Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
Hello all,
Just some background, I had surgery last year on my hip to fix multiple labral tears, remove a bone cyst, and to reattach some separated cartilage. I did great afterword for about 4 months. Starting in February the pain started returning, slowly. By June it was unbearable. I went to see the doctor who did the surgery and he recommended a cortisone injection in my hip. This injection only made matters so much worse. It was great until the numbing agent wore off, but I'm back to where I started, if not a bit worse. He was unwilling to help me with anything after that so I went to another hip specialist for a second opinion. He repeated my MRI and found some pacities likely related to my last surgery. CT scan showed the same thing, x-rays are clean. We discussed a hip exploratory surgery vs PT, I elected PT as there were no guarantees surgery would fix my problem.
That was back in August. I returned to see him this week because I was having numbness and difficultly moving my toes earlier this week. Monday my pain level was a 8-9/10, had me contemplating an ER visit. (It typically sits between a 2-6 depending on what I'm doing) he decided to order an MRI of my lower back to rule out a back issue, even though I have no history of back pain. Of course, it was clean. So now I'm almost 6 months digging through this and I still have no answers, or even a pain management game plan. I'm an emergency vet tech, I work long physical hours and I'm about at my breaking point. I'm single, so it's not like I can just take some time off work either, I need to pay my bills. I am beyond frustrated that I still don't have any kind of answer for my problem and I'm not very willing to put myself through a surgery that may or may not help me. If I don't get some kind of relief, answers some kind of light at the end of the tunnel soon I don't think I want to live any longer. I don't have anything else except my job and it looks like I'm going to be losing that soon too. This is just no way to live and I feel so broken inside because no one understands what I'm going through.
Thank you for listening, I would appreciate at non-medical forms of pain management you could suggest. I've tried massage with no help, any one get any relief with acupuncture?
Just some background, I had surgery last year on my hip to fix multiple labral tears, remove a bone cyst, and to reattach some separated cartilage. I did great afterword for about 4 months. Starting in February the pain started returning, slowly. By June it was unbearable. I went to see the doctor who did the surgery and he recommended a cortisone injection in my hip. This injection only made matters so much worse. It was great until the numbing agent wore off, but I'm back to where I started, if not a bit worse. He was unwilling to help me with anything after that so I went to another hip specialist for a second opinion. He repeated my MRI and found some pacities likely related to my last surgery. CT scan showed the same thing, x-rays are clean. We discussed a hip exploratory surgery vs PT, I elected PT as there were no guarantees surgery would fix my problem.
That was back in August. I returned to see him this week because I was having numbness and difficultly moving my toes earlier this week. Monday my pain level was a 8-9/10, had me contemplating an ER visit. (It typically sits between a 2-6 depending on what I'm doing) he decided to order an MRI of my lower back to rule out a back issue, even though I have no history of back pain. Of course, it was clean. So now I'm almost 6 months digging through this and I still have no answers, or even a pain management game plan. I'm an emergency vet tech, I work long physical hours and I'm about at my breaking point. I'm single, so it's not like I can just take some time off work either, I need to pay my bills. I am beyond frustrated that I still don't have any kind of answer for my problem and I'm not very willing to put myself through a surgery that may or may not help me. If I don't get some kind of relief, answers some kind of light at the end of the tunnel soon I don't think I want to live any longer. I don't have anything else except my job and it looks like I'm going to be losing that soon too. This is just no way to live and I feel so broken inside because no one understands what I'm going through.
Thank you for listening, I would appreciate at non-medical forms of pain management you could suggest. I've tried massage with no help, any one get any relief with acupuncture?
I use it on my crushed spine, my knees that swell, and my torn rotator cuff. Hubby uses it for lower back pain. My daughter uses it for menstrual cramps and stiff muscles.
I go through a LOT of cheap batteries for it!
Hang in there, and know you're not alone.
Gentle hugs,
KarSu
Sorry you are in so much pain. We are here for you so keep in touch.
Gentle huggggss
Jasmine
Jasmine can you explain more about water therapy? I know they generally don't recommend water aerobics or swimming for hip issues because it puts too much tork on the joint but I'm reaching the point of trying anything.
Mysteriousme, my understanding is pacities are just shadows from the previous debridement I had done.
Thank you all for the hugs and support. I'm hoping to at least yet a referral to a pain management facility tomorrow.
Be warned that Pain Management is not as great as it seems it should be. I started with a PM group in Feb (?) of this year - my injuries and 18 years old (knees) and 9 years (crushed spine). They are well documented and I have been on opiates for YEARS.
It took until June or July to get the PM doc to change anything about my current treatment regime. Since then we have just played with the dose. I am not sure if I want to beat my head against the wall - or the doctor's head.. but I am also in a grumpy mood today.
Is there anything that makes the pain less severe? Like rest, or a certain position? Keep a pain diary. List dates, how bad the pain is, what you tried to relieve it, results, what makes it worse, things like that. It may help you to see a pattern. And it will mean more to a doc than just telling him what's going on.
Hope this helps a little. Fingers crossed for you.
I think you should see a neurologist. Numbness and difficulty moving your toes is likely a nerve problem.
I had a similar problem with my shoulder. It was operated on, and the operation made it worse, to the point that I went to a PM Doctor. A new PM Doc for you might find the correct operation you need, or the right meds you need for your pain.
Please keep us up to date on how youre doing. I hope things get better for you. Oh yes, I know what a level 10 pain feels like. But please dont say you rather not live. Nobody should suffer like you and a lot of us are. You will find helpjust keep looking around to find the right doctors. Google doctors that you would need, and then Google their name. I found a lot of info on most of these doctors that way. They can't hide if they suck! (Sorry to be blunt) Some just couldn't give a dam. Ive learned to pin those doctors out in the 15 years Ive been dealing with them for my pain.
Be Well and Dont Give Up
Joey