Best sleep aid with back pain?

[yh125d]

Shortish story because I don't have the patience for the long one

I have pretty major lumbar compression, like elderly man bad. Due to some changes going on at work, I can't get to a doctor until June 1 if not later for either a pain rx or a sleep aid rx. It's gotten bad enough that I can't sleep at all without aid. To make matters worse, my company is being bought by a company that has drug screens (currently we don't have any) so I can neither smoke some killer weed I have nor borrow a few pain pills from my dad who also has chronic back pain to tide me over. And my boss needs me working 50+ still. Sitting in a chair all day which is the cause of my compression to begin with. FML

I tried some nyquil I had around, and it worked decent, but I had to take it about 2-3 hours before I went to bed.


I think I remember hearing unisom sleep tablets getting good reviews, with doxylamine succinate, instead of the stuff in antihistamines (which haven't worked well in the past)

I've never taken anything for sleep before except nyquil and diphenhydramine a few times which was a total bust




Anyone have good luck with a particular brand? I really, really would appreciate any advice.

:weary;

 

[SillyOReilly]

Have your boyfriend compress your back end like you regularly do.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

OTC allergy pills help my wife. Wal-dryl mini tabs. Alteril sleep aid also works.

 

[Away]

I use Doxylamine Succinate when I am dealing with my insomnia and it seems to work pretty well. You can get the generic at Walgreens for less than $10.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wal...389639-product

 

[Flash1969]

I use Doxylamine Succinate when I am dealing with my insomnia and it seems to work pretty well. You can get the generic at Walgreens for less than $10.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/wal...389639-product

Generic 32 count is $4 at the Wal Marts around here.

 

[Baked]

Medical Marijuana.

 

[Bubbaleone]

Shortish story because I don't have the patience for the long one

I have pretty major lumbar compression, like elderly man bad. Due to some changes going on at work, I can't get to a doctor until June 1 if not later for either a pain rx or a sleep aid rx. It's gotten bad enough that I can't sleep at all without aid. To make matters worse, my company is being bought by a company that has drug screens (currently we don't have any) so I can neither smoke some killer weed I have nor borrow a few pain pills from my dad who also has chronic back pain to tide me over....

....Anyone have good luck with a particular brand? I really, really would appreciate any advice.

:weary;

I've been through a lumbar laminectomy for two ruptured discs. The pain is from inflammation of the tissue and nerves at the injury site. Reduce the inflammation and the pain subsides. Ibuprofen is the best anti-inflammatory. You can safely take 1600 mg per 24 hours until you see the Doc.

Take 800mg of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and 100mg of diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) an hour before bed. Combining both at bedtime will help you get some sleep. Take two 400mg doses of ibuprofen during the day. Don't waste money buying the brand names; generic 200mg ibuprophen, and generic 25mg diphenhydramine hydrochloride work just fine.

 

[Imp]

...Alcohol?

 

[sjwaste]

The problem is that a sleep aid is going to basically make you sleep like a log. If you end up crumpling into an uncomfortable position, you won't move, and you'll wake up with more pain.

Benadryl hits me hard. Really hard. As in, when I take it, I better make sure I'm near where I want to sleep that night - and we're only talking 25mg (half an adult dose). The problem is, it works for the rare instance that my allergies get bad - usually being around cats for too long - when things like Zyrtec don't. So I took it one night. I slept so hard, rolled onto my arm, and strained my rotator cuff. I'm absolutely serious, too. I had to go to the doctor and the pain was so bad he prescribed me pain meds just so I could sleep (on my back!).

If work is so busy you can't get to a doctor, consider going to urgent care after work. Don't go to the ER, but an actual urgent care if you have one. Call ahead and explain the situation, find out if they're not busy, they'll appreciate that since you're basically using them as a primary care doc. Don't just take an OTC sleep aid, you may be fucking yourself.

 

[olds]

B&B.
Beer & Benadryl.
Chasing down a Benadryl with a Shock-Top as I type.

 

[lxskllr]

If you sleep on your side, try putting a pillow between your legs.

 

[Rudee]

Lots of booze and painkillers should make the pain go away.

 

[mcurphy]

I've used Unisom in the past (I also have back pain), and while it will give you a great night's rest, it will also leave you groggy for most of the next day. At least that was my experience.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Morphine, back pain is no joke.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Nyquil is the only thing that puts me to sleep, and it's got some OTC pain relief installed.

OTC sleeping pills make my leg muscles tense up like I need to contantly stretch. Prescription sleeping pills put me to sleep for only 3-hour intervals.

Liquid Nyquil is the winner.

 

[Muse]

Get with the core exercises and stretching, yoga and or pilates if necessary. When you're down with those, you won't have the problem believe it or not. Using drugs won't cure the problem, it will only alleviate it temporarily but introduces another set of problems.

 

[OCGuy]

Medical Pot, or a benzo + a beer.

 

[brainhulk]

be careful mixing sedatives/opiates/alcohol. it's a really nice way to stop breathing

 

[OverVolt]

doxylamine succinate is an antihistamine, just not very good at allergies, pretty good at nausea/sleepiness.

Anyway my recommendation is to get REALLY drunk once a week for the muscle relaxation, like 6-8 beers drunk. Then take ibuprofen 800mg before bed along with some type of PPI OTC like omeprazole so you reduce the chance of an ulcer.

I was so sick of my back hurting I just got super smashed one day and when I woke up - back didnt hurt for about a week.

 

[OverVolt]

I've been through a lumbar laminectomy for two ruptured discs. The pain is from inflammation of the tissue and nerves at the injury site. Reduce the inflammation and the pain subsides. Ibuprofen is the best anti-inflammatory. You can safely take 1600 mg per 24 hours until you see the Doc.

Take 800mg of ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and 100mg of dipenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl) an hour before bed. Combining both at bedtime will help you get some sleep. Take two 400mg doses of ibuprofen during the day. Don't waste money buying the brand names; generic 200mg ibuprophen, and generic 25mg dipenhydramine hydrochloride work just fine.

Good advice IMO. I would take omeprazole with ibuprofen at a high dose.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Get with the core exercises and stretching, yoga and or pilates if necessary. When you're down with those, you won't have the problem believe it or not. Using drugs won't cure the problem, it will only alleviate it temporarily but introduces another set of problems.

This is the right answer.

 

[OverVolt]

This is the right answer.

Pfft I agree moving around is key but if you sit 50+ hrs/day at work you are going to need some kind of help with the inflammation in addition to staying active after work.

For awhile there at my backs worst there was alot of me trying to stretch, bend, etc to get comfortable. Really the best thing to do is "stop doing it if it hurts" pilates doesn't sound like a good idea right off the bat, maybe walking first lmao.

It always felt like maybe stretching, or bending a different way would help, but it always made it hurt worse. Sometimes it hurts so bad you don't know if what you are doing is making it worse/better. Overall try not to hunch your head. Prop your back up straight in the morning etc with pillows, the end of a sofa, whatever. Helped me alot.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Many back problems are caused by lack of core strength, which is not something you can correct if already in great amounts of pain. Things like walking and yoga are semi-low impact and can help in this regard but if your back is so messed up you need pain management than you probably cannot do the proper work required to build those core muscles.

There is also a lot of people who theorize that back pain is psychosomatic.

I personally feel like if your back is in real pain you should consult a doctor and have him make sure your spinal column is structurally sounds. If it is then you should begin working immediately on those core building routines, and if not you should at least begin with some low impact stuff as stated before as soon as your doctor advises that it's safe.

Obviously, with a lumbar compression anyone should understand nobody is recommending he go start lifting and resistance training heavily, but if he can get straightened out again it would certainly help to prevent it down the road.

As for pain management, that is tough. Everybody is different. Definitely do not mix alcohol with any pills you get, ever.

 

[Muse]

Good advice IMO. I would take omeprazole with ibuprofen at a high dose.

I have omeprazole (bought cheap off the internet a few years ago, stored now in my freezer compartment), also ibuprofen (I keep it in the refrigerator). Thank God I don't need them. I hope to never need omeprazole again, those were nasty times. I have rarely used ibuprofen, actually can't remember feeling I benefited from doing so, although I may have once or twice. I have ice packs too, just in case of injury. Those I have used.

 

[Paladin3]

Be careful with any kind of exercise, even just walking. See a physician to deal with the inflammation first and get the pain levels down to where you can heal, and then start seeing a physical therapist. You need to be on a program of supervised stretching and exercise that will *slowly* help you strengthen your back and core. Don't be stupid and jump into a yoga or pilates class without talking to your doctor first. You can't just exercise through the pain with a bad back or you will make it worse.

And it's not something you can deal with once and then forget about. You will need to exercise and keep your back strong for the rest of your life, or get use to living in pain.

I just got done with 6 weeks of physical therapy after tweaking my back at work. I got lazy over the winter and didn't keep up with my exercises so my back got weak and I injured it. I was so bad I had to start therapy by slowly walking on a treadmill in the pool.

Until you can see the doc, ibuprofen is your friend. Good luck.