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Long time pain .. new member.. could use some help.

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Posted 12/14/2011 7:55 AM (GMT 0)
Hello. I came across this site while searching for some answers about my condition.
Like the title says, I'm no stranger to pain. Roughly 10 years ago I took a fall at work and recently found out that I had broken a vertebrae and wedged a couple of others in the fall, and for the last 3 years I have suffered through extreme muscle spasms and back pain. I have been to specialists, rheumatologists, physiotherapists etc. to no avail. They even had me on nerve blockers for a while, but those just made me mad all the time...They tell me surgery is not an option at this time due to the fact that it seems to be mostly muscle oriented problem. I can't sit properly or stand or even lie down for any period of time without pain shooting through my back. I take usually 4 to 6 tramacets a day to get me through my 8 - 12 hour shifts as a machine operator in a manufacturing factory. It is getting to the point where the pain is ruling my life. I have a wife and 2 great kids and I've learned to live with the pain, and try to keep moving so I don't stiffen up into a board. I don't want my family to suffer because of my pain.

But now..... I have come across something that makes my back pain seem minor if you can believe that.
I have ended up in the emergency twice within the last few months for the most excruciating stomach pain I have ever experienced. It starts out as a dull ache at the top of my stomach, and then within about 15 to 20 minutes it goes to a level of pain my wife says makes it seem like I am having contractions. If my back spasms are 8 or 9, this is on a different scale. Only it lasts for up to 4 hours. The emergency gave me morphine once and it only made it worse, so I refuse the morphine now. This is a pain I cannot even describe. After my last episode, the emergency Dr. pushed on my right abdomen, and I nearly jumped up to the ceiling. Now I have had a pain in my upper right abdomen just under the rib cage ever since. It feels like I have just got done 100 sit ups, all the time. It never goes away now. I have to lift a lot of heavy objects at work, and when I do it feels like my guts are gonna shoot right out of my coveralls....I went for a ultrasound for gall bladder problems, but the results came back clean. I have a follow up appt with my Dr next week to discuss this pain.
I need some info to take to her. There was a great thread on stomach spasms on this site but it is closed now. So if someone out there can recommend something for me I would be very appreciative. I am scared of this extreme attack coming on again. It's been about a month, and it's about due to show up again.. For now I sit with a hot water bottle on my stomach whenever I have a chance at home to help with the pulled muscle type pain that I have in my stomach area all the time. The pain killers aren't touching it. Is an anti spasm medicine something you would suggest? Are there some that are better than others? Maybe something like that would help my back spasms as well...
I am diabetic, so I tend to eat pretty healthy. That always seems to be the question I get when I have an attack.. Did I eat garbage today.. Well I didn't. lol.
Some advice from someone who has conquered this would be great!!!!!
Posted 12/14/2011 11:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have had stomach pain like you have discribed, they tested my gall bladder and said it was fine. Three weeks later they decided it must be my gall bladder, they took it out and was 100% better. I did have gall stones, aparently to small to see. If it is not that hmmmm maybe an endoscope? Did you have an xray, maybe a rib fracture? Other than that I can't think of anything. Sorry your hurting, welcome and keep us posted. Hopefully someone else can add to this.
Cheryl
Posted 12/14/2011 11:36 AM (GMT 0)
Ouch, sorry to read about all of the issues you are having. Can't help you with the stomach issues but I do have some experience with back pain. You said that the docs couldn't do anything because most of your pain issues are muscle oriented. Before my fusion and since, most of my back pain is from muscle spasms that never stop but the level of pain varies depending on the weather & amount of work I've done. When nerves are irritated they can cause vicious muscle spasms believe me. Sounds like you need to get to a good orthopedic surgeon that specializes in backs and also a pain management doctor. Possibly radiofrequency ablation would be an option for you. I had this procedure done at L-5/S-1 and it did help for about a year.

I see your taking tramacet already. Something you may try is ultram (generic is gabapentin) which is for nerve pain. A muscle relaxer may help but don't use one at work until you find out how they affect you. I know doctors are very hesitant to prescribe meds to anyone that works around moving equipment. Baclofen is the only muscle relaxer that doesn't make me sleepy but everyone is different and I had to try many before finding the right one for me.

Good luck and hope you can find some answers soon.
Posted 12/14/2011 11:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Ouchalot,

I was reading your post and got to thinking about the location of your pain. If it's upper right abdomen just under the rib cage that is where the liver is located. I'm assuming that they gave you morphine through the IV which I don't believe would affect the liver like it would if taken orally. But the liver is one of those organs that we can't live without. My advice is to have it checked, it can't hurt. Also, Tramacet has Tramadol which can be harmful to the liver and Paracetamol which I am not as familiar with but I know it's metabolized in the liver.

Baclofen may help the spasticity in your back. I wish I had more information for you. I hope they find the problem soon please keep us posted.

Sam
Posted 12/14/2011 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Ouchalot,
Welcome to Healingwell. I am sorry for the pain that brings you here, but glad you found the site.
The other members are right about getting the gallbladder and liver checked out by a doctor. I hope that the reason is found soon and the pain can get under control.

As Sam said, keep us posted please!
Mindy
Posted 12/14/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for the replies. I did have my rib pushed out of the cartilage on that side about 6 months ago by a physiotherapist who was trying to help with my back, but that pain is higher. I'll ask my Dr. to look into the liver area, or maybe have another look at my gall bladder. When I was in last time she was certain it was my gall bladder and said she had even known people with gall bladder problems who got ease from their back pain after it was removed. So I was crushed when I found out it wasn't that....
So happy I found this site. I just got tired of hearing from everybody that I have no options for the pain, and to just take some pills. I have a little hope now. I just have to get some relief soon. Between my back and my gut...This is no way to live. Thanks again for the replies.
Posted 12/15/2011 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ouchalot Welcome to the chronic pain forum. I'm glad you found us, but I'm sorry that you have all that pain. I don't know anything different that might be causing your stomach pain that has already been talked about. I do know about back pain, as I have it myself. I hope they can figure out what is causing the stomach pain really soon. Take care.

hugs
Loretta
Posted 12/15/2011 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ouch and as the others have said welcome aboard. I am sorry that you are suffering as you are. I commend you for trying to stay as active as possible in spite of your back pain. That is so important to keep as active as you can.

You may have not had gallstones show up but that does not mean your gallbladder is functioning as it should. The gallbladder can become inflammed and deal you all sorts of misery. Ask your dr to send you for a HIDA Scan, this checks it to see if its working correctly. I had my gallbladder taken out because of this problem and it was found on the HIDA Scan, I did not have stones. If the HIDA Scan comes back ok, then perhaps a consult with a gastroenterologist should be considered to see if there is gut problems going on.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.
Posted 12/15/2011 3:51 AM (GMT 0)
I think that maybe you should ask your doctor for bloodwork for your Liver,
maybe go and get an ultra sound done of yor liver, then maybe a upper endoscope of your stomach,
by a Gastro doctor, maybe even an mri of your right side...a lot of things can hurt the liver, stomach and gullbladder
and pain from any of these can be bad...check to see if your running any type of a fever...make
a journal of what is happening when your pain hits you...and take your journal into your doctors visit...
Many many well wishes to you...hope you can get a low pain day soon...right sided pain can also be the appendix....
Check and see if your running a fever, could be the appendix....
keep us posted as we do care....
Posted 12/15/2011 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Ouch,

I think that muscle relaxants are certainly worth a try. They depress your CNS and essentially this can mean a slow down of the firing of certain pain signal chemicals. The anti-spasmodic soma can irritate the stomach, though they are very effective. Robaxin is easier on the stomach but weaker in effect. I personally would not recommend skelaxin, but thats just from my personal experience, I'm not a medical profession. Valium works well to both decrease anxiety/fear and reduce muscle spasms, but of course it can cause drowsiness and its effectiveness decreases slowly over time. Cyclobenzaprine is very effective as a muscle relaxant, but its side effects can make you very lethargic. Baclofen is helpful for some people (seems to be hit or miss) with minimal side effects.

Its definitately something I would request from your doctor as a 7 day trail just to see if there is any benefit. Just my grain of salt and I hope you feel better.

PS- Lyrica, though mostly prescribed for nerve pain might be helpful too. I would also think it would be worth asking your doctor about this medication too.
Posted 12/15/2011 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ouch, and welcome here. To echo what's already been said, I'm sorry you've reason to be here, but glad you've found us. This is certainly one of the best places you could possibly be for information and support.

When they did the ultrasound, was that purely to look at your gallbladder or did they check out the rest of your abdomen while they were about it? Have you had any sort of abdominal imaging done - even x-ray can sometimes show up a problem, depending on what is going on.

I guess the other thing is that you said you take tramacet - that's not a med we have here so I had to look it up, but I see that it contains paracetamol/acetominaphen, which can cause abdominal pain and liver problems.

I hope that you can find something to ease your back pain too - what about something simple like heat or massage? I get a lot of spasm through my mid back because of multiple compression fractures, and find that massage and a heat pad does give some relief.

Laura
Posted 12/15/2011 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ouch, and welcome here. To echo what's already been said, I'm sorry you've reason to be here, but glad you've found us. This is certainly one of the best places you could possibly be for information and support.

When they did the ultrasound, was that purely to look at your gallbladder or did they check out the rest of your abdomen while they were about it? Have you had any sort of abdominal imaging done - even x-ray can sometimes show up a problem, depending on what is going on.

I guess the other thing is that you said you take tramacet - that's not a med we have here so I had to look it up, but I see that it contains paracetamol/acetominaphen, which can cause abdominal pain and liver problems.

I hope that you can find something to ease your back pain too - what about something simple like heat or massage? I get a lot of spasm through my mid back because of multiple compression fractures, and find that massage and a heat pad does give some relief.

Laura
Posted 12/15/2011 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Ouch...I have had extreme abdominal pain and I agree there is not anything like it. However, mine was from a diseased colon and I had severe constipation for over two years. I would take the advice of the other members and get that checked out. I wish you the best.

Take care, Amy
Posted 12/15/2011 8:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks again everybody. Sad to see so many people in the same boat. I have an Appt next Thursday, and I'll take a lot of your comments and suggestions with me. I know you are not doctors but I have more hope with your ideas in 2 days on this forum than I have gotten in 3 years of Dr.s and specialists. What a great resource.
Posted 12/15/2011 8:23 AM (GMT 0)
Your right we are not doctors but we all have different doctors than you. Since most of use have/have had similar symptoms, you are not only getting our opinions but that of our doctors as well. I recently found this site myself and I can tell you it really does help. Hope everything works out next week. Again, keep us posted.
Posted 12/20/2011 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.  Your post got me to sign up to be a member because the pain you are describing strikes home.  I believe you should have you pancreas checked out.  I have had Pancreatitus twice and I would give birth everyday to avoid that pain again.  Morphine did not touch it.  Have your doctor check your Pancreas enzymes along with your liver.  It really sounds like something is going wrong in that area as your liver, pancreas, and gallblabber all work together.
Posted 12/20/2011 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi TwirlerMom, and welcome. Can I suggest that when you're up to it you might like to start a new topic? This will let you introduce yourself and give everyone a chance to welcome you.

Ouch - all the best with your appointment. Please keep in touch and let us know how it goes.

Laura
Posted 12/22/2011 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Well I got some good news in regards to my back today.. I got a call from Occupational Health, and they have got me an appt with a neurosurgeon in a city a couple of hours away from me. It's funny because of all the Dr's and specialists I've seen, no one could get me an appt, and once my employer got involved, I have an appt in 3 weeks!!!! I'm so happy. It's a huge international company, so i didn't think anything of it when my boss had asked for permission to make a few calls on my behalf, but thank goodness he did. He said the company spends 100's of thousands on this department, and said we might as well use them as a resource to get me some attention.

Thanks for the advice on my stomach pain as well. I'm in at my regular Dr tomorrow, and I'm going to ask about my pancreas and liver. She said last time that the ultrasound did not show the pancreas so, it may be another place to look. I'll keep everyone informed, and hopefully what I find out may help someone else.
Posted 12/22/2011 6:46 AM (GMT 0)
Ouchalot....Good luck with your appointments...Keep us posted. I will keep you in my prayers.

Bless you, Amy
Posted 12/22/2011 9:00 AM (GMT 0)
Ouchalot
So sorry that you hurt.
Let us know what you find out from the doctor today. I am anxious to know.

I will put you on ourprayer list at church and the entire congregation will pray for you.

Betsey
Posted 12/23/2011 5:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well, my local Dr. figures the stomach pain I have is tied into my back, almost like a sciatica. The vertebrae that I broke years ago T 9, 10, 11 are somehow intertwined by the nervous system to the abdominals. She stuck a finger into my gut area and the muscles spasmed so bad a tear nearly came to my eye. So she is hopeful it is a nerve/ muscle problem,caused by my spine and nothing to with any malfunctioning organs. So she has high hopes that the neurosurgeon I'm seeing in a few weeks will be able to help me with some of the pain. She predicts I am going to need a stabilization surgery to stop my back from compressing further. But I guess there are a lot of new technologies out there with injections of plastic and such, instead of fusing vertabraes. We'll see.
She said I am very lucky to get the appt I have. If she would have tried to get me in, she said I would have had to wait for 3 years to see him, but luckily, being a machine operator in a factory that belongs to a multi billion dollar company has its perks. So I have some hope!!!! I'll keep posting as I find out more. Fingers crossed.
Posted 12/23/2011 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
It could be what was suggested by the other posters, but also:

Have you been checked for hiatal hernia?  If you have a sliding hernia, where the stomach slides through the hiatal opening into the chest, it can feel like a heart attack or just cause pain when you are eating.  If the pain is all the time, the hernia can be "paraesophageal" where the stomach is stuck in the chest (actually the mediastinum) alongside the heart.  I've had the second one, got it repaired, now the opening is enlarged again and my stomach only goes up when I eat.  It hurts!  It could be triggered to hurt by the doc pushing too.

It takes a barium swallow to diagnose it.  Just looking down the throat will show nothing because you go in without anything in the stomach and they usually knock you out for the test.

I would go to a gastroenterologist before deciding on any surgery - just to rule out a hiatal hernia.

Posted 12/23/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Well, the surgery wouldn't be for my stomach pain, it would be for my crushed spine. She just thinks the stomach pain could be related to the back spasms I have 24 hrs a day.
Posted 6/3/2014 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, I'm a new member and I found this chat while researching the procedure I'm having tomorrow. They are doing a diagnostic version of the Facet Joint Ablation for my L4-L5. This will be done with no anesthetic in order to see if I have immediate relief and how long it last. I've suffered from fm since 99 and chronic pain for 5 years. On disability. Also have severe osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. But 8 months ago I fell and broke ribs and injured back.
If this works they will go back and sedate me and do a real cauterization of those nerves to try and get rid of the pain. I'm desperate. I'm 5'2" 100lbs and I can't handle this any more.
Posted 6/3/2014 4:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Deejfred & welcome to the forum. Glad you found us but sorry that you have to be here. Deejfred, we ask all new members to make their own separate intro post so that all members will see it & be able to give you a proper hello & welcome aboard. By posting on this older thread not many people will see it & some of these folks that posted here are no longer active here at the forum.

To make a new thread look to the left & click Post New Topic, type in a heading & if you want to copy & paste what you have written above for an intro post that would be perfect.

We look forward to getting to know you. Thanks.
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