Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I am only sharing my experiences, not advocating for one medication or another.

I didn't read it as advocating. Just wanted to be sure everyone here knew they weren't in the same class of meds. When my arthritis flares I definitely wish I could still use it.
Sue

I am Terri and new to this group. Have had chronic pain for 22 years. Not sure but I suspect that a fall I had in 1981 onto a stone floor at 8 mos pregnant had a lot to do with this but no problems with pain happened until 20 years later. When Occipital Neuralgia developed on my left side. Also I was gluten intolerant and did not know it. And also had bone spurs in my neck that started causing much pain 20 Yrs after the fall which after MRI in 2001, showed nerve pinching in my neck. That became intolerable so I had micro-neuro surgery in 2007 to have them scraped away. But as is often the case, I received nerve damage from the surgery. And did not know I was in process of developing Fibromyalgia. I have been on only Lyrica for 12 years. Honestly it is amazing that I am still living in 2022. I have an extremely angry CNS. Have extreme cold weather sensitivity so I spend the winter in Fl.

@irr4et Hi Terrie, welcome. I'm certainly glad you are still living in 2022. You explain a pretty bumpy road that has not been easy. I'm sure being on Connect will help you learn from others, and find support along your continued journey.

A lot of what you mention lines up with a chronic pain condition called Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS). Are you familiar with CSS? Your fibromyalgia, sensitivity to cold, an increase in nerve pain all these years later, really does line up with this condition. CSS is an overactive central nervous system, or as you state, angry CNS. Great way to describe it (I've got an angry one too).

Here is a video presentation by Dr. Sletten from the Mayo Clinic. You may find it interesting, and maybe even resonate with much of what he explains.

I am sad to report that I have lost my joy in life but glad to report I have much joy in my faith. Yes I do have very bad CSS and Dysautonomia. Adrenal fatigue also - my BP will not stay up so I have to take Florinef. I live alone in Fl bc my husband is up north and not retired yet. My little grand daughters make me laugh. I walk a lot outdoors when the weather is sunny. I used to do light hand weights and leg press machine but now that makes me flare. I do stretch at home but that increases my pain too. Dental cleanings mean huge flare next two or three days. I do have Ketamine sublingual melts - it only takes 1/3rd to help reduce pain but it’s psychoactive and I must have someone at home with me. That means I have to hire someone. Ketamine does not help me go to sleep. I have a ? - Does a Whole Body Vibration Plate help Fibro pain?

@irr4et Having joy in your faith is something to hold on tight to. Grandchildren, what a blessing! That makes me happy for you.

I was lost emotionally, physically, and behaviorally, from chronic conditions because I did not know how to treat myself or manage all the chaos that came from it. I very much relate to your flares and set backs. Also, medications aka chemicals, that I used to help my pain, ultimately enhanced my pain and made me loopy in the process. It was an absolute nightmare. A frightening place to be.

Doctors and Specialists are generally not educated in CSS treatment. The person living with chronic pain upregulation from CSS does generally not have knowledge
on how to properly manage their symptoms which is why things just get worse from deconditioning. It's a viscous cycle.

Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL offers a phenominal pain rehab program that helps people just like you and I, and is designed to improve function and quality of life. How far is Jacksonville from you? Is this something you might consider?

my name is Berge Markarian, 94 years old, have backache due to spondylosis= arthritis of the spine , have had multiple physical therapies, Facet injections , radiofrequency ablations without any result. I just started taking Turmeric, hoping I will have some relief

Don’t expect anything! It didn’t work at all for my neuropathy!

Welcome @williaml6115, Sounds like you also tried a Turmeric supplement but didn't see any reduction in your pain from neuropathy. Do you mind sharing a little more about your neuropathy diagnosis and what treatments have helped you?

Hello everyone and thank you for starting this group. I'm a 72 year old female and have multiple problems with my back including a endplate compression fracture of the L3 vertebrae, bone marrow edema, several disc protrusions measuring from 3mm to 4mm, facet arthropathy, grade 1 retrolisthesis, moderate facet arthropathy, a broad-based disc osteophyte complex that measure 4 mm in dimension and scoliosis. Almost all of these affect all of the lumbar discs, except for the fracture of the vertebrae. This is the 3rd vertebrae I've either fractured or broken. I have severe osteoporosis so I'm at high risk for breaking bones and have had my share of them. So with all that aside, my spine specialist says I'm at high risk for surgery because my bones are so brittle. My pain level is relieved by pain meds and spinal injections. But when I recently fractured my vertebrae the pain was unbearable. All my doctor has wanted to do is send me for X-rays and MRI's. I did all that and now she wants me to go for more X-Rays. But has never once tried to do anything for my pain. I could go to the ER but all they would do is give me pain shots which only last a few hours and I would have to go every day to keep me out of pain and you all know that eventually they would consider you a addict. I hate those pain shots because of they way they make me feel. So what I'm wondering is why would a doctor not help their patient with this much pain, even if it's for a short time, until they can find another way of treatment. It's been almost a month since I fractured my vertebrae and I've barely been able to stand to even fix myself anything to eat or go to the restroom. On top of all this, I have C-dif, so getting to the bathroom in time has not been too successful and cleaning up after myself has been so difficult. My doctor just doesn't seem to understand the difficulty the pain has been for me. Does anyone else out there have to deal with this? What in the world is going on? Are they really that afraid of losing their license if they don't do as the Food & Drug Admin tells them to do with dispensing of pain meds or am I just missing the point here. The pain center clinics are all new to me and now I hear that even the doctors won't even dispense cough syrup with codeine . Is this true? Has it gotten that bad or is this the new normal? I'm just shocked that a doctor won't help a patient in this kind of pain. Please share your thoughts or advice. I would love to hear from anyone out there who is dealing with chronic pain and not getting the proper treatment for it. Thank you very much.