Intro

I just wanted to take the time to introduce myself. I really think I have found the right place to connect with others that are going through similar things.My name is Linita but everyone calls me Lynn and I suffer from spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, and fibromyalgia. I never thought at 45 that my life would be like this. I went from being very active and working out at the gym 5 times a week to waking up one morning unable to move. The doctor that first did x-rays and diagnosed my problems said that it was probably due to all the sports played in high school or when I was working with horses etc. I just know it's been the worst 7 years of my life.

I had a fusion and laminectomy in 2009 due to sciatica and inability to use my right leg. The surgery did what my neuro-surgeon said it would and I have the use of my leg back but it never took care of any of the pain. Now three years later the pain is even worse and the sciatica is back. I have another MRI scheduled in December to see what we will do next. I know I am just so sick and tired of this pain. Everyone is right when they say that others don't understand it unless they live with it.

My hubby tries to be supportive and understanding but he's always telling me to be more active and my son is the same way when he comes to visit. I would love to be able to get out and do the things that I used to be able to do but some days it's hard to even get out of bed. The depression that goes along with the chronic pain is horrible as well. I had such bad reactions to all the depression meds that now I only take natural supplements for that. I do take pain medications but still have pain at a level 7-8 on a good day, 12 on a bad day lol well you know what I mean. Anyway, I think I have rambled on enough for my introduction post. Wishing everyone a lovely evening and sending out positive energy.

Post Edited By Moderator (Blessedx8) : 11/20/2012 8:47:56 PM (GMT-7)

Hi Lynn. I face similar issues. I was happy and healthy until someone threw a switch at about age 30. My mom, God bless her, is a retired RN, and fully understands chronic pain, she's seen it enough. My now ex-wife has had to deal with severe short-term pain, and couldn't understand why I couldn't get over it. My brother, who has never even had a broken bone in his life, has no clue, much less the psych issues that go with it. His mind does not comprehend it. It's completely foreign to him. Nevermind that I've been dealing with this for 15 years and on some days, I doubt if I could get out of bed quickly enough if the house was on fire. I have to sleep with a urinal beside my bed because often by the time I get myself situated and rolled into a seated position where my feet are touching the floor, I'd never make it to the bathroom.

The older ones in my family get it. My grandparents are gone, but I've got a spate of older aunts/uncles/cousins in their 70's and 80's who understand, but they pity me because I'm where they are 30 years younger than them.

Constant pain can wreck your brain chemistry. You don't sleep right, you're under constant stress, it affects you appetite... It literally affects the whole body. Psychiatrists, when prescribing meds, usually start with the treatments that work for the widest range of people, and start working from there. It's trial and error for the most part. You have to protect your sanity in all of this. Give this stuff time to work. It can take time for the body to get used to changes in dosage, new meds, even the time of day you take them. And sometimes it takes a combination, or time for your body to get used to the reaction of taking them. Remeron used to put me out like a light. Now? nuthin.

And my advice is to be wary of herbal supplements. Some are formulated differently than others, freshness and potency of ingredients can vary, some stay on the shelf way past their sell-by date reducing their effectiveness, and some people can have reactions to the "inactive ingredients" which often come from foreign sources. Some swear by them, and if they work for them, great. The only one I've found that's done anything for me is Melatonin, and I only use one brand, as other brands have not had the same effect. On me. Your mileage may vary.

I'm sorry we had to meet like this, but I'm glad you are here. Stick around. Pretty good bunch of folks in these parts...

Thanks LivingColor, I appreciate the reply. You are so right about how this affects your whole body. Just sleeping becomes a chore. I had severe reactions to all the wonderful medications like lyrica,gabapentin,cymbalta etc. and it was such a shame because I was really hoping to find something that worked. Unfortunately the hallucinations, extreme swelling, detached from reality feeling, suicidal thoughts etc. etc. was just not worth it. I still have some problems no from taking the Lyrica and it's been a few months now that I have been off of it. We make sure to get our supplements from an all natural totally organic shop here. It is more expensive but if it works a little bit then I am willing to pay it.

I take melatonin as well and unfortunately I'm out right now and hubby forgot to pick some up so it's another night that I may have to take the Imovane. It's times like these that I really wish there was a fairy godmother. Oh well, as hubby says "it is what it is even if you don't like it". Hopefully I will have good news when they do the MRI in a couple of weeks.
Have a wonderful night.

Yeah it's so weird how something works wonderful for one person but has either no effect or horrible effects on someone else. This is why it is so hard to treat us lovely pain patients. I do believe the malatonin that I take has the Vitamin B6 as well. I know it worked better than the other one that I had been taking. My doc is weird about prescribing muscle relaxers for some reason so I just take a celebrex if I have spasms and it seems to help. The Amitryptaline had me seeing cats parading by, Darth Vader in the camping tent, my husband trying to choke me to death etc. it was so horrible and then the others pretty much did the same thing. Oh well, this is why we are all considered unique.

hehe that did make me chuckle but you are so right. I will ask about the muscle relaxers again and the valium. She is not one that even likes to prescribe bt meds but since I was at the PM clinic for a good while, she had to sign a contract agreeing to continue with the same meds once I returned to her. It took me months of jumping through her hoops and trying different meds just to get pain meds. She was focusing on my fibro instead of the back pain and sciatica. I am happy how things are now but would definitely like something for spasms that's for sure. I have my MRI on the 6th of December and hopefully I won't need another surgery but it's not looking good as of now. It is what it is though. Yes I suffer from insomnia and this is why I am awake at 3:53 in the morning lol. I appreciate all the wonderful information you have given me LivingColor.