Chronic Pain

My husband has been dealing with lower back pain on and off for the last couple of years. A month or so ago I had to call an ambulance to transport him to the hospital because he couldn't get up off the couch the pain was so bad, and our doctor was on vacation. He requested a CT Scan, got it and we are awaiting results. But for some reason he is determined to get surgery. The doctor said doctors won't go near it unless it is absolutely necessary. And he would be on a waiting list for a year. I have fibromyalgia. Now my pain is in the muscle tissue, not the bones or joints. So I receive massage therapy which helps a lot. Walking as exercise (3 miles) helps to some extent but it is also painful. But I'm going to be in pain anyway so what difference does it make whether it's from walking or just from being? I also take Magnesium/Mag-Citrate. Magnesium aids in over 300 bodily functions and helps other things like calcium do their job. I was in bad shape for five years until I discovered Magnesium/Malic Acid. My pain has eased so much because of it that I have gone from 6-8 Tylenol 3's a day to 1-3 Tylenol 3's a day. Now part of that is due to weight loss, which is from the walking. I get pain in my upper and lower back but I believe it is muscle pain and is helped with hot bean bags and massage. I wish you much like in finding a solution that will ease your pain.

Right now I am experiencing alot of pain, tingling, and numbness in my neck and I get shooting pains up the back of my head..I had an MRI done on the 12th and will get the results on Thursday the 20th... My husband is in chronic pain and has been for the last 18 plus years..He has chronic headaches as well... I don't know what they are going to do with my neck..I don't know what is wrong yet...I think I have a pinched nerve... I wish everyone could have good insurance...without paying an arm and a leg...I am sorry for all your pain. My husband knows what it feels like and it is miserable....Until this with my neck I have been pretty healthy...I hope you can get the care you need...

I do have several issues going on with my lower back, lumbar area. After an MRI, it was discovered there are 3 bulging disks. Saw a back specialist and he suggested, after 3 series of epidurals, that he might want to burn the nerves. I froze and didn't make any decisions right at that moment. My husband said he did not want me doing anything of that nature until I had a second opinion. I totally agree therefore nothing more was done at that particular visit. The back problem is causing hip pain, pelvic pain and nerve pain in one leg. The femoral nerve has been irritated from the main issue, the lower back. What has helped me considerably were the epidurals, an injection in the hip and finally physical therapy. Hard to find a good therapist that knows his "stuff" when it comes to nerve pain. My problem, according to the therapist, is unusual. Surgery is not something I want to do and nobody discussed this option. I am quite a bit older than you so it looks doubtful my constant pain will vanish. Will have to continue to deal with it and do my exercises. I've been in therapy for over 2 months, first month was not covered by our insurance. I will continue with therapy because the nerve stimulation seems to help so much. Pain pills don't really work for me and tend to upset the stomach. Advils only minimize the nerve pain. When I have a bad or uncomfortable day, I lay down and rest as much as possible. Not always easy for a female to do but I make the time. Hopefully you begin to feel better. Thinking about you, carolbee

I have Fibromyalgia diagonised in July 1993, Hubby had Back surgery in 1985 and has pain daily. Our second oldest son lives with us with pain in lower back and deteroriating shoulders had surgery in Mid back due to scoliosis and now his shoulders are giving out as well. He is on morphine for the pain. He is only 34 and cannot do much.

I'm so sorry for your pain - and having them say surgery isn't for you - likely because of the insurance. I get migraines frequently. Tough during pregnancy - no medication - and now I'm nursing - can't even take Excederin Migraine! I try to avoid my triggers, hunger, scents, changes in air pressure - okay some are not controllable - certain foods - but still they've gotten worse (never thought that was possible) and more frequent. My precurser has even changed - instead of just prickles on the top of my head telling me a whopper was swooping in - my neck will sometimes stiffen all of a sudden and I get a wave of dizzyness. I know the last sounds like stress or tension - but its symptomatic of migraine. I can't go to bed in a dark room because I have no family here and can't afford the steep price of childcare. Luckily, he helps me to not compound the situation with stress - he keeps me happy. However, with migraines at least three days a week - and then the after effects - shredded memory - like the headache burned through it and also my cognitvie funcitoning - the day after is in tatters. I don't know what I can do. I need to wean him, too exhausted to deal with his screaming...and he's not into formula and doesn't have a big appetite for solids yet. So I have the health insurance - just a baby too. Also the Doctor - before my pregnancy suggested a beta blocker and Imatrex. I hate the idea of what long term meds can do to your system - and forgetting the beta blocker can be very dangerous.

I've got Connective Tissue Disease and vasculitis and FM and scoliosis and sciatica and I think I'll stop the list there. I've been a CP'er (or a Painiac, whichever you prefer) for 15 years. Glad to hear that RFA helped you. It is not the only kind of ablation, however -- so you might want to ask what other ways they can do the necessary nerve blocks. I think you're right in that your 'insurance lite' is a major part of the problem. If you had a comprehensive health plan ( ie: one that does shell out big bucks) then they would have continued to treat you until they found what could ablate the nerves better so they don't grow back so fast. Wishing you luck in a) finding a neurosurgeon or pain management specialist who'll work with you or b) hanging in there until you can get a big name kind of insurnace that will get you covered for what you need -- a more permanent solution to a permanent pain problem.

Ya my father have that kind of pain and he is dealing with it for many years. The pain he have is very mysterious. Sometimes its in his knees but after a few weeks it shifts into his shoulder and after a few weeks somewhere else. Tried many doctors and many medicines but nothing worked. i just guess its natural in old age as he is 62 year old now. Any suggestion for such pain?

Bless you! i can relate.I do not have this type pain but my poor husband does and he suffers so badly,he sometimes just wants to give up..He has what they call degerative disc disease,his spine is just being eat away..the only relief that he has found is that he has found a pain manangement doctor that has helped his so much...Not all of then actually are good,but some are...He has been to many,and we finally found this one doctor....He gives him a shot each month,i don't really know what it consists of but he gives him one in each hip...He gives him a medication for pain which helps him a lot,and he gives him something to relax the nerves in his back...My husabnd also has a disc problem in his neck ,upper neck which he cannot have surgery on,so all togeather he has only founf this one pain specialist that has helped...I am so sorry that you have such pain..I do hope you can find someone who does specializes in chronic pain to help you...