Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself
Welcome to the new Chronic Pain group.
I’m Kelsey and I’m the moderator of the group. I look forwarding to welcoming you and introducing you to other members. Feel free to browse the topics or start a new one.
Why not take a minute and introduce yourself.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.
Hi, I'm a female 60 years old. I've lived with chronic pain since I was 27 years old. I was working with disabled children at the time and I was performing a "safety hold" on a child so he wouldn't injure himself or the other children until we could get him to the area where he could vent his anger in a safe place. Anyway he thrusted so hard he caused my back to twist and I ended up with 3 discs herniated in my lumbar area. Since then I've had 4 spine surgeries, hardware, spinal cord stimulator and a implanted intrathecal morphine pain pump. I've had racz catheter procedures done to get the steroid medication through spinal scar tissue. Epidural steroid injections ( more than what is medically recommended) I've had Radiofrequency ablation procedures on my SI joints to burn the nerves, physical therapy, aqua therapy, so......I now have Arachnoditis due to the dura space being penetrated by needles requiring blood patches because my spinal fluid was leaking out.
In 2013 I was diagnosed at the hospital after having a Adrenal crisis. I was rushed to the ER and told after 2 tests that i had Addison's disease. Due to having all those epidural, trigger point, and other steroid injections my adrenal glands had stopped producing the hormones that are needed to live. Now I have to take daily steroids, Hydrocortisone 15 mg in divided doses each day. Also I have to take a medication to keep my fluids in balance. My blood pressure can bottom out if i dont take it and eat lots of salty things. Usually i just take salt tablets.
I have had pretty good results with the intrathecal morphine pain pump. But like everything else it stops working after a few years. I've had mine 5 years. I'm weaning down my dose by 15% weekly. At this rate I'll be off the pump in about 9 weeks not having to incur any withdrawal symptoms.
In the mean time they are giving me Tramadol 50 mg 3 times a day and Baclofen 10 mg 4 times a day for the terrible spasticity that I have each day.
My Faith and classical music is what makes each day bearable. So enough about me...... 🙂
Hi Hosta. I had a Medtronic Intrathecal morphine pain pump implanted in 2013. Like I said in my introduction below it worked for a couple years real good on my pain, but like other opioids I kept having to bump it up a little every 5-6 months or so. My dose now is a little over 4 mg per day. They say it only takes 1/300th of a dose compared to oral pain meds but you built up a tolerance. I'm weaning down now 15% per week due to not wanting any withdrawal symptoms. If you and your doctor think it's best for you, great. Oh, one more thing I found out in 5 years. When you need your pump refilled every 90 days or so good luck finding a doctor who will refill it if you're a traveler. My husband and I had to drive a 8 hour round trip to go to a doctor in North Dakota when there was a doctor 20 minutes away that could have filled it. He said point blank to me if I didnt put it in I won't take care of it. Once we got moved, I couldn't find a doctor for 150 miles in any direction that would fill it for me. They dont tell you these things before you go under the knife. If you're a homebody and dont travel much or dont plan to move perhaps you wont have this difficulty. We retired so we needed to move. Having no idea that this would happen.
@mdmo Thanks for cutting to the chase and letting us know about your journey with chronic pain. My original injuries from falling off a horse, to falling down a mountain, to being in the wrong place at the wrong time for three auto accidents have left me with challenges. I appreciate your efforts to try whatever might work and whatever it takes. Be safe, be well.
@mdmo, I don't know what to say except I'm so sorry for all you're going through, and have been through. I will be worrying about you, and praying for you. Please stay a member of this group and please know you are not alone in your frustration and your pain. @cognac
@memo Wow you are a true warrior for all yo u,ve been throw can,t imagine the pain you,ve been throw I've got back problems as alot on here do but your to be commended for this
Hi
I am Kate and live in Canada. I have constant migraines that are a huge factor in my life. Not that I want anyone else to suffer but it's nice to find others who understand.
Hi Kathy, my name is Lee. I went to a nurologist and he gave me Butal-acet- caff. Now it is more than likely this is a lightweight pill. My migraine start with a shock in my brain that stops me short. I put my hand to my head automatically. On the worst ones they can last 2 days or more. Ice helps...they got worse when I fell and passed out hitting my head on concrete. I was a bloody mess. They looked at my brain for bleeds nothing. I guess I am hRd headed. I started drawing a circle to take to Dr next month to show where pain hits.
Kathy.. the vomiting is horrible at times
@mdmo I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and welcome you to Mayo Connect. I am a Volunteer Mentor here to offer my knowledge,personal experience and support.
When I read that you had epidural injections in 12 weeks my jaw hit the floor! It's no wonder you have Addisons you poor thing! Bless your heart. I am 54 and have had 20 + years of chronic pain and various treatments for spinal stenosis, herniated disc, bulging disc, radiculothapy, bone spurs on each level of the C Spine. I have had the litany of injections, PT,Tens Unit, Massage, accupuncture, and RFA..you name it. I am not a surgical canidate. My current treatment is Tens Unit as needed and Percocet 10/325, Baclofen, Lyrica and Cymbalta. The Cymbalta and Lyrica are for fibromyalgia.
May I ask at what point in your treatment did you get the pain pump? It's something I am considering. I have been on Fentanyl patches and was successfully weaned off of them and all opioids within 30 days. My doctors were very impressed.They expected the transitiion to take 3 months. As you said Enough about me...
Welcome,
Jen
Congrats on getting off narcotics so quickly. My family Dr about two yrs ago put me on morphine. It took me down a road I will never go again. 24 hrs a day pain and sweats. I did not have any help from Dr as I did not ask for it. I ended up loosing my gall blatter with in days and I was filled with poison. It turned into a major otdeal. They cleaned me out. Three times I was taken to hospital by ambulance while coming off. I was told to be a good girl and take my flu home. The third time a surgeon was on duty and saved my life. My blood pressure was up to 200 at one time, when Dr gave me no comfort and sent me home. Nightmare