Hi again. I responded to your previous post over in the "Just Want to Talk" discussion, then stumbled upon your EMG update here. Nothing showed a problem there either, like the MRI. So sorry, I know you were hopeful to find something. Familiar story to me. I went through test after test, med after med, procedure after procedure too, and nothing is more frustrating than wanting to prove what exactly is causing pain, only to be continuously let down.

Having neuropathy and a chronic pain disorder called Central Sensitization Syndrome, I completely understand your plight. My quest to find the problem that could be fixed and cured, did me in physically, emotionally and behaviorally. Chemically, too, as I tried every drug looking for that magic fix. Do I sense you are feeling the heaviness of the search?

Respectfully, I totally get that checking off and ruling out cause is incredibly important and I advocate for doing such, but I want to throw this thought into the ring. What if the flares and increased pain stemmed from stress, environment, a dysfunctional central nervous system, etc...? Once, all the tests are done and the specialists are seen and the meds are tried, there is not much more to do but accept and manage what is. Ugh, that's a tough pill (no pun intended) to swallow. Been there, and resistantly done that!

I'm wondering if watching the following video may be helpful in understanding chronic pain to see if maybe you resonate with what Dr. Sletten from Mayo Clinic is educating on. Here you go -

Dr. Christopher Sletten - Central Sensitization Syndrome:

I'll be curious to know what you think after watching. Not everyone is at this place in their pain journey -maybe not yet or maybe never, but it doesn't hurt to be educated. Keep the faith and stay hopeful! I look forward to hearing back from you. Be well.