I don't remember seeing you before so hello I'm Tori , glad to meet you sorry to meet you do to pain. I'm sorry your pain medication is not helping you. sorry PCP is being a pain about everything I find PCP like to transfer you out doctor who might be able to help more or look for answers ..or sad truth be told they just don't want to write for pain meds.

I'm glad your wife is there to support you and I know your not looking forward to the camping trip right before school only you can tell weather not you should go I find sometimes when I feel trapped into a event for me it would be a concert and standing in line for a signature or what have you I somehow pull through ...I might pay for it later but I pull through. somehow

I can't tell if you have Dx or not ..this will make it harder to get treatment from PM I find. have you tried tracking down the reason?
good luck and keep us posted
tori

Hugs

Hey shlay,,

I'm sorry you're in so much pain. I have back pain all the time that goes into my hips and down my legs so I can relate to having pain issues.

I think you really need to find a pain dr. somewhere near you who can help you with your pain issues. I don't know what problems you're having with your legs, but I know I do an Elliptical every day and stretch as much as possible. I also use heat because that helps at times. I'm not saying this will work for you because I don't know what your issues are, but for me, I really have to push through the pain at times to get some relief and to try and stay strong so my legs don't get worse or go more numb on me.

Just some suggestions. I do hope you get some relief from your pain and I am glad that your wife is so supportive. I would definitely try get a pain clinic or pain doctor to deal with these issues.

I hope things get better for you.

Hugs,



Mary Ellen

My primary doc gives me time release morphine 20mg twice a day and Soma 1-2 a day.

It just doesn't cut the cake and I can't find a PM doc that takes my insurance.

I have arthritis in my spine and knees, fibromyalgia. The arthritis in my spine (upper and lower) caused a nerve to be pinched, causing sciatica.

To Tori, my name is Ashley. The camping trip wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't been running around doing everything on Earth with my in-laws. I love them, so I push through. Luckily, my wife and I will have an air mattress to sleep on, so that should help.

I used to be on here a lot before I got married in March, but so much has happened since then.

My wife supports me, but she gets frustrated when I say I can't do something on one day or another, and then guilt trips me sometimes. I tell her to go on with her family or friends but I just can't do it that day. It has been getting better, though.

Thanks for the hugs bill!

Fayre, I just got a heating pad that I use on my right hip or lower back and that seems to elevate some of the pain. Thanks for the suggestion!

I just feel so hopeless some days. I failed out of school last semester. I had a 3.5 GPA and now it's down to a 2.3 something. I hate it. There is no reason I should not be an A-B student.

My father said he would fly my wife and I out to Arizona (where he and my grandmother live) for Christmas if I pass all my classes with good grades. Talk about pressure. He said it didn't matter if I got sick or not. I also get really sick with odd things every few months.

How mean is that? Yeah, he has pain and other issues and for the first time is trying for disability. I wish I was strong like him... But I also don't crush up my pills and drink a bottle of whiskey every night.

I used to be super active! Hiking, running, going to the gym, rock claiming, skiing... But I can't do those things anymore without nearly killing myself. Hell, when I'm done with school and can afford a car, I can't even get a manual transmission like I want, because shifting causes too much stress on my knee (the one I had surgery on).

hello shlay...i understand you when you say you were active, i was active once to with bike rides hikes long walk etc but those times for me are long gone

this is a great support group so settle in and post away you're among friends here ...wishes for managed pain for us all (((hugs)))

Thanks so much! I'm sorry you cannot be active anymore. :(

Hi Shlay,

I remember you! Just because you took a break doesn't mean you don't belong anymore. We get a lot of returnees and newbies, you should know that :)

If someone asked you for the same advice what would you tell them to do? That's a good place to start.

Ask your doctor what you can do at home to improve things. Like exercises and stretches, they are free.

Be your own best friend. Make the best choices for your best interests. If you don't take care of you, you have less to offer to others. Make your own decisions.

Distract yourself from pain. Soak in the tub, read, puzzles, etc... don't let the pain control you.

Keep coming here where others do understand where you're coming from. If you can't always be here, come when you can. I really believe it's important to get that support with others that know the struggles you live with.

Best wishes to you Shlay,

Toni

Hi Shlay welcome back! We have not met before I'm Lisa. I too suffer from severe back pain. I have to agree with the others if possible find a new pm doc. The meds your on really won't help the nerve pain. Have you ever tried Lyrica or Neurontin? These work well for nerve pain. I'm not a Dr so I can only tell you from my experience they come with some not so fun side effects but then some people take them and do great. Have you seen a spine specialist ? I would try to get into one and hopefully they would be able to come up with a good game plan for you.

I understand about how difficult it can be to go and do things. I tell my hubby to go and have fun it's okay & I'll be fine. It's taken awhile for him to accept this but he's getting there. As far as your camping trip I know when I have an event planned I know I will be able to do nothing for several days prior and I can plan on being laid up for at least a week afterwards, but that's just me. I guess what I'm trying to say is how important is this trip to you? If it is then pace yourself. I wish you the best. Please keep us updated as to how you are doing.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

The pain you are having sounds like nerve pain and you might be helped by radio frequency Neurotomy .

I know someone who had this burning, wanting to chew thier leg off is how they put it and the initial injections helped the leg pain even though they got it for back pain but it helped the leg pain!

You would have to go through a pain mangagement doctor but you need one anyway. You can't live like this!!

Here is a link to it... I just picked on randomly, there are lots of links but I wanted you to be able to know what I was talking about.

Of course this is just a suggestion. THe main thing is to get in with a pain doc!!

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/injections/radiofrequency-neurotomy-facet-and-sacroiliac-joint-pain


oops!!

Thank you all SO much for being here for me!

As for the camping trip, I am going to keep a low profile, not hike a lot and not drink like a fish, like the rest of the family! Lol.

As for the pain management doctor, I know I really need to see one, but I am on an off branch of medicaid and I haven't been able to find a doctor... Where is "The Doctor" when you need him? (nerd reference)

Last night was rough, my wife had to get out of bed to get my pills and water for me, but then I fell right asleep once they kicked in.

This morning isn't too bad, but I have A LOT to do today, so wish me luck!

Good Luck, welcome back, we have never met. I am Bertie. I wish you luck with it all I am sorry we have to meet this way but that is why we are here. I think this group will NOT fault you AT ALL for not being here for a bit.. SILLI..
HUGS and hope the camping goes well..

So sorry you're suffering. :( I understand sciatica pain. I get it, but thankfully not that often. Maybe two a a year. The attacks are pretty severe. I've had this since my teens. I had no idea what it was until about 8 years ago. (I'm 35 now.) I also have chronic hip and lower back joint pain. Right now I'm in the light stuff, Mobic and Tramadol. I only recently went to the doctor for my pain as it had finally gotten so bad I just couldn't stand it. The drugs worked wonders, but eventually I had to double up on the dose. Still not taking over the max amount, just more at a time. Next time I go back he'll likely give me something else and refer me for an MRI.

I have actually run out of my once a day Mobic and replaced it with Aleve. It seems to work the same for now. I still have some Tramadol, but that's running low, so I have to get on making that appointment. I also started taking 1600mg of glucosamine and 1200mg if chondroitin. It seems to help a lot, though it doesn't knock out the pain completely. I just started taking it a week ago and so far I'm pleased. My pain is greatly reduced, but I doubt it will ever be gone. But reduction is better than nothing. :)

I hope you feel better and you're lucky to have your wife. My husband isn't as understanding, so often I suffer alone. It's not the best, but I think it adds strength. I guess. Plus great sites like this help a lot!! :D

Ok. Don't thread stealing now. Hehehe.

Feel better!!!!

Jen :)

dearest shlay , welcome back .. i m so sorry for your frustration and agony . i shopped 4 an understanding rhuem. but cannot find a decent neurol. in my city so i can relate to some of the physician issues . my sweetheart actually joined ds and understands the pain i go thru because he is such an advocate of support groups . would this b helpful to your wife if perhaps u found her a different site other then ds where she could read posts of other chronic pain patients ..?? noone understands pain tho like another patient so u r definitely where u belong . so glad u r here . i have found some real comraderie in the cp forum , much more then any other group i belong to here .. many prayers and much warmth ... starsushine...p.s. stay really water hydrated while u r camping . even something as small as that may sound could b a major help not just to your general health but to fight your pain .

Shlay, google RSD or CRPS (two different names for the same condition). See if your symptoms fit.

Good luck and gentle hugs dear.