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How to deal with constant pain for years
Chronic Pain | Last Active: May 26 9:58pm | Replies (79)Comment receiving replies
Everyone needs a break from pain. I am fortunate to have a marvelous pain management doctor. If Workers Comp was more cooperative, my pain would be less! There are many procedures that have helped my pain and given me relief for long periods of time. I find radio frequency ablations most helpful. My low back and cervical area are messed up with degenerative disc disease and stenosis. I also have CRPS and SFN in both feet and up left leg. May you find a pain management doctor as great as mine is.
Replies to "Everyone needs a break from pain. I am fortunate to have a marvelous pain management doctor...."
I have horrible SFN in my feet as well as peripheral neuropathy and other painful issues. Can you share with us what has worked for you with your wonderful doctor? Thank you please be specific as it will help others
Who is your pain management I am dealing with spinal stenosis and arthritis in my neck bad especially if ut snows or rains
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Revised from another post I wrote on the SI thread but maybe some of y'all have an idea since I also have crps
Hi,
I've had 4 spinal surgeries, last one in 1987. My back has been kind of more of a mess on and off for about 5 years with terrible muscle spasms. MRI shows severe spinal arthritis but also protruding disks from L2 down to S1.
I can't stand up in the kitchen anymore (tile floor maybe?) So bought a stool on wheels for dishes etc. The stool went out from under me and I hit flat on my butt on tile from waist height. So much pain in my right butt cheek. Sharp disabling pain. (I have lived with CRPS from the hips down for 45 years so I have a pretty high pain tolerance.)
I was already in PT so just kept going until (already on crutches for years) I couldn't walk even with them. Xrays, questioning an Occult fracture of spine but neg for that but a lot of scar tissue. So, an MRI, then ortho surgeon who says its an SI joint sprain and offered me a shot or a spinal cord stimulator!.Refused. With CRPS anything invasive is a no-no. And who needs more cortisone. Plus I'm bipolar, cortisone is so bad for brains, and I'm already depressed so cortisone feels like a terrible idea.
My MRI results were 1.5 pages long. Long paragraph for each vertebrae. My back is a mess, has been since I was 23 (nurse slipped discs moving a patient.) I'm 69 and now so much worse.
A PT on YT had movement tests to do to see what replicated the pain. A twist to the left did (right buttock) so now what? Doc says "you don't want a fusion." No, I don't.
But its worse everyday to where a lot of this week, living alone, I've been bedridden. I can barely put weight on my right leg. I use forearm crutches but have gotten along ok till now, post fall.
I can't walk with severe pain - esp standing after sitting. I've arranged like 5 sitting areas so I can keep changing. Just really severe pain. I've lived with crps pain for 45 years but THIS! is unbearable. Not traveling down my leg.
Starting seeing chiropractor and feels better when I leave till I sit down again and can't walk again. Chiro is $80/wk out of pocket (2 visits) for what medicare doesn't cover. She says sciatica. Dr say si. I feel hopeless. Trying to do life alone. Sink full of stinky dishes right now. I still work and run a small graphic design company from home but can't very easily work.
Online says "sprained SI joint" will get better in a few weeks. This is getting worse. Medicare pays for nothing for home help. Medigap only pays if medicare pays.
I'm at a loss over here. People guess at a dx, then say offer invasive things like throwing darts at a dart board. Pain doctors only do invasive things. Any thoughts? Esp living alone and can't function. Friends seem to have disappeared when you can do less and less things. Leave hime less ans less often. Feeling very hopeless.
I take meloxicam tho I dont think it helps much. Doing cold and heat. Chiro. PT. Massage tomorrow. But I have to work. Deadlines for clients so I sit at the computer when I can and just cry. Pressure to get things done and i can't think. But need the extra income.
Who should i see next? I'm in Asheville so not the best medically. Go to Duke if I can drive that far and get told the same thing? Sorry, I'm just so discouraged. I'm only 69. I would not even consider a nursing home. Shouldn't have to. Run a small business from a nursing home???? Because I can't get help to wash my dishes?
When drs ignore you, blow you off, basically say "too bad, so sad" and you can't do life anymore... what? I'm allergic to all opioids which I guess is a good thing. I take nothing for pain except an occasional Excedrin. Not for migraines but I think caffeine can help pain. Doc says I can't take Excedrin because of Meloxicam which who knows if it even helps. Sorry to sound so pitiful an whinny. I'm at a loss and things are heading south emotionally.
Thanks.