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Posted 10/15/2010 4:06 AM (GMT 0)

Greetings to all my new friends & warriors in pain!

 

I just wanted to update those who showed interest in my trigger point injections I had yesterday on how they went.

 

I received more shots than I was originally anticipating. Doctor found SEVERAL knots of muscle & nerve under my skin. 3 on the upper part of my calf right under my knee. 3 behind my knee on the other side. 4 right above the sock line on the outside of my ankle. 2 on the inside of my ankle, plus 3 on the top of my foot. I blacked out with a few of them & swore REALLY loud on a couple, which made my doctor laugh.

 

I was in a SEVERE amount of pain the rest of the night. Even all the medications I take didn't touch it. I DID take it easy. I put my leg up. I didn't spend ANY time around the computer ALL day. I read. I took a nap. I sort of iced it up (RSD HATES extreme hot & cold). So I put on lukewarm icepacks & VERY low heating pad.

 

I woke up with EXTREME bruising. Doctor hit the bone with the shots in my ankle  & on the top of my foot. He is SO very concerned about the amount of muscle, tendons, and cartilege I am losing in my ankle and spreading up my leg. The shots in my calf left almost black marks. I have been giving my entire leg massages throughout the day.

 

I am still sore but not as bad as last night. It did help ease some of the tension in my calf & the inside of my ankle. The outside still is the same. So I did get SOME relief. Hopefully it will last a little while.

 

I go back for the second set of injections in 2 weeks & then the last of the series in 2 weeks after that. Definitely will keep you all posted.

 

Doctor also changed my muscle relaxer from Robaxin (Which gave me EXTREME flu like symptoms, fever, stomach issues, ACHE ACHE ACHE ALL over) to Baclofen which did nothing but make my eyes cross. I am now on Valium which relaxes my muscles MUCh better than the above listed ones. And also a new anti-depressant. Was on Cymbalta. Two words. BAD BAD. I was SOOOOOO restless, anxious, wired ALL the time, could NOT concentrate on ANYTHING. It was BAD. MY blood pressure was almost to the point where they wanted to take me to the hospital. Doc told me to toss that RIGHT away. And he put me on Paxil. So far it has helped to calm me down. Still tense. But not as bad.  So we will see.

 

Thank you all SO very much again for the support & concern & words of friendship. I knew the day I joined this site it would be a step in the right direction for me & in my healing journey.

 

I hope everyone is doing well. I hope you are taking care of yourselves. But know you're not alone.

 

~Black Satin Phoenix~

 

 

Posted 10/15/2010 11:42 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Black Satin,
I saw your name and loved it! LOL!! Great! BUT what's not so great is what you've been through! I've had many trigger points in my head, neck and shoulder. The immediate affect was dizziness and vomiting. The doc kept saying it was just the needle and I had to protest only because the only place they can usually get a vein for I.V. is subclavically and I don't faint over that! Anyway, I looked like a sumo wrestler afterwards! My head, neck and shoulder swelled up so badly that it all just became one big, blue/black, swollen mess! As I've said, they continued to assure me that it wouldn't last long and I'd feel much better....not so much! I felt hit by a bus, put in reverse, hit again and the car behind it! Geez! So, after the last time I didn't get anymore. The (brilliant) doctor determined that the adverse reactions were not worth the injections. I never found relief with them. So, if you can say that even with all the bruising and pain that the injections are helping, I'd advise you have whatever your doc wants to do, but if the pain and bruising didn't end with a great deal of relief...I'd rethink getting anymore. In my unprofessional experience!
Be Well,
Stac/Catz4
Posted 10/15/2010 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Oh and P.S. "All my new friend's and Warrior's in pain".....awesome!
Catz4
Posted 10/15/2010 5:57 PM (GMT 0)
Keep the ice on the site for the first 24 hours then try some heat, maybe wrap a moist heat pad around your knee.
I can't believe they kept you awake for those, wow, I was kept awake for injections in my back (once) they did
10. 8 facets and 2 nerve blocks and I remember them telling me to hold still, I bit my wrist at some point
and have night mares on occassion from it...They did numb me but I still felt all the injections, so anytime they
don't sedate me before going back I panic ..anyways your a very strong person to have had that done
awake..and it was the last time I went to that doctor....It might be worth doing again cause you did say you got a little relief maybe
another would give you a little longer relief, that's about the most we can hope for with these things, but hey
a little relief still helps ..Sure wish I knew what else to advise you with, but I'm not too familiar with knee problems
and hopefully the paxil will help you with the depression...
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Black Satin Phoenix))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
More healing hugz
Posted 10/15/2010 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Black Satin wow, you poor thing, yes I do remember letting a few french words fly when doing trigger points in my back, lol. Sometimes the muscles was so hard with spasms they could not get the needle in, so I can relate to the pain. As bad as some hurt, I always got some relief, thats the only reason I did them for so many years. I do hope these will give you some much needed and deserved relief. Went yesterday to get my hair cut and my hair dresser was telling me about one of her clients, she goes to her home and does her hair, the lady has bad RSD and getting out is not something she does much of, so Kathy goes to her home. Kathy had no clue about RSD so I gave her the short version and all she could say is I know she has severe pain and pain pills do not help her even the strong ones. I told Kathy thats right, pain pills do not help nerve pain.

I know with the temperature change situation in your skin, its probably really difficult getting something either cool or warm enough, but I think you have had a lot of practice at perfecting that one, lol. You poor thing, I tell you, you are a true warrior putting up with the pain you have and still keep some wits about you. I guess sometimes, until we have something truly devastating happen to us, we really have no clue what kind of metal we really are made of, do we? I will keep popping in and checking on you, I am dealing with possible cellulitis in my legs so they are extremely swolllen and painful right now, sitting is really out for now. Can't see the dr till Tuesday and I have been bucking calling the dr but, its getting out of hand. I should have called much sooner but I am in dr burnout right now. But, I can't afford to get infections because of the metal with my pump.

Please keep us posted on how you are coming along. I will keep my fingers & toes crossed the trigger points help.
Posted 10/16/2010 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
Stac/Catz4,

In regard to my name....THANKS! I wanted to come up with something original (like me...LoL) and something different than all my other screen names for other websites. Got to love the strokes of lightening that hit you out of no-where! LoL.

That SO sucks about what happened to you after your trigger points! I cannot believe your doctor advised you to KEEP getting them after all the trouble you were experiencing. A light bulb would have gone off for me (but I'm not a doctor so what do I know?!?!!? LoL.) with all the adverse side effects that something was NOT right.

I am going to play it by ear with getting any more. I have 2 more rounds approved by Worker's Comp & I go back in 2 weeks for more. My leg is ULTRA sensitive today. Going grocery shopping & spending time cooking as well as doing homework today PROBABLY didn't help with that. I am stubborn. I will admit it. I took a nap though this afternoon which helped the throbbing. More bruising than yesterday. But nothing SO terrible. I can still see the injection sights PLAIN as day. BUT....I am going to take it easy tonight. Put in a movie. Elevate my leg. And let my pain meds do their magic.

"Warrior's in pain..." It's what we all are! We're all in a battle to reaching the end result of less pain & helping each other find ways to live a more peaceful, painfree existence. That's the goal anyway.

~Black Satin Phoenix~
Posted 10/16/2010 4:48 AM (GMT 0)
Chartreux,

My RSD is sensitive to extreme hot & cold. But I have been making my own "ice packs" with warm water & a few ice cubes. It has helped some. I have also been massaging Voltaren Gel onto my entire lower leg. My leg INSTANTLY heats up MORE so than it already does...like someone dropped hot wax on it. But it feels good. If that makes any sense.

I had NO idea you could receive those injections while put under. If the muscles continue to get tighter over time & I cannot stand the pain from the next set, I will ask my doctor to put me under for the final set. Because I left the office hardly able to walk & see straight. I thought my doctor would give me a cane to at least get out to the car or a wheel chair but I had to lean on my mom who drove me there. Blacking out is scary in it's own right. My doc just let me stay in the examination room for like 5 minutes after even as my leg was bleeding through the band-aids he put on them. The nurse changed them for me before I left but since the office was SO backed up that day, it seemed like he just wanted me out of there ASAP.

So far the Paxil is helping, but I can tell when it's wearing off. I am VERY much looking forward to taking it twice a day so that I am not SO wound up or anxious.

Thanks SO much for your kind words, personal story, and advise. You provided me with some valuable information & encouragement. BEYOND greatly appreciated.

*HEALING HUGS* back.

~Black Satin Phoenix~
Posted 10/16/2010 5:15 AM (GMT 0)
Straydog,

Ever since day one, you have made me feel right at home & a member of a family not many people can say they belong to. We may not know each other's real names or much about each other except our pain situations, but I feel accepted and valued each and every time I come in here. Thank you for that.

I can't even imagine that woman who cannot leave her house because the RSD is just THAT bad. My heart REALLY goes out to her. You would think with all the modern marvels with science & medicine that SOME kind of treatment or medication or cure would close to coming about or something. My doctor even made a joke to make me smile at my last appointment because a lady who he had just seen is suffering with it too & the medications are just not helping anymore. He said the RSD association needs to have a GAZILLION telethons & more public exposure. Because he HATES seeing good hard working people suffering with NO relief. I couldn't agree more.

I have been through WAY too much on my short time here on earth ( I just turned 29). I have been tested SEVERAL times & had to learn the hard way with MANY things in my life. It's been a constant struggle from day one....my life that is. My dad has always said, "If I weren't crazy, I'd go insane."

Time & life march forward whether we want it to or not. Even with all the crap & pain we experience on a daily basis there still has got to be SOMETHING to hope for & to look forward to. I am a firm believer in miracles. Some days are harder than others. But we all still have dreams & this ONE life to live. I try to focus on the bigger picture & the future, while trying to live in the present.

Doctor burn out is one I think most of us can relate to here in the forum. It seems like its a never ending cycle of waiting rooms, examination rooms, pharmacy calls, hospital visits, etc, etc.

I am SO very sorry to hear you are in SO much pain. Take care of yourself. Focus on healing & getting some relief. Relax. If it gets TOO much to handle PLEASE go to the ER. You don't want an infection to start & put you back at square one in the pain cycle. And I know you don't want to go back there. I hope you have someone there to help take care of you.

Please keep us all posted when you are not in such EXCRUTIATING pain on how you are doing.

*BIG HEALING HUGS*
Posted 10/18/2010 5:18 AM (GMT 0)
Small update on the Trigger Points.....

Woke up today with sharp, throbbing, radiating pain all throughout my leg AND lower back. I can hardly sit or stand, more so than usual, for any length of time. Is this normal? Has anyone experiencing something like this? Is it just because the muscles in my leg/ankle were finally relaxed for a period of time & since everything is connected caused a domino effect of sorts?

My eyes are crossing. I know when that occurs my pain is OUT of control to the point where even I start to complain. I thought about going to the hospital tonight to get something to lessen the pain but I didn't.

Calling the doc in the am to see what I should do. AM quite concerned.

Hope everyone had a nice weekend.

~Black Satin Phoenix~
Posted 10/18/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)

Dear BSP,

    Good morning! I wont take up too much time, but I did want to stop by and say that I am so sorry that the injections hurt so badly. I do hope that you are able to get the swelling and tenderness down some what. My knowledge of Trigger Injections is limited to what I have read about here. I receive a series of cortisteroid. I do hope however that you are able to obtain some relief.

    I do however take Baclofen. It is by far the best muscle relaxer, in my opinion. It does take a while to get used to. Its most promising quality being that tolerance is very rare. I have not had the symptoms you describe, but it did get me thinking. You pain "sounds" like there is a lot of inflammation? Herbal "arnica" is a natural anti inflammatory agent. I use the "cream" on my hips when they swell. Of course I do not think you would want to drive to the store the way you are feeling shakehead

     I do hope you are able to get through to the doctors quickly. Try to rest if / when you can.

*hugg*
  dani

Posted 10/19/2010 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Black Satin did you get a hold of your dr? I have had lots and lots of trigger point injections but never had any do what is going on with you. What your dr said about RSD is so true, its unheard of by most people. And sadly, there has not been much advancement in treating it either. They were doing trigger point injections way back in the beginning of it, few drs treated it. Everyone was put on Amitriptilene and that helped a tiny bit. I remember when it was first being dx'd and no one believed in it, said the people were crazy or malingering, a word I detest. Back then ins companies refused to pay for treatment and it was a big mess. But you know anytime the nerves are involved it is just one big tricky mess.I like you, think with all of the modern advances made something else could have been developed for this particular disease in giving people relief. I understand your hot wax thing, you are not the first to say that with RSD, lol. Some of our clients said the very same thing.

I have crohns disease and up until the last few years you are seeing it talked about on tv and that is one disease not many know about. Lets face it, it involves areas of the body no one wants to talk about, lol. The drug companies are spending the big bucks to get their meds on tv thats the only reason we are seeing any discussion about it. I have been home bound before and yes, it will drive a person nuts. I don't ever want to get in that shape again. I am keeping my fingers crossed you get some relief.
Posted 10/19/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Dani,

Thank you SO much for dropping me a little line & saying hi! HI back! :-)

I very much appreciate your kind words of support in regard to my trigger point injections. They mean a great deal to me :-)

The trigger point injections, from the research I have done on them, are similar to the injections you received. A numbing agent mixed with a steroid is injected directly into the source of the spasm/pain. Tiny modules form under the skin that are called trigger points, from where pain can shoot in every which direction. Pain then starts in places it wasn't before & its a mess. The goal of the trigger points is to hopefully calm down the muscles & reduce or get rid of the spasms. Or in the very least loosen them up so that you can start to do stretches & work on improving the muscle so the nerves don't take over as much!

I do take Lyrica for the inflammation. Or at least that is what I thought I was taking it for. LoL. I also use Voltaren gel 4 times a day to help get aspirin directly into the muscles and nerves to help reduce swelling. I will definitely take a look into the herbal cream you mentioned though. I am ALL about trying to heal my body with as many natural agents as possible (although at this stage of the game it's hard to do just that). I take a Mature Multi-vitamin, B-12 supplements, and Vitamin C supplements. I also drink A LOT of water with Vitamin Enhanced Flavor packets (only 5 calories!) and put Tonic water with Quinine in with my flavor packets to help with the spasms. I totally changed my diet with even MORE fruits, veggies, and whole grains.

Thanks again for the advice!

Hope you had a low pain day today!

*HEALING HUGS*
Posted 10/19/2010 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
Straydog,

The reason I logged on tonight was to update everyone on my conversation with my doctor today. *giggles* Thank you SO Much for checking in with me!! I feel special!

I didn't get to talk as extensively as I wanted to with my doc but we had a nice 5 minute conversation about the symptoms I am experiencing after the trigger points. My mom & dad were going to treat me to a deep tissue massage & he advised against it. Would just make the pain worse, he said. Also there really isn't anything more I CAN do besides take my medication (can take an extra Valium or Morphine here & there if it gets TOO unbearable. OR go to the ER if nothing else helps & to call him! LoL), drink MORE water than I already do (drink 4-5 36 oz bottles a day!) and very VERY light stretching.

We'll see how it goes.

Hope you had a nice day today & are feeling a little better.

I worked on a paper for class ALL day on the computer. It's 10:30pm & I am EXHAUSTED! Normally I am a night owl! I sometimes forget how much this pain can really take it's toll on your physical state.....MORE so than it already does.

*HEALING HUGS*

~Black Satin Phoenix~
Posted 10/19/2010 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Black Satin, Lyrica is used widely rx'd now for nerve pain such as what you have with RSD. Also, Neurotin and Cymbalta are used as well.
Posted 10/20/2010 6:22 AM (GMT 0)
Straydog,

I am currently on Lyrica...150mg, 3 times a day. I was on Cymbalta for a week or two and I did NOT like it. I was OVERLY anxious, restless, and could not concentrate to save my life! I hardly slept and it made my depression SO much more worse! I also used Neurontin in the past. I was on 2400 mg 4 times a day. I gained 80lbs in 2 months, with NO relief. So I stopped taking that. No questions asked.

~Black Satin Phoenix~
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