New Here

Mami,

Welcome to Healing Well.  This Chronic Pain Forum is quite excellent, indeed.  You will find many many wonderful people, most of them with much experience who offer a lot of suggestions and support.  I hope you find a home here.  I know I have.

May I ask what are the two conditions that cause you chronic pain? Keep us informed with the results of your tests and tell us more about yourself too. Don't forget the chat rooms too.  There you will get a lot of info and support as well.

I look forward to seeing more of your posts and getting to know you better.  Take care and keep positive, Mami.

Gentle Hugs,

Lindaloo 

My two diagnosed pain conditions are:

Chondromalicia(sp) of the knees which causes the cartilidge to fray and my knees to swell and constantly be stiff. I don't know how common it is, but people have told me its not as bad as I say. Well when my knees give out when I'm going up or down stairs or when I'm walking on flat ground I think its bad enough. It could be a mis-diagnosis, but my current doctor could care less because its not bad enough for him to do anything except give pills. X-rays were supposedly fine, he never showed me so I don't know for sure. I was given Celbrex that didn't help and I think one or two other things that didn't help. Now I just use hot/cold packs and masage them myself.

Pinched nerve(s) of the neck/shoulder. Because of this my arms feel heavy sometimes and I have lost a considerable amount of strength and endurance with them. My shoulder, arms, and neck also cramp up and start to spasm especially when I have used them too much. Not to mention it can be very painful and I end up begging for relief. I am on a flexerol(sp?) I think 10mg and Ibuprofen 600mg. I have taken more potent pain medication like vicodin and codeine? in the past, but not specifically for my pinched nerve(s). I don't remember them really working and if they did I didn't like the side effects. I can't remember much of when I was on other pain medications let alone the actual names of them or how I was on them. I think I subconciously blocked it out. IDK. I was also too young at the time to know that it is important to remember all those things like the name and mg's.

I also have dislocated vertabrae in the neck/upper back that also causes pain and stiffness from when I was rear ended. 

I recently had a blood test to make sure everything was fine. Supposedly it is which surprises me. I have always had borderline high cholesteral since I was born and was expecting her to say it was high. Nope. Thyroid is fine as well as others. She didn't let me view the results myself. My urine analysis was also fine. So now I go get tested for ulcers and have an ultra sound to see if I have stones, cysts, and IDK what else since I'm complaining of abdominal pains and GI upsets. I know I have some sort of thing that is causing my adbominal issues. It would be nice to know what so I can start treatment if there is any and cross another thing off my list. In two weeks I see my regular dr again to discuss results and I'll ask for a copy of my blood test. I also am going to talk to her about my dizzy, spaced out, vertigo (i think that is the right word), and nauseaness assoiated with all that. Also my upper sinuses always seem to have pressure. So we'll see if I can start getting some answers and get back to 'normal', like I'd even know normal if I felt it...

BTW I'm a 22 yr old F engaged to my high school sweetheart of 6 yrs. We're too poor now to do anything and rely on our parents for financial support.

Post Edited (Mami0704) : 6/12/2008 4:48:41 PM (GMT-6)

Hi Mami,

And welcome to our Chronic Pain family. Sorry you have to be here but glad you chose us. You will find many forms of pain relief regimes and some who's doctors refuse to help. My pain if mostly from fibromyalgia and I have a wonderful doc who helps me live a productive life. I know you'll enjoy the gang and get lots of support. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help you. Email if you wish. My email address is available by clicking the envelope under my name over there <---,

Chutzie

Wanted to say hello and welcome to you, too. You've definitely stumbled upon a great place for support.

Hi Mami and welcome to the forum. This is certainly a nice place to call home.

As for your condition re the knee's at your age it may NOT be a big deal to them but when those frayed and worn cartllidge becomes say 20 years older then it will be a major ordeal. It is the cartlidge that allows free movement of the knee without friction and when this is worn or frayed it allows the bones to rub together and eventually will wear the bone down as in my case and it makes knee injury to become a real potential as it did in my case.

As you can see from my signature I have had numerous knee arthroscopies to deal with this over the years and eventually a bilateral knee replacement when all of it had worn out and I had a twisting injury to the left one at work about 10 years ago now.

Dont ever let any of them tell you that bone rubbing against bone doesnt cause pain and if that was the case then we wouldnt have the padding to begin with.

Anyway welcome to the forum and hoping you find many great friends here!

Welcome.

The knee thingie (Chondromalacia sounds so severe) can actually be treated in a simple, relatively painless way. Two part sequence. One is rest, rest ans more rest. No steps, stairs, running or walking for several weeks/months. Step two is a limited revalidation by professionals to prevent you from rushing back into life and getting the inflammation started again (the inflammation is the source of the problem). Medication such as antibiotics might be necessary and advisable. Consult a specialist on this one.

I don't have enough data on the neck/back issue to give detailed advice.

What about your abdominal ailment? Such ailments can make you feel really sick and grind you down. Feel free to talk about the issue, we're all here to help you.

Concerning God. The Holy scripture says God helps those who help themselves. I think waiting and doing nothing is a bad strategy. You can believe and trust in GOd, but you can't expect the Almight to come down and change some bandages now can you? Leave those things to the doctors.

And of course keep us posted.

If you need more information on Chondromalacia, drop me a line.

Take care.

Morgoth:

I don't want to hijack this thread or start an off-topic debate here, but I feel compelled to comment. The Bible does not say "God helps those who help themselves." In point of fact, Proverbs 28:26 say quite the opposite. Of course trusting in God's wisdom and relying upon Him for healing does not mean one may not seek out the advice and care of physicians and therapists. I (along with many others here, I think) pray daily that God would heal me and the others I know here and elsewhere who suffer from debilitating chronic conditions. I also thank Him for the medication I've been prescribed which, though it barely takes the edge off this pain does make it possible for me to perform the basic functions of life on most days.

Thanks for listening. As I said, I don't intend any offense here. Just wanted to clarify the misquoted scripture.
Ry

Freya, Ryand,

I did not know you were so interested in the scriptures. If you'd like, we could talk about these matters in private a little. Although I myself am not particularly religious, I did study Comparative Religion in between my other studies some 20 years ago. I've always been interested how other people experience Divinity (in the broadest term of the word). Here in Belgium, religion and spiritualism are almost never talked about. People just aren't interested anymore and those few who are don't dare say so in public for fear of ridiculing themselves (the lunies not included of course).

My e-mail is listed on the forum. Think about it will you.

Morgoth