pamelaneckpain

 Pamela, Just tuned in to this station. ChronicPain,AnxietyDisorder,Arthritis,CryptogenicLiverDisease,SleepDisorder  and a psychiotrist who does not want me to take any type of meds, because I may become addicted. What kind of quality of life is that.

I have had so many MRI's I can't began to count them. Just like others I have never been offered any meds. That's the easy part. I'm not quite sure what kind of surgery you are possibly having, to tired to read all posts right now. But get that MRI If it's neck related, I have several ruptured disks which I won't have surgery on. My choice. Just had five surgeries these past few months for bunions, One foot required four and is still not quite right. Can't take more than one half a tylenol a day for my arthritis due to the liver problems.

 But enough about me, Get your MRI Get the IV, I would.  just so I could relax for a few minutes. Keep on posting It helps to know there are people who care and understand your situation. And some of us actually stay up till yesterday is today, and today is tomorrow.   june

I have seen some of the best Specialist there are. Because of my liver condition I am limited to the type of meds I can take. Have been to Mayo Clinic, Will be returning next month for my examination and at that time they will be sending me to see another phyciotrist, I take lorazapam for my anxiety attacks. Which I get more often since the last diagnosis. That is a benzodiazapine which is addictive, but less harmful than others. The Dr. I saw the last time is the one who has a problem with that, But as I said they will be sending me to see a different one.

I don't see the need for a psychiotrist. But it is part of the eveluation process for being listed for a transplant. Which I hope will never be necessary.

And No < I am not 17 Wish I were I was a healthy 17 year old. I'm 57,

The only pain med that is less harmful is Oxycodone. Would"nt you know it , that is the only medication I have ever had an alergic reaction to.

Hope to hear good news from you later today. june

I've read that people with chronic pain don't get addicted, June. We never talk
about a diabetic being "addicted" to her insulin. You need to have a doctor who
believes that. You need to have a doctor who is willing to work with you with
your liver conditon AND your chronic pain. I believe it can be done.

I simply cannot imagine not having some of this pain of mine blunted by Opiod
medication. Very strong people like you can make it. Some of us just aren't that
strong. Are you able to get out of bed?

And then on the other hand, I'm not sure my Opiods are doing me that much good
any more.

It's great that you are working with Mayo. I guess that's the best place to go. Just
be sure that they know the extent of your chronic pain. We don't die of chronic pain
but sometimes ...

Pamela

I wish I'd gone to Mayo Clinic when all this first started seven years ago.

Pamela

Atticbat, I'm glad you have medicaton that helps you.

Atticbad'
????? I is all in our heads?????. Also our back,legs,feet,knees, fingers,elbows etc...Some Dr.'s have never had so much as a rash on the palm of their hand.

PS

What kind of frames do you fix?

What you said is very interesting. I'm not totally sure I would believe Chronic
Pain if I didn't have it. Those of us who have doctors who believe us are lucky.

Pain medicine has been kept under lock and key only in recent years. I believe
twenty years ago doctors were more liberal. It seems like now there are so
many people are interested in narcotics to soothe their souls not their pains.

I kind of understand why my son does not "believe" in my pain now. I have
Attention Deficit. That is another malady that takes a doctor who is a "believer"
I took medicine for a couple of years until I got it under control and understood
it. Lucky me, I've had two problems that people don't believe even exists!

It sounds extreme but if my Attention Deficit hadn't been discovered 10 years ago, I
simply could not have gone on any longer.

Pamela

Pamela
Pain is being invistigated more now than ever before and they are developing new and better ways of treating it, and a great part of unraveling pain and how it works is understanding the brain and nervous system and how it really works, and they have come along way in doing that, but they have very long way to go!

You know about ten years ago I was told I also had Fibromyalgia, and I was sent down to Barnes in St. Louis, to see a neurologist, I was told he was also a professor at the med school. He told me that he did not believe that there was such a thing as Fibromyalgia, it was a made up diagnoses, and people that were diagnosed with it, if they wanted the pain to go away it would! It was all in there minds! I drove over 5 hours to go to that appointment, and he told me I was making it all up, it was all in my mind! For crying out loud he didn't even look at any of my medical records! I was so mad I walked out on him! A few minutes later he rode down on the same elevator with me, and I told him about my bad disc, and he said well maybe that was causing my pain, but it sure wasn't Fibromyalgia!, and that is what was on the referral! I can't tell you what I wanted to do that guy! I was so mad, and going back home we had an ice storm, and what was a 5 hour trip going there, took over 12 hours going back! Now Fibromyalgia is an accepted diagnoses, but I don't suppose that old Doctor is even around any more!

White Beard

Pamela

That is the thing I don't think I have the syptoms of Fibromyalgia either, and when I went down to this doctor I was under the impression I was going down because my back pain due to my herniated disc at T12, But the one Doc had written the consult as Fibromyalgia, triggered by degenerative disc disease with nerve impingement. But this Doc blew me off! But I never thought I had Parkinsons either and after two years that has finally been varified, I don't have it! But they still say there is something else going on besides the bad disc! But no one has been able to say just what! The only thing that keeps popping up fro the Docs is MS, but that has never been confirmed!

As for Fibromyalgia, from what I have been told Medicare recognizes as a legit diagnoses. And that there has been allot of study done on it, and they know allot more about it now than ever before!

You take care of yourself Pamela, I kind of worry about you with your neck!

White Beard

Hey there Pam et al,
Sooooooo, you're finally realizing that Dr's are not Gods! welcome to my world I could have been you, saw a reputable rheumatologist for years, he finally got tired of me when I didn't want to have an invasive surgery done to T8 (they go thru the front to get to the spine..ych) so my osteopath then tells me that most people have herniated discs in their backs, but have not pain involved. Long story short? I tell the guy (ya tell) what I want, the Pain Center which as luck would have it is right here in my home town (city) they import Dr's from all over the world to study at this hospital. Another long story short? after say 8 or so months, they invite me in to talk to their graduating class of Dr's. They use ME as an example of a patient that is not on the usual algorithm of their intake process. Did this discourage me? well a little to be honest. One thing it did that was invaluable was make me realize that I and I alone am in charge of my health/pain. Some Dr's are very dogmatic, run if you find one and there are lots of them. Best relief I have found is homeopath (3 or so years) osteopath (20 yrs?) when in crisis, and ME. I also did some psycho therapy as there is an element of the mind/body connection involved.... did that cure my pain? no way, but it sure helped in alot of other ways (sorting out a very disturbing past). So all to say and this has not been a short story, sorry, and I barely scratched the surface, I use Medical Doctors when I feel the need example: last Sat I started a fever.....by night I needed a Dr, thought it may be pneumonia, it was bronchitis bordering pneumonia...went to hospital, saw a very annoying dogmatic Dr. got an xray and a prescription and went on my sick way. I wouldn't trust homeopathy for something like that (I know some hardcore's would but I'm not hardcore alternative med). It's a constant battle another example?: at pharmacy I ask if they have acidophiles/bifidus? young pharmacist says ???? what??? I then explain to her that without it next week I will need something to cure the yeast infection I will acquire from the antibiotics..... she looked at me like I was speaking another language. So you see....moral of the story, if there is one.

Listen to your body, it's is telling you something, let it guide you, there are many alternative medical routes. Western medicine and our system is only as good as it's parts (Drs) like synergy. There are some fine/outstanding Dr's, here in Canada, if they're really good, they have generally moved to the U.S. leaving us with disgruntled, overworked, underpaid, sullen, angry not such great general Doctors. That is a generalization, but there is alot of truth in it. In the U.S. if I'm not mistaken, if you have a good health insurance plan, the best Dr's are available to you, trick is you have to research to find them. Same holds true here, but the wait can be forever...people die waiting for treatment... really they do. So rather than looking for 'someone' to cure you (I speak to whoever is reading this not only Pam) take matters into your own hands and become your biggest and best advocate. If you hear of some little chinese grandma in a hole in the wall .. try it! try anything! and everything! Lie is short and meant to be lived - Good luck to you and to all here who are trying to find answers!!

20 years mystery pain, but pretty much reads like all the labels on Pamelaneckpain's
Ibuprofen when I need it, tylenol with codeine when that doesn't work, occasional sleeping pill when I really can't sleep. Fish oil pills, vitamin c/ d daily, magnesium/potassium (Mag-K)