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Nerve Pain after surgery from achalasia, that I'm confused about
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Feb 10, 2022 | Replies (7)Comment receiving replies
@shack76 Hello and welcome. I'm sorry you are experiencing such discomfort all this time after your surgeries. It seems crazy to you, I bet. I think you are heading in the right direction seeking out medical institutions or universities nearby. Seeing a specialist for swallowing and voice makes sense to me, and see what they suggest. Its always best to rule out specific causes and treatments. Have you scheduled an appointment yet?
I learned through my own journey of nerve pain and sensory symptoms, that occasionally chronic nerve pain can unexpectedly occur after surgeries or traumatic events, this is called Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS). Given the fact that you are 18 months after surgeries, this appears to be chronic, not acute. CSS is an upregulation of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in which nerves may misfire sending louder signals to the brain. Peripheral input is affected via the spinal cord causing changes to sensor cells resulting in over-reactive nerves. Sensory, motor and autonomic may all be affected. Here is a video from Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sletten explaining CSS. You mind find it helpful in understanding the process.
Knowledge is power and I believe patients should be their own advocates by being prepared when they go to their medical appointments. I hope you find concrete answers and a path forward after visiting specialists, but please keep this info in your back pocket. Do you mind sharing your thoughts on the video, and letting me know how things are going for you?
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I just watched the video and there are many aspects of what he was talking about that make sense.
The first being the it's going to be important for me to find doctors who will look at my entire history, because it is not clear why these symptoms are present right now. One aspect that I've had trouble finding doctors to take in to account and now seems even more important, is that I've been sober for twenty-one years and was incorrectly diagnosed as dual-diagnosed for years. I haven't taken any kind of psyche meds for over seven years. I came off the them because they made me quite sick, and frankly was giving far to many for years. The fact that the symptoms have never completely gone away only changed since coming off the meds seems to be important, if only to understand that further medication is not going to help. It's possible that history set me up for this to happen, and having two surgeries for in the middle of pandemic were the trigger. Because the symptoms are chronic looking at my entire history is even more important.
Right now I have a referral to OHSU, they have a voice and swallowing clinic, a pain clinic, and nerve center I think their a good place to start. There are also several neurologists in our state who do what called Nueromodulation therapy. I think this is worth looking into more. In some cases it can help. I think the closest doctor who offers this is in Tigard (that's just outside of Portland).
Philip