Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi @lauren123, myofascial pain syndrome is when the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles) is injured and causes painful muscle spasms with trigger points. I usually get trigger point injections (with an anesthetic) when they are really bad, I also use other techniques as well such as my tens unit, lidocaine patch, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories, heating pad and my hand held massager. I will occasionally use pain meds if I can't get relief from any of the other things I have tried. For my Facet Joint problem I take some pain meds when I have a flare up but the injections I get are steroid injections to the affected joints in my neck and so far they have always relieved the pain for 6-9 months. I get really bad headaches and pain down my shoulders/back when it is time to get the injections again. Hope I explained the syndrome good. What is the Trigeminal nerve?

He had me on 3200 mg of ibuprofen a day for like 6 months, he's given me muscle relaxers, and played it off as if I am imagining the pain. He's not sent me to a specialist yet but after the MRI results today he said he would schedule me for physical therapy then to see a neurosurgeon. Sometimes my legs feel like jello. It feels I have a can opener in my spine during the day then after I get home I am exhausted from pain all day. I feel bad when I go to sleep (which is about 4:00 to 5:00 am and I feel worse when I get up.

I have no idea where to turn, I have to support my family.

@carsalespapa

I responded to your other post. All I can say is that I'd be looking for a new doctor.

Jim

I am also looking as am thinking of going

Hi carsalespapa,
I have had chronic pain for over 10 years and I know the feeling of needing to work. I live alone and I am my sole source of support. Had I not had an excellent pain doctor who was willing to prescribe medication but who was very careful about it, I would not have been able to work as long as I have. I am turning 63 in a few weeks and so am very close to retirement now. If I were you I would check around with people you know or online in your area and find a pain doctor. These docs can help with injections, testing to really isolate the problem and finding the right medications that might at least get you some relief so that you can sleep. 3200 mg of ibuprofen seems like an awful lot and that stuff can really mess with your stomach after a while. I am no doctor but I have had a number of doctors tell me that. Not sure where you are located but do you have the ability to self refer to a pain specialist or do you have to get your doctor to refer you? Going to a neurologist may also be a good idea but I think you need to get some relief and that is why I say a good competent pain specialist is who I would try to see if I were you. Are you able to do this?

It all started last March,after shoveling snow,then it got worse I could not walk unless I was bent over or used a walker, I was told by my Orthopedic surgeon that is a classic symptom of Spinal Synosies,of which an MRI showed that and disc deteriations and Arthritis.I took the disc home went on "You Tube" and learned how to look at the images. I then compared it to a healthy one and was able to see most of the problems. I saw a lot of bone spurs and discs that looked like they went thru a wringer. Apparently I had this for a long time but why now did it start hurting and my guess was the snow shoveling. It took 6 months to finally start to see improvement, see my other introduction as to what I did to help stop the pain.

I've visited the clinic in August. I think the three week plan would be great. I'm just not sure how much it would cost to stay up there and feed myself for three weeks. Do you know anybody who's been through the treatment plan

@liz1945 and @lynettegable - Rochester Mayo Clinic has free Concierge Services that I'm pretty sure can help you with information about the costs. Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic Concierge Service page: http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota/becoming-a-patient/concierge-travel-services

John

Hi Gail, sorry a little late getting back to you but a lot of people have been asking me questions, but for you I hope I didn't allude that an operation would not help it's that Insurance company's want you to try non evasive techniques first. They want the spinal needles first or maybe PTs last but not least an operation. I'm not thrilled by operations and now the want me to look into what they call Burst stimulation, again To much risk of every thing from infections to paralysis and then some. Since you first read my situation
Every thing is going fine as long as I don't push it, the exercise I got off of ( you tube) there are differant types but you have to try each one to see what works best. You want to strep the ligaments without over doing it, I believe this what causes the sciatic nerve to become inflamed and cause inflammation which is the killer.
Keep in touch I hope I can help,and don't forget the Turmeric
Geno

I think you sent this to the wrong Gail.