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Posted 8/5/2015 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to foist this on you folks but I really do need to vent. I don’t have any friends and I can’t subject my wife to my nonsense so I’m afraid I’m going to pick on you lot.
I have spondylolisthesis, spondylollysis and a herniated disk in the lower lumbar spine, cervical spondylosis and similar problems in my thoracic spine; I also have bilateral osteoarthritis of the hips, OA of the right shoulder, OA of both elbows and diabetes. Lumbar spine isn’t that bad anymore due to four lots of facet joint injections, hips are Ok as long as I don’t walk/cycle too far and shoulder is ok as long as I don’t use it too much.

Neck pain on the other hand is relentless, injections and nerve blocks and burning (?) have done nothing and each time I have submitted to physio I have walked away worse off. Recently I underwent a right elbow arthroscopy, I asked the surgeon to do my left first as I experienced more pain from the left and my right elbow was still largely functional. But, of course surgeons know better than the rest of us and he insisted on doing the right first. Five months after the procedure I am now basically helpless; I can no longer use either. Although the surgeon was pleased with the outcome – I am not. I now have less movement than before and the pain is far, far worse than before. To combat that I found myself having to use my left, that extra strain has worsened my left to the point where my left arm is no longer functional, My right has never recovered sufficiently to be used even for normal day to day activities, I can’t even scratch my head.

The neck is becoming increasingly painful also and that combined with not having use of my arms has basically stopped me from performing most activities. Activities I once relished are now a memory: working in my workshop, riding my bike, kayaking, sailing or even walking are just too painful. I was retired at 49 because of these problems and now 15 years later it has progressed to the point where life simply is not enjoyable anymore.

What makes it worse for me; once upon a time I was an extremely fit, strong, active and healthy man. In defence for most of my life I trained police dogs and did all the normal things associated with the defence force, in my time off and at various times throughout my life I surfed, sailed, cycled, bushwalked, rode MX, lifted weights and so on (probably the reason for my now problems), now, I am reduced to being able to do nothing.

Of course with all this comes depression, fighting of depression is just so dam hard.

Sorry again folks, vent over and thank you for taking the time to read my winging.
Posted 8/5/2015 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Tony & welcome to the chronic pain forum. You have landed at the right place to get a load off of your mind. There are a whole lot of us here that can relate to everything you wrote above. Something we understand here is pain & what an impact it can make on your life & the people closest to you. From what I have seen over the years most chronic pain patients are the over achievers that could go & blow like the wind.

No doubt you have plenty of health issues to keep both you & the drs busy trying to treat it all. It is disgusting that your surgeon think he fixed you. Does the physio offer any hope of getting better use if the arm? Since your having so many issues with your neck you may want to consider seeing a neurosurgeon for a consult to see what he can offer. Many of us here prefer a neurosurgeon for spine issues.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop on & say hello & welcome aboard.
Posted 8/5/2015 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
Been there, done that. My neurosurgeon just recently told me there was nothing else he could do for me. Sections of my cervical spine have fused naturally and the surgeon has ruled out surgical fusion. I'm currently coming down off Norspan (an absolutely wonderful experience), unfortunately I can only be prescribed these by my GP on a month by month basis, three times I have runout and suffered withdrawal, never again will I relly on addictive remedies. I asked my GP to help in weaning me off these dangerously adictive things and he suggested I go on some other drug that is just as adictive, the mind bogles! I will go it alone now, I simply don't trust Doctors of any specialty now they all seem to lack something most of us take for granted - common sense! I see a physio for the elbow problem but I believe the surgery has caused nerve damage which will take years to resolve.
Funny, venting like crazy here, thought it might make me feel better - it hasn't. Lack of light at the end of the tunnel me thinks!
Posted 8/5/2015 8:21 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tony and welcome to my world!! Your post could have been written by me or countless others here and I am sorry you have joined this party as I am everyone who lands in this life as it is with the many struggles we face. I'm assuming you live in Australia given the use of norspan and for those reading who don't know its bupernorphene and here in the states marketed as butrans and subutex. I'm at a loss as to why your Dr was useless in helping wean off since it's not a difficult wean with the right help. I actually used butrans to wean the rest of the way off decades use of methadone and had very little issues with w/d.

I spent three decades working side by side with Drs yet can't begin to explain nor understand their mindset. Surgeon's especially do things that seem to be out of left field however I can offer an explanation for doing better arm first and saving worst for last. The intent is good likely will require less extensive work therefore would progress and heal more quickly giving you a functional limb while recuperating from the extensive work from the worst arm which likely could take a very long time to heal and be functional. Not making excuses for why that is just explaining the thinking of a surgeon faced with doing double procedures. I actually had a surgeon who did both of my knees at one time and I am not sure who should have been shot first for stupidity him for suggesting such a thing or me for agreeing to it!

It sounds as if your having some nerve pain likely related to the amount of issue's with your spine and you didn't mention being on anything for that since narcotics are pretty useless for that type of pain management. As for my success with arthritic changes as well as my spinal neuropathy I swim and use of the hydropool or any heated pool with low impact exercising has basically saved me from a life of immobility. Talk to the physio and find out if he can recommend someplace for you to start or if not strike out on your own and find a gym or someplace that has a heated pool and start slowly with just being immersed in the warm water as much and as often you can. It's weightless movements,heat and warm water that soothes joints and muscles that are in strained state from pain and little movement. You will be surprised how well this type of therapy works if done on a regular basis.

Changing your diet and including foods that inhibit new cell growth,enhances the bodies own anti-inflammatory ability can also help. A Google search can give you some good places to start with what foods offer medicinal quality.

If you are not under care for the depression you may want to seek the help of a good counselor who works with chronic pain and chronic disease patients and believe me most of us have sought out one at some point of this journey. They're awesome for teaching distraction techniques and that's another therapy many of us use to avoid taking more medications. Using the forum to vent when things get out of proportion and overwhelming is another way and having people out there who knows exactly what your saying,understanding your frustration at the littlest of things,and share in your grief for the loss of the person you use to be,all therapeutic in a great way.
Posted 8/14/2015 6:52 AM (GMT 0)
Just got results from my blood tests. ESR elevated and anaemia. Doctor suggests my problem is PMR (Polumyalgia Rheumatica). He’s put me on a low dosage course of Prednisalone which he says could resolve the problem in a few years or in a few weeks. Googling reveals it takes anywhere up to 5 years to resolve with some cases extending to 10, average is two years. If this course of action does not work then it’s off to the Rheumatlogist which apparently also takes years just to get a diagnosis - oh joy! Doc advised me if it is PMR, my symptoms should improve very quickly - a matter of days.
Common symptoms for PMR are usually lightning quick onset with bilateral pain in the larger muscle groups legs, buttocks, shoulder, abdomen, neck, etc, inability to raise arms above shoulder level and a few other symptoms. Pain in forearms, wrists and elbows is not common but it does occur. As well as those ‘uncommon’ symptoms I also have an inability to raise my arms above shoulder level and also have pain in shoulders and neck, so at least I do display some of the more common symptoms.
Previously I’ve taken Ibuprofen for relief which usually takes at least 4 tablets before I can feel any sort of even mild relief. This morning when I woke the pain was excruciating, could not shave or dress myself and had trouble eating my cereal,
After taking the Prednisalone after seeing the Doc this morning the pain had largely gone by lunch. I did take one Ibuprofen early at breakfast, as I said, normally I need at least four before I notice any improvement, so perhaps it is the prednisalone working rather than the Ibuprofen, at least I hope so.
I haven’t been this pain free for months, a light has appeared at the end of the tunnel!
Posted 8/14/2015 9:55 AM (GMT 0)
Well that's great! I think? Steroids long-term have some very bad side effects and really don't heal your body but tricks it sorta into believing it is? Kinda hard to explain but basically it speeds up cell growth therefore sending whatever is growing or out of whack into overdrive and getting faster replacement of the particular cells that have gone bad and or are ill health. Sometimes it's enough,sometimes the symptoms return either slowly or rather quickly after stopping the med protocol. Everyone reacts differently to steroid therapy but for now it sounds like your on the good road to at least getting relief.
Posted 8/14/2015 11:25 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Tony. Thanks for sharing your good news as well as your 'vent'. I hope you still look for a counselor. Being on this roller coaster, we need every available option. I always say "there is no magic pill". Talking, listening to music, changing our mindset, walking, swimming, etc. make for a formidable arsenal in our daily battles with chronic pain. Glad you joined our merry little band!
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