Best Pain Management Purchases?
Hello!
Husband (35M) of a wife (32F) with all but undiagnosed EDS. Very frustrating to watch her in pain unable to complete basic tasks. As a husband, I obviously want to help and support, but only so much I can do. I also love doing stuff together, and get frustrated when we can't (rollercoasters, hikes, sports, etc.). She is super flexible and several orthopedics have said she has hypermobility. We've gone to too many doctors to list and they all seem to have something else to try, PT, meds, scans, treatments, etc. Every time we get our hopes up and every time we are underwhelmed.
I know that no two people are the same, but I'm trying to find her some relief. She is on the waitlist for the EDS clinic in UVA but most likely won't get an appointment until the end of this year.
She has been in three car accidents the past several years and recently we discovered that her neck doesn't have the natural curve it is supposed to have (dystonia).
SYMPTOMS:
- Poor sleep (shoulder pain and brain doesn't shut off)
- Diagnosed with sleep apnea and has a mouth guard that sometimes helps and sometimes doesn't
- Significant shoulder pain, multiple MRIs and scans revealing nothing of significance (looked for TOS, bulging discs, etc.)
- Has "snapping scapula" and right shoulder worse than left. Sometimes pain radiates down to the fingers in a "shock" or tingle.
- Had a nerve study done that didn't show anything
- Had cortisol injection and multiple steroid injections (no real effect)
- Had first Botox injection and it provided some minor relief to the tingling in fingers. Another one scheduled for early next month
- Significant knee pain since November, both knees hurt to bend and her mobility has been decreased quite a bit. Walking and going up and down stairs has been a challenge. This is a new symptom and has progressed alarming fast.
- Used to have issues with her hip popping but thankfully that has stopped over the past few years.
I don't know what to do to help her. She is prescribed a muscle relaxer and gabapentin but they make her sleepy and she doesn't take them during the day, make her groggy in the morning and she still doesn't feel rested.
I'm too discouraged with the plethora of "yeah nothing works pain will always be there and will get worse" mindset. Willing to try nearly anything to provide her some relief (diet, sleep, devices, treatments, etc)
My question is: What are some devices or things I can purchase that have helped others in pain reduction or management? Do beds that adjust to raise the feet or head work? What about heat/cold therapy? Assume I'm willing to spend $1,000s of dollar help her but have no idea where to even start...