just curious, but can you tell if the pain is muscular or skeletal or differentiate at all where it's coming from??

i have horrible issues with my back/neck/shoulders... i know you said your spine feels like it's on fire... so my suggestion might be useless.. but i'll offer it anyway..

i use icy hot.. like, religiously... it heats up the area & often allows me to GENTLY stretch the spots that are hurting so badly... which over time (usually) adds up to pain relief... sometimes the icy hot itself relieves the pain at least enough to allow me to get some good solid rest... which helps a great deal all the way around...

i'm so sorry you're in such pain & wish there was a quick and easy answer that would definitely work!!

regarding your family, my heart goes out to you... there's nothing worse than feeling completely alienated from the people you want to be the closest to... especially when it's because of the bipolar disorder... the people that matter the most... when they just don't get it & so they want to "throw in the towel" on you... it's crushing i'm so sorry you're experiencing that in your own family... my heart hurts for ya on that one...

always know you do have us... the "faceless individuals scattered around the globe" we're not going anywhere!!!

lots of hugs being sent through the airways to your location... and positive vibes, too... just in case they work keep us posted on how you're doing & if there's anything at all we can do to support you while you're dealing with all this...