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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/4/2018 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Shoulder surgery was Feb 22. I am still in pt. I have had some aggravating pain in my hand; wrist and forearm. It’s kind of painful around base of thumb and center of palm. It’s so aggravating that in pt we have to use a band with hands rather than then elastic bands. They really hurt it. I keep thinking it’s just something to do with pt. Maybe when i am done it will stop. Should i mention this to ortho? Evrytime i have something done they say your full of inflammation or the report reads osteoarthritis. I know i have this in my shoulders; neck and back. My neck has still not let up any. I have ice pack, heating pad, neck pillow, back pillow, stool for feet and new Serta desk chair just to try make each day at work. Also take meds through out day. Not sure how i will make it to 67. 😩

Thanks reading my rant.
Posted 5/4/2018 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Bigecase, I wish I had some real words of wisdom for you. Like you I am stumped about this new pain. Back in the good old days, if a patient had something new & different going on they would call the referring dr & say hey, so & so is having these issues. I am not sure this sort of thing happens anymore or not, medical care has certainly changed over the years. I would mention this to the ortho, whether it will do any good or not remains to be seen.

I don't have much to say about lasting until you are 67, lol. This past year has been a tough one for me. I will be 65 in June. All I can say is getting older is not for the rookies.
Posted 5/4/2018 2:20 PM (GMT 0)
Bigcase:
I understand the frustration of up-croppings of new sources of ongoing pain.

Surgery, in and of itself, sets the body for a heightened inflammatory response. Inflammation is one means by which the body marshalls lymphocytes and macrophages and collagen that serve an essential role in healing. The problem becomes one of an extended inflammatory response that causes secondary pain and muscle/joint issues well removed from the original surgical site. This is likely one explanation for pain and stiffness of your hands and wrists.

Surgery, in and of itself, is a trauma to the body. The inflammatory response can be hypervigilent and protracted, especially with multiple surgeries. Although this may be difficult to hear, may need to adopt a longer time frame and longer horizon in which to assess your level of recovery and healing. And it is true that for those us in middle age (I myself am 56 years of age), our expectations of healing may need to be adjusted and modified.

I am a firm believer in the advantages of combining traditional medicine with naturopathic and wholistic medicine. In addition to my Palliative Care team, I also have a naturopathic physician that consults and provides input to my care. You may want to consider options for integrative medicine in your community and health plan.

For example, I use a few/targeted supplements as well as yoga and acupuncture/reflexology as part of my pain management. Turmeric is a widely recognized supplement that acts to lower systemic inflammation. Turmeric is a supplement that might be worth researching further. Turmeric is part of the cumin spice that is a staple of India cooking.

Do you have the option of reducing your work hours? Perhaps adopting a less taxing work schedule? Half days?

I have recently had a downtick in my own health. The compounded onslaught of yet another diagnosis (corticosteroid induced glaucoma with visual field loss). I came to an awareness that it is the cumulative weight of my “problem list” that wears on me. I always have one or more health issues that are acute and growing away at me. There is no let up, no reprieve, no period where I am healthy and unconstrained. I suspect that you, also, are in a similar space given your multiple joint issues. It is not an easy personal space to occupy.

Know that we care,
Karen
Posted 5/5/2018 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
I have a pretty heavy work load. A supervisor of a handful of employees. I would have to step down. I may have to consider this.

I mentioned this to my pt today. He says could be from neck, shoulder or carpel tunnel.

I am just so tired of doctors but also so tired of ongoing problems. No win. Glad it’s friday. I have had enough of this week.
Posted 5/5/2018 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I noticed that trying to do p.t. for my shoulder caused other things to flare up. I too, had to modify some of the exercises to alleviate this problem. Some of the 'free weight' exercises had to be done on one of the machines instead. The fact that I had to remind them ( I was going 3 times a week ) got a bit frustrating for me!

Since we don't usually use our hands the way we have to at p.t., it could simply be just that. Holding a pencil or crochet hook is quite different from gripping a 5 pound weight.

Let's hope so!
Posted 5/10/2018 12:53 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you. I sure try to stay emotionally strong especially as i type this with ice on my neck. Lol. I have been sleeping in the hand splint i had and it seems to be helping that pain. I have not had pt this week though. I go Thursday and Friday. Overall today was a better day as i slept last night. I actually got about 6 hours. That is great for me. I am sure a lot can relate to little sleep.
Posted 5/10/2018 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
B, since you are doing PT 2 days in a row, try to keep track of your symptoms to see if having PT back to back is aggravating things. Just a thought.
Posted 5/10/2018 12:28 PM (GMT 0)
Yea. I didn’t really want this schedule but that was all they had available. I will keep track if things.
Posted 5/24/2018 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
Here is where I am today. I am finished with shoulder. Still need to work on reaching behind the back.

I woke this morning as I do every morning with severe neck pain. Grab ice pack, one tylenol, one advil and coffee. Think to myself, I can't do this another day. It's been this way weeks, months now years. Really feeling the blues. Was suppose to follow up with a physical medicine doc in January but with the shoulder it got put off. I called his office today and they said they had Friday or 3 weeks away. I said I will see you in the morning. I call that divine intervention. Long story short, I have been to all kinds of doctors for relief and still nothing. He was the best when I had first visit. I feel he will get to bottom of it. I hoped and prayed once the shoulder settled down the neck would too.
Posted 5/25/2018 12:24 AM (GMT 0)
I think seeing the physical medicine dr is a great idea. You have nothing to lose. Let us know how the appt goes.
Posted 5/25/2018 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Had a very good visit. Started with nurse practitioner and then ended with both np and doc. Will have another Mri. Changing to flexeril at bedtime and start sleeping in c collar. He said no need to cut head off just yet. I am ready though. He is super thorough.
Posted 5/25/2018 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Big Case:

I can empathize with your ongoing neck and shoulder pain and the emotional exhaustion that accompanies continual pain.

Your neck pain is likely impacted by your shoulder and scapular injuries and multiple surgeries. The children’s song “the hip bone is connected to the thigh bone, and the thigh bone is connected to the leg bone. . . “ is a lighthearted but accurate discriptor of the delicate inter-relationships of the body’s anatomy and structure. One area of the body impacts adjacent aspects of the body; pain in one area of the body impacts pain in adjacent soft/connective tissues. Your decision to see a functional medicine physician seems wise. Functional medicine will take a more comprehensive view of your shoulders and cervical spine and the interrelationship between the cervical spine and shoulder/scapular girdle.

I endure bone pain due to avascular necrosis affecting the femoral heads of my femurs, due to long term use of corticosteroids. I have come to recognize the concept of centralized pain as a contributing element. Centralized pain is heightened pain awareness due to constant bombardment of the central nervous system of incoming pain signals over months and years. Before I had avascular necrosis based-pain, I had diffuse pain with auto-immune origins. For anyone with pain of long-standing onslaught and/or pain of multiple sites, the concept of centralized pain is worth consideration as a contributor. What has been helpful for me in this regard is taking care to incorporate “time out” periods periodically in my day (sit or lie down in a quiet room, low lighting, no external noise of a television or music) along with relaxation training. Quieting my brain of external stimuli is helpful in quieting the volume of my pain. I also believe in the value of gentle yoga. The poses and static stretches aid me in mobilizing scar tissue and keeping connective tissues gliding and subtle and quiets my mind.

I have had to accept that medical science and traditional medical care has little to offer me. I continue to search for means of self-care. Acupuncture and acupressure are helpful for me. Supplements for Vitamin D and B complex vitamins and turmeric. Each have benefit in easing neurogenic pain and systemic inflammation. You can explore if any of these might be worth trying for yourself.

Persistent pain is like having a constant unwanted companion. Finding a measure of relief has, at times, consumed me. I hope that you are able to find ways to lessen the burden of pain that you carry.
Karen
Posted 5/25/2018 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
I talked to someone this week about yoga. I may look into it. I have often thought about acupuncture but there is not anyone in my area. I’m thinking the closest is about an hour away.
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