEP AGAIN, PLAY WITH MY CHILDREN AND MAINTAIN A NORMAL AND VERY ACTIVE LIFE STYLE. MY SPELLING MAY NOT BE ACCURATE ON SOME OF THE MEDS. GOOD LUCK.

By Az on Monday, December 30, 2002 - 10:58 pm:

Hi besides alcohol to help with sleep I use the herbal remedy Somnus (Greek for sleep so must work lol ) or there is another one called Natrasleep, its cheaper, but tastes and smells worse than a pair of socks that havent been washed in 6 months I have also read that taking Anti inflammitry tablets are not so good for people with HMS as it loosens up the ligaments to relieve pain and that is the last thing we need, so maybe that is why you are having more pain than usual.
Hope you get some sleep soon (Says the person awake at 7am still )
Az

By Shazinoz on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 05:21 am:

Other medications etc that help sleep are Antihistamines (that is what my Doc has me on as the 1st level (instead of sleeping tablets) make sure it isn't a Non drowsy one as that kind of defeats the purpose ), also there is Valerian sp? which is a natural calmative, the old warm milk and also effective pain control ( I have HMS/HEDS; HLA B27+ and RSD as well, GREAT combination) and I take [MsContin(controlled release) 15mg twice a day (sometimes 3 x day, on doc's orders), Neurontin 600mg a day, Rivortil (Clonazepam) 0.5mg a day, Vioxx 25mg a day, Adalat 20mg a day (was twice a day but I swelled up from toes to mid/top of thighs ), I also take panadine forte when needed (which is 500mg paracetamol + 30mg codeine x 2), as well as taking Zinc, Vitamin C (on and off), Ventolin, Pulmicort and Oxix for Asthma, and of course the pill (like a good girl ;) )
WEll I hope maybe this helps as I said it is hard as I have other conditions as well as the HMS/HEDS, the RSD is a real kick in the pants, I have had that for about 10 years now, and had some pretty gross treatments for that..
The HLA B27+ makes me more prone to some kinds of athritis and an "achey person" (OH YEah that is something I needed) it is a tissue type you are born with. I have so many other medical problems that I think I overwealm doctors as they can't work out what symptoms go with what and what it all means. SO much in one 31 year old body :D.

By carolyn on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 09:45 am:

HELP MY 6 YEAR OLD
My daughter is up crying in pain everynight. The doctors say she has hypermobility but don't help much in helping with the pain. She has orthotics and they tell me to give her childrens motrin. But it doesn't help much. She cries in her sleep.
I feel so bad for her, If anyone can help please let me know.
corkie

By Margareth on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 01:49 pm:

For me it helped to have lots and lots of pillows all around me for support. I start with a ordinay pillow but turned one time (like a letter) upon that I put a large soft horse-shoe shaped pillow (feeding pillow). On top of this I have a very soft pillow I can crunch up in my neck. The soft pillow supports my neck, the horse shoe supports arms, shoulders and head and keeps me from twisting. If you are not to big it can support your hips from the side aswell. The pillow on the bottom is for my shoulders. A pillow under my knees (unless I want to sleep on one side) and I am ready to sleep.
Anyway you get the idea. The horse-shoe shaped pillow was the most important for me. Stretched out it is almost as big as I am, it is filled with bilions of small thingies (what is the word for them) so it can take almost any shape. I think most baby-stores sell them as they are often used for feeding babies (i.e. supporting babies that are being fed).
I hope your child will sleep better. I am 23 years old now and I have never been able to sleep well. I do believe it was worse when I was a kid.

By Margareth on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

plus a very expensive soft foam-mattress (just foam, not that NASA-space thing). The other side of the bed (my partner's side) has an interior-sprung mattress. I have tried it and I hate it! It feels like the mattress is pushing me all night. I like a mattress I can really sink into...

By Margareth on Friday, December 19, 2003 - 07:24 am:

I forgot the pillow between the knees when sleeping on one side and the pillow to 'hug'.

By Michelle Castle on Monday, December 22, 2003 - 10:17 pm:

What I've found in the last week that works wonders for me is amitriptyline. Used in higher doses, it's an anti-depressant, but in small doses (I'm on 25 mg) it's a pain reliever and sleep aid. I've slept a lot better this past week because of it. I had been taking Flexeril (muscle relaxer) at night for tight muscles and sleep aid, but the flexeril doesn't help me sleep any better. I'd really suggest looking into either one to help you sleep better. I've fallen asleep a lot faster without so much tossing and turning, and I've slept through the night. It's great!

Michelle
hypermobility.blogspot.com