A long story, A few questions and maybe a few opinions

First off I just want to say I think its awesome something like this exists and I feel like I could have used this years ago.

That being said I was in an accident in 2010 and had whiplash and some abdominal and shoulder busing. I was in a lot of pain my right shoulder hurt terribly and went to primary Dr like 2-3 days later complaining well after 3 more trips I finally was sent to physical therapy. I did about 6 months physical therapy cortisone injections electro-stym all of the works and was getting no better and was finally sent for MRI they found my right labrum was torn requiring surgery. So I eventually ended up getting to surgery center and I came to after surgery 3 hours later than scheduled come to find out I had a hole in my rotator cuff that needed repair and my surgeon had to reopen me after finishing first surgery because he need permission from my wife to do repair.

So after all that I did my p/t for 6 months but was constantly in pain they tried using astym, electro-stym, cortisone injections and even longer p/t. I was told that almost point blank by surgeon in follow up and p/t that nothing more could be done to go to pain management. I was referred to a amazing pain management Dr. Thomas Hanson. We did traditional routes using trigger point, Rx narcotic pills, some other type pills, we tried doing nerve blocks and even a C4 Radio-frequency neurotomy. Finally I asked if there was any other options and I was sent to University of Iowa sports medicine. I live in West Des Moines and Iowa,City is about 2 hours closer than the Mayo Clinic which is next best hospital in area. I worked with another set of Dr.'s at Iowa University and they did more MRI's, EMG and other tests they confirmed that my whiplash was very severe and that I had tendonosis and they also did a procedure called a Biceps tendonesis and the tendon was re-anchored. After procedure my pain level dropped from a consistent 9-10 to and 6-7 with breakthrough pain up to 9-10. After that I was placed on Tapentadol (Nucynta). First 25 mg, then quickly bumped to 50 mg. and recently adjusted again to 75mg.

My questions are given all of what I have done tried etc. I still have regular pain from 5 at lowest on best of days normally 6-7 with breakthrough pain in anterior of my shoulder up to 9 sometimes 10 what would anyone recommend or can i do. I have tried Art therapy and that has not been successful in reducing or removing pain in front of shoulder but it has helped whiplash pain quite a bit. Is there any more procedures that I can do or any types of medical care I haven't tried? I have just so much pain and I am told I got tendonosis and a lot of inflammation and some damage from first surgery. I have been told so many times that they don't know why I hurt, I have been questioned as if I am making it up, I'm not I got genuine pain the Nucynta works great and at points I have very minimal pain on average like a 2-3. I just am curious if there is anything I am missing that will greatly reduce the paint to point I could be on very low dose pain medications or even better none at all.

For anyone who must know being a auto accident I have gone though and dealt with all legal stuff guy was under insured and and dealt with all that thankfully vehicle had under insured coverage. My medical bills up to July of 2013 have been all taken care of and I got some settlement but I am by no means wealthy and I am currently a student going full time and am insured through my wife.

nvrthesame98 said...
Hi Patrick and welcome to the CP forum at Healing Well. Unfortunately we have no magic here. Your story could be that of many. We come to gather here when mostly we have tried it all and we live every day with the hope that someone,somewhere,will come up with something new!!

We continue to support,share,and learn every possible modality out there and we keep trying it,longing for the day we never have to take another pill or rely on another set of Drs to get us through this journey.

You seem to have tried most things going and coming. Have they considered a pump trial? Its still relying on meds but at lower doses and your not tied to the pill bottles as much? I personally have gotten some results out of longterm aquatherapy and a lot of good old distraction.

Others here will have other things they will share with you,some you may have tried,some not but anything that knocks your pain down another notch is worth trying. Chroni pain is just that,a chronic condition and one many of us have learned to live with decades holding out hope that every new treatment our procedure they come up with will afford us a bit better relief.

Glad you found us and joined as HW is as much a part of most of our treatment as any other thing we do!

Thanks for feedback. Just sucks being 26 and having to deal with this thats why im a bit antsy to get gone. I will look into pain pump and see what I can find. Thanks again