Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi to everyone,
I’m new to the Connect group and will be visiting Mayo in Jacksoville in a couple months. I’ve been seen in Rochester about a decade ago for spinal injuries. I’ve been diagnosed with severe CRPS Type 2 as well as other spinal disorders. I’ve had over 57 surgeries and hundreds of procedures along my way of life. Eight of those are back and neck surgeries leaving me fused from the Sacrum - T 4 and C3-6. I have very limited movement and my back muscles are in constant spasms. My pain has spread to over 80% of my body. The worst of it in my feet and right arm. The nerve weaknesses and pain has left me bedridden and wheelchair bound. When I stand or try to walk, my left leg goes totally numb and then I fall over. Even with the use of my crutches.
I use a combination of narcotics, muscle relaxants and nuerostimulating meds to help me. This used to manage my pain until the doctors started cutting back my pain meds. It was working great for 20 years then the government got involved in my treatment.
My auto immune system is starting to revolt and I’m having trouble with blood flow to my lower extremities. I don’t know what to do next. That’s basically why I’m going to Mayo again. Thanks for letting me vent!

thank you. I take morphijne because I do not sleep. I get about 2 or 3 hours of sleep a night. I know it does not help chronic pain but as you see I suffer from this double wheammy, pain and no sleep.

Hey there, welcome @msg, thank you for joining Connect. No worries, we all need to vent sometime. I'm sorry to read about your pain journey. What brings you to Jacksonville Mayo? Are you seeing a doctor or attending pain rehab?

Hello Rita @ritarose, thank you for joining Connect, and reaching out to share and seek support. I'm happy to hear you are working with a pain clinic. It sounds as though you've had some challenges lately but are prevailing. You will most likely hear from others who are from MN, not me though, I'm a New Yorker. We do share the same unruly weather however. 😜

Rita, do you mind sharing some of the techniques you presently use for managing pain? What hobbies do you have that bring joy?

Constant pain causes often causes severe depression. May want to seek the help of a pain manager, which includes a pain management psychologist (and maybe a vascular doctor and/or a neurologist). There are tools at the doctors disposal that he (or she) may use to mitigate the pain.

I’m planning on seeing pain management and spine health doctors. I’m still waiting for for my appointment. They’re in the process of gathering my medical records. With all the problems I’m having, I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up in the pain rehab program.

I'm sure Mayo will give a thorough review of your medical records and advise accordingly.

Will you please keep us updated on your appointment progress?

You bet I will. Thanks for the support!

Gabapentin is known to cause muscle cramps and many people cannot tolerate. It made me uncoordinated and I stopped it. Read the label from pharmacy before you stop it for any precautions. Baclofen which I’ve been on since 1998 does not cause muscle cramps but treats muscle spasms. You should also consider fluid intake and mineral deficiency as causes too. If it’s bothersome enough seek medical advice.

Concerning Gabapentin-I take every night 600 mg for nerve compression in my neck. I am not sure that it actually works to alleviate it, but it seems to help me sleep and has only one other effect that I am aware of-mind music. Since starting Gabapentin years ago I have very strong recall of songs from years past that will replay over and over. This is unusual for me but not troubling. If muscle cramps are an issue it is likely due to a chemical imbalance. Maybe it flushes calcium or some other mineral. I don't know for sure but muscle cramps are alleviated if I experience them at night by taking a calcium supplement the day after.