Is there a simpler way to achieve this style of user messaging?

Question

I have created a messaging system for users, it allows them to send a message to another user. If it is the first time they have spoken then a new conversation is initiated,

Answer 1

If you want to simplify your query you should add the last message id in your table userconversation :

ALTER TABLE userconversation ADD lastusermessageid

then each time you add a new message you should update your table userconversation :

INSERT INTO userconversation(userId, friendId, lastusermessageid)
VALUES (:userId, :friendId, :lastusermessageid)
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE lastusermessageid = VALUES(lastusermessageid)

and finally add indexes on all foreign keys :

SELECT  
    c.id,
    c.userId,
    c.friendId,
    m.message,
    m.read,
    UNIX_TIMESTAMP(m.time),      
    user1.username,
    user2.username  
FROM 
    userconversation c
    INNER JOIN usermessages m ON c.lastusermessageid = m.id 
    INNER JOIN user user1 ON c.userId = user.id
    INNER JOIN user user2 ON c.friendId = user.id
WHERE 
    c.userId = :userId OR c.friendId = :userId
ORDER BY
    m.id DESC
LIMIT 10