At times, I've gone back to the old treatment for my neck.  I rub it with
BenGay.  When you rub it hard, it burns, but it does help me go to sleep if
my neck is hurting a lot.
Gwen

Bob wrote:

I use KETOPROFEN 10% salve/cream daytime, and a
12-hour Lidoderm LIDOCAINE PATCH 5% at night.

Years ago, physical therapy and my insurance gave me
an over-the-door traction kit.  Users fill a bag with
x-number of quarts of water, depending on the weight
(or amount of traction) they desire.  I've been pondering
mounting a swag hook over the computer desk so I
wouldn't be restricted to sitting in fromt of a door.  <g>

... ERROR:  Keyboard not found.  Think <F1> to continue.

I take Lexapro for fibromyalgia.  It helped a lot with my sleep problems and
with the fogged in feeling you have when you sleep poorly.  I don't really
think it helped directly with my pain though.  I DO think it helped in that
with more rest I was better able to cope with it.  YMMV, of course and some
folks do get more pain relief from ADs than I have.

What I take for pain now is 50 mg tramadol (aka Ultram) and 500 mg Tylenol
3-4 times/day.  It doesn't get rid of the pain, but it eases it enough for me
to be more functional.

Hi Newbie Bob!
I use vicodin for pain. I also use Lexapro for depression. I'm not sure
antidepressants are something to play around with. I did notice that I was
better able to ignore the pain I had with the Lexapro, but it didn't remove
any pain. Now, a few months later, that bit of help seems to have worn off.
The vicodin does give me relief though.
GaryZ

Bob
A lot of people use anti-depressants for pain.  But, anti-depressants alone
won't take care of your pain.  If you have an inflammatory condition, you
may ask about using a NSAID (ibuprofen, naprosyn, etc).  For pain that isn't
covered with a NSAID, there are pain medications- there are many options.  I
use Avinza (24 hr morphine) and Norco (10mg hydrocodone/325 mg apap) for
break-thru pain.

Tylenol has no anti-inflammatory properties.  It can also be toxic to the
liver if over used.  With a healthy liver, no more than 2000 mg/day should
be taken- that's only 4 extra strength tylenol.
Antidepressants treat pain, and the emotional conditions for which they are
more commonly prescribed, by adjusting level of neurotransmitters in the
brain. They can increase the availability of our body's signals for
well-being and relaxation, which can improve pain control in individuals
with chronic pain conditions that aren't fully responding to the usual
analgesics.

These medications are usually prescribed in far lower doses for pain control
than would be effective to treat emotional imbalances. Because of the
dosages involved, it's far safer for a physician to suggest a combination
treatment with two different antidepressants taken at different times of day
to target different aspects of a chronic pain condition. It is not uncommon
for a low-dose SSRI to be prescribed for morning use, and a low-dose
tricyclic or benzodiazepine for evening use to counteract the insomnia.

Chronic pain conditions treated by low-dose antidepressants include:

 a.. Chronic pain reduction - all
 b.. Insomnia - Benzodiazepines and tricyclics can be used to treat this
condition which often accompanies and worsens chronic pain conditions.
 c.. Irritable bowel - SSRIs help regulate serotonin, which also plays a
role in proper digestion, and can relieve this uncomfortable companion of
some chronic pain syndromes.
 d.. Menstrual pain and discomfort - SSRIs
 e.. Vascular headache reduction - Tricyclics may be prescribed in low
doses to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, as well as the likelihood
of rebound headaches from the frequent use of pain relievers. It may take a
period of consistent use before the full benefits are realized.
Take care
Nicole