ACNES, Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome

Posted by leet3415 @leet3415, Mar 28, 2019

Hi. Quick back story. In Nov 2018 I had sharp pain in the top middle of my abdomen right below my sternum. Pain level 10 of 10. They thought it was my gallbladder, had it removed. Still had pain. multiple ER visits, hospitalized 2-3 times for a week each, 20 plus doctor appointments, over 100K spent in medical costs billed to my insurance.
As a last resort, went to Mayo and was diagnosed in under 30 minutes.

In January 2019 had my first trigger point injection, just had my 2nd injection March 2019. Still in a lot of pain. Taking gabapentin as well. **Has anyone else been diagnosed with this AND what are the symptoms & treatments you are receiving? Are you finding any relief?**

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

@benacnes

I understand exactly what you're saying. I did not have a life for 3 years. I could not sleep on my side and sometimes the weight of the covers on my stomach would cause such excruciating pain. Was common to cry getting dressed the pain was so intense. I feel for you.

I had no issues whatsoever with bowel or bladder control or sensation. There was a small concern that a part of my abdominal muscle might not work but that wasn't the case. It will not effect the use of your leg.

I'm glad you got in touch with them. I flew down from Alberta, Canada and stayed at a hotel in Phoenex. There's one right by the hospital. They have a discount for patients of St. Joseph's. Totally worth the effort!

Ben

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Thank you again, Ben. I'm doing a little work of gathering the records each day. My goal is to FedEx a package on Saturday. Wish me luck!

Susan

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@benacnes

I understand exactly what you're saying. I did not have a life for 3 years. I could not sleep on my side and sometimes the weight of the covers on my stomach would cause such excruciating pain. Was common to cry getting dressed the pain was so intense. I feel for you.

I had no issues whatsoever with bowel or bladder control or sensation. There was a small concern that a part of my abdominal muscle might not work but that wasn't the case. It will not effect the use of your leg.

I'm glad you got in touch with them. I flew down from Alberta, Canada and stayed at a hotel in Phoenex. There's one right by the hospital. They have a discount for patients of St. Joseph's. Totally worth the effort!

Ben

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Can you tell me about St. Joseph’s? What do patients go there for? Thanks!

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@finny4606

Can you tell me about St. Joseph’s? What do patients go there for? Thanks!

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St Joseph's Medical Center Phoenix, AZ has a comprehensive website.

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Thank you, groudan, I will check them out. I am trying to find a correct diagnosis, almost 4 years after my initial diagnosis of CRPS. Two physicians told me recently that I was misdiagnosed. So now I’d like to see a spine specialist to see what’s causing my terrible pain in both legs. Mayo Clinic didn’t accept me.

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@ilean

I will bring this up to my GI!!

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Just a note: Very few doctors have ever heard of this let alone how to treat it.

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@mmoss

I have had lower abdominal burning for 6 weeks. I have had every test possible and everything comes back normal. Thinking this could be nerve pain. Has anyone ever experienced this and what treatment did you have to get rid of the pain. Thank you

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Sounds very much like Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome. Few doctor ever heard of and hardly any know how to treat. I found a doctor at St Joseph's Medical Center in Phoenix, Dr Thomas Gillespie, who severed the 3 nerves that were trapped and went home same afternoon cured.

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@dennyb2317

The pain is pretty much constant . Remaining seated and relaxed it subsides some. Read this article . It gives some insight into my symptoms. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterior_cutaneous_nerve_entrapment_syndrome

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I’m grasping at anything I can find. My husband started having severe abdominal pain four months ago. We’ve had CTs, MRI of abdomen and spine, colonoscopy and EGD. All came back normal. I came across ACNES in a google search and am wondering if this could be the answer. Pain has progressed to the point that he has lost 30 lbs. and is pretty much in bed almost all of the time. Is not able to function day to day. Our local primary doctor has tried to get a referral to Mayo, but they called and said not accepting new patients in gastrointestinal. What kind of doctor would diagnose this?

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How did you get into Mayo and what department. My doctor recently sent a referral for GI and we were turned down. I came across ACNES today and am wondering if this could be the answer. We have had every test they can do locally and everything comes back normal. But, my husband’s pain has progressed to him being in bed and not able to function. He can’t even stand for his shirt or sheets to touch him. We are desperate for an answer.

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@finny4606

Thank you, groudan, I will check them out. I am trying to find a correct diagnosis, almost 4 years after my initial diagnosis of CRPS. Two physicians told me recently that I was misdiagnosed. So now I’d like to see a spine specialist to see what’s causing my terrible pain in both legs. Mayo Clinic didn’t accept me.

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I'm reply to pain in both legs. I was in hospital for 2 days for pain control. I was getting dilaudid prn and scheduled. The pain started coming gradually and then peaked then would subside for anywhere from 5-8 minutes then I'd feel it coming on again. I had ice packs on my legs. I cried so much the day I went to hospital, 7pm, that my eyes were swollen. I have had back issues for 20+years and if I stand too long in one place, my thighs get numb. I have woke during the night and either left or right thigh would be numb so I'd turn over. I can't lie on my back because that makes them numb. When I did wake during night, I was on my side. Just treating with pain meds and gabapentin right now. I do not want surgery. That pain in my legs was mostly in the thigh area and felt like it was deep inside my thigh. It's hard to explain and the ER doctor was going to send me home and I started crying and said omg I know you're not going to send me home with this pain. I was already taking hydrocodone every 4 hours and it was doing nothing and that's when he said we can admit you and try pain control if you want. It was terrible.

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@jacollins

I’m grasping at anything I can find. My husband started having severe abdominal pain four months ago. We’ve had CTs, MRI of abdomen and spine, colonoscopy and EGD. All came back normal. I came across ACNES in a google search and am wondering if this could be the answer. Pain has progressed to the point that he has lost 30 lbs. and is pretty much in bed almost all of the time. Is not able to function day to day. Our local primary doctor has tried to get a referral to Mayo, but they called and said not accepting new patients in gastrointestinal. What kind of doctor would diagnose this?

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I think I can help you. My ACNES was cured 2 years ago by a surgeon in Phoenix. Contact me through Mayo private email. Too much to write about but there is great hope. Jeff G. Many on this site have been cured by Dr Gillespie.

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