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← Return to High pain tolerance
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@sandrac Hello, thank you for replying. Yes, I have tried pain management with two different providers. I have had three epidurals, the last one back in February this year. This third epidural made my pain worse, both during the epidural itself, and up until today, my pain level goes between the 6 and 8 range depending on my movement patterns.
The same doctor that performed this epidural then had me get more imaging of my thoracic spine, this time CT scans instead of an MRI. He then suggested Trigger Point Injections, which I had already tried with the first provider with no luck. And these newest injections did absolutely nothing. I knew something wasn't right when I showed up in his office, he brought the syringe and anesthetic in, and then he asked me where he should be injecting. Why is a pain management specialist at one of the "elite" hospitals in my city asking me where he should be injecting?
I have been to four PT offices this year (since January), and none of them have any idea why my muscles do not respond to their normal treatments. The last office I was at actually made my pain worse as well. The co-owner of the PT facility performed my session one day, and he was digging in to my right side QL muscle trying to get it to release. It was very painful while he did this, and again, to this day, my pain level has never dropped to where it was before the procedure.
This creates another problem. I cannot even do the simplest exercises / stretches the PT techs give me, as my muscles lock into what feels like a calf cramp in my side. The only thing I can do is lay down. There are no medications ( I was prescribed two different medications in the past two months) that do anything for the pain I have. Nothing over-the-counter, and nothing prescription, does anything to relieve it. The very first day this started three years ago, the ER doctor gave me Norco, a shot of Toradol, and a Lidocaine patch, all within about two hours. These did absolutely nothing, which surprised the doctor and nurse.
I have been to more than 30 doctors at 5 different hospitals, I have been to chiropractors, acupuncturists, hip specialists, spine specialists, physical therapy, all multiple times. No one has any idea what my problem is, and the majority of them have given up trying to find out.
Replies to "@sandrac Hello, thank you for replying. Yes, I have tried pain management with two different providers...."
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@marcd2k find a GOOD MFR myofascial release therapist on an ongoing basis. It sounds like the only thing you haven't tried. It sounds like what you need. I always tell people it is like the world's most painful massage. What has happened is that your muscles have glued themselves together and they PULL together as a unit and cause a lot of pain. They go into a spasm to counteract the constant pulling. this can happen for any number of reasons. Bad posture, bad habits, bad spinal alignment, weakening of the paraspinals. What MFR does is break the glue bond between the fascia sheaths around the muscles so they can glide over one another and stop pulling as a unit. It will take a long time (how long to take you to get into this condition - well, reverse that in time to get out of it!) In ADDITION, you will have to figure out (the MFR therapist will diagnosis most likely) what is causing the strain. Could be some scoliosis, could have been some trauma, could have been driving for a living or the opposite sitting at a desk job. ALSO - you might want to visit a good kinesiologist (a healthcare professional who studies human body movement and uses exercise-based interventions to improve physical function, aid in injury rehabilitation, and manage chronic conditions) they have a different selection of medicines. Each which act on different pathways to relax different muscles for different reasons. I have used Tizanidine which worked very well) and also Baclofen which also works very well. I use them mostly overnight when I go to bed and my muscles are all locked up. I wake up much better. The Tzanidine I took 3 x a day for a few months. Your body adjusts and it was great. But just like it relaxed my muscles it also relaxed the rest of me and I was too fatigued so I stopped that.
For topicals I like Diclofenec 3% by script and old fashioned CVS muscle rub. (together) plus some lidocaine 5% script strength and a heating pad. Love my heating pad.
If you read this far: BOTOX!!!! Yes, botox will get your muscles in spasm paralyzed and to relax. It is heavenly. Than after a few months you will need to build your muscles to be strong and overcome what put you there or you will be right back. Sounds like a visit to an Orthopedic Spine surgeon would be in order to have him check if your spine is out of alignment. It is the foundation. If it is off it is no wonder you are having these problems and you haven't been helped. People are happy to take your money and aren't looking deep enough to resolve your issue. It is because you are not at the correct specialists yet. You'll love the botox. Get insurance approval so its covered. It is covered with prior authorization. I paid out of pocket before ACA was around. Well worth the money!!!