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Posted 9/3/2012 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have lurked for a couple of months and posted a few weeks ago with a question about short & long term disability. I included a lot of info about myself in that post, but thought I'd grab the opportunity to do a separate intro.

I'm a bit guarded with very personal info, as I know you'll understand, but here goes... I'm 41 years old and have beem in PM for six years (I prob got the time wrong previously but have since looked at dates). I have only had a MRI of c-spine, since that is where my major problems are, but lately, I'm suspecting something isn't right further down, either.

After my primary received the results of my first MRI, his nurse called and said, "You have herniations in three places and he is referring you to Pain Management". Okie dokie. Just had my second MRI this summer and it looks like C5-6 and C6-7 are pretty bad, encroaching not just on the cord, but invading the nerve spaces, as well. Guess that third one from six years ago got better?

I have had several injections, beginning with ESIs which didn't work. I've had trigger point injections and facet joint injections, both to no avail (initially, they would provide some relief, however, that is not the case any longer). Doesn't stop me from trying, tho! Any time my Pdoc suggests them, I agree... Anything to get some relief!

I have tried several different meds, in addition to the injections. We have landed on Fentanyl patches with oxy for BT. In addition, I take Neurontin and am doing a trial w/out Topamax (just stopped a few days ago). I have a compounded topical cream to use as well as a TENS unit. I consider myself very lucky to have such a great PDoc who, along with my Primary, keeps trying!

However, despite trying and trying, over the long term, my pain has only gotten worse as well as "spread". Pdoc has referred my to a neurosurgeon and I see him on the 12th.

I am a teacher and my family's only income. My husband is very close to getting employment, however, none yet. Every single day is a struggle for me, both physically and emotionally. Each day that I am comanded to get out of bed, I move slower and slower through gritted teeth. (I suspect a med adjustment is in order, and we will discuss at next appointment, but I do know that will only be a band-aid, if you will). I am having more and more "cold, shooting tingles" and I experienced my first "dead" arm the other day (very scary and unsettling!). Continuing to work is a must, however, I just hope I am not making things worse.

In addition to the CP issues, I had suspected low thyroid for the past three years (life just got in the way of making my appt for a physical...). I finally saw my Primary this summer and, indeed, thyroid is low, so I get to add that to the mix! (been on thyroid meds for six weeks, now, just got my first adjustment)

So, HI! I already know how warm, welcoming and most of all, helpful this group is. I hope to offer some back... So let me explain that I am on a newly acquired tablet, therefore I'm typing on an on-screen keyboard. It is not easy and I appear way more illiterate than I actually am (sarcasm?) with all these typos! I appreciate your patience and understanding :-P
Posted 9/3/2012 5:21 PM (GMT 0)
SicNTired…I forgot to get you answered back…but will do so in a few minutes. I keep those emails on a separate account..and have not checked it in a day or so. My apology! blush

Will be back in a few to welcome you as well.

SE wink
Posted 9/3/2012 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome! Welcome! SicNTired!…. The username fits us all here!

You and I share basically the same problem at those cervical areas….plus I also suffer from the FBS. Working is, and can be a real hardship when your suffering from chronic pain…I do as well, and I too, am the bread winner of the family. That puts a lot if stress on a person.

I have not suffered the dead arm problem yet, but do have some pain starting at the elbows and running down towards the hands. The grip strength is still good, so no surgery needed yet. It sounds like you however may be headed there soon. Not an easy decision to make, but at this point it may be the only other choice you have.

I just bought my wife one of the tablets, but have yet to try it out. I can see where they might pretty handy though! At the moment I spend most all of my home life in bed, with a iMac hanging over my bed, and i works just fine for me.

We are glad you found this forum, and hope you enjoy it like the rest of us. Feel free to join in anytime and either seek support or share your chronic pain experience.

Take care,

SEwink
Posted 9/3/2012 8:34 PM (GMT 0)
At first, I had written a post to just welcome you and not really speak to your issues, but I re-read your post and decided that I CAN speak to your issues somewhat.

I went for four years with terrible back pain and sciatica, with two small children and no end in sight.  My husband was working away from the home for 14 hours a day and everything in our home broke at once, the washer, the dryer, the dishwasher, the vacuum; you get the picture.

I had been seeing a doctor that was a neurologist who became a good friend to me.  I would see neurosurgeons and we would talk about the results.  Finally, she sat me down and said, Linda, I really think you are going to need surgery.  I am suggesting a neurosurgeon who I would recommend for my own mother if she were in your position.

Long story short, I went to him, had the surgery (which, once they opened my back up, became very complicated) and the road to recovery was there for me.  I went to physical therapy three times a week for a year and I went back to nursing , which was my career.  Did I mention that I was scared to death through all of this?  I was, truly scared and this was thirty years ago.  Today I have occasional sciatica, but my back is doing fine lately and the surgery was successful in my opinion.

Go to your neurosurgeon appointment with an open mind and hold fast to the belief that he or she will help you.  As for me, I will say a special prayer for you.  God bless you, and btw,  welcome to the forum.

Lindaloo

Posted 9/3/2012 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, SE! No worries at all! I have complete mush-for-brains and am constantly forgetting things. I can't function at work without a zillion Post-its, to the point my students bring me sticky notes for "teacher gifts"! I did get your email, tho... Thanks :-)

I absolutely LOVE my tablet! Like you, I spend the majority of my time at home in bed. The tablet is perfect for bed use... Now, if I can just get more adept with this keyboard HaHa. Your wife may not want you to try it out too much, you may find you love it, too and have to get her another one!!

Lindaloo, thank you for your thoughtful reply. I can't imagine how hard those times must have been for you! I remind myself daily how lucky I am to have such a supportive spouse who is (fortunately?) around to help. (I say fortunately, with question, because if he were out working, maybe I wouldn't have to?). He does work from home, now, just waiting for this project he has been working on to produce a paycheck. Ah... waiting...

My kids are 13, 11 & 9 and most of the time are the three best kids on the planet. Unfortunately, they have kinda always known me to hurt so they are quick to offer help. Don't get me wrong, they are also quick to rest on their laurels and just be kids, which makes me happy. I am plagued with guilt that I am ruining their childhood, that their only memories of Mom will be me lying in bed. I do every bit that I can and lots that I can't... they only get one childhood.

Thank you, too, for the advice about my visit with the neurosurgeon. Of course, I have absolutely no idea what he will recommend, but my initial thoughts were that I'm not *near* progressed enough to require surgery! Of course, and especially when I've typed it out in black and white, I know that if I'm not there yet, I'm certainly headed in that direction. I'll be honest, just the thought scares the jeebiez outta me! Perhaps, I've grown so pessimistic that I just don't see an end in sight...

My ex-husband (my kids' Dad) had fusion when I was pregnant with my second. It all seemed so simple, and really short in the end... He had some pain and numbness / tingling, went to Primary, sent to chiro - no help, sent to surgeon (pain mgt wasn't what it is, now, I guess?). Had surgery, off work for a couple of weeks and has never looked back, nor has he had an ounce of trouble from it. Maybe because it's me, or because I've lived with it for so long, but I just can't find optimism when it comes to my own.

Again, thank you both for such kind replies and welcomes. I hope to be able to contribute even a fraction of the support I have felt, even from lurking!
Posted 9/3/2012 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
SicNTired… I wanted to post this on your thread, as I just did for another new member….so I copied and pasted it here for you.wink


…and while it's on my little brain dead mind, I wanted to bring attention to two special days of the week here on the chronic pain forum. Those are Mondays, and Thursdays!

Every Monday, ...our own "momto8kids" (Tina/moderator) post a "Survival Mondays"…and is a chance for members to tell how they survived the weekend and what they did. We also use it to let members tell us about their upcoming plans for the week. Please look for it, and feel free to join in with us!

Thursdays!…I post an "Answer Me This Thursdays" post…and is basically a question that I randomly picked out, for our members to share their thoughts on. It can be a lot fun to read to comments! Also feel free to participate in it as well.

Both of these special days of the week here on the chronic pain forum, are an excellent way to get to know the members better.

Enjoy,

SE wink
Posted 9/3/2012 10:30 PM (GMT 0)
Wonderful! I have seen those topics and will definitely look forward to them in future :-) Thanks for the cc&p ;-)
Posted 9/3/2012 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Wanted to stop by and say hello!
I wish wewere meeting under better circumstances than chronic pain, so Hello.
Maybe try a mix of 15 minutes of ice followed by 15 minutes of heat and taking a moist heat pad with auto turn off into work, to use when you get your breaks in the day, like lunch break.
My daughter plans to be a middle school band director, soon graduates College (Dec. 2013).
My back problems are mild herniations in lower and cervical spine, and moderate canal stenosis and I have many other autoimmune. Hope your thyroid issues get better with treatments.
anyways, many well wishes, and I like my nook color tablet.
Posted 9/4/2012 12:54 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Chartreux :-) Thank you for the suggestions! I feel permanently attached to my heating pad, in fact, just before getting my last injection, my doctor informed me that I need to back off, as I am burning my back. I can't do ice at this time, as the thyroid issue has caused a major cold intolerance. To the point that applying ice actually hurts! I'm hoping this resolves with the meds, as doc said I am close to burning the nerve endings in my back which can lead to severe burns, should I not be able to feel at skin level.

Today has been a particularly bad day... Perhaps why I picked today to intro myself? Thanks, again! :-)
Posted 9/4/2012 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
SicanTired, welcome to HW CP. You have already been given a lot of good advice, so it will be hard to add to it. I got burned not long ago on one of those microwavable heating pads, it had gotten way hotter than I realized, and when I laid down on it (lower back), thought it was going to stick to me. No way to really control the heat on one like that, going to have to buy a decent modern electric one.

Hope your husband find a job soon, I know how rough it is in this economy. I was laid off from the best job of my life in July 2008, exactly one month later, August 2008, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I have not been able to work since then. I was finally put on perm. disability a little over a year ago, that was made retroactice to when I was diagnosed. My chronic pain is in the form of severe nerve damage, caused by faulty radiation treatments I had undertaken to try to knock out the cancer.

Unfortunately, after 9 surgeries and 2 months of radiation, the cancer is unstoppable and uncurable, and I was left with the pain, the fatigue, and a bladder that was so burned by radiation, that I ended up with an Urostomy (stoma). Not been a lot of fun.

Please keep us up to date with your condition, treatments and doctor visits. This is really a great place to call home, because why we are here because of different medical reasons, chronic pain is our common draw.

Also a good place to vent, if you ever feel the need. I did just last night, and it helped. Good luck to you, and your family.

David in SC
Posted 9/4/2012 3:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome, David! I must admit that, while lurking, I have followed your posts with a very heavy heart. Seems like such an unfair hand you have been dealt, although, you sound as if you tackle your struggles head on - I bet I could learn a lot from you :-)

Ouch! I have been burned by one of those microwave heating things - not fun! I will likely own stock in Sunbeam someday, as I have heating pads both in my bed and where I sit in the lounge. I said I feel almost permanently attached to it...! :-)

Again, thanks for the kind words! I look forward to getting to know all of you a little better :-)
Posted 9/4/2012 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SicNTired and let me say welcome! You know your symptoms are of very much concern to me. I have had the symptoms you have mentioned, and I have had an ACDF Anterior Cervical Diskectomy and Fusion at C6/7 then later on at C5/6 and then  a year later a posterior articular joint fusion at C3/4. What you are describing about your "dead arm" and "shooting tingles down your arm" have you told your doctor about this? I don't want to scare you or cause you undo concern or anything but these symptoms are nothing to play around with! Please be careful, and do not lift anything heavy, or push or pull or in any way cause undo strain on your upper back and neck. And be extremely careful turning your head suddenly or jerking your neck in any way.  And if you haven't done this already you should call and tell your doctor of these symptoms with your arms! 

 

 Herniated disks in your neck ( cervical  spine) can become an emergency issue, so please please please be careful. You might not want surgery, and not be able to work for a while, but it far better to get this taken care of now than letting it get worse! When I first had mine, I was in the military and they took there time diagnosing me, and after many months it became an emergency, and when they did the surgery, the surgeon said I should have been a quadrepligic because to the damage done to the disk at C6/7 and he told me he had no idea why I wasn't!  I am not telling you this to scare you, but to let you know how important this is to get it taken care of. My disk was so badly herniated that it was pressing directly into my spinal cord, and there was free floating fragments of the disk floating around in my spinal canal.  So please be careful and make sure your doctor knows of your symptoms, and if anything else like that happens call your doctor imediately!

 

Please keep us informed of your progress, I wish you well

 

White Beard

Posted 9/4/2012 10:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, White Beard, for your welcome and concern. I had no idea how very serious my symptoms are. Of course, I know that I am getting worse, but I had no idea of the seriousness.

I have an appointment with my Pdoc next Monday and these symptoms are sporadic. I have only had the "dead arm" once, about ten days ago and it lasted only briefly. Do you think it can wait until I see him on the 10th?

I am certainly not one to take any of this lightly, I just hate to call if it coule possibly wait. I really appreciate your feedback! Thanks, again:-)
Posted 9/5/2012 6:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi SicNTired

 

Well if your symptoms did not last,  I didn't mean to alarm you, but yes it can be serious, it might not be now, but it can turn that way. That is why you need to be careful! If the "dead arm" happens again  call your doctor right away and tell him or his nurse, and ask them what you should do, or what they think about it. You might still want to at least call your doctor and tell them about the incident, just to see what he thinks. I just wanted to stress to you how important this is. I would hate to see anybody go through what I did. For me the first time, I was playing with the kids building an Igloo, and I noticed that my arms hurt, it felt like when you hit your crazy bone, ( your elbow) realy hard. You know how it gives you that severe burning achey really hurt feeling that goes down to your finger tips. I had that in both arms and hands and it just would not go away. It hurt so bad, and I was that way for close to three months before they finally found out what was wrong with me. Toward the end of the third month, I was having trouble swallowing and when I coughed or sneezed I honestly thought I was going to die. My surgeon said I was extremely lucky, and that some body was watching over me because there just wasn't any reason for me not being a quadrieplegic!  So now you might be able to understand my concern about your condition. Your symptoms are scary to me, and since you have your appointment coming up, just be extremely careful with yourself untill you see your doctor. Above all make sure you tell him about your experience with the "dead arm" and any pain or unusually feelings you are having in your arms, or across your chest and shoulders, and swallowing and  anything in your neck. It might be a good idea to keep a log or journal, and write down when you have pain and what you were doing when you  have it, also anything to do with your arms and hands. then bring the journal with you to your appointment...!

 

Just to let you know you are not alone when your here on this forum, and we are all here to listen and support you!

 

White Beard

Posted 9/6/2012 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hi sickntired
I wanted to pop in and welcome you to our cp forum. Glad you found us but sorry it is under these circumstances. You probably have already got a glimpse of the very caring and supportive members here. We all "get it" and understand the pain game.
What grade do you teach? It must be so difficult to concentrate on teaching your class while in so much pain. I am glad you have a supportive and helpful husband. Hopefully he will find a job soon. I know that added stress does not help one's pain situation.
Myself, I am from Ontario, canada. I suffer with intractable, 24/7 headaches, now more than twelve years. I have tried everything possible and yet nothing has given me any relief. I lost my paediatric nursing job due to my cp. Life is different but other joys have come into my life such as my grandchildren.

One day at a time, right.

Take care
Suzane
Posted 9/7/2012 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hello SIC, i am also new here to the boards, and must I say that since joining the past week, I don't feel hesitant at all telling the folks here my business regarding this chronic pain and suffering as though I seen no end except the end to a place that provides everlasting peace. The people here are so welcoming and forthcoming in their answers I would say to my prayers. Everyone thus far has provided me with answers and being able to compare my condition to many that have the same or same experiences of PM doctors and systems has been a godsend. So please do not feel hesitant at all, we are here to help ease your pain and fears that has changed our lives tremendously. I am so glad that I found this board. Unlike other boards that are not up to date, or the rules are not governed to protect the members, etc. I am a Chronic sufferer and not everybody can understand the pain and how this changes your spirit each and every day. Welcome.

Also, Lindaloo, check your messages. I did send you a message yesterday.

Lynn
3/2008, Failed back surgery Laminectomy fusion L4-L5
7/2008--Revision of hardware
11/2011, SCS implant
3/2012-Laminectomy Fusion with new hardware and cage
Permanent nerve damage in both legs
Failure of SCS implant

Currently on
150'mg Lyrica 4xdaily
10/325 Percocet
80mg Morphine
8mg Timazidine muscle relaxer
20 mg Lexapro
10 ng ambien
Vitamin D
Spinal Cord Stimulator
Posted 9/7/2012 2:52 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome, Lynnzack! I'm glad you, too, have found a place to discuss your CP, just sorry that any of us have to even be here.

Hope I didn't offend anyone... My reasons for not posting too many details regarding my meds have nothing at all to do with anyone on this board. In fact, given the opportunity, I'd probably tell too much! I'm only guarded not because of who I know is reading, but because of who I *don't* know is reading. Some may call me paranoid - :: cough :: my husband :: cough :: - but I just don't feel comfortable putting it all out there.

So, rest assured, I feel completely comfortable here! As you, too, found, many CP groups are no longer active with posts displaying as current dating from as long as ten years ago! I look forward to giving back as much as I have already received from this amazing place!

Welcome and thanks, again, Lynnzack! :-)
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