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Chronic Pain
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Posted 1/18/2010 7:39 AM (GMT 0)
I am having horrific pain in the shoulder I had replaced in Aug. The skin at the incision site has continued to be red, hot and painful. The inflammation migrates up and down the arm as does the swelling hour by hour. Any movement of my arm or even just bending over with my arm held at my side causes terrible pain. I just saw the rheumatologist who referred me back to the orthopedic surgeon. He is so wonderful and is trying so hard to get to the bottom of this because of course this is not normal and he knows that I'm not a "complainer". I had a shoulder tap last Fri. and should hear the results of that later today (Mon.) I am at my wits end with this intractable pain. It could be the Lupus but I have a very mild case so it would be hard to pin this on the Lupus. If any of you have had something similar, please help!
Posted 1/18/2010 8:41 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Nurse,
I'm sorry that you are having such problems with pain. Has anyone suggested that you be evaluated for RSD? I hope that it is not that, but it is possible. I had my shoulder reconstructed some years back, and it froze and I also developed RSD in that area, and down my arm and hand as well. Does having any clothing or fabric on your arm bother you? Does the area ever get blue and cold and then change to red, hot and angry? It may also be some lingering infection with the swelling and inflammation. Has anyone done any bloodwork to rule an infection in or out?
I am not familiar with a shoulder tap- what type of test is that and what does it show?
I wish that I could be more help.
Sandi
Posted 1/18/2010 9:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Nurse2,
I'm so sorry to hear what you're still going through. My thoughts were along the same line of Sandi - possible RSD (now usually called CRPS - Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome). I would ask to be evaluated for that, and try to find someone with expertise in it, as everyone may not know how to diagnose it. I've heard that the sooner that it's treated, the better, as it can spread and the worse the symptoms get the more difficult they are to treat.

I hope you find some answers, but remember you've got a great support system here.

Many wishes for healing....

PaLady
Posted 1/18/2010 12:08 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,
I was diagnosed with RSD several years ago after the numerous falls I had before I had both knees replaced. The shoulder tap is like a spinal tap per say just of the shoulder joint. He is checking for infection and cell count of the fluid. Right now I've just spent an hour laying in the kitchen floor in pain. I have the heating pad heating up now. I'm to the point that today I just want to find something wrong....big infection or whatever..just to get it treated and overwith. My quality of life is not so great right now and emotionally I'm not in a great place right now. My family has really suffered at my emotional hands since this surgery which embarrases and hurts my heart. I know that I am so much better off than millions of others, many of which are on here....or I could live in Haiti right now! God be with those there! I am ashamed of how I feel and how I have acted these last few months!
Nurse2
Posted 1/18/2010 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Nurse2
Prayers being sent along with lots of soft hugz and hopes that they'll find out something soon..
Hope the heating pad will give you some relief.
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Nurse2))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
keep us posted as to what the doctor says...
Posted 1/18/2010 3:55 PM (GMT 0)

   Nurs2...never be ashamed of how you feel...I can clearly tell that you are in real pain. Your family will be able to tell as well...that your are in serious pain. Are you taking any pain meds at all to help you through this difficult time? We all feel bad for you....there is pain, then there is unbareable pain...which sounds like you are suffering. I wish you the best...and hope you at least have some pain meds to help you there.

   Michael

Posted 1/18/2010 6:59 PM (GMT 0)
 

    Nurse2,

 

      Hope you get the results quickly and a treatment plann in place! Try to rest when you can, if you can.

 

*huggs*

  dani

Posted 1/19/2010 5:28 AM (GMT 0)
The culture taken from my shoulder joint is negative for any infection. I think that the orthopedic surgeon is stumped. I called the rheumatologist today to let them know that and she wants me to call the surgeon back tomorrow and see if he will consider giving me a steroid shot in the joint and muscle or if he will release me to her care so she can change meds or something. The whole time I'm on the phone with the nurse I'm on my back, in the floor, trying to roll back and forth to see is this will either help the pain or at least distract me for a minute. The rheumy whats me to enroll in a Fibromyalgia program that they offer and it is an hour session twice a week in Columbus, Ohio which is 2hrs away from me. I will do it but there again......more PT which will aggrivate something else! I personally think that I am dealing with a rheumatology problem now and I want someone to listen and help me! I feel like she is trying to pass me around!
Nurse2
Posted 1/19/2010 5:43 AM (GMT 0)
Oh I hate it when you feel passed down the line! I'm so sorry nurse2, I hope you get the approval for the cortisone shot and it gives you some relief. Exercise during a flare doesn't sound like the right way to go.

But never feel guilty complaining about pain, especially extreme pain, we all know what we can manage to live with and whats in the overwhelming basket and you sound very much overwhelmed right now.

I hope some one helps you soon, best wishes, golitho
Posted 1/19/2010 5:48 AM (GMT 0)
Nurse2
Michael is right never be ashamed of the way you feel and let me ask you how are you suppose to feel and act, sure there are others that have it worse, you will alway find that so! But what does that mean, does it mean you should not be human and have feelings? Does it mean you should not hurt? Of course not! Would you tell your patients that? Would you tell your patients to suck it up there are allot of people much worse off than you? Of course you wouldn't! Then why pray tell would you think that about yourself? Give yourself some slack! I am sure your family understands, I am sure they hurt with you and want only the best for you! Just as all of your family here does! So accept all their love and help and right now give what you can, but do not feel guility or ashamed that you can not do or give more. Please be as kind and gentle with yourself as you are with your patients, just as your patients need that, you to, also need it!

I do wish I could ease your pain Nurse2, I hope and pray that you feel better soon!

White Beard
Posted 1/19/2010 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
White Beard is right, you would not tell a patient to suck it up and deal, and you know that you shouldn't be saying it to yourself either. I think that along with being able to get that cortisone injection, that you really should look into whether or not you might be having onset of RSD. If that is what it is, a block can be done to try to help with the pain. I had several stellate ganglion blocks done and it did help a bit, but the earlier they are done , the better the results seem to be.
If the pain medications aren't helping, it sounds like it is time to get them changed some.
You know if you have had RSD before, that the likelihood of getting it in other areas of the body are greatly increased.
I hope that it is not that, but if it is , the faster you start getting treated for it, the better off you will be.
I hope that you get some answers......
Sandi
Posted 1/19/2010 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
(((((((((((((nurse2))))))))))))). I'm sorry you're still having problems with your shoulder! I hope your doctors can find out the cause soon & get you some relief!

hugs,
Skeye
Posted 1/20/2010 5:27 PM (GMT 0)
Nurse 2 we know u are in pain u never complain. Please take care nad let us know if we can help. I feel so bad for u. Hugs.
Posted 1/21/2010 3:07 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your kind words. Today has been the best day I have had in a week or so. I did very little yesterday because it was one of those days where I was so exhausted from all of the pain and no sleep that my husband ordered my to lay on the couch and watch a couple of movies with him. I also put on one of my Duragesic patches. They are supposed to last 72 hrs. but it seems like it takes about 8 to 10 hrs. after application to really kick in for me. What a relief it was not to be rolling in the floor in pain! I don't think I can stand many more of those in a row like last week.....it just about did me in. I do have pain meds here...the usual Percocet's and Loratabs. I started on Baclofen to help with the spasms. It does help better if I keep it in my system at scheduled intervals as do most meds but I have started keeping a log of the date, time of day or night that the med was taken, the medication I took and the symptoms I was having at that time. It's too easy to overuse meds when you seem to get no relief from anything. When I'm having a bad "fibro fog" day my memory is terrible and this helps me remember about the PRN meds I take. I think I'll head to bed now...I'm tired and I didn't do anything again today. I pray that all of you get a good nights sleep.
Nurse2
Posted 1/21/2010 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
nurse2

I have been on baclofen for quite awhile now, I don't know how familiar you are with it, but I have found it to be a real Godsend! I have problems with getting muscle spasms just about everywhere, from the bottoms of my feet, to the insides of my thighs to even in my hands! Everywhere, they started me off on 5mg every eight hours, and increased it to where it was effective, for quite a while I was taking 15mg every eight hours, and then they started back up again and it was increased to 20mg every eight hours and then to 25mg I now, and have been for quite some time been taking 25mg at 6AM and 2PM and then 30mg at 10PM. It has worked very well in controling the spasms, there are times when I have periods when they come back but they usually are not as bad. If you are just starting the Baclofen, you will probably have to also build up your dosage to a level that will be effective in relieving your spasms. Also if you have looked this medication up it is not just a totally benign medication, and is not something to be just taken periodicly or every once in a while, but with that said it is the best antispasmodic that I have ever used and I have used allot of them over the years!

Nurse2 I do hope you get your pain under control and I do pray for you that you get better and that you also have a Good Nights Sleep!

I wish and Pray for you only the Very Best thing in Life!

White Beard
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