Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Thanks for the reply and advice. Unfortunately here in the backwards state of Texas medical marijuana is very restricted to a very limited group of illnesses. I'll talk with my PCP and see what he thinks about it. As it stands now I take a Norco 10mg with 325 acetaminophen twice a day and a Robaxin 500mg three times a day which doesn't seem to do anything and at night I add an Ambien tablet 10mg to try and get a little sleep but now I've become tolerant of the Ambien and it's not working either. I would really like to see if I can get injections or nerve blocks if that's what they're called to help but the pain management specialist I go to says that because I have a cardiac stent and am taking brilinta which increases the risk of bleeding he refuses to entertain any of those procedures due to fear of an uncontrolled bleed. I understand he's being overly cautious but it's getting to the point where I am at a pretty constant 7 or 8 on the pain scale and this affects my ability to sleep and function as well as hold down a full time job. I wish there was an easy way to file and receive approval for SSDI but that's a whole other story. I was in the emergency room in March this past for chest pain and upper back pain as well. Bouts of nausea, shortness of breath, night sweats, chills, no appetite and extreme fatigue. Emergency room P.A. saw me and started the process of ruling out heart problems with chest x-ray, cardiac CT scan, and put on telemetry and tons of blood work. Long story short they decided it wasn't heart related and suggested I contact my bariatric surgeon who did my gastric bypass 23 years ago. Couldn't do that as he passed away about five years ago. Referred to gastroenterologist and she actually impressed me very much. Listened intently, asked questions, seemed very knowledgeable and caring and refered me for a colonoscopy and endoscopy in a couple months but needed to get cardiac clearance for anesthesiologist to put me under. Went to cardiologist and he suggested a stress test which I failed. So now he's saying I have to have another cardiac catheterization before they can give clearance to look at my north and south pipes. Hell I could be dead before they figure it all out. But the gastroenterologist who actually payed attention and listened to me and was engaged in a meaningful conversation with me sent me for the correct tests. The x-ray, CT scan of abdomen, and blood work. What it all determined was a moderate hiatal hernia, diverticulosis, chronic pancreatitis, post surgical changes to lobe of liver (I've never had liver surgery) and compression fractures of T11, T12 and L1 vertebrae which have been causing close to 70% or my horrific pain that I deal with 24/7 and the other 30% attributed to the chronic pancreatitis which has been attacking me almost non-stop for last two months. If anyone reading this has ever had acute pancreatitis I fee for you. It's probably the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. I go to my pain doctor and explain all of this to him and his answer to all of it is to switch me back to Norco from Percocet due to tolerance. Neither one of those wunderdrugs work to alleviate pain in the degree that some people are in a world of hurt. I really don't know what to do. I don't want to get pissy with him because of all the stories about how they arbitrarily drop patients and then you're out of luck with any relief. Any suggestions please?

Thank you Colleen, It's easy for me because I don't think I have it as bad<br />
as the others even though at times it would feel like it, until I read the<br />
posts. I would love to take it all away for them but I can't. So if we can<br />
be there for each other, it might give a little comfort are some purpose in<br />
their self in helping one another.<br />
<br />
salena<br />

Hi.
I’m melody. I have had multiple problems. I have neck and low back pain along with fibromyalgia. I have two hip replacements, RA. I was just approved for a pain pump and am getting ready. I am afraid of it ,but am going ahead with it.

Hi all,
I'm Colleen, Community Director and part of Connect's moderator team along with Kelsey. I want to say a special thank you to @leh09 @19lin @seanbeck @suebreen54 @mlemieux @ladyjane85 @lolomarie @zjandre @briansr @salena54 @sharonmay7 for all your contributions and making new members feel welcome.

Cheers to continued connecting on Connect.

I’m in more pain now than right after epic 2nd spinal fusion (pelvis to above shoulders 5 years ago). I’ve seen Ortho that did 2nd surgery at least 4 times, but nothing said except that anything above or below fusion is is under a lot of stress. Sigh…..pain, nonstop pain should not be ignored