Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hello everyone,
I'm in the chronic pain group therapy and look forward to learning how to navigate this site.
Thank you!

Hi there! I’m a chronic migraineur due to a TBI from an auto accident back in November 2017. Without meds I migrained pretty much 24/7. I can remember a 3 month period where there were only 2 days free from migraine. It took some trial and error to find meds that worked (at least by the clinical standard). I now get Botox injections every 10 weeks and occipital nerve blocks every 4 weeks, with rizatriptan for my acute med. I still get migraines, but not as frequently or as painfully (most of the time) although it’s quite variable.

The migraines cost me my job - I tried to keep working for the next 2 years, but ended up getting fired for no longer being able to do my job. I was angry and heartbroken at the time, but with hindsight they were absolutely correct. I’m currently applying for permanent disability, so fingers crossed.

Welcome!

Hi All & Kelsey, Does anyone know about implanted devices for pain?
I was in an accident in 2017 with lots of broken bones and torn muscles. I have a major hip muscle that is torn off the bone, and I have trouble finding a surgeon who can fix it. In the meantime, I am searching for a pain solution.
I'm in a state that does not allow opioid meds unless confined to medical facility or 5 days from out patient surgery.

Hi all, I hear you and I get it. At my worst, I feel trapped and isolated by my pain. I’m 71 and the diagnosis’ just keep piling on. At my best, I’m productive and able to keep a positive outlook. My mantra is: Everyone gets something.
That helps me keep my perspective, and focus on what’s positive.

Hi, I have suffered from severe chronic migraines since I was 6 years old. I am now 57. I also get Botox every 10 weeks and did occipital nerve blocks and trigger point steroid injections for 2 years. I stopped the occipital nerve injections as they were so painful for several weeks after injection and I decided it wasn’t worth it. I also get a migraine infusion every 3 months called Vyepti which I feel has been helping quite a bit once I got to my current dose of 200mg. Have you tried it? Definitely worth asking your neurologist about! I have Zolmatriptan and sumatriptan for rescue meds. Also do you take any preventative medications? I was on Topamax which was working really well for a few years but it gave me kidney stones so I had to quit it. Now I’m currently on propranolol daily. I also got put on Nortriptyline for my Functional GI Disorder but I think it’s helping my migraines too! It’s a very common preventative medication for migraines. I have also done gabapentin ( did not work for me ) . There are also some weekly self administered preventative shots like Ajovy or Emgality which you should definitely look into if you haven’t already, I did Ajovy for about 5 years until it stopped working for me and I switched to the Vyepti infusion. I have, like you, had several times in my life when I was literally never headache free. I truly understand your pain. I had several years where I was ending up in the ER 2 or 3 times a month because it was so bad I couldn’t function. Got labeled a drug seeker. I no longer work but it definitely affected my ability to work and I got fired from one job because of missing too many days. They said I was unreliable, which was certainly true. I’m freaking out because my Cardiologist doesn’t want me to use triptan meds anymore for rescue meds. I don’t know what else is even available for rescue meds anymore. I have used triptans for so long. But they usually work and I am afraid not to have them available to me anymore! I’m so sorry you’re having to live with this nightmare. I wish you luck to get disability. I can’t qualify for it because even though I’m not able to work, due to Lupus and severe GI/IBS , as well as had a Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) heart attack in 2017 and 2 strokes at age 49. My husband and I own 2 restaurants which I worked at for 30 years before my heart dissection. Because I am one of the owners of the restaurant, even though I can’t work there anymore, I can’t get disability benefits because the restaurant profits are considered income. Even though I don’t take a paycheck anymore. Disability is so hard to get and so unfair. So I pray for you to get it! But also just pray for you to be feeling better. Write back if you want or have any questions. I would like to know if you’ve tried the infusion or some of the preventative medication I mentioned?

My implanted Medtronic SCS worked fairly well for about 2.5 years. Then, it just stopped. Not everyone gets relief from these things unfortunately.

Hi. I'm VirginiaGonzalesAguilar. Age 72. My pain concerns are as follows.
Copd
Asthma
Urinary Incontinence
Osteo arthritis/both knees
Mild scoliosis
Peripheral Neuropathy
Anxiety and depression
Type 2 diabetes
Morbid obesity

gonzales72 (@gonzales72), welcome to Mayo Connect. Is there a specific question in there that you would like to ask?

Hi all,
was in a motorcycle crash about 12-15 years ago, causing me to have both knees replaced, a couple of operations on my arms to relieve ulnar nerve causing numbness in both hands, I recently retired 50+ years as a structural draftsman sitting a very long time.
Had an MRI to find out L2, L3 & L4 are fused together with arthritis. It's like a deck of cards in or on my spine, making it difficult to move in bed. I have serious Vertigo issue where, for 15 years I have only been able to sleep on the left side of my body, had 3 cortisone shots in my left shoulder which relieves the pain for about 3 or 4 months. I need another injection now.
I have had Radio Frequency treatment to burn some of the nerves on the right side of said vertebrae along with cortisone injections. I have had to repeat the injections about every 3 to 4 months totalling 5 treatments in all. Now I should be having another injection procedure as I can only lay in bed for about 7 hours before pain returns in both my spine and my left shoulder, almost sleep deprived now. I managed to quit Percocet a total of 6 times, 3 times for the complete knee replacements and 3 times for my spine issues. The percs caused me many problems with constipation, just had my 3rd colonoscopy to find out they removed 3 polyps,which are being tested for cancer. thankfully been off the percs for about 90 days now. My gut issues thanks to Percocet are finally almost Gone. I have went through way too many things for a guy who is only 72.
My question is, do I continue at the pain clinic, getting further injections for only 3 months of relief and how much damage is the cortisone doing to my body.