Hi @harvey2007, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You will see that I moved your comment to a discussion where @donaldjames1 is discussing back and leg pain after 5 surgeries. I thought you two had some things in common and encourage you to connect with the other member in this conversation.

Are you considering one of the surgeries they recommend?

You haven't mentioned external applications of DMSO. It may seem too simple, however it has been invaluable for me. Used over time for pain relief it has helped me prevent surgical interventions.

@harvey2007

I see you have had injections… I assume from a surgeon's or orthopedist's office?

Have you tried a pain specialist? As with any doctor some are better than others… Yes, they give injections and prescribe medication too, but they also do other things. Mine is a very good evaluator. He will tell you off the bat if he can help or not. .. and who can best help you. I have seen mine off and on for almost 25 years. I have never had an injection from an orthopedist that has helped. With my pain specialist.. I would say a 75% success rate for getting me to a pain level I can tolerate.

It sounds like you have seen several surgeons and each say you have a different problem. Who to believe?? that is very difficult to sort out.

Are you being clear in expressing your symptoms? Is there miscommunication? Is someone attending the doctor appointments with you? I highly suggest you have someone go with you.

This is what I do to help sort things out for me.

Number one is to take my husband with me. We write down our questions and my husband note takes as we talk with the doctor.
My husband also helps by asking additional questions at the appointments.

For a doctor to better understand me I keep a journal. What type of pain… shooting, stabbing, aching, burning, sharp.. etc. What makes it worse, what makes it better. How it effects my life.. the can do and cannot do list.

I also write down what I ate, what exercises I did. Doctors cannot help you if you are not doing things to help yourself. Eating a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and exercising all play a part in your pain. Sometimes I do not eat well and I do not absorb nutrients well.. so important the doctor knows my health history. I need to express to my doctors that I am doing things to help myself.

If I have several doctor opinions and they differ on what the solution is for me…. I write out what each doctor said, ask friends who have gone through a similar experience, ask my trusted doctor's opinions. I then pray for guidance. If you are not a prayerful person the rest should help you think out the best decision.

There is no one solution fits all.

Harvey, what you don't say is what your diagnosis is? Many of us have had many illnesses and it would help us to help you if you could be more specific? You're not just speaking of a headache.