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Posted 8/8/2012 2:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone! I'm new to this site and this is my first post so please bear with me if I'm not quite sure how this all works yet. My pain started about 6 yrs ago. I woke up one morning having muscle spasms from the base of my neck down my mid back. It took 4 days to get them to stop completely. A few days later while reaching to pick up my son who was a baby at the time, I blacked out. Was taken to the hospital for tests and found out I had torn my trap and also had a herniated disc. Fast forward to this point, I know have 5 herniated discs in my neck and upper back with 3 more in the low back they think are slipping. I have a numbness and tingling in my arm, hand and side of my face. It comes and goes. A few weeks back I realized I now can't feel the top of my leg where it meets my hip. I have no insurance so at this point its one of those things where they're trying to prevent anything else from happening but I haven't been able to get any more tests to know exactly what is going on. My muscles in my neck, shoulders/traps, and upper back feel like rocks. I wake up everyday and it takes me 2 hrs to just be able to get moving because I hurt so bad. My son is 6 and it breaks my heart that I can't just get up and play like he wants to. If anyone out there has gone through or is going through similar situation and has anything that they have tried that seems like it might work or any tips on trying to keep the pain away or helping with muscles that take hrs to loosen up enough to do normal everyday things, I would love imput or suggestions. I'm just sick of feeling lost and alone in all of this. Thanks!
Posted 8/8/2012 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi SleepyMama and welcome to the chronic pain forum. I am sorry that you have to be here but glad that you found us. You mentioned that you do not have insurance. Do you know if you would qualify for Medicaid? At least with it you can get in to see drs and get treatment.

There are a lot of different things a person can do to try to help keep the pain down, but with all the things going on with you it could make your condition worse so, its best to talk to a dr about this and get his guidance on what would be best for you. You do need to keep moving around as much as you can. Laying around is not a good idea because it will weaken you in many ways and you don't need that on top of everything else. You may want to alternate using heat & ice. There numerous analgesics like Tiger Balm, Ben Gay, Icy Hot and that sort of thing.

Seriously, I would get on the phone and see about getting on Medicaid so you can get in to see a dr.. Sometimes your PCP will work with a patient that has no insurance and having to pay cash and offer a discount.

One thing about it, by coming here and getting things out, you know you are not alone. There is usually always someone around or will be along shortly.

Take care and let us know what you find out about Medicaid.
Posted 8/8/2012 6:37 PM (GMT 0)
Straydog- thank you for your ideas. I have been trying to get approved for Medicaid for the past 3 yrs. Its turned into a cycle of being told there's no way I should not be approved, followed by the waiting game, only to find out that I've been turned down yet again. The hard part is never getting a straight answer as to why its been turned down. Then, I just start the cycle over again. Fortunately I have been able to keep up with paying for treatments and medications. At this point my primary dr has told me that we're more or less putting a band aid on it until I can get new MRI's done to see what new damage has occured that is making me feel so bad. I also am very lucky because my mother is the office manager at a chiropractor's office and he treats me and will not take any payment at all. He is also trying to work out a deal with a friend who works at an MRI place to get it done at a discounted price. At this point if I have to pay cash for it I will just to find out what needs to be done to correct the issues.

As far as being as active as possible I definately try to do so. As I'm sure you know, there are days where that is easier then others but you take what you can get sometimes ;) I've learned to plan my days accordingly. Usually the first couple hrs of the day are the worst. Once everything has loosened up a little and I have been able to get a little medicine in me I can get most things accomplished before dinnertime. For me, that's when it starts to get bad again. I've also learned that when I have a lot of things that will bother my back that need to be done- whether its washing floors, cleaning shower, ect.., I'm better off doing as much as possible that day because the next day or two I'm useless. I guess its just figuring out what works best and adjusting the rest of your routine around it.

The part that makes me feel the worst is when my son wants to build a fort, or drive his trains around the house. Its never a good feeling to have to say "mama can't crawl around with you until the medicine kicks in"...

Sorry that I got off to a little rant and was venting there! I guess those are things that I usually hold in so it was nice to be able to say it to someone else. And again, thank you for sharing some ideas with me and lisening, its greatly appreciated!
Posted 8/8/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mama, vent away, its good for the soul I am convinced.Wow,that is something about the problems you are having with Medicaid, how awful. You know its really strange how some can apply and it goes through without a hitch, then here you have had nothing but trouble with them.

Oh, all of us have our days where we try to do everything on that one day and then spend the next week paying for it. Just doesn't seem fair does it. Its very hard learning how to pace ones self. I still work on that one.

I am glad to hear your PCP is working with you. I sure hope you can get an MRI done, that would tell the drs which direction to take you.

I am sure its hard having one that age wanting to do things with him. I have a 7 yr old grandson and he will ask me if I am having a good day or a bad day and he really understands I have issues. Just don't be so hard on yourself, you did not ask for this.

Take care...Susie
Posted 8/8/2012 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Susie- thanks so much for your understanding! I'm sure that breaks your heart when your grandson asks you that. My little man will ask if my back is broken that day, its hard because I always want to shield him from it! And thank you for your kind words about the fact that I didn't ask for this. That is a very good way to look at it. I do have the tendecy to get down on myself about it at times so I will try to keep that in mind when I do have those days!

Thanks again,
Denise
Posted 8/8/2012 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, just a recommendation, I just lost my insurance last month, but have to have bi-annual checkups and a once a year down scope because of having a gastric bypass surgery and a few pretty major complications since I've had it 10 years ago. Well, I'm due for my down scope at the end of October, and probably wont have insurance by then as I also have been denied for Medicaid (actually medi-cal where I live).

Anyways, my PCP is working on getting me admitted to the USC University Hospital teaching program, so that I can get my stuff done, and he said if they take me, it will either be free of charge, or pennies on the dollar. I would suggest you talk to your PCP about that kind of option. I'm gonna have to drive like 150 miles to get these services, if they'll take me, but I have to jave that down scope, every time I have it, seems like they're always finding something that's borderline catastrophic.

I dont know how close you live to a university or a teaching hospital, but if you can get into one, you might get some well needed treatment. Though I should probably add that my PCP is pushing their bariatric dpt to do a case study on my twin brother and myself in exchange for the services I need, and it's starting to look like they're gonna do it. Identical twins, with the same surgery, on the same day, by the same surgeon and OR staff, can't get much better of a control group than that according to my PCP.

I know it's probably a one in a million chance to get into a free or reduced rate program, but its worth a shot. You never know what could happen. I hope you're able to get some kind of treatment soon, and wish you better days. Take care.
Posted 8/8/2012 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
2y4t- thank you for your suggestion! I'll be honest, that's a route I wouldn't have thought of to explore. I will definately look into it! I believe that we do have a teaching college close by, its only a 20 min drive so it would be well worth seeing if its an option for me! If all else fails I'm getting married in a few months and thank goodness my fiance has amazing insurance! The only downside to that is I have an 11 month waiting period for any of these issues since its considered pre existing and I haven't had insurance in the last 12 months :( I've dealt with it for this long, if I have to wait a year for worst case senario I guess it could be worse! In the meantime I will be looking into the college to see and keep my fingers crossed! And good luck to you and your brother with everything! Its too bad that its such a long drive but its great that you found an option that works for you! I really appreciate your advice, its always great to have some hope when someone comes up with a possible solution! Take care and good luck!
Posted 8/9/2012 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi sleepymama, that teaching hospital thing, I think, is definitely worth looking into, my doctor keeps telling me its a really really long shot, especially since such things still require funding to come from somewhere, and he keeps telling me that the "case study" thing could take a year, if it happens, since it would have to be written into someone's curriculum. But youd be shocked what you can get when you're willing to be flexible, my junior college had a radiology tech program, and I went in there and talked to the teacher, and got a free mri on my left shoulder, resolution wasn't that great since the hospital was having the students use the oldest equipment, but it was good enough for my shoulder dr to say it disnt look right lol.
Posted 8/9/2012 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know if this will help any, but the hospitals in my area, on the back of the bill they send you is a phone number to call to get an application to get your bill reduced or waived all-together, based on your income. If you have low income and get your MRI at the hospital, this might be an avenue to check into.
Posted 8/9/2012 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
Alsoinpain,
The hospital near me has a financial dept that does that as well. The problem I keep running into is when they count all sources of income they also count child support as income. My son's father is supposed to pay $280/wk which works out to $1120/month. That brings me over what you can make each month to qualify for any assistance. The worst part is that although I am supposed to get that, in six and a half yrs I've only got 2 payments! Its extremely frustrating to get penalized for something that I don't even have! I know all these policies are in effect for a reason, but it stinks when you're the person who is falling through the cracks! Years ago while trying to get insurance for my son I kept getting denied. I found out it was because his father, who in the agreement was supposed to cover it, was voluntarily turning it down at work. I ended up having to file all kinds of paperwork and going to court to release him from that responsiblity just to get him covered!
Posted 8/9/2012 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
Sleepymama, That's awful! Maybe getting a letter from the child support agency to prove that your not getting paid may help? I'm just trying to throw out some idea's. Hopefully everything will work out for you. Best of luck.
Posted 8/9/2012 3:25 PM (GMT 0)
I would think that if you actually meet with the financial dept. They request bank statements or other proof of income, and it would easily show that you are not receiving those payments over all these years. And I always thought that for an adult, that child support doesn't count as income anyway....only when applying for children's medicaid or financial health needs.

So...I would ask to meet with them again as it seems pretty easy to show your income over the last year without a penny of support.
Posted 8/9/2012 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Oh wow, off topic, is your CS an agreement from mediation, or do you have your local DCSS involved? I've been going pro-per on my divorce and custody case, and in my state, each court has whats called a "family law facilitator" to help with paperwork. They cant give you legal advice, but if you tell them what you want, they'll help you with the paperwork to get it done. Just a thought, but also, in my state, once you involve DCSS (department of child support services) they, in theory, will get everything set up to have support deducted from his weekly paycheck. Or you can go down to the court and push that with the judge yourself, and if he makes the order, you have it process served on his employer, and they have. Like a month to start writing you checks.

Go onto the website for Nolo-press, they offer books for each state with step by step instructions on how to file, and actually get what you need.

Sheesh, I know thats the pitts being a single parent, trying to juggle real life, and not getting a stitch of help to do it, and only having things compounded by an ex who thinks they're god, and struggling to take care of you're own health at the same time.

I hope it gets better for you. Good luck and God bless
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