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...

2,902 Members

21,876 Posts

1 Online

photochick 07/14/2009

Hi to everyone, I was hoping someone out there would have a similar problem that might have advice for me. I have had chronic neck and back pain for five years now and daily activities can be a struggle. Most of the time the pain is a achy or soreness and starts at the top of my neck and runs down to my tailbone. Sometimes its a tingly, numb feeling by my shoulder blade or down my legs making it difficult to walk or move, Within the past year the pain has traveled into my elbows, knees and feet. Some days at work become unbearable not only because of the back pain but i feel as if i am walking on rocks. I use to have back spasms but i haven't noticed any lately. I have consulted many doctors and have had numerous test ran: bloodwork, xray, mri, bone scan, one epidural injection, I have also tried acupuncture, therapy, and chiropractic care. Nobody seems to know what is causing the pain. the chiropractor said it was subluxation but i didn't feel better after seeing him. When I seen my physician last she suggested that I might have over sensitive nerves and suggested that I try lyrica. After I researched the drug and seen that it is more trouble than worth i decided not to take it. I have tried skelaxin, naproxen, cyclobenzaprine and am currently on vicodin. Heat is the only outside source that relieves my pain. One of the harder parts of living this way is that people that don't live this way can't understand and are very judgemental. Does anybody live with these symptoms?? Appreciate your help in advance. Thanks and God Bless

loralp 07/15/2009

oh honey i know how you feel. i have gone through numerous "unknown" pains that nobody could figure out. just keep going to different drs. and dont let them brush you off. the drs finally figured out that my pain was real, inflamation in the S.I. joints. among other things. you are not alone. almost all of us have gone through somethins similar. check out the letter from normals to give all the disbelieving people in your life. it really helps. good luck.

deleted_user 07/15/2009

Gentle hugs to you ??
Have you tired mri ?? Have you tired a camera placed in the back to find out whats going on ??
Have you tired gabapenton ?? It's like lycria but better.It's for nerve damage and it helps out.
Do some research on the net for painkilllers and ask your doctor about them.

deleted_user 07/15/2009

maybe you should see a neurologist alot of your symptoms sound neurological. And get a 2nd or 3rd opinion the first step in treatment is getting an actual diagnosis. good luck

deleted_user 07/15/2009

i agree with koilover- go see a neuro as many times as it takes till you get an answer that makes sense to you. I can't tell you how many doctors it has taken me to get the diagnosis I have today. I'm still not convinced my docs know all whats going on with me. I refuse to give up! Keep fighting until you get results. PS- what docs have you seen if you don't mind me asking? A neurologist or neurosurgeon?

Take care! ~hugs

deleted_user 07/15/2009

I also agree with Koilover, you need to make an appointment with a Neurosurgeon and get more than one opinion on the matter. You mention that you had an MRI, what were the results of the MRI? Did it show anything? Herniations? Disc protrusions? anything???? Have any Doc mention Fibromyalgia to you? I don't know, you just need to keep on digging around to see if you can find a Doctor that can diagnosed you.
If you have a teaching hospital in your community, I would try to go there. They are usually very thorough and have resources that regular hospitals and clinics don't have. Good luck to you.

deleted_user 07/16/2009

Have your doctor write you a prescription for an Alpha-Stim100. It is $895.00, but it has a 30 day money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose but the pain! Try it, I did and I feel amazing!

deleted_user 07/16/2009

Hi Chickey, You have come to right place Friend. None of us would be here if we weren't dealing with chronic pain. Have you ever suffered a whip lash injury ? It sounds like you have suffered some sort of an injury that is causing the pain. It doesn't necessarinally have to have even been a break somewhere. I would also agree with the others that you have to have tests run. Keep track of your medical records and keep trying different doctors as well. We have to be our own advocate in the quest to find what helps us deal with the pain and all that comes with it. Good Luck, Welcome and Hugs, Deb

photochick 07/17/2009

Thanks for the wonderful responses and support. The numerous mri's that i had done supposedly showed that nothing was wrong. At one point I thought I was seeing a neurologist but he was actually a medicine and rehabilitation specialist which is where i had an epidural injection done.

Kmiller1973-The last specialist i seen was an orthopedic spine surgeon who was a real jerk and spent more time speaking in his voice recorder than he did talking to me. Needless to say he was of no help. He wanted to send me to another office that would do some kind of injections( an osteopathic manipulator).
All these doctors with their "practicing medicine" have discouraged me so much that I don't believe that their are any good doctors out there.
To- bundymum, thanks for the heads up on the gabapenton. I'll look into that.
Tipper1207-After reading about fibromyalagia I feel that this is the most logical diagnosis for myself. My physician did say that it was possible that my nerves were over sensitive and that was why she prescribed lyrica. What is a teaching hospital??
Debala- no , no real injuries that i can think of, but I had an abusive childhood where I got kicked around sometimes, maybe it stems from that.
I thank everybody for your sincerity but I'm not so anxious to play this doctor game again. I know that to save my health I need to do something.

deleted_user 07/17/2009

A teaching hospital is one that is associated with a University, like here in Miami, Florida, Jackson Memorial Hospital is the Hospital were all the medical students from the University of Miami practice and most of them do their residency there. Teaching hospital's are famous for having a lot of research and the best minds/professors of medicine that dedicate themselves to cure diseases and to do research, so that is why, I always recommend teaching hospitals for people that don't or can't get a concrete diagnosis.

photochick 07/17/2009

How would I go about finding one of these hospitals that might be somewhat local?

deleted_user 07/18/2009

Photochick,
Are u in the States???? If you are..... What major Universities do you have close to home or in your State? Then you find out if that University has a Medical School, and then find out which hospital they are associated with. If you don't want to mention publicly what state you are in.... go ahead and send me a private message and I will find out what teaching hospital you have close to home, OK?

Join the Conversation