Unmanaged Pain

Hi Annie @annie2 Thanks for reaching out. Pain levels at 8 or 9 are truly terrible. I’m really sorry you are suffering in this manner. It sounds like you are meeting with a pain management doctor? Do they have any other suggestions? Do they know the specific source of pain at this time? Has there been any imaging or follow up to determine why pain level is so high?

Try Buprenorphine, THC/CBD, meditation, PT. I use all of these and my CP is fairly well tolerated but never gone.

Did the Nortriptyline give you constipation?. I was on it for awhile & it did help with my pain but I got so blocked up I had to stop it. & I just take the Gabapentin with Cymbalta. I'm in terrible pain & wish I could try it again but then I would have to wein myself of the gabapentin. I didn't know you could take both.

@annie2 Two years is a long time to still not have pain relief.

It looks like you already have member responses but I also added your discussion to the Digestive Health group. I did this so you could connect with even more members.

You said that your symptoms started out as unresponsive GERD. May I ask what kinds of tests you had done to confirm it was GERD and your provider's thoughts on why it was unresponsive?

I am seeing a pain mgt doctor. I am being given antidepressants, (nortriptyline) and Remeron, Celexa that I have been on for quite a while. Pain is severe in my throat. Have an mri on Monday. He has given me two sets of injections, one pinpoint and the other stellate ganglion four days ago. Now he is prescribing tylenol 3 which can also kill my stomach as I have non-responsive Gerd as well. .I am not familiar with many of the other drugs that are available. Everything seems to interact with the nortriptyline. I guess I need to get myself off it. So new to this chronic pain thing that I feel totally lost. Appreciate any help. Praying we all can be pain free one day.

I've had a number of scopes over the years but last year is when the pain became unbearable. Two more scopes with biopsy as well as tests that looked at the entire abdomen. Showing some small problems and one that was worrisome. Intestinal metaplasia that needs to be monitored every two years. Was put on PPI's that did not help along with medication that coats the throat. None of which helped the pain. Was passed off to another Gastro and was told the pain was too intense, (even for severe Gerd) and it must be something rare.Possibly nerve pain. He prescribed 100 mg of Gabapentin and sent me on my way.. Went to Neurologist who also ran tests and concluded, (due to location and test results), that it was not nerve pain..Referred to med mgt who prescribed 3 different anti-depressants as well as the one I was already on. Helped with anxiety but not with pain. Killed my stomach. Am trying to come off all of these now. Did look at the digestive health group but not many posts there. Sorry this is so lengthy. Thank you for your interest.

@annie2 i want you to know that I hear your frustration, confusion and pain. You have been on this road for 2 years and are now at an 8-9 pain level that makes your life miserable. None of us are doctors on here on Connect, but we are patients who have been in your shoes. One of the most frustrating things about being a pain patient for me is that what works for one patient often doesn’t work for another. So treating difficult cases is often trial and error.

I’ve had pain at that level off and on for 5 years due to spinal issues and undergone 5 neck surgeries in that time. So I can identify with your frustration. I’m glad they are doing an MRI Monday, and your doctor is trying injections to see if that helps with pain - a good sign that they are hearing you and taking your pain seriously. You mentioned concern with Tylenol 3 and if it will mess with your stomach. I would voice that concern to your doctor. Be honest and ask all the questions you can think of. In fact, I would write down all my questions and bring them with you to your appointments. Hopefully, other Gerd patients will have some suggestions as well. I too had wondered about CBD/THC as an option for you.

Is your pain continuous or does it come and go primarily with your gerd symptoms? Also, have you experienced any pain reduction at all with the injections?

I'm so sorry that you are in so much pain. This should not be accepted by the medical community and it angers me that there is so much suffering. I think that I am on so many meds that constipation just comes with the territory. I also have gastroparesis which doesn't help. If you are in terrible pain then maybe your medications could be revisited or adjusted to provide you more relief. Do not suffer in silence. There has to be something that works. I pray you find that "something".

Continual pain with severe anxiety for 4 months now. No relief from injections. Was given an option between Tyl 3 and Percocet and told that there really isn't much else they can do for the GERD. I will try and take it with food and see what happens.

@annie We are all pain warriors a d resilient somedays not so much My pain Dr does a nerve block For daily MY PCP prescribes Tramadol and I take 2Motrin lay down till I feel better Ice,heat and cbd every day This works great for me I have loads of back problems