Unfortunately pain is a horrible stage that most people go through. At different times in your illness your pain levels may vary. Don’t worry if you can’t find anything that really helps, it will slowly get better. Generally doctors agree that the pain is in the brain rather that in a specific muscle or joint, which is why normal painkillers don’t tend to work.

 

Some tablets that people have found useful are:

• Anadin Extra
• Tramadol
• Co-Proxamol
• Ibuprofen
• Co-Dydramol
• Amitriptyline
• Paracetamol
• Calpol
• Disprin – junior or adult

 

ME sufferers react differently to different drugs, some severely affected people are very sensitive. It is always advisable to start treatments on very low doses and build up. When coming off long- term medication always reduce the dosage over a period of weeks rather than days, to reduce symptom flare-ups.

Non-Drug Treatments

 

• Heat can help with specific areas – a hot water bottle, a “wheaty pack” heated in the microwave, or possibly a bath. If you have specific muscle pains you can direct a shower head onto the area, spraying it with warm water, possible even alternating with cold water.

 

• Evening primrose oil.

 

• Tiger balm available from most chemists to rub on painful areas, this can sting though.

 

• Tens unit. This is a machine that delivers small electrical pulses to an area of your body via electrode pads.

 

For headaches make sure your head and neck are supported. You can realign your neck by placing one hand on your forehead, the other on your neck and breathe deeply.

 

• Migra stick – a homeopathic substance in a vial, which you hold against your head.

 

• 4head stick – a stick of lotion which you rub on your forehead.

 

• There is a pressure point on the hand, which can relieve headaches. Choose the hand for the side of the body which is hurting. Make an ‘L shape’ with your thumb and forefinger. Squeeze the skin point where the two fingers meet, with your thumb and forefinger of the other hand. Hold for a minute and then gently release. Repeat for the other side, if he headache affects your whole head. This can be painful; but the benefits are worth it.

 

• Small gel strips used for relieving a child’s fever can be placed on the forehead because they don’t drip like a flannel.

 

• Steam inhalation for sinus problems.

 

You will find different people find different drugs and treatments helpful; but the main advice is to try and stay relaxed. If you get too stressed and tense, you use up valuable energy, which makes it worse. Try to distract yourself – many find relaxation breathing helps.

Breathe in slowly through your nose and out slowly through your mouth or nose depending which feels best.

 

Visualisation is also a useful tool. You can imagine the pain as a colour inside you, say black or red and imagine breathing it out on the out breath and breathing in a colour representing peace and happiness on the in breath, say blue or white. Or just use the breathing out for pain and in for comfort, if the colour takes too much concentration.

 

Alternatively imagine the pain is a ball, balloon or large coloured cloud and visualise yourself throwing or releasing it into the sky, watching it drift further and further away.

 

Please remember you should consult your G.P. or specialist with regard to medication as these tips come from sufferers and not trained doctors. What suits one person can upset another.