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Chronic Pain
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Posted 10/16/2008 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Im 24 yrs old. I was in a car accident a year ago. I kept complaining of back and rib pain and the doctor kept telling me my ribs were just bruised. Well finally they listened to me and a couple of weeks ago they found what they think is a possible herniated disc around the T10 area. I just had another MRI and more x-rays done yesterday. I have a lot of pain in the left side in the mid back area and it radiates to my lower ribs all the way around to the front. All the muscle on my left side in the lower rib area are constantly contracted and pulling my ribs upwards. Right now im Flexeril and naproxen. Im only taken the flexeril b/c naproxen makes me sick. So im here to find out more information on herniated disc and if anyone has experience with this.
Posted 10/17/2008 10:16 AM (GMT 0)
I have 2 herniated discs in my neck and they can be quite painful! If the meds don't work then I recommend looking into epidural injections to help alleviate the inflammation. They are not guaranteed to work though. However, I have already had a series of 3 in my neck and I can tell that they have worked really well while I've had other injections in my hips for sacroiilitis and it didn't help that much. Sometimes docs will prescribe the injections in combo with physical therapy. The shots help alleviate the swelling and the p/t helps break the muscle contraction.
Posted 10/17/2008 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mia,
I have bulging (herniated) discs of T-10, T-11 & T-12, among others...but those 3 are the worst. The pain you described is exactly how the pain I feel is from damaged discs in that area. It's not as common to have disc herniations in the thorasic area as it is in the cervical/lumbar areas. I "blew" (herniated) the discs in the thorasic area lifting a very heavy patient when I was a nurse. The pain from these damaged discs can be excruciating. For me, the pain feels like someone kicked you in the middle of your back and it does radiate to the ribs back & front. For me, it makes taking a deep breath hard. I've been to multiple pain mgmnt drs & other specialists. I've had multiple epidurals, lidocaine injections & even had neurotomy's of 14 spinal nerves (where they go in with a needle type instrument and burn the nerves, that are causing the pain, away). I had that done 3 times by a pain mgmt dr. and don't recommend it. The procedure was excruciating!!! I sobbed through the entire thing. Maybe b/c this dr. didn't give me enough sedation? Neurologists recommended surgery, but would not do it b/c I have no health insurance at all. I'd schedule an appt. w/ a "good" pain mgmt doctor if you haven't already done so. Everyone reacts to various types of pain mgmt treatments differently & every doctor is different. I'll be thinking about you & hope you find pain relief. Keep us posted on how you're doing.

Willow
Posted 10/17/2008 4:10 PM (GMT 0)
I have lots of bulgind discs, stenosis, etc too. I had nerve blocks for sacroiliitis and they were not worth the effort or pain. They made it worse in fact. Since then I have had an epidural, which didn't really help, but wasn't that bad pain wise and may be worth trying. I've also had botox in the neck, which was almost miraculous in how much it helped.

Pain meds will only help to make the pain tolerable. Not much more than that.
Posted 10/17/2008 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
d2parrotperson:
Have you been diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia or Torticollis? If you get a chance,
look those up. You'll find it interesting.
I don't know if I have Cervical Dystonia -- maybe. It's truly awful.
Pamela
How long did the effects of the EXPENSIVE Botox last?
Posted 10/19/2008 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there,

So sorry to hear about your pain!  I herniated a disc in my lower lumbar when I was much younger.

The pain meds didn't help, I can't take muscle relaxers (give me serious stomach issues) and when

my back gave completely out I went to an accupuncturist.  I figured it couldn't hurt more than

I was already hurting.  I couldn't even stand up or sit up normal.  After just one treatment by

a qualified accupuncturist, I could sit up on my own.  The pain was much alleviated, but I did

still have pain.  I went 3 more times which helped immensely with the pain.  I couldn't afford to

go anymore at that time, unfortunately.  It was before accupuncture was accepted on insurance

policies.  I highly recommend accupuncture to anyone in acute chronic pain!

~ Julie O'

Posted 10/19/2008 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

First of all welcome.  I have the same thing but on the right side. My doctor first thought it was my gallbladder, I thought I had bruised ribs from coughing(I have asthma and hubbie smokes) Anyway if this was on the left side I would of thought I was having a heart attack. All the ex rays, ultrasounds and hydro scan came back that my ribs and gallbladder are fine.  I still have the pain but I am getting used to it now.  I can't offer any suggestions that might help you, but do wish you the best and I plan to read all your replies. I want another MRI in the thoracic area, I am on disability so my insurance is medicare and Medicaid so the tests run on me are not a good as they used to be when I was working and had blue cross, I go to a pain clinic in February.  Take care of yourself.

Cloe

Posted 10/20/2008 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mia and welcome!

I'm so sorry to hear of the pain you're having! You are way too young to have to suffer like this...like anyone deserves it. Anyway, I have a collapsed disk that is pinching the nerves that go into my caboose and down the legs. There are a lot of non invasive treatments to try. Let your doc give you the options and then consider what YOU want to do. The spine is a very serious area to be messing with but with today's technology it's pretty safe. Injections of cortisone is common and helpful maybe 60-70% of the time. It's probably worth trying. If they mention surgery go VERY slow. Surgery is way less successful than injections for this type of problem. The sports med surgeon I talked to strongly advised me against it because most often the pain returns within 2 years and often worse.

Educate yourself and advocate for yourself. No one else will do it for you. We're here for you any time you need us.

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 10/20/2008 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Pamela, I've not been dx'd with either of those issues. I will do some research on them and maybe have a talk when I go to the pain clinic next week.

The EXPENSIVE Botox has lasted virtually 2 months. I can begin to feel it wearing off now. My next is on the 31st. They are supposed to last longer every time you get them though. I am so blessed to have gotten this relief. I was having huge headaches every single day. The muscles were so tight you could have played banjo on them. I couldn't find a pillow that was comfortable. Oy!
Posted 10/20/2008 9:55 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for you replies. I go to the doctor tomorrow morning for my MRI and Xray results. So I will let you know what the doctor says and what they plan on doing.
Posted 10/21/2008 6:10 PM (GMT 0)
Well I got my results today of my MRI and Xrays. It was good news!! Everything looks good and theres no herniated disc. I do have muscle and deep soft tissue damage and I have a buldged disc in my lower back but they just want to leave that one alone since it does not bother me to much. I have been referred to another doctor for physical therapy to see if we can get this resolved. My doctor is not sure I will be back to 100% b/c of how long my muscle have been like this and b/c of their location but he thinks we can keep the pain under control with the Flexeril and physical therapy.
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