Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

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.

I tried a hemp product once, I think I need a FULL SPECTRUM product and a little more persistence. Thanks for your input.

Hi am mike i had a mirodicectomy at the age of 38. In Indiana workmans comp. Had 4 doctors lie to me and tell me I was crazy. And I had no pain. One day close to the end of my claim. One of there doctors showed me the problem . He used a 3 year old MRI . He told me that the only treatment was a stimulator. After 3 years of lies, they put me through a syic exam. Said I couldn't handle the surgery. After completing was over, closed. My wife's insurance paid for it and I went 18 years with no meds. More to come!

Are you saying that you eventually got the spinal cord stimulator and it wored pretty well for you?

I had a Medtronic intrathecal catheter for 6 years. It caused arachnoiditis, causing pain worse than my original diagnosis. It was not a success for me

Hi, I am Kathy (WNC). Hoping to get info and guidance for pherpherial neuropathy and CRPS, on my right foot, ankle, leg and groin. Had leg bypass surgery 4/22 and my life has never been the same since. Pain and issues are beyond miserable everyday. Praying I can find someone, some Dr., Someplace that can help me. Will not be confined in wheelchair and relaying on someone to ,"take care of me" etc -just not that type.

I'm sorry that happened. Thank you for sharing. I hope you can find some relief and peace. I know we keep trying for better outcomes. Blessings to you.

Hi Kathy @kathr, Welcome to Connect. It's good that your are just not that type and don't want to be limited by relying on someone to take care of you. Connect is a great place to learn what others have shared about their experience with neuropathy and other conditions. Here are a few discussions you might want to scan through and you can always type in the search box at the top to locate others with specific experience.

-- Living with Neuropathy - Welcome to the group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-neuropathy-welcome-to-the-group/
-- CRPS: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/crps-6/

Kudos to you! I’ve actually told myself the same thing, but , unfortunately, only intermittently find it helpful.
Keep up the good work.

Aahh! I forgot I get headaches from humidity and could not figure out why I was waking up these past few days with a headache. Our overnight humidity has been in the upper 90%, as high as 99%, this last week.
Thank you @busylady. Knowing is (almost) half the battle.