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My Chronic Pain, Maybe someone can help me since doctors cannot.

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 9/14/2014 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
My chronic pain has been going on for 2 years now, it will disappear for 2-3 months and then comes back with a vengeance. I am a 55yr old man.

It disappeared over the summer from June until the middle of August. I am going to put my symptoms so maybe someone give me some direction because I was in the ER today and they claim I have a pinched nerve and rotater cuff issues which I know that isnt the problem.

1. Pain in left chest area like a poking type of pain close to my left breast. It will also hurt into my left armpit, left shoulder and outer side of my left upper arm and may also have pain in my left wrist.

2. Sometimes no pain in my chest but same pain as described above.

3. Other times the pain will be on the right side with same symptoms but will also have pain in the right side of my neck, ear and side of my head and throat.

4. I will also have pain and tingling feeling in the center of my back but its intermittent.

I think that I have fibromyalgia but the ER doctor says its difficult to diagnose and they wont even try.

If someone can give me some direction or help I would greatly appreciate it this causing me to have severe anxiety and depression.
Posted 9/14/2014 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
The ER can't diagnose Fibro. A rheumatologist is the specialist that would handle fibro if that is what you have. Do you have a primary dr. who could help point you in the right direction?
Posted 9/14/2014 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I have a primary doctor, they have checked me for rheumatoid arthritis and that was negative.

He also prescribed me Celexa depression medication but I never took it (maybe I should have) but he also told me that they may never find the reason for my pain and I just have to live with it but I told him this pain is caused by something and should be able to be diagnosed. I am going to call him Monday and ask for him to refer me to a rheumatoglist.
Posted 9/14/2014 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
You need to go to a teaching hospital. They are really good with things like this.
Posted 9/14/2014 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Where would I go to in Naples, Florida?, Is there one in Ft. Myers or Cape Coral which are close to me and would I just walk in to the ER and explain my situation?
Posted 9/14/2014 10:42 AM (GMT 0)
dislocated ribs??? when i have one i hurt is those areas. COuld be why it went away too, if the rib slipped back in place...just a thought. Have you seen a chiro? Do you have any other symptoms that may even seem unrelated such as joint pain, rashes, food allergies, tick bite, fatigue, lymph node swelling in left arm?
?? Have you been to an ortho dr, had test on back, emg testing or neurologist?

Hope you find some answers
Posted 9/14/2014 1:52 PM (GMT 0)
JT, there is a list of teaching hospitals in CP101 above or an online search would reveal teaching hospitals in your state.
Posted 9/14/2014 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome JT to the CP forum at HW. It could be many things and a teaching hospital is your best bet. Your primary can make a referrel or the ER can certainly get your foot in the door or its possible you may be able to make a appointment with a internist or primary there. The all under one roof concept works great when you have multi symptoms and not a clue.

You have University of Florida down there as well as Downtown Naples hospital which ranks in the top 100 best hospitals in the nation. I would personally go UF first choice but I am just partial to the University setting and the fact theyre more up on new diagnostics and treatments.

Good luck and again welcome.
Posted 9/15/2014 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi JTGinter and Welcome to Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum. If you have been to the ER I am sure they have probably checked this, but I will ask you anyway. Have they checked your heart? something besides a regular EKG, like a treadmill EKG with an Echo cardiogram? Just by reading what you wrote, that was just something that I immediately thought about? Also have they done anything to check the nerves in your cervical spine? Or checked your reflexes and such? A nerve being impinged upon could be causing the problem too??

I agree that if you could get to a good university medical school hospital, and get a thorough work-up done, maybe you could finally get a diagnosis to your problem. Maybe you are depressed and need the Celexa but it is just to easy for a doctor to just prescribe it and they say you just have to accept it! That's a cop out! They need to at least run some test and try to find out what is going on!
But some just don't want to take the time to do that!

Don't give up, you know your own body better than anyone, and if you feel that there is something going on that their missing, it is up to you to keep pressing for answers. In this day and age you just have to be your own best advocate!

Good Luck to You!

White Beard
Posted 9/15/2014 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Don't just walk into the ER. No use spending money for an unnecessary ER visit.

Ask your primary doctor for a referral to a specific doctor in whichever place you choose. You don't want to get some 1st year resident. Look up some of the doctors at the place you choose. Ignore those "ratings" websites. They can be really stupid and ignorant.

It can take months to get an appointment with a good rheumatologist. They are truly busy because there are very few of them. They have to take two residencies and are poorly paid. A referral may help you get seen a little faster, although it didn't do much for me.

My rheumatologist referred me to my pain clinic after he diagnosed some problems that he doesn't handle, although he did take care of my bursitis and diagnosed fibromyalgia. That referral has helped me the most. I would never have gone if he hadn't figured out my problems.

My pain doctors order my MRIs, CTs, and precsribe all my pain medications. I also see an orthopedic surgeon for my shoulder, hip and knee joints.
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