Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Posted by Kelsey Mohring @kelseydm, Apr 27, 2016

Welcome to the new Chronic Pain group.

I’m Kelsey and I’m the moderator of the group. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.

Why not take a minute and introduce yourself.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@jujubbb

Hi . I'm Judy -70 years old and diagnosed last November with an idiopathic thoracic spinal syrinx. I have suffered baffling pain symptoms most of my life and finally an MRI confirmed the condition. I have been grappling with chronic stabbing nerve pain and my neurologist /pain management doctor prescribed Gabapentin which I tried for 6 months with many side effects and little relief. I am now on 200 mg of Lyrica and hoping to get some sustained pain relief. I also get acupuncture, massage weekly and have gone to PT for 2 months! I would appreciate any input from members who may be familiar with this rare condition. Thanks

Jump to this post

Thank you. Getting treatment had been a challenging process---and finding a medication to help pain.

REPLY
@pagray24

Hi, I am Patricia. I have had chronic left upper quadrant pain for 5+ years with no definitive diagnosis.

Jump to this post

Welcome, Patricia @pagray24

No definitive diagnosis is certainly discouraging. What kind of tests have been done? Have you seen specialists? I know others will offer ideas and roads to pursue. Keep us posted.

Jim

REPLY
@pagray24

Hi, I am Patricia. I have had chronic left upper quadrant pain for 5+ years with no definitive diagnosis.

Jump to this post

Hello Patricia, @pagray24 and welcome to Mayo Connect. As I looked at Judy's suggestion regarding an MRI, I was wondering have you had an MRI? If not, what other diagnostic tests have been done? We look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

REPLY
@marilyn624

I am Marilyn from the state of Washington and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 12 years ago. To add to the fun, a antibiotic resistant infection left me with post-surgical pain. Other than that, aging has been a bucket of giggles.

Jump to this post

Hi, Marilyn @marilyn624. Seeing a pain specialist was the best decision I made in my search for relief from peripheral neuropathy pain. Are there medications you can take that have helped?

Jim

REPLY
@pagray24

Hi, I am Patricia. I have had chronic left upper quadrant pain for 5+ years with no definitive diagnosis.

Jump to this post

Hi Jim and Teresa,
OK, get ready it is a long list. I will spine=cts, mris, thoracic epidural, post ganglion nerve block.
Chest=x-ray, CT, Mri, us, CT angio, intetcostal injections, antibiotics.
Abdomen=hida, kub, small bowel follow thru, multiple CT, Mri, us, egd,colonoscopy, gastric emptying, camera pill, multiple barium and nuclear studies.
Pelvic=CT, Mri, us, transvag us,doppler.
Specialists: multiple Gastro, surgeons, pain management, cardiology, neurology, nephrology rheumatology, endocrinology, pulmonary, infectious disease, ortho, gyn, and primary care! You
Have I missed any?

REPLY
@jujubbb

Hi . I'm Judy -70 years old and diagnosed last November with an idiopathic thoracic spinal syrinx. I have suffered baffling pain symptoms most of my life and finally an MRI confirmed the condition. I have been grappling with chronic stabbing nerve pain and my neurologist /pain management doctor prescribed Gabapentin which I tried for 6 months with many side effects and little relief. I am now on 200 mg of Lyrica and hoping to get some sustained pain relief. I also get acupuncture, massage weekly and have gone to PT for 2 months! I would appreciate any input from members who may be familiar with this rare condition. Thanks

Jump to this post

Jim: my neurologist dismissed the idea of a spinal cord stimulator for my condition. I have consulted with 2 neurosurgeons -- both advised pain mgt only. I take 200 mg Lyrica but it has taken over 2 months to increase from 100 mg daily. I had lethargy, sleepiness and some blurry vision. Effects seem to be subsiding and Med seems to ale edge off pain. It sounds as if you have had quite a struggle. I pray a lot!! Judy

REPLY
@pagray24

Hi, I am Patricia. I have had chronic left upper quadrant pain for 5+ years with no definitive diagnosis.

Jump to this post

Jim and Teresa,
In addition blood work... Too many to list, but they have included:
ESR, porphyria, EBV, Lyme and associated tick Bourne diseases, c3, c4, Ana, CRP, T4, free T4, cortisol, etc. So some of the way out there stuff even.

REPLY
@pagray24

Hi, I am Patricia. I have had chronic left upper quadrant pain for 5+ years with no definitive diagnosis.

Jump to this post

@pagray24

Ophthalmologist? Just kidding! I hope you have good insurance. Your list is certainly impressive. No definitive diagnosis, even with all of these specialists? If I had that list, therapist and psychiatrist would be on it.

Perhaps something you read here will spark a helpful thought.

Jim

REPLY
@jujubbb

Hi . I'm Judy -70 years old and diagnosed last November with an idiopathic thoracic spinal syrinx. I have suffered baffling pain symptoms most of my life and finally an MRI confirmed the condition. I have been grappling with chronic stabbing nerve pain and my neurologist /pain management doctor prescribed Gabapentin which I tried for 6 months with many side effects and little relief. I am now on 200 mg of Lyrica and hoping to get some sustained pain relief. I also get acupuncture, massage weekly and have gone to PT for 2 months! I would appreciate any input from members who may be familiar with this rare condition. Thanks

Jump to this post

Judy @jujubbb

Hi, I have gone thru similar trials to quell the pain and discomforts of Peripheral Neuropathy. I currently take Lyrica for the stabbing/shooting sensation I get in my feet and legs, and for the constant feet/leg pain I am using Medical Marijuana. It is a godsend, and it takes care of my depression one gets for the ceaseless pain.

REPLY
@jujubbb

Hi . I'm Judy -70 years old and diagnosed last November with an idiopathic thoracic spinal syrinx. I have suffered baffling pain symptoms most of my life and finally an MRI confirmed the condition. I have been grappling with chronic stabbing nerve pain and my neurologist /pain management doctor prescribed Gabapentin which I tried for 6 months with many side effects and little relief. I am now on 200 mg of Lyrica and hoping to get some sustained pain relief. I also get acupuncture, massage weekly and have gone to PT for 2 months! I would appreciate any input from members who may be familiar with this rare condition. Thanks

Jump to this post

Judy @jujubbb

Since joining this group, I feel very fortunate to have the few things wrong with me that I do. And I feel guilty about complaining about pain.

Jim

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.