Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@meg17 Have you been tested for Sjogrens. It causes severe dry eyes and mouth!

@chrisco Thank you. It is day to day, isn't it? I haven't figured out what makes it worse or better. I pray that you will have more good days and greater relief from your pain.

My pain management doctor had been prescribing pregabalin for me, but I needed to go off of it because it, along with another medication, increased my risk of falling and made my thinking less clear. I have chronic pain due to arthritis in my back, knees, hips, and neck (and also other joints) with my lower back and knees being the worst. I can't take NSAIDs and Tylenol does nothing for me that I can detect. Recently, I had a GAE -genicular artery embolization - for my left knee. This is a fairly new minimally invasive procedure. They discovered that people struggling with knee pain due to osteoarthritis (and other conditions) have extra and abnormal blood vessels that cause inflammation and feed the nerves in the knee. The procedure done under X-ray guidance while you are awake. I asked my doctor who did the procedure so so many questions that he brought me back to the room and showed me photos of my own knee on the monitor. And sure enough, I had those blood vessels. (The human body is fascinating!) After being told by my previous primary care doctor that X-rays show my arthritis is not severe, it was satisfying to see proof of why I might be in so much pain. (It's not all in my head!) I was helped significantly by this procedure. I no longer wake up in pain before I even get out of bed from that knee. Although my back pain in particular keeps me from doing many things that I used to do, would like to, and still need to do (like more housekeeping!), I don't think it is as severe as what so many others have to deal with. My mobility is greatly decreased, but I know I need to keep trying or I will loose the mobility that I have. (I just did another 5 months of PT to help in that regard.) My heart goes out to all of you struggling with chronic pain.

Hello, my name is Leslie. I am new to this group. I have chronic pain. I've had fibromyalgia pain for 20 plus years. Additionally, after getting covid in June/July 2022 and having life threatening complications, I also have neuropathy in my right foot, and lower back issues as far as pain issues. The fibromyalgia is pretty stable with a high dose of medication (Effexor), but I have flare ups periodically (especially during changes in seasons) or during high stress levels. The neuropathy is the worse part of my chronic pain issues. Though I take Gabapentin at the highest dose 3 times a day. My Docs are trying to get me on another medication, as Gabapentin isn't as effective -after taking it for 3.5 years now.

Mary - Pinched nerve in thoractic spine. Pinch caused by fluid filled cyst causing terrible pain all the time. Cannot have surgery due to my age. Take Gabapentin morning and night with asprin during the day. Do not want to take more Gabapentin as it affects my mind and body. Does anyone else have this problem?

@grannytrucker Good afternoon to you. My name is Kaye. The "kayejen" is my daughter, Jennifer. I'm going to visit with her this week-end. It will be about a 2 1/2 hour drive but I can do it if I plan ahead with the pain medication. My "Sweetheart Roger" had a stroke in April of 2024. He is in a nursing home now and Oh! how I miss him. My sister is living with me now to help me in so many ways. My neurologist pain doctor just put me on the 10 mg. a week ago. There is no difference in the pain level so far with going to the 10 mg. When I put the patch on this past Monday, I felt very, very weak. I called my pain doctor and told him about the weakness reaction and he told me to Please give the 10mg a chance for it to work through my body...so I am. I was on the 7.5 mg for 3 months. I look forward to hearing from you and the many others that are suffering with pain. I do read their posts and about what they are taking for the never-ending pain. I use the Goodrx coupons for the patch. Not every pharmacy will honor the coupons. I was lucky to find one (CVS) to honor the coupon. The coupon saved me $35.00. Hug Miss Molly for me.