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Ruling out nerve pain

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 8/5/2014 11:39 PM (GMT 0)
Can somebody tell me if this is nerve related pain or visceral. I have constant deep dull pain 4-5 level in right abdomen and flank area after keyhole kidney surgery 4 months ago.My doctors saying they can't tell if its surgery pain, nerve and tissues healing or if its kidney hurting.
Some people are saying if its nerve pain, it is always there and can be burning type. My pain is always there and sometimes I feel burning sensation to it. So this makes me feel its nerve related.
And then I hear since its very deep and vague diffused throughout my right side and feels heavy in flank area( which is associated with kidney) that it must be kidney related and not nerve.

I tried gabapentin to experiment which does not help at all even after taking 3 capsules. Nsaids dont help pain at all also. Only percocept helps, so is it not nerves then since pain would be helped by gabapentin more? How can I rule out since no doctor want to tell for sure. Thanks
Posted 8/6/2014 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
First no we can't tell you which it is. We can give you the best shot based on experience but thats not going to get you treated.

Everyone's pain is interpretation is vastly different. Nerve pain and certainly in lower back areas can feel heavy, aching and yes sometimes burning but not all of those all of the time. Nerves can have complete severe or minimal damage to any part of it and whichever it is will effect the type and intensity of pain.

I know this is frustrating but again trying one nerve medication for a short period means absolutely nothing since what works for me may not for you, those class meds take weeks sometimes months to reach therapeutic levels, and some folks require maximum dosing to see any relief at all.

Its important that you continue to search for the answers because at some point and possibly in the Notso distant future they're going to cease those post-op percocets and getting any Dr these days to continue a SA med for any length of time without a clue of what's causing the pain is very difficult.

Get yourself in the nearest University or teaching hospital where all the specialists are under one roof and referrels are not usually needed.
Posted 8/6/2014 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
Vickie is right about the teaching hospitals. They have access to equipment & anything else a dr could want or need that our main stream drs do not. Do yourself a favor & check in to this.

No one at Healing Well is a dr & handing out medical advice is against the forum rules. We can only speak from our own experiences.

Good luck.
Posted 8/6/2014 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Nerves get cut during surgery. It takes a while for them to repair.
Posted 8/6/2014 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Not all nerve pain is helped by gabapentin. It seems to help those with peripheral neuropathy, but it doesn't touch my spinal nerve pain that is felt in shoulder and other body parts.

There are tests that can be done to see if the pain is a local nerve entrapment:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0801/p431.html

The link doesn't seem to work if you just click on it, but it does work if you copy and paste in google search or just at the top of your search page as a url.

Post Edited (Alcie) : 8/6/2014 8:59:39 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/6/2014 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
Ok thanks everyone for help. Tomorrow Im planning to get referrals for neurologist, orthopediac and pain clinic( for nerve blocks). Hopefully one of them can tell me where pain is coming from.
Mostly hoping from pain clinic because I know if they block nerves whichever are going to my kidney I will be pain free. Just dont know if there will be a permanant fix. Thanks though.
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