Posted 11/18/2016 11:51 PM (GMT 0)
This is how it all began:
April 2013, I witnessed seeing my mother die after a prolonged illness. After this, I developed a frozen shoulder on the left side and five months later, on the right as well. I was in therapy and to this day, I still do some to feel more mobile in my arms. At some point, my upper back on the left side felt numb (only way I know to explain it) and sort of went on the right though not as severe. It has impacted how I sit in a chair. It is highly uncomfortable to my upper back and neck to lean back in some chairs. Because of this, it also impacted the exercises I did i.e. stomach crunches and any form of exercise required to get on the floor. Now, my hips and knees are having issues. I cannot bend to do a pedicure and picking things up off the floor is a major discomfort. I do have some arthritis in my knees and hips but this is to the point it affects getting down in low seating, cars (car riding is awful for long distances), etc… In the mornings I have to walk awhile to get the aches out. Also, for no apparent reason, my feet have begun to ache and finding shoes to wear is a challenge. In the midst of all this, my neck has tightened up to the point I don’t dare drive on interstate. I went to neck therapy as well as hip and knee. Just the other day, my husband and I went on a picnic to a close state park. Oh, my gosh, the ride, sitting on the bench (I did take a cushion.), you would have thought I had lifted a gazillion pounds. By the time we got home, I felt so achy like I had the flu. I have more headaches than ever, my stomach feels upset all the time, and the stress of how to cope with this is getting to me. It affects every single little thing I do. My dr. did eons of blood work and all were good. He has put me on Gabapentin and this seems to be relieving the neck area but the hip issue is still not good. Has anyone gone to pain management? If so, what is done? My dr. mentioned narcotics would be suggested. I hate to say this, but I don’t know if I agree with this. To me, it would be to help you deal with the chronic pain and maybe other meds to assist. Not just narcotics! Sleeping, bending down, being able to tie shoes without having to get on the floor are all things I deeply stress about along with the nerve pain in the upper back. When we go out to eat, I immediately pray the seats have cushions and are not too low and have comfortable backs. Does anyone worry about these things? Does anyone have groin or urinary issues? Does anyone have trouble with having full range of motion in arms or being able to bend down like to pick up things or give yourself a pedicure? I’m so new to this and have always been self sufficient, able to move, do things by myself and this has me completely down. I am going through menopause and don’t know if this has anything to do with it at all. I feel like crying typing this because I don’t know what to do. I feel like a prisoner in my own body. I read where people with fibromyalgia can go awhile without pain. How do they do it? I’ve been dealing with pain for 3 years. I’ve seen another orthopedic dr. and he said he thinks my frozen shoulder was misdiagnosed. It could’ve been fibromyalgia all along. When I get through with my therapy, I do feel better. It is the mornings that are dreadful. I have had a physical and all is normal and weight is good…for now anyway! Any input would be greatly appreciated.