Living a life of horrible pain!

Hi.....Haven't been able to check in for a  long time. I had my shoulder replaced Aug..26th and I am still having horrible pain which they can only attribute to a hugh fibro flair caused by the physical therapy. All of the therapy requires lifting my arms above my head (a great big no-no for someone who has had 4 cervical spinal surgeries). I've been on 2 rounds of steroids and received trigger point injections just this last Mon. to try to release some of these points and decrease some pain. I sleep about 4 hours a week which is about to kill me. I'm a tough old bird who has lived with daily pain for the past 38yrs. but this is just about to get the best of me. Every movement of the arm causes horrible muscle pain in the deltoid area and that muscle just looks like is is hanging off of the arm. My RSD in both arms has reared it's ugly head which makes life so much worse. I love my ortho surgeon....I sat and cried in his office Mon. and in 25yrs of going to him  he has never seen me in a state to make me cry and he would do anything to help me get better. Yesterday in PT they started the "freeze and stretch" therapy only to see it they can get the trigger points calmed down. I absolutely dread Thanksgiving! My husband will have to cook almost all of it by himself which he never complains about.  We have about 15 people here for the food fest. He never complains about anything...he just want's me to feel better. I'm so blessed to have him! Pain meds aren't even touching the pain but I take them "just in case".

I knew this was going to be difficult but I never dreamed it would be this bad. I've had so many surgeries and I hope that I haven't done anything to my spine in all of this. Please keep me in your prayers as I am about as miserable as I can be.

Wishing each of you a wonderful Thanksgiving and a day free of pain.

Nurse2

Hi Nurse2,

Gee and i am complaining?

My goodness you have been through so much, i am speachless.
Your story is heartbreaking, and you are lucky to have such a wonderful supportive husband.
It sounds like you havent had much success with surgery?
I cannot imagine having 4 hours sleep a week, you must be so run down no wonder you feel the way you do.
Is it the pain that keeps your awake?
It sounds like you have some great caring professional medical assistance.
We to in Australia dont have Thanks Giving, but i am sure your husband will cook up a storm so to speak, hope you can enjoy.
I wish you all the best in your recovery, and hope to hear that next time you get to post you are reciveing some effective PM, its so terrible and so unfair that we all have to suffer from chronic pain, its just so painful and effects us in so many ways.
My thoughts and blessings are with you and your family, during this difficult time.

Please take care.
Hope tommorow brings you some effective pain reilef.
Love Punchfit x

Nurse2,
I'm sorry to hear you're having such complications. Just the raising your arms above your head move had me wincing and that was before reading the rest of the post.

I know you're not going to like my suggesting this, but maybe could someone else do Thanksgiving this year? You know, being a nurse how you want to take care of everyone, but holidays weren't meant to cause us more medical problems and with the state you're in I think you'll try to do things you shouldn't. Let alone all the anxiety. Please consider making some phone calls and just saying to others you can't do it at your house this year; they'll understand. Then your husband can make one great dish and you can both go somewhere else. Another option our family has done at times was for everyone to meet at a local restaurant. There are usually a few who have nice buffets for Thanksgiving. It is, afterall, about giving thanks, not about driving yourself crazy and risking more injury!

Hugs,

PaLady

    Good afternoon Nurse! Oh....no!....I can feel your pain now!....We all truley hope you get to feeling better and find some sort of relief. Have they tried everything as far as pain meds go? Surley. there is something they can do for the pain. Keep us posted.....and really I for one hate to hear about someone like this in severe pain! Take care now.

     Michael

Aw Nurse, I am so sorry that you are having such a terrible time. Any chance of your dr increasing your meds or trying a different one to help you out here? May be worth making a call and talking to the nurse.

Omg, there is no way I would consider dinner at my house for 15, I don't care who they are. Surely these folks understand that you are not in any shape to have company at this time. What I would do is get on the phone now and ask who is willing to sponsor the big feast at their home this year. Its just not right for people to expect to come to your place this time. Instead. they should be falling all over themselves helping you out. I don't care how good hubby is and how hubby will cook-the two of you need a break!!!

I will stop here before I shoot my big mouth off, this just is not right. Take care of yourself.

Thanks for your wonderfully kind words and prayers. As far as pain meds..........two Percocets do nothing......one Lortab does nothing. Ambian 12.5 CR is not helping the sleep which is upset by the constant pain. I started taking Baclofen (sp?) which is an old muscle relaxer and it has helped with the muscle spasm in the deltoid a little bit. I've been wearing a TENS unit and using Lidoderm patches, Biofreeze, Bengay and anything I can get my hands on. A heating pad has helped a little. It is the muscle pain that is just unbearable! I still have very limited movement of the arm because of the muscle pain. The joint works well, passively when they move it around. I just can't do it myself. I will continue to work hard to get in the best shape that I can. On Dec. 8th I am having another round of nerve blocks in the occipital area and on both sides of C1, C2 and C3. Right now I can't even look down at the grandkids without geting sick to my stomach. Something has to give.
Again, your words of encouragement are so appreciated.
Nurse2

nurse2
I'm glad to see you posting but I am very dismayed that you are in such pain and having such a difficult time of it! Baclofen is an older med but it can be extremely effective for muscle spasms and also it has been found with continued use that it does or shall I say can help lower pain. I have been on it for quite some time now and it has been a real Godsend for me, I take 25mg at 6AM and 2PM and 30mg at 10PM it took quite a while to work up to getting an effective dose, but it does work ( at least for me for the the muscle spasms and helping control the pain!) I do hope that you will get some relief from it soon! I do wish I had the ability to help take away your pain! I will continue to pray for you nurse2!

May Gods Peace be with YOU!

White Beard

Nurse2,
I have horrible chronic muscle spasms in my back and neck. Muscle relaxants, PT, massage, acupuncture...none of it helped. But - my pain mgmt dr. recently tried something new that did work. You may want to ask about it. Apparently it's expensive, but most insurance should cover it if it's for medical purposes. I got Botox injections in my back and neck and shoulders. It's awesome. It's the first time in years I'm not is severe constant spasm. The Botox damages the muscles so they can't contract. It's supposed to last about 3-4 weeks before the muscles heal. I'm hoping the spasms will be much better when the muscles heal, otherwise I'll be begging for more. I've had more back and neck pain since the injections, but I'm still thankful to get a break from the muscle spasms.
I hope you can try it and it hope it helps. Still praying for you too!