Introducing myself

I have been finding so much support from reading your posts for months now.. when it gets rough for me I come here often with tears but also sometimes with laughter. Thanks so much to all of you!

Summary - woman in early 60's.
Long time - long time ! Single mom of grown children who have children.

Last 7 years have been unable to work, after over 30 years in the engineering field.

Forgive the errors I am sure to make by trying to summarize the medical jargon from the paperwork I have (am missing a lot of paperwork as workmans comp insurance company is not always forth coming w/requested information !)

2005 work related injury

Herniated cervical discs

Cervical radiculopathy at multiple levels

Cervical DDD

Lumbago

Arthritis & bone spurs here & there

Spinal stenosis and spondylosis (? Maybe these are one and the same?)

Injury to both shoulders - 2011 surgery to repair torn rotator cuff, remove cysts & bursae

Fibromyalgia & myofascial pain
(took over 2 years to get the paperwork with that diagnosis.. I was doubting my sanity after the first 8 months or so as the 24/7 pain was driving me crazy!)

Bilateral CTS -
2007 surgery on one has done nothing to relieve symptoms, in fact more were added

Both knees - chondromalacia patella

Nerve damage to ankles

Some other verbage from medical reports:
Acromioclavicular

Osteoarthrosis

Neuralgia

Neuritis

Myositis

Peripheral neuropathy

Yes I have researched all the jargon.. choose to not dwell on it whenever possible

Thanks to so many of you for sharing your experiences, thoughts & emotional support.. when family & friends once again demonstrate their disbelief in my pain
this is where I come to gather my wits again.

For four years I resisted pain medications until flares were unbearable.
I was so miserable so often that I 'went' where some of us go & realized I needed help.. have tried many meds, most I could not tolerate at all.

For safety, I have told an immediate family member each time I try a new scrip & have a known location where the medical info for each medication is posted in case of adverse reaction along with antihistimine. In return I recam labeled an addict TO my face, so my guess is that this person refers the same way to their friends.

Sigh

Sorry

I Hit a key that submitted previous post before I was quite finished)

In short I no longer confide in anyone in my family re: my medication, my level of pain, etc

My current meds: Fentanyl patch (prepare skin with Fluticasone spray & can only use Watson 'brand)

Oxocodone for breakthru pain

lidocaine patches

Muscle relaxers

Physical therapy has been a God sent aid whenever insurance will approve..
my therapists have fibro & other issues like mine & do not hurt me !!.
I urge everyone to keep 'shopping' until you find the right therapist & pain management doctor

Also relief from :
stretching & mild therapy directed exercises in Hot therapy pool

Heating pads

Long ago I read the link to fibro symptoms on this forum & I think I have, at some point, experienced all but 4 of them.

This long introduction post has taken me close to 2 hr as my hands become so numb I have to take breaks. Fibro / myofascial pain are not constant conditions, at least for me. Knock on wood, at the moment I have no major knots requiring injections but in the past I often have had those.

Most recent 'new' symptoms have been dancing eyes; before that my taste buds were affected / inflamed to the point I had no appetite & could barely choke down food.. similar symptoms to morning sickness. Somewhere I read someone w/same issues used 'drinking' alcohol (gin or vodka) as mouth wash & that worked for me too.

Audio books and Nook have been the most recent helpful changes in my daily routine.

I joined as I hope that I may someday be able to help even just one person in this online community / family

Gentle hugs to all & many many thanks
Diane

Welcome, Diane, to HW CP.

Glad you decided to join the family here, but sorry you have such serious needs to be here.

Your list of ailments is intense, that's a lot to deal with, but you are among kindred spirits here, and preaching to the choir.

If you ever need to vent, vent away, it can feel good, and no one will mind, good to get it off your chest so to speak.

What kind of engineering did you do? My oldest son is about to graduate from Clemson University as a Mechanical Engineer.

Look forward to your next post, and please never give up hope.

David in SC

Hello and welcome Diane to HW. I'm glad you decided to join us and equally glad to hear we made a difference in your life. To even know we brought even a small amount of laughter or ease to another CPer is rewarding. You will see what a difference it makes in your life,to share some of your experiences.

If you've been lurking out there then you know we are a group of compassionate caring individuals who share a common understanding of pain,its causes and effects.

Looks as if you came to the right place. I'm glad to see you have a good team treating you. I also use hydrotherapy and am lots better in range of motion and pain.

Looking forward to hearing more from you.

Hi Diane,

Just saying hi and welcome to the forum.
I'm sorry about your diagnosis's.

Hope to hear more from you.

UA

Hi Dianne - welcome !!!
I am a 31 yr old former boxer/runner from boston who developed debilitating bi-lateral hip condition a few years ago. We all know what it's like to lose your functionality - someone else put it best when they said that it is a grieving process. I think that it is exactly that. When we lose s key part of ourselves and out life, we must go through some personsl process of loss. We are all here for the same reason; support. Feel free to share as I have found it a great help to know that I am not alone. Ultimately regarding medication. Unfortunately there is a stigma around a lot of the medicines that often accompany long term pain management. No one other than yourself really knows what it is like to live in your body and you DO NOT have to justify your course of therapy to anyone other than you !!!

Hold your head high
Wishing you all the best
Josh

Thnx to all who replied/ welcomed me.
I had read several forums over time , observing member interactions prior to deciding to join.

Screaming Eagle: Despite several surgeons' urgings I hope to avoid cervical fusion, though I know for some it is required. One well respected retired surgeon that I consulted advised , for my particular injury, that I never allow it. For myself, not a judgement re: anyone else's decisions.

If I Was Me: agree.. so disappointing to have the people who profess to love me, to judge me. I admit that I too never had any idea about living w/ chronic pain. My mom use to say " don't judge anyone 'til you've walked a mile in their shoes." How true! Ironically a friend (who is unaware of my lack of support) reminded me that hurtful words are a reflection of the speaker's lack of self respect. Now I have that quote posted where I can read it every morning.

Purgatory / David : Your choices to accept life & living each day provide hope each time I read your posts!! Took almost 4 yr of 'searching for a cure' I finally realized that a cure was just not in my future. For awhile I just gave up doing anything - grieving over what I no longer had. Successful pain management really helped. My delicate Southern Belle constitute won't tolerate anti-depressants - sigh .. smile.

Moments in time are a constant flow & I can be happy in the moment or I can be sad.. my choice.

Congrats re: your son's upcoming graduation !! My first supervisor was a Clemson grad & he would sometimes tales of student pranks that would have me laughing 'til I cried.. sure they were well known to many but new to me (shoe polish on toilet seats, etc) Of the many technical folks I have worked with over the years he is among the top 10 smartest - & willing - to - share. I have worked in many fields but mainly mechanical / aviation.. cannot do the calculation / sign off as engineer but can do almost all other aspects of the engineering - details, layouts, technical reports / installation manuals, etc.

Josh: Your description of the changes in your life hit very close to home for me. What a major change in your lifestyle !! And so early in your life ! Thank you for reinforcing fact that I am my own - and only - judge of what course of treatment works best for me.

Loretta: Thank you for your kind words.. I see we share several conditions. Your posts have already provided me with comfort as well as information.

Diane

Barbara Lee

On an old episode of Golden Girls Dorothy confronts a Dr who had told her 'it is all in your head'. Do not remember the conversation verbatim but it was to the effect of. If you are ever sick I hope you have a better doctor than you were to me ( for his lack of compassion & understanding )

I hope your s-i-l's patients are ALL able to find a good PM doctor & do not suffer needlessly. I do not envy your position.!!!!!

Glad that this forum is here for us.all..

A gentle goodnite