The I have chronic pain thread

sharky

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Maybe this will help us like the wt loss one helped many...

Yes I take one med for pain and one for myoclonus ... I now have a happy face
... Took me 20 yrs to ask for something for the myoclonus...
 

essayons89

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I have a herniated disk in my lower back that cause my sciatic nerve to pinch in my upper left buttock. Vicoden doesn't help at all. The only thing I take is Aleve, I don't know if I want anything stronger than that or if it would even help.


Eventually, I'll have to file a new claim with work comp to get it corrected. I refuse to deal with anyone in occupational health because they are the reason I'm still injured. I'll find my own doctor, thank you very much!
 

theimp98

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yea, i have 2 broken discs in my back, that have been knocked out of there slot.
at time they push on the nerve going down. Makes my legs and feet hurt to the point that walking can is a real pain.

as for meds, pain killers dont realliy work on me very well, just normal aspirin works better, but it wont help me walk better. i also have some methadone, i take on days where i cant sleep due to pain.
 

pat

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I have some disk and vertebrae issues that aleve worked well for, but since my recent knee injury, I no longer take aleve but relafen, and if it's super bad, I do have a mild prescription pain killer.

The torn meniscus in the right knee and moderate arthritis in both, plus one thumb that now has a joint that pops and is always sore, has brought me to a place I never wanted to go..chronic pain of any kind
 

swampwitch

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I was diagnosed with adult scoliosis a couple of years ago. I've always been quite strong and didn't think anything about it and lifted our daughter's 200 lb. playhouse to move and clean it. (I lifted up one side and dragged it, I didn't lift it over my head or anything.)

I did it with one arm, very stupidly, and had horrible shoulder pain from it. Turns out it was my back, not my shoulder that was the problem, I've been to physiotherapy many times since then and it's the only thing that helps with the pain.

Now that my spine is being manipulated into going where it's supposed to be, I get a lot of pain in my legs as they are readjusting to their new place.

I've been on Oxycodone but it doesn't help much. Physio and exercise are the only things that help with the pain.

When I get the pain in my legs, I cannot sit or lie down and have to keep walking. I pace all day long and all night, until I'm so exhausted I fall into bed asleep. I can only sleep for 15 minutes at a time and have to get up and walk again. Those are not fun nights.
 

pookie-poo

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I have two seperate issues going on with my back. I have a bulging disc in my neck at C5-6, and have intense muscle spasms across my upper back that often take my breath away. I also have spondylolisthesis in my lumbar spine at L4-5, L5-S1, which causes my chronic lower back pain, which radiates down my right leg.

I had an injury in late July, which started the muscle spasms, which eventually led to my MRI and diagnosis. I had three months of physical therapy, which really helped. I also was prescribed a T.E.N.S. unit. After they graduated me from physical therapy, I joined the fitness center at work, to continue with my physical therapy exercises.

I can't take NSAIDs, because of an incidence of acute renal failure, that was brought on by NSAID use (although, I have to admit, sometimes I do take them when the pain gets real bad!) I have a prescription for Vicodin, that I got when I had some dental work done, that I take when the pain is even too bad for the naprosyn and T.E.N.S. unit to help.

My coworkers can tell just by my demeanor and facial expression, if I'm having a bad back day, or a good back day.
 

strange_wings

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Originally Posted by sharky

Yes I take one med for pain and one for myoclonus ... I now have a happy face
... Took me 20 yrs to ask for something for the myoclonus...
Do you know what is causing the myoclonus? That would have to be rather unnerving if it happen frequently or in public.



Probably shouldn't have asked... but here goes.


So far I have been diagnosed with a bulging disc at L4-L5 with a tear in the disc. It causes spasms in my lower back, dull aching across low back, and spreads across the lower back to the outside of the pelvis/outer hip girdle (or whatever the heck you'd call that area). If I've done something stupid... like raking, I'll get tingling down the left leg but luckily no pain that goes down my legs at all ( so
at the doc who won't listen when I tell her that).
Facet joint hypertrophy (arthritis -type that makes the joint larger) at the same space. Adds to the aching and spasms.
Scoliosis in lower back.
Osteophytes/spurs from C4-T1 and some nerve compression. Causes headaches out of C3-C4 - these start at the back of my head so if anyone has headaches that seem to start there, get you neck checked out. Some reverse curving (kyphosis?) that causes my neck to be straighten out some.

Overall this is annoying, dull aches I can live with.
I did nothing to instigate these problems, no improper lifting or anything like that.

Stuff that really bothers me -
SI joint pain (doc says it's just nerve pain from the back
), arthritis in the right SI with narrowing. This makes it very difficult to walk, sit, lay down, get up, etc. Sharp pains in these joints can cause me to fall.
Responds to weather changes and can be tender over the joints... if I miss NSAID doses.

Shoulders, especially right shoulder. When it acts up it can be impossible to use that arm for anything. Doc says "may be tendinitis"...

Left ankle, pops causing a lot of pain. Must wear an ankle brace 24/7 to keep from moving it wrong. Hypermobile. Doc says "may be tendinitis" -see a theme?


Elbows and wrists act up, too. Weather and overuse causes slight swelling, slight redness, and pain - sort of tendinitis like. The elbow joints also like to lock and hurt.

And the mid back has been a bother since Nov. 15 - when Tomas knocked me on butt.


Blood work doesn't show anything and there's nothing on x-rays (she never x-rayed the elbows, shoulder, or even knees though...). No idea if or when anyone will figure out the real cause.

Relafen for arthritis/inflammation - it takes the edge off on the worst days and really helps a lot day to day.
Flexeril for the spasms and Ultram for the worst of the pain, as needed - they help but getting refills is difficult.

I also have a low blood pressure and what I suspect is an orthostatic intolerance related problem - I get up, I get dizzy, I faint. Chest pain and tightness if I stand too long. It's a bit scary and sometimes the falls do injure me...No idea what to do to get that diagnosed around here.



All in all... I laugh at some of the odd problems these all cause - me walking like an old lady some days, the way I walk, dropping stuff, my lovely foot wear (do you think they make ankle braces in neat colors?
), or even the fainting.
 

glitch

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I understand what some of you are going through. I have scoliosis that didn't get diagnosed until late, that causes back problems and muscle spasms. I also have TMJ! I always thought it was just migrains but it turned out to be TMJ. I have tendanitis in both ankles and I feel the pain of having to wear those ugly braces all the time! I tore all my tendons and ligaments in my upper thighs and have broken my butt several times!! All in all this stuff causes alot of pain, I have to see a chiropractor constantly, I have a nuerologist for the TMJ, I see a family doctor for the rest of it! I always have a well stocked cupboard of pain killers! I also take flexiril to take care of muscle spasms!!
 

xlaydeextaniax

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Originally Posted by SwampWitch

I was diagnosed with adult scoliosis a couple of years ago. I've always been quite strong and didn't think anything about it and lifted our daughter's 200 lb. playhouse to move and clean it. (I lifted up one side and dragged it, I didn't lift it over my head or anything.)

I did it with one arm, very stupidly, and had horrible shoulder pain from it. Turns out it was my back, not my shoulder that was the problem, I've been to physiotherapy many times since then and it's the only thing that helps with the pain.

Now that my spine is being manipulated into going where it's supposed to be, I get a lot of pain in my legs as they are readjusting to their new place.

I've been on Oxycodone but it doesn't help much. Physio and exercise are the only things that help with the pain.

When I get the pain in my legs, I cannot sit or lie down and have to keep walking. I pace all day long and all night, until I'm so exhausted I fall into bed asleep. I can only sleep for 15 minutes at a time and have to get up and walk again. Those are not fun nights.
i also have scoliosis, it's part of a condition called SMA that i have (wheelchair bound). mine was a bad case, but i had surgery to fix it when i was 14, metal rods in the spine.
 

jugen

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Jeepers, I just have my epilepsy that is under control with meds but causes my constant headaches, I have a tooth that had a root canal (started out needing a cavity refilled) now my left side of my mouth on the inside by my tongue has a sore with a white middle in it and it hurts to touch it( and my tongue touches it all the time no matter what) so back to the dentist I go again hopefully tomorrow, to get some more medication or to get it fixed in some way, I have my aunt flo this week, and I have a weird rash on my stomach. But that's all that's wrong with me.
 

mbjerkness

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I have fibromyalgia, I take amitriptyline to sleep, I take flexiril for muscle spasms, I can't take nsaid's because they have ruined my tummy , which is why I take periet(sp) . for the last six months I have been dealing with carpal tunnel, and ulna nerve compression had surgery it didn't work, now I am waiting to see a neurologist, for nerve studies in my left arm, I maybe waiting up to 6 months to see him. I haven't found anything that works for my elbow, wrist pain. I also suffer from monthly migraines.
 

emchelle

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I had an adverse reaction to the MMR vaccine that has resulted in longterm, chronic joint pain. The worst pain is in my knees and shoulders. I've been really fortunate in that my pain is largely manageable through nutritional support (conversely, certain foods make it SO MUCH worse), but even then I take OTC pain relief on a daily basis. I tend to have a few really crippling flare-ups a year.
 

abymummy

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Originally Posted by xLaydeexTaniax

i also have scoliosis, it's part of a condition called SMA that i have (wheelchair bound). mine was a bad case, but i had surgery to fix it when i was 14, metal rods in the spine.
Oh my goodness! What type SMA have you? My niece suffers from SMA Type III and apparently, she's the only one over here that suffers from it - she too had very bad scoliosis (obvious). However and thank God, she doesn't suffer from much pain- or at least she doesn't complain much from it. She's still walking under her own steam and will be turning 22 this year. I found her a myotherapist about 3 years ago who has done wonders, not only for her flimsy muscles but also for her self esteem. He was indeed a godsend to us.

As for myself, I have been suffering from Spondilolisthesis for the past 27 years and about 5 years ago discovered slight scoliosis in my neck. Lots and lots of constant and chronic pain but I weaned myself away from pain meds (I discovered I was becoming addicted) about 10 years ago and only take pain meds when really, really necessary (read screaming in pain). God blesses me in small ways - I have a seriously high threshold for pain.

IMO, mind over pain does work but you must apply yourself to making it work!
 

xlaydeextaniax

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Originally Posted by Abymummy

Oh my goodness! What type SMA have you? My niece suffers from SMA Type III and apparently, she's the only one over here that suffers from it - she too had very bad scoliosis (obvious). However and thank God, she doesn't suffer from much pain- or at least she doesn't complain much from it. She's still walking under her own steam and will be turning 22 this year. I found her a myotherapist about 3 years ago who has done wonders, not only for her flimsy muscles but also for her self esteem. He was indeed a godsend to us.

As for myself, I have been suffering from Spondilolisthesis for the past 27 years and about 5 years ago discovered slight scoliosis in my neck. Lots and lots of constant and chronic pain but I weaned myself away from pain meds (I discovered I was becoming addicted) about 10 years ago and only take pain meds when really, really necessary (read screaming in pain). God blesses me in small ways - I have a seriously high threshold for pain.

IMO, mind over pain does work but you must apply yourself to making it work!
i have SMA type ll. my mum didn't think i'd reach my 16th birthday, here i am now 21 hehe, am a fighter
 

xocats

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As someone who experiences chronic pain, I use several resources that help.

If you have insurance, a workup by an MD who is a board certified pain specialist can be useful.
Of course alternative treatments can help too.

I am a member of the American Pain Foundation...

http://www.painfoundation.org/

This is a good group.
 

cheshirecat

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I have Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis and as an added bonus osteoarthritis in both my knees. On a normal day both my knees hurt and most of my joints are stiff. I have trouble walking and these days stairs are out.

I take anti inflammatory and pain medications on a daily basis. I have my blood tested every three months to check for liver damage and check C-reactive protein (CRP) level.

CRP is used to measure the inflammation level which is supposed be an indication of the progression of the disease.

The normal level is 7.9% When I was first diagnosed my level was 59.4% So far the lowest has been 28% The rheumatologist tells me he wants me to get it to below 20. So far this is not happening.

At my last visit we talked about doing an injectable medication. This I was not too thrilled with because I thought it meant I had to go to the office every two weeks and have them do it. But since then I have learned this is not the case.

Since then I have had some real bad days and some night where my joints hurt so bad I thought I would loose it. Also, I did a lab last week and I know the results will not be good. Now I think I am ready to take the next step. Now my only concern is the cost and will my insurance cover it.

This is starting to sound like a confessional.
 

sillyitiliangrl

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I'm still working on a diagnosis for my chronic pain, and tiredness and well... general not feeling well
I got to stay in the hosptial 2x this year with them running tests 24/7 and they still dont know
I have finally found a combo of painkillers that actually work (don't have the names near me) and I have been using lost of aromatherapy packs
And of course kitty snuggles help! Odly enough I recovered from my two carpal tunnel surgeries really fast!


group hugs for all!!!
 

kittkatt

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Another back pain sufferer here, too..


I had back surgery about 11 years ago, have gone thru PT (which did no good), and I see a chiropractor as often as I can afford to (no medical insurance, so it has to come out of pocket). The pain is constant, and I rarely have a "good" day anymore. There is also a lot of sciatic nerve pain, and numbness/tingling from the middle of my back down into my feet. I take Vicodin for the pain (nothing else works for me - and sometimes even the Vicodin doesn't help), muscle relaxers for the muscle spasms, and a sleeping aid at night so I can get some proper rest b/c it's so difficult to get comfortable: I have to sleep in a hospital bed now which I can adjust accordingly, b/c I can't sleep in a "normal" bed anymore. I also use a TENS unit to help alleviate the pain/spasms, and a chair-pad type of thing (I don't know what it's called) that has metal balls that rolls up & down your spine to help re-align it.

Any kind of activity is difficult and I have to be extremely careful as to how I move: I can't sit, stand, or walk for any length of time, and bending or lifting is not an option.

I also have a pinched nerve in my neck/shoulders, and suffer from migraine headaches.

to everyone!

~KK~
 

abymummy

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I have found that acupuncture helps alleviate pain, provided of course, you find the right person/practitioner to do it. I don't know if that's covered by insurance over where you are - mine was done out of pocket. It works for some and it doesn't for others.

It took me some 3 referrals to find the right practitioner. Why not give it a try - especially for chronic pain. You never know, maybe your yin/yang is really out of balance and that all it needs!
 

theimp98

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lol mine would just laugh at me if i said i wanted to go for acupuncture lol however it that stuff does sometimes work.
 
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