United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

CAN ANYONE SUGGEST WHAT TO DO AT NIGHT FOR THE SEVERE PAIN I GET IN MY FINGER TIPS AND HANDS. THE PAIN DURING THE DAY ISEN'T TOO BAD BUT AT NIGHT IT GETS SO BAD, I CANNOT SLEEP. I HAVE GONE OFF THE PAIN KILLERS. I WAS ON PERCOCETTES AND TYLENOL 3'S BUT THEY TOTALLY DISAGREED WITH ME. MADE ME NUTS EVEN TO THE POINT OF DRINKING. I AM ONLY TAKING NAPROXCEN FOR THE SWELLING. I JUST CLUNCH MY FINGERS AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE PAIN GETS SO BAD. ANY SUGGESTIONS? ALSO IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE TO TAKE FOR THE PAIN THAT DOESN'T MESS YOUR HEAD UP AND IS NOT ADDICTIVE? ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. KAREN

Hey Karen

if you noticed the other posts on here about sleeping several of us mentioned sleeping on the affected arm or shoulder it seems for me anyhow the pressure seems to help ease the pain. Also others have spoke of compression gloves. I remember when i first injured myself that the dr gave me one and it seemed to help for a while but i kinda forgot that i had used it. also it took me several years to try it but I occasionally use marijuana at my worse times of pain. Fortunately i rarelyhave to resort to that but 2-3 times a month i can escape from the pain or just get comfortable enough to fall asleep. I have tremedously less side affects than the other medicines I have tried.

Hi KGGUNNS
yeah the pain is the worset at night foe me too. Have you talked to your doctor about takeing antideppresents to help you sleep? antidepresents can usualy help you sleep because they act as a bit of a setitive. I also think you take them in a fairly low dose so the side effects arent so bad. If your willing to take something a little stronger you could get sleeping pills like Ativan but these can be addictive. I dont use the sleeping pills anymore but i'm still on Amitryptilene(antidepresent). Yeah the pain killers mess with my head alot to but i find now that i am used to ithem its not so bad. If you want more info on this you should talk to Lizzyb.

Hope this helps
Andrew

Amytryptline is VERY helpful for pain and sleep. Also, Ultram is a a prescription, but non-narcotic, pain reliever.

Accupuncture can be wonderful, and also look into any compounding pharmacies b/c they can do a pain consult and make a recommendation, and then your doc wrties the prescription. They have many wonderful suggestions, and esp the ability to make these drugs in topical form which lessens the side effects and gets to the pain faster.

Good Luck!

HI, I AM YAKING NEURONTIN AND ANYLITRYPTLINE, HELPS SOME, GETTING BETTER, I FINF DIDTRACTION SOMETIMES IS ONLY ALTERNATIVE. I PLAY SPIDER SOLITARE ON THE COMPUTER TILL I CAN'T KEEP MY EYES OPEN, THEN GO TO SLEEP WITH A BOOK ON CD W/EARPHONES...CRYSTALMAC

I AM ALSO LEARNING TO SPELLLLL....CRYSTALMAC

little spelling lesson for Mr Lowe

antidepresents is antidepressants
setitive is sedative

better luck next time

Hi Crystalmac-I play Freecell on the puter when I can't sleep.....my record is 14 wins in a row....how sad is that??? Boring maybe but it's the concentration that keeps the pain at bay.
Keep on keeping on :0)