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Help, I'm a guy trapped in a wall of pain

Posted by nwester @nwester, Apr 3, 2018

I am Neil Westerberg and I will try to keep it brief.
In June of 1978 I completed my one and only primary job application. Thirty four years later I accepted a voluntary layoff from the aerospace company due to chronic headaches. I believe I'm still capable of at least doing creative/helpful projects around our home, unfortunately I feel I have wasted the last six years of my life due to relentless pain.
It started with "Degenerative Disk Disease" in my neck. I never had headaches prior to the second fusion surgery performed in February 2012. Sense then I have had four extensive surgeries; undetermined number of injections; greater than thirty nerve burnings; care and testing from every known specialist for any system that can cause a headache...to first stop the pain in my neck and arms and secondly headaches that begin when I get out of bed in the morning.
Six years of early retirement wasted and now after several attempts over the past fourteen months to get help, I'm told this clinic can't talk to me until I am opiate free for two months and then they would look at my case and decide if they can help. The reasons are apparent (both physical and political) but, I have been down that road twice "quit the painkillers and I will give you something that will take care of the headaches", that obviously didn't work.
Stopping the opiates is not the hard part it's the wall of pain that is. If there was an alternative I would gladly go there. If anyone has an idea to help me with this unusual case I'm listening.
I have made it this far focusing on the next possible solution...well I'm down to a fifty/fifty chance on Stem cell injections or the expertise gathered in the Mayo clinic...I think.
Thanks in advance for your insight, I petition any help you may have. Neil

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Bonnie | @eifeltower | Apr 3, 2018

Hi Neil,
I feel your pain quite literally.Its so horrenduous.Having suffered for eight years now with chronic nerve pain in my pelvis.However I used accupuncture for pain in my neck,shoulders and arms after a pedicure bed collapsed on top of me.It totally got rid of my pain in those areas,they are still perfect two years later.I urge you to try it,took about eighteen sessions.Go to one with lots experience though.Wishing you the very best,you deserve a break.

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1 reply
nwester | @nwester | Apr 3, 2018
In reply to @eifeltower "Hi Neil, I feel your pain quite literally.Its so horrenduous.Having suffered for eight years now with..." + (show)
@eifeltower

Hi Neil,
I feel your pain quite literally.Its so horrenduous.Having suffered for eight years now with chronic nerve pain in my pelvis.However I used accupuncture for pain in my neck,shoulders and arms after a pedicure bed collapsed on top of me.It totally got rid of my pain in those areas,they are still perfect two years later.I urge you to try it,took about eighteen sessions.Go to one with lots experience though.Wishing you the very best,you deserve a break.

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Thanks for your insight, about three years ago I tried acupuncture and did get some short term (three - four hours). Three visits a week was recommended at the time it seemed to be low on the confident list. Thanks again maybe a potential revisit.

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Bonnie | @eifeltower | Apr 4, 2018

Maybe it is worth trying again,the accupuncture

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1 reply
Gary, Alumni Mentor | @gman007 | Apr 4, 2018

Hi@nwester. I am a mentor here, but came here because in many ways I was in your position. I was retired at 50 (actually 46) by a pancreas that decided to stop working properly. The primary symptom is severe abdominal pain and it does not relent completely ever. A good day is if it does not reach 5 on the pain scale and that is with at least a 24 hr. extended release dilaudid in my system. So, my pain is a bit different, but the feeling of being trapped is exactly as you describe it and I think you have done so very eloquently. I can only offer that if you can find anything that you are able to do that takes your focus away from your troubles, do it and do it often if possible. For me that is attempting to help people with my experiences with my illness, the healthcare system, being at home alone a lot, etc...And, we all need encouragement from wherever we can find it, so I try to do that, but often receive far more than I give. I will definitely say a prayer for some relief and that you will find something positive to do that adds to your feelings of worth!

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2 replies
Bonnie | @eifeltower | Apr 4, 2018
In reply to @gman007 "Hi@nwester. I am a mentor here, but came here because in many ways I was in..." + (show)
@gman007

Hi@nwester. I am a mentor here, but came here because in many ways I was in your position. I was retired at 50 (actually 46) by a pancreas that decided to stop working properly. The primary symptom is severe abdominal pain and it does not relent completely ever. A good day is if it does not reach 5 on the pain scale and that is with at least a 24 hr. extended release dilaudid in my system. So, my pain is a bit different, but the feeling of being trapped is exactly as you describe it and I think you have done so very eloquently. I can only offer that if you can find anything that you are able to do that takes your focus away from your troubles, do it and do it often if possible. For me that is attempting to help people with my experiences with my illness, the healthcare system, being at home alone a lot, etc...And, we all need encouragement from wherever we can find it, so I try to do that, but often receive far more than I give. I will definitely say a prayer for some relief and that you will find something positive to do that adds to your feelings of worth!

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So lovely to read your note.Being in chronic pain for past six years is like being in prison in your body,can’t drive can’t walk without crutches six years ago was playing g tennis every day.Its such a lonely place to be as life goes on for everyone else,people start to forget about you.

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nwester | @nwester | Apr 5, 2018
In reply to @eifeltower "Maybe it is worth trying again,the accupuncture" + (show)
@eifeltower

Maybe it is worth trying again,the accupuncture

Jump to this post

Thanks @eifeltower for your response, I have been to three acupuncture doctors over the past fourteen years...the one that showed the best results is in Colorado and living in Florida now makes that difficult. I'm sorry if that sounded crusty, maybe I should look in that direction again, if I could find someone in the area.
Thanks for your efforts, Neil

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nwester | @nwester | Apr 5, 2018
In reply to @gman007 "Hi@nwester. I am a mentor here, but came here because in many ways I was in..." + (show)
@gman007

Hi@nwester. I am a mentor here, but came here because in many ways I was in your position. I was retired at 50 (actually 46) by a pancreas that decided to stop working properly. The primary symptom is severe abdominal pain and it does not relent completely ever. A good day is if it does not reach 5 on the pain scale and that is with at least a 24 hr. extended release dilaudid in my system. So, my pain is a bit different, but the feeling of being trapped is exactly as you describe it and I think you have done so very eloquently. I can only offer that if you can find anything that you are able to do that takes your focus away from your troubles, do it and do it often if possible. For me that is attempting to help people with my experiences with my illness, the healthcare system, being at home alone a lot, etc...And, we all need encouragement from wherever we can find it, so I try to do that, but often receive far more than I give. I will definitely say a prayer for some relief and that you will find something positive to do that adds to your feelings of worth!

Jump to this post

Thanks Gman, I appreciate your insight unfortunately the things that help are driving and then upon arrival it's like someone standing on my head. It's like you can only cheat the problem just so long.

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