Please help

Hello

This is my first post. I have been dealing with chronic back pain for years, and it seems to be getting worse. I have done a good amount of lifting all my life, and started having these problems many years ago. I am 40. My Mother has Fibro. I damaged a disc lifting a heavy organ a few years back, and everything got even worse. I have since been on a mission trying everything to figure out what the heck is going on. Been to over a dozen Doctors and surgeons. A couple of them thought it is fibro. My MRI shows minor disc bulge, one of the the areas that really bothers me. Eventually, I couldn't function with the pain and was treated as a chronic pain patient with narcotics. They quickly raised the dosages, and tried various types like Norco, Vicodan, Opana ER, Soma, Ultram etc. It seemed to help for a while, but as you would expect seemed to start new problems with dependency, severe constipation, and tolerance levels.
Basically I feel pain all the time, mostly in my back. And I get muscle spasms that really hurt bad. The pain moves around a lot in my back, but is the worst where the damaged disc is. It's un-bearable. I am basically sitting if front of the TV in pain everyday, though I try to hit the gym a few times a week. That does seem to help some. As well as all the stretching exercises from PT. It's worse in the morning when I first wake up, or after a full day. It's worse when the weather changes, especially rain or sudden changes. It is worse then ever, and I feel like my life sucks and often think I am worthless....I can't keep up with daily activities, or work like a normal guy my age. Not to mention my love life with my wonderful wife. I am also having problems going to the bathroom. Blocked up, blood in stool, stomach aches, nausea. My right arm is twitching, My hands and sometimes feet are numb, and achy. especially in the mornings. I don't sleep well either. I have tried Lyrica once, and stuff like Elevil and some others similar I don't remember all the names. When I took the Lyrica, I was hallucinating and hearing voices and was scared to death and swore I would never take it again. Can anyone help me with logical steps to address these problems?? Thanks in advance. Starrman

Hi Starrman, welcome to the forum!. I'm sorry for your pain. I understand how
frustrating it can be to get a diagnosis and find much needed pain relief.

Fibro has many simular symptoms to many connective tissue diseases. It is not
a easy disorder to diagnose. Bloodwork should be done to rule out the possibility
of an autoimmune CTD. There is not a lab test given for fibro but there are many
clinical symptoms that can be checked along with a trigger point exam.

Make sure you check out fibro 101, 1st thread, pg, 1. Sherrine has put together
a wonderful resourceof helpful info for us.

I'm very familiar with pack pain, having degenerative disc disease. I've had
back surgery on my lumbar area...a lumbar laminectomy. The surgery was done
by a neurosurgeon...it gave me great pain relief although I still have back issues.
and at times sciatica. Exercise is great both for the back and fibro. Gentle
stretching is a must before getting out of bed. Heat always helps make me feel
better.

I understand the issues of vicodin also...had been on it for 9 months....didn't
like how I felt on it and hated dealing with constipation. I take a muscle relaxer
for flares and have been taking Savella for over a year with no bad side effects.

I'm a big believer in relaxation therapy, deep breathing amd meditation. It helps
lower my pain level and is great for helping with the stress. Daily exercise is a
must for me or I hurt all the more. Soaking in a hot bath helps too.

Believe me, I think we all go through a grieving period over the loss of good health
and it is easy to feel angered and frustrated at times. Attitude does play a big
role in how we feel. If we keep thinking life sucks, it probably will. We can't
give up. In time I found I could still have a great life in spite of pain. You will
find what works for you to keep the pain distracted.

I'm glad that you have joined the family...the people are wonderful here, We truly
care about each other and do what we can do to help, Hope you find a doc who
can help!

Hugs, Robin

Hi, Starrman, and welcome!  I'm so sorry you are having all these problems.  Some of them can be fibro, your back, or a combination of the two.  That's the problem with fibro.  We have crazy things that happen and aren't sure why...and neither are the doctors! 

 

I had bad lower back problems for quite a few years and then I learned how to get in and out of bed and in and out of the car correctly and that has helped me a lot.  Maybe this could help you.  You might know this already, too, but just in case..... 

 

First of all, I do not sleep flat on my back because it makes my back hurt more.  I don't sleep on my stomach either.  I sleep on my sides with a pillow wedged behind my back.  This way, I can partially be on my back but have support.  That helps me.  I also get out of bed using a cane.  I roll on my side, draw my legs up in a sitting position so the legs are actually hanging over the floor, and then I push off with the cane.  Gravity will bring your legs down and you will be pulled to a sitting position without using your back muscles.

 

When getting in and out of a car, sit on the seat with your feet on the pavement.  Then, either using the seat or the steering wheel, swivel your feet into the car while keeping your back straight.  I buy cars with leather seats because they are slippery.  But, when I rent a car and get cloth seats I had to come up with another idea...and I did!  I get a garbage bag and a towel.  I lay the garbage bag on the seat and the towel over it.  Then I do the above.  The garbage bag and towel let  your rear end swivel like you were on a lazy susan!  LOL  Just reverse the above to get out of the car.

 

Don't use your back muscles when you are lifting things up.  Use your legs instead.  By doing the above things, my back rarely hurts me now.  I hope these suggestions will help you, too!

 

I have muscular pain in my back, shoulders and neck all of the time.  I have a lot of pain when getting up in the morning and am very stiff from lying so long.  Yes, the pain from fibro does move around and you can have the tingling, twitching and numbness, too.  We are known to be great meteorologists because we can tell weather fronts approaching better than the weatherman!  Rain, humidity, cold, etc. causes us to hurt more. 

 

BUT be sure to check out the bathroom problem, blood in your stool, nausea, and stomach problems.  Many here have irritable bowel syndrome.  I have Crohn's disease.  These intestinal problems need to be checked out.  You should NOT have blood in your stool and you need to find out why.  So please see your doctor about that, okay?

I know life can "suck" with fibro but it also can be great!  You need to work on finding the right balance to help you control your pain.  I take malic acid/magnesium supplements that have helped me a lot along with extra vitamin D3 because many of us are deficient in these vitamins and nutrients.  Maybe these could help you.  Also, if I headed to the gym to exercise, they would be carrying me out on a stretcher!     You need to exercise with fibro but it has to be gentle exercises.  I walk and swim for my exercise.  The water exercise would be great for you because of your weightlessness in the water.  It would be far easier on  your back.  Also, moist heat works great.  Hot showers feel so good.  Many here have a Bed Buddy.  You can get these at Walgreen's and other places or you can make your own by taking a tube sock, filling it 2/3's full of raw long grain rice and tying a knot at the end of it.  Pop it in the microwave and it gives off moist heat!

 

Be sure to check out Fibro 101...the first thread on the forum.  There are links to good info about fibro and you will learn a lot.  There are links to symptoms, malic acid/magnesium supplements and vitamin D3 supplements and how they work in your body, and also a link to some gentle stretching exercises that do help!

 

You are not worthless.  You are ver special and I'm sure your wife knows that too.  You didn't ask for these health problems.  But, we can help you learn how to work around the pain and to continue to enjoy life.  I have had a full and enjoyable life in spite of fibro.  So dig out your positive attitude, face these problems head on, and go for it!  You will be the winner in this struggle. 

 

I'm so glad you found us and joined in.  Don't hesitate to ask questions because we are here to help you.  Sorry this was so long but you sounded like you needed help and reassurance!  Hope to hear more from you soon.

 

Sherrine

Sorry you are not doing well. As others have suggested, get yourself to a gastro dr. ASAP. Never is blood in stools or backed up good to endure!

Not to scare you, but my sister, 53, had symptoms for 2 weeks and went for testing only to find cancer of the colon and she did not make it 6 months.

Celiac Disease or Crohns can be the reason for problems or the IBS diagnosis, but the only way to rule out more serious issues (not that those are great) is to be tested.

I hope you make an appt to get answers soon!

Hi Starman, from your post I believe that it could possibly be fibro, but I would wait till all the other tests results came back before giving it a definite diagnosis because there are alot of things out there that can have alot of the same symptoms as fibro. I am so glad that you have gone to your dr. to get the ball rolling and remember we are here for you so please keep us updated.
Gentle Hugs
Shirley