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@dphillips221

Hi everyone! I am 47 years old. I have chronic pain that started in my early 20s. Growing up I was always involved in sports, mainly gymnastics until middle school then soccer, basketball, and
cross-county. After years of episodic flare ups, I exhausted all “conventional” therapies. I couldn’t tolerate my work as a RN and decided to have my first fusion. I think it’s worth noting that both my Physiatrist and Spinal Surgeon saw significant changes on my MRIs in my cervical region- however, at that time, it wasn’t causing pain.
So, in 2013 at 38 years old, I had an Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) for L4-L5 and L5-S1. For 5 years, it was wonderful with minimal pain.
Then in 2015, I began experiencing neck pain, stiffness, severe headaches, and radiculopathy into my arms. In 2016, after again trying conventional and alternative therapies to no avail, I had a Cervical fusion from C5-C6 by the same surgeon.

In between these years I’ve also experienced the following:
(No family medical history- adopted)
Hip fracture (non-mechanical)
Finger fracture (required surgery)
Fractured toes
Other fracture finger
Cracked molars (2)
Severe Rib pain- been to ED x 2- Once was told “Pluerisy” and then told “costocondritis”
1 37-week gestation
1 34.5-week gestation
TMJ - left side of jaw
Cold hands/feet
Veins “blow” if I hit my hand on a table for example
Livedo Reticularis

Recent Findings/ new symptoms
Postural Tachycardia - recently noticed (130s while standing)
Osteopenia on DEXA scan
Radiculopathy- hip/ legs, groin, abdomen!!!
Left rib pain
hypermobility of spine- crepitus

I don’t even know what type of doctor I need to see at this point. Any help or guidance is so appreciated!!

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Replies to "Hi everyone! I am 47 years old. I have chronic pain that started in my early..."

Hello @dphillips221, Welcome to Connect. You certainly have been through a lot. I can't begin to imagine trying to figure out what is causing it and what might help. There is a discussion started by @jenniferhunter that you might find helpful - Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Have you heard of Myofascial Release Therapy?

I am currently 53 and also had spinal surgery at L4-L5. L5-S1(bi-lateral laminotomy at age 50) to relieve chronic pain from stenosis. I remain a side- or stomach-sleeper as sleeping on my back, pillows or not, still causes severe pain.

Approx. 3 weeks ago, I started experiencing almost identical symptoms you described —what felt like severe tension headaches at the base of my skull, along with neck pain, and stiffness, although the pain shooting down into my right arm has been going on for about 18 months, with both conventional & alternative therapies no longer working as well.

The thought of cervical surgery and potential limited mobility scares my to death, but the increasing severity and frequency of the headaches and neck pain is becoming unbearable. Did your doctor(s) or surgeon ever provide you with a specific diagnosis or alternative options to your cervical fusion?

Have you been tested for Lymes?