Aa
Severe Upper Back Pain, Right side only. Ruining quality of life.
Background:
So, for about 6 years now, since I went through USMC bootcamp, I have had a severe pain in my upper back that has yet to be correctly diagnosed.
It was extremely hard getting through a 4 year enlistment as infantry including some deployments, but I managed to do it, mind over matter I suppose, but now, since I am a civilian, the pain seems to be unmanageable as I don't have more pressing matters to deal with. I had gone to the Naval Hospital numerous times while active duty, and have had X-Rays and an MRI done, both have supposedly found no abnormalities. I have gone to a civilian hospital, one time they gave me pain killers which partially helped, the other time they did nothing. The VA hospital seems to think I am making it up, or have decided that if I managed for 4 years of service, I can manage now with no explanation as to what the issue is.
ME:
I am 25 year old male, otherwise relatively healthy, and at a healthy weight. I have suffered numerous injuries and wounds, but none to my knowledge are directly related to my back/spine/shoulder. I suppose as this condition has been ongoing since I was 18, none of the specifics matter in terms of medication or injuries since then.
The Pain:
The pain ranges from a 6-9. It seems to depend on what I am doing (vacuuming, dishes, house hold chores, painting, yard work, driving, standing, walking seem to exacberate it) basically everything besides laying down. Some days it is much worse, and I literally want to do nothing besides lay down. Some days I am left with some funcionality, but I usually pay for whatever I end up doing that day, the next day.
The pain to me feels like it is nerve related, it is accompanied by local numbness/tingling sensation, the pain starts at lower shoulder level, but directly next to my spine and the pain radiates, again based on activity level. It is generally on the right side, but as of late it seems to be radiating even to the left side of the spine.
The pain is chronic. Even if I spent time layed up in bed for days or even weeks at a time, the pain will simply come back once I resume life. I tore ligaments in my knee which left me immobilized for quite some time, as soon as I started PT again the back pain resumed as bad as it had ever been.
I have noticed a tingling sensation up the back of my neck from time to time, seemingly random, but it is on the same side of my neck as the pain... it is pretty much at the base of the skull where the spine connects to it.
Alleged Diagnoses:
So far, I have been told it could be a muscle strain (trapezius I believe they said) but to me that doesn't fit. After numerous Dr and Hospital visits, they basically all say that its just a muscle strain... They make me feel like an idiot, or like a wimp. I have a high tolerance for pain and this puts me out of comission and I am tired of basically being condescended to every time I see a VA doctor.
Treatment:
So far, I have tried:
- physical therapy for about 2 months while I was still in the service, did not help. Was told I should try it again... don't really want to as the VA facility is 2-3hr round trip worth of driving, and I have had no positive results as of yet from when i did try it.
- icing; isn't practical to do every single day, pain resumes once I stop.
- heat; tried a microwavable heat pad, feels good, no relief though.
- stretching excersise; nothing
- NSAID; over the counter stuff doesn't help. At all.
- Muscle Relaxers (cyclobenzaprine); can't tell if they helped, or just made me too loopy to care, prescription has run out anyways.
- Pain Meds; OTC stuff doesn't do anything, Dr's seem very reluctant to give out the prescription ones which do seem to help.
What do I want?:
I want to A) figure out what is wrong... it's been far too long not knowing and B) Something that can give me enough relief so that I can at least do SOME regular life things at least SOME of the time... Yard work, house work, painting walls, living life in general without being in excruciating pain... the pain then puts me in an abysmal mood, which affects my relationships with both my GF, Friends, and Family.
Ideas, or anything would be great, I thought perhaps a herniated disc, dr's said no evidence of that.
What type of doctor I should see, if I should try a civilian instead of a VA doctor.
Is pain management specialist an option?
So, for about 6 years now, since I went through USMC bootcamp, I have had a severe pain in my upper back that has yet to be correctly diagnosed.
It was extremely hard getting through a 4 year enlistment as infantry including some deployments, but I managed to do it, mind over matter I suppose, but now, since I am a civilian, the pain seems to be unmanageable as I don't have more pressing matters to deal with. I had gone to the Naval Hospital numerous times while active duty, and have had X-Rays and an MRI done, both have supposedly found no abnormalities. I have gone to a civilian hospital, one time they gave me pain killers which partially helped, the other time they did nothing. The VA hospital seems to think I am making it up, or have decided that if I managed for 4 years of service, I can manage now with no explanation as to what the issue is.
ME:
I am 25 year old male, otherwise relatively healthy, and at a healthy weight. I have suffered numerous injuries and wounds, but none to my knowledge are directly related to my back/spine/shoulder. I suppose as this condition has been ongoing since I was 18, none of the specifics matter in terms of medication or injuries since then.
The Pain:
The pain ranges from a 6-9. It seems to depend on what I am doing (vacuuming, dishes, house hold chores, painting, yard work, driving, standing, walking seem to exacberate it) basically everything besides laying down. Some days it is much worse, and I literally want to do nothing besides lay down. Some days I am left with some funcionality, but I usually pay for whatever I end up doing that day, the next day.
The pain to me feels like it is nerve related, it is accompanied by local numbness/tingling sensation, the pain starts at lower shoulder level, but directly next to my spine and the pain radiates, again based on activity level. It is generally on the right side, but as of late it seems to be radiating even to the left side of the spine.
The pain is chronic. Even if I spent time layed up in bed for days or even weeks at a time, the pain will simply come back once I resume life. I tore ligaments in my knee which left me immobilized for quite some time, as soon as I started PT again the back pain resumed as bad as it had ever been.
I have noticed a tingling sensation up the back of my neck from time to time, seemingly random, but it is on the same side of my neck as the pain... it is pretty much at the base of the skull where the spine connects to it.
Alleged Diagnoses:
So far, I have been told it could be a muscle strain (trapezius I believe they said) but to me that doesn't fit. After numerous Dr and Hospital visits, they basically all say that its just a muscle strain... They make me feel like an idiot, or like a wimp. I have a high tolerance for pain and this puts me out of comission and I am tired of basically being condescended to every time I see a VA doctor.
Treatment:
So far, I have tried:
- physical therapy for about 2 months while I was still in the service, did not help. Was told I should try it again... don't really want to as the VA facility is 2-3hr round trip worth of driving, and I have had no positive results as of yet from when i did try it.
- icing; isn't practical to do every single day, pain resumes once I stop.
- heat; tried a microwavable heat pad, feels good, no relief though.
- stretching excersise; nothing
- NSAID; over the counter stuff doesn't help. At all.
- Muscle Relaxers (cyclobenzaprine); can't tell if they helped, or just made me too loopy to care, prescription has run out anyways.
- Pain Meds; OTC stuff doesn't do anything, Dr's seem very reluctant to give out the prescription ones which do seem to help.
What do I want?:
I want to A) figure out what is wrong... it's been far too long not knowing and B) Something that can give me enough relief so that I can at least do SOME regular life things at least SOME of the time... Yard work, house work, painting walls, living life in general without being in excruciating pain... the pain then puts me in an abysmal mood, which affects my relationships with both my GF, Friends, and Family.
Ideas, or anything would be great, I thought perhaps a herniated disc, dr's said no evidence of that.
What type of doctor I should see, if I should try a civilian instead of a VA doctor.
Is pain management specialist an option?
I had in my upper right back a muscle that was hurting pretty bad, I took Dolo-Neurobión N contains Diclofenac sodium + Vitamins B1 + B6 + B12, for 3 days, one every 8 hours and that good the pain went away, so maybe you should try it.
I have the same condition, its like some sort of small muscle of my back is swollen (upper right thoracic) which hurt really bad and its really affects my daily activities, my neck (right SCM) is a bit bulging, feels like its hitting the base of my skull near my ear. the doctors are telling me different kinds of back disorders/condition. How are you dood? I hope you're doing good now.
Just was roaming around the other topics and am reading horror stories out the *** about dependency, addiction, withdrawals etc. Having to take **** tests every week, tests being inaccurate, and all over pain medicine?
Kind of got me wondering what my best course of action really is. Is it even worth it to go down that path? I am already on disability at the ripe old age of 26 for wounds and injuries sustained in Iraq, and find it frustrating to deal with the pain.
But on the same note, they so freely and quickly prescribed me a plethora of anti depressants (celexa, seroquel, zoloft, paxil, bupropion to name a few... not all at once, back to back to find out what one would work) back in the day, as well as Ambien for sleep issues, and now muscle relaxers, which all seem equally dangerous side effect wise...
If I am prescribed a pain medication, but do not take it for chronic pain, just for 'the bad days' is the risk there still? My last prescription was for 40 10/325 percocets, and that lasted me for 30 days. I'd take 2 or 3 a day on the 'bad days' and that was it. Bad days being any day where I need to do yard work, or chores and such, and the following day.
Kind of got me wondering what my best course of action really is. Is it even worth it to go down that path? I am already on disability at the ripe old age of 26 for wounds and injuries sustained in Iraq, and find it frustrating to deal with the pain.
But on the same note, they so freely and quickly prescribed me a plethora of anti depressants (celexa, seroquel, zoloft, paxil, bupropion to name a few... not all at once, back to back to find out what one would work) back in the day, as well as Ambien for sleep issues, and now muscle relaxers, which all seem equally dangerous side effect wise...
If I am prescribed a pain medication, but do not take it for chronic pain, just for 'the bad days' is the risk there still? My last prescription was for 40 10/325 percocets, and that lasted me for 30 days. I'd take 2 or 3 a day on the 'bad days' and that was it. Bad days being any day where I need to do yard work, or chores and such, and the following day.
Unrelated but some kind of 'cyst' was found on my Thyroid Gland, told it was not a big deal, but nothing has been done about it.
Was found on an MRI evaluation.
Was found on an MRI evaluation.
Alright, long overdue update.
I have been seen by a PCP, a Neurologist, and now Pain Management specialist.
I have had 3 MRI's done, and an X-ray, Neck, Upper and lower spine. Referred to neurologist by PCP. Told by neurologist who said she is a Harvard Graduate, that my spine looked better than any she'd seen in quite some time, and I have no reasonable explanation for the pain. Given a prescription for Nortriptylin (forget the dosage) which I guess helped rule certain things out, as it did nothing for me. Then given a 1 month prescription for oxycodone10/aceteminophen325. Referred back to PCP.
1 month scrip of the Percocet worked well, wasn't a cure, but definitely allowed me to get a LOT of work done on my new house, with only minor discomfort.
PCP unhappy that I had been prescribed 'narcotic medication' and will not refill the scrip, even though I had responsibly taken them (only on an as needed basis, instead of everyday). Refers me to a Pain Management Specialist.
Pain Management also unhappy about the evil evil 'narcotic medicine' and will not continue that treatment. Instead I am hastily told that I have a 'chronic muscle spasm' and will have to come in for a follow up for 'trigger points' and possibly cortizone injections. I am given a prescription for Tizanidine (3x2mg) 2x a day. I expressed my doubt that it would work as I have previously unsuccessfully been prescribed Flexaril.
I am getting this feeling that I am not being taken seriously, and am being dicked around by the medical 'professionals' and sent to appointment after appointment and test after test, etc on my own dime (My insurance does not cover close to 100%, plus co pay, plus medication)
I feel like a junky (more like Drs make me feel like that) for wanting the one medication that DID help me, that was also affordable and gave me no side effects besides mild sedation, versus trying other more expensive medications that may or may not even work. Either that or I should never have been given them in the first place, as I got a glimpse of what I can get accomplished with some responsible medicine use.
I have been seen by a PCP, a Neurologist, and now Pain Management specialist.
I have had 3 MRI's done, and an X-ray, Neck, Upper and lower spine. Referred to neurologist by PCP. Told by neurologist who said she is a Harvard Graduate, that my spine looked better than any she'd seen in quite some time, and I have no reasonable explanation for the pain. Given a prescription for Nortriptylin (forget the dosage) which I guess helped rule certain things out, as it did nothing for me. Then given a 1 month prescription for oxycodone10/aceteminophen325. Referred back to PCP.
1 month scrip of the Percocet worked well, wasn't a cure, but definitely allowed me to get a LOT of work done on my new house, with only minor discomfort.
PCP unhappy that I had been prescribed 'narcotic medication' and will not refill the scrip, even though I had responsibly taken them (only on an as needed basis, instead of everyday). Refers me to a Pain Management Specialist.
Pain Management also unhappy about the evil evil 'narcotic medicine' and will not continue that treatment. Instead I am hastily told that I have a 'chronic muscle spasm' and will have to come in for a follow up for 'trigger points' and possibly cortizone injections. I am given a prescription for Tizanidine (3x2mg) 2x a day. I expressed my doubt that it would work as I have previously unsuccessfully been prescribed Flexaril.
I am getting this feeling that I am not being taken seriously, and am being dicked around by the medical 'professionals' and sent to appointment after appointment and test after test, etc on my own dime (My insurance does not cover close to 100%, plus co pay, plus medication)
I feel like a junky (more like Drs make me feel like that) for wanting the one medication that DID help me, that was also affordable and gave me no side effects besides mild sedation, versus trying other more expensive medications that may or may not even work. Either that or I should never have been given them in the first place, as I got a glimpse of what I can get accomplished with some responsible medicine use.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi there!
Well, without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your backpain. With clear x-rays and MRI, structural issues related to the spine are ruled out. Possibilities that may need to be considered in such a situation include postural issues, muscular sprain/ spasms, micronutrient deficiencies, nerve related issues at lower level, vascular issues etc. Though I am more inclined for an orthopedic consultation, I would still suggest a primary evaluation by an internist for an unbiased opinion. It would not be fruitful to see a pain management specialist since he/ she would do nothing to the primary issue. A subsequent management plan can drafted after the mentioned issues have been considered and evaluated for.
Hope this is helpful.
Take care!
Well, without a clinical evaluation it would be difficult to determine the cause of your backpain. With clear x-rays and MRI, structural issues related to the spine are ruled out. Possibilities that may need to be considered in such a situation include postural issues, muscular sprain/ spasms, micronutrient deficiencies, nerve related issues at lower level, vascular issues etc. Though I am more inclined for an orthopedic consultation, I would still suggest a primary evaluation by an internist for an unbiased opinion. It would not be fruitful to see a pain management specialist since he/ she would do nothing to the primary issue. A subsequent management plan can drafted after the mentioned issues have been considered and evaluated for.
Hope this is helpful.
Take care!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Back & Neck Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
