Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Good luck with your disability claim. I have been fighting for disability for 9 years. I am on my 3rd successful appeal. Get all the physical proof and tests you can, or the judges won't rule in your favor. Use an attorney; they collect a fee only if you win. It is hard to slog through. Good luck at Mayo. I was referred to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, but I found that they offered only 1 procedure I wasn't already getting, are anti-pain meds, and out-of-network for my insurance. Research what Mayo offers you before you seek treatment there, and see if your insurance covers Mayo. It is extremely expensive to go out-of-network, and travel costs and accomodations for you and a companion are not covered. They may, however, be tax deductible depending on your circumstances.

Google Assurex. They offer pharmagenetic testing on a sliding scale based on income. If you are on Medicare, it is free. For all others, it is $75- $330, depending on income. My insurance wouldn't cover the $5500 test, so I paid on the sliding scale. It is a simple cheek swab. You do need to bring results to a doctor to interpret them for you, although they are easy to read. Give their toll-free number a call. I found it very helpful in selecting and changing meds.

I have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy, which, as you may know, means that there's no known cause. I'm not diabetic, either. I've tried every medication available for peripheral neuropathy, and none has helped. I'm now taking Cymbalta at 90mg daily, and Morphine sulfate contin, at 15mg twice a day, which only means that I have occasional days with a lower level of pain. Today, my pain level ranged from a low of 4 to a high of 8. The pain, burning and numbness is in my feet, with some sensitivity in my hands. I also take Oxycodone as needed for when it's really bad. I wear gloves when I drive. Lidocaine HCI cream numbs the painful areas of my feet at bedtime so I can get to sleep. I'm seeing the pain specialist again next week, and I hope he has something to suggest.

Good luck to
You. I wish you
The very best. I just hope I can get some relief . I just have perosets from my primary care because there are some many hurdles to overcome on Penn 's Pain Clinic . I am not going back it's just too upsetting . They don't believe my symptoms !!!!

I am so sorry for your pain, @jimhd. I ordered hemp cream from CW Botanicals, but I decided not to take it becsuse it may contain 0.03%THC. I don't want to risk violating my pain contract. I gave the cream to my MIL, who has diabetic neuropathy in her feet, and arthritis in her hands. She has found immense relief from both conditions. You may want to try this cream, to see if it helps; it is legal in all states. Your disability sounds life-consuming. I hope you find relief somewhere, soon.

Edieguinn, we are happy that you found this group as well. Thank you for sharing a bit about your issues with scoliosis.

You might be interested in the discussion going on in the Chronic Pain group called "Scoliosis and Chronic back pain" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-back-pain-2c72ae/. Here you will meet members like @detzler, @sauwoon8, @mieke, and @safetyshield who have experienced symptoms similar to yours.

Many thanks!

Hi im suebreen 54 but now im actually 56. I have degenerative disc disease involving my cervical discs and lumbar. Im disabled, but i worked from15 to 45 and im taking political science and world religions, through open source in MIT and Harvard. If anyone wants to know about that let me know I would be glad to tell you. Im involved in animal and environmental groups on FB and internet because of my disability. I live in the Adirondack Park on the St Regis River. I hace 4 grandchildren who dont live far. I like to use my experiences to help others. I have always helped pthers i was brought up that way. Glad to reintroduce my self.

Hello. Old Karl here. Lots of issues. Probably AL amyloidosis, systemic, hereditary. Constant headache pain for 5 months, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, polyneuropathy, feet, legs, bladder, kidneys failure, liver, pancreas, spleen, lungs, heart w/ arrhythmia, thyroid cancer, lymphoma, eye blepharitis and macular, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondilitis. Macular (bleeding) skin with petechiae. Constant pain. Excess Serum Free Light Chain.

Hello suebreen54 it is nice to meet you and share our experiences together