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Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Chronic Pain | Last Active: Mar 16 11:12am | Replies (7172)Comment receiving replies
I developed earaches in September 2016. My primary care found no ear or sinus infection and sent me to an ENT, who diagnosed TMJ pain. I went to my dentist for help. He gave me weekly anesthesia shots into trigger points (OUCH!) and exercises to do, including massaging the trigger points and opening my mouth as wide as I could numerous times in the shower while my face was warm and wet. (I have been wearing a night guard made by my dentist for over 20 years; he replaces them as they wear out.) The pain continued and only got worse; it was at the top of my head, in my ears, in my jaw, above my palate (as though I'd eaten hot food). My dentist sent me to an oral surgeon, who did 360-degree x-rays and found no joint damage. He told me I was therefore not a candidate for surgery (YAY!) and prescribed Flexeril, a muscle relaxer. The pain only got worse, and I continued to wake up in the night with horrific pain. Ibuprofen didn't even touch it.
My dentist then sent me to a physical therapist, who didn't listen to a word I said. I came in on a "good" pain day: my pain level was about a 5 out of 10 (10 being the worst). After his examination and showing me how to do various exercises, he triumphantly told me that my pain level was now reduced. I said "No. My pain level is now about 7.5." He said he didn't believe me. He attempted to push me to go to his outside clinic to get "magnet therapy," and he tried to push me to see a friend of his who is a naturopath. Two days after this session, I was still in excruciating pain and doubt I'd ever return to this physical therapist, although he had me schedule 4 more 1-hour sessions with him.
I called my dentist again, and he called in a prescription for Tylenol plus codeine, which I can take every 4 to 6 hours. My dentist seems to have no further solutions for me.
My primary care is currently out of town, but I will see her when she gets back (in August); she may be referring me to a pain management specialist, which my dentist recommended--however, my dentist refuses to give me a referral to such a specialist, even though the specialist will take referrals from dentists or doctors.
I have been treated for many years for clinical depression and panic/anxiety disorder by my psychiatrist, and the meds have helped me immensely. On Monday I see my psychiatrist for my usual 6-month med check, and I'm going to ask him for help with the terrible TMJ pain. I have also had fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome for a long time. The fibro pain has greatly lessened over time and hardly bothers me, but the CFS continues.
The TMJ pain makes it difficult to concentrate. I'm self-employed, and I enjoy my work. But pain gets in the way, as it does in every single situation: work or pastimes. My dentist mentioned massage therapy, but I'm in too much pain right now to try it. Another friend mentioned using a TENS unit. I feel as though I'm not living; to be in constant pain is hardly living, at least to me.
Any other suggestions? Would a TENS unit help? I'm more than willing to purchase one. I'll try just about anything to be pain free. Sometimes I am pain free. But I spend about 2 weeks out of every month in serious pain. I am feeling very discouraged.
Replies to "I developed earaches in September 2016. My primary care found no ear or sinus infection and..."
@jimhd Thank you for my morning chuckle...there are meds that can do some (can't come up w/ word)...Wait! Lower inhibitions.
Good news about your test results.
@jimhd I was prescribed a heavy dosage of ibuprofen too, mine for hip bursitis. I finally got to the point where I just did not feel good about taking so much of it so I quit, even though it really did help. Now, post-transplant I cannot take ibuprofen, aspirin, or any of those NSAIDS, only acetaminophen. Doesn't help much, but better than nothing. You make me glad I quit when I did.
JK
@parus I too have spent money trying to get some relief for things and know it was basically wasted but we do what we have to do in desperate times. I'm happy for you that you are now finding some relief.
JK
I buy any and all supplements, then I try to get them ok'd by .my PCP.. it is best if the dr.writes a Rx for the supplements. In the past, business:has sent all meds to the patient . With gm and their staff, plus the workers, housekeeping, etc., they must know. It is sad that Americans pay lots of moneyfor things that fall. I have planned lawn parties and had to call uninhabited. On the way home,
Many OTC and legit scripted are still dangerous. Paul will have to double his payoff from open If you can't until our next time together.
Many vitamins endorse what se as fact. The soviets made a tv show.tl llah bdre! I quickly ran through the tow line istill safe.i will pick the kids for dinner.
That is so sweet of you! Not really, he said.
Goes to show what works for one person will be a bane to another. I had a horrible experience on Wellibutrin! It made me suicidal. I initially had good success with Prozac until it stopped working. Tried Lexapro with no success - may as well have been on nothing. I have been taking Cymbalta for a few years now and it offers some relief, though nothing works as well as my initial experience with Prozac. I take Trazadone to help me sleep. Helps keep the nightmares at bay and my legs from moving. Just shows one should not give up but keep trying until you find something that works. We are all different - which is a good thing.
@hazel. Wow, what a horrible experience! Does sound like it is time to find a new dentist!
I know what you mean, Blindeyepug. I've been on so many psych meds until my psychiatrist found the right cocktail for me. I'd been on Prozac once. And I do mean once. I took one pill, and I felt as though I were crawling out of my skin! It was horrible. So, obviously that didn't work. My husband, who also has clinical depression, has been happily taking Prozac, and it helps him immensely. Go figure.
Hi @hazelblumberg, based on my experience with medications, Mayo figured out that I have genetic polymorphisms that affect my body's ability to properly-metabolize many medications. My reactions to medications have always been very strange, and it seems that you have experienced this, as well. You may want to consider pharmacogenomics testing, also called PGx testing. I had some done onsite at Mayo - Rochester and more done via mail order from OneOme.com (a Mayo company). These tests figured out that I don't properly-metabolize all pysch meds, proton pump inhibitors, and more. Ends up I had been taking medications for years that were making me sick.
@blindeyepug see my comment above. This testing may be beneficial for you, as well.
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@hazelblumberg
Hazel,
I tried several antidepressants until I landed on Wellbutrin, and I started Clonazepam for anxiety at about the same time. One bonus is that it keeps me from acting out my dreams, which makes my wife happier.
I think that Amitriptyline is used for a few different things. I've used it for pain and as an add on to Wellbutrin. I haven't taken it for quite awhile. Wellbutrin seems to keep me at a stable level, which doesn't mean that it completely eliminates depression, but I think it keeps me from the mood swings.
I had an endoscopy and a colonoscopy a month or two ago, and it showed that everything gastrointestinal looks good, with no sign of ulcers. I don't take NSAIDS every day, but only when my hands hurt from arthritis. I think that it's been long enough since I had ulcers, I don't worry about taking aspirin or Ibuprofen occasionally.
Jim