too young to feel like I'm 80.

[ashpat11]

I have had severe back pain since I was about 17 years old. No car accidents, no injuries, nothing... I am 23 now and it seems to be getting worse and worse. I have a one year old, and I honestly think it has gotten much worse since I had her. Is it true that an epidural can mess your back up? Or just a myth??

I have had probably 25 x-rays done on my back. In the past I've had herniated discs, and swelling. But now, nothing shows up. My previous doctor told me I have fibromyalgia. Well, I had to switch doctors, due to my insurance. My new dr. said I do NOT have fibro. (He didnt really believe in it). Well I have a NEW doctor now b/c my previous one was diagnosed with cancer, and actually just passed away this morning. My NEW dr. is sending me to a pain mgt. center.

I just dont know what to expect or WHAT it could possibly be. Im so worried I'll have to get back surgery when I'm in my 30's. The best way I can describe my pain is, that it feels like my entire back is one big sheet of bone... and that sheet of bone has been shattered into a million pieces with a hammer....

any input?? Or has anyone ever experienced this kind of pain???!! I am waaaay too young to feel like I'm 80 years old!

[sandee1818]

Hi ashpat11,
I take it your appointment is today. Have you been documenting your pain levels? Or using the pain tracker, if so print it out and take it with you. having this to show the PM doctor will help him/her understand your pain and pain levels better and with that information you will have a much better chance at being treated for your pain.
Write down everything that has been going on and take it with you. When your seeing a new doctor its a good idea to make sure you cover everything as far as your pain where it is, how long it has been there and at what levels. Also what caused your pain to begin with such as an accident. Be your own advocate because your the only one who can make the doctor understand your pain:)


Anorexicheart,
I would suggest that you too document your pain on a day to day basis. Keep your pain tracker current and when you see the doctor print ti and take it with you. Most PM doctors know that pain does not always show up on test results. But too they have to have some documented reason why they are prescribing medications to you. have you had a nerve conduction study done? I would go back to your PCP or even find a new one if the doctor is not taking you seriously and have the docotr order all the test that you need. If you have had only x rays then you need and MRI as well as any other test that will show your problem.
Do not give up! Everyone of us has been there, we have to keep looking and getting past the doctors who will not listen to find the one that finally will.
As I have said my personal PM doctor tells all his Pt's that the reason for their pain may not show up on test but that does not mean it doesn't exist. There are many reasons why your pain could not be showing up on the test results but the one thing to remember is there is a doctor out there for you that will listen and take you seriously you just have to keep looking until you find him/her:)

[ashpat11]

Thanks Audrea...I'm sorry you've had to go through so much, as well =( They say God will not give us anything we cant handle...but I wonder sometimes. lol. The thing I don't understand when Drs. make me out to be a drug seeker is this: I have been prescribed methadone before. I've been prescribed morphine for it before, as well. And one would think that those two narcotics are just a littttttttle bit more desired by druggies/drug seekers...right?? lol. I do not want those..I can't STAND those. They make me sick, or make me "loopy" and feel messed up...and that's not the desired affect. Loratab is the only med that has ever just made the pain go away, with no side affects (besides making me a little crabby sometimes. ha). But my point is...I wish they would just LISTEN sometimes. That's the problem..they never just listen. I guess they feel they have too much going on or something. But they need to realize no matter HOW much they get paid, this is their JOB. And they should do it to the best of their ability. Ugh, frustrates me to no end!

Monday cannot come soon enough.I'm afraid I'm destroying my body b/c of the amount of ibuprofen I take in a day.

Anorexicheart...I have no clue what to tell you about finding a doctor who will listen and believe you, because I still havent been able to find one! =( I went to my family dr., who I had been seeing since I was 12..but once I got older, I realized he was a complete and total KOOK! That's when I finally switched doctors. I liked my new doctor. He seemed to listen more, although he didnt believe in Fibro, and told me to excersize (Even when I told him that I DO tai-bo everyday AND keep up with kids here at the daycare not to mention my own 1 yr old), he still kept pushing it on me. THen I was forced to switch doctors not even 6 months later b/c my dr. was diagnosed with cancer and undergoing treatment. That's where I am now. I have seen this new doctor one time and I dont like her. Doesnt seem like she's really listening to me. Although she did set up this appt. with the pain mgt. ctr., which no other PCP has ever done. So we will see! I suppose you just have to "shop around" until you find one who you feel listens to you?? And maybe find others in your area who can give you advice and maybe recommend a good PCP.

[AnorexicHeart]

How do I find a doctor who will listen and believe me? How do I get help for this pain? I can't get a rx for anything but Ultram which doesnt touch it. I tried a pain clinic but because my xray didnt show like an injury, he wont treat me at all.

[AnorexicHeart]

Ive had chronic back pain since age 17 and no accident that I remember anyway...and all they find is mild scolosis or a curve in my spine. WTF. So noone believes me and I dont get help. I now do not work because I can never handle jobs that require physical labor. I care for my disabled father now who has PSP. Anyway, I have always had chronic headaches as well and within the last 6 months - 1 year all my muscles are tender/sore really bad. No doctor will find out why. When I mention Fibro they blow me off.

[nurseaudrea]

Just to let you know, the doctor who decided I needed a fusion, a year after the fusion, decided the pain was all in my head. I was 23 and was made to feel like a drug seeker also. I had all kinds of tests done, multiple MRI's, a nerve conduction study(on just one leg) I had shooting pain down my legs, and a myelogram. They thought the fusion looked okay at that time. It took another long year to have another nerve conduction study done to find out that I had severe radiculopathy. What surprises me is why they could not find the problem sooner. I finally had a doctor who listened to me and said I should not be having all the pain I was in. I was sent to a Psychiatrist from the first doctor because he did not believe my pain, until he did surgery the second time and found gross amounts of scar tissue wrapped around the nerve roots compressing them.
I then underwent my third fusion another year later because it was still not fused. My leg pain decreased dramatically, but it is still not fused to this day.

Going through all this can take a toll on you, especially when  you feel like you should be in the prime of your life. That is why I say don't give up until you find the answers you are looking for. If you need the meds you need them. No one should make you feel bad about taking them if you can't function without them. My ins. company decided not to pay for my meds for three years just because of my age at the time. They thought I was too young to become dependent on narcotics. I had to go on Methadone because it was the cheapest. You do what you have to do to get by. So don't feel bad about any of it.

You will get through this, just keep plugging away at it and don't give up until you get your answers. I wish the best for you. You definitely need to get an MRI. They will be able to see the soft tissue and see if there are any problems around your spinal cord or nerve roots. Good luck.    Audrea
                                                

[ashpat11]

Thanks for the responses. =) I'm getting very eager to see what this PMP says on Monday..however from my experiences in the past, I'm not getting my hopes up on anything.

I have been on hydrocodone for about 2 years. And when my old dr. stopped his practice b/c of his cancer and I had to find a new one... when I was explaining everything to her, she made me feel horrible. She definitely made me out too be a drug seeker, which I'm not! She wanted to send me to a local centerstone, to have a drug evalutation. lol. I am just hoping I find out something soon because i do NOT like having to rely on a pill to get through my day.

Today is a bad day as far as the pain. I have a 13 month old daughter and also run a daycare. And sometimes it hard to even lift my daughter, let alone the older, bigger kids.
I have not had an MRI done yet. Which suprises me. I have a feeling that will be next. I am also tired of PCP's treating me like this is all in my head and I am crazy. I'm sick of hearing the line, "No. You're too young to have back pain." Rediculous!!!

Glad to hear I'm not alone! And again, thanks for the respones! =)

[Tuckamore]

Hi Ashpat,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am glad you found us but sorry to hear about your back pain especially given that fact that you are so young. Pain knows no age boundaries. You can have pain at 18 or 80 and at either age it is just as miserable.

I would not be concerned with surgery at this point. You new PCP has referred you to a PMP not a surgeon. Worry is like a rocking chair, it will get you no where.....and it can make your pain worse.

The first order of business it to have a good medical work up to determine the cause of your pain. As was stated above you should have an MRI. X-rays are not the preferred diagnostic tool for back pain. However they are the place to start. An MRI is an in depth  look at the structure of your spine.  

I have not had the type of pain you describe but I have had and continue to have severe back, SIJ, hip and leg pain. So I can relate to pain. I went undiagnosed for years as many of our members have. I became very discouraged when no one could give me answers for my pain and I was treated like it was "all in my head" or worse yet a drug seeker. So please do not give up.

There are some great PMP out there. I am hopeful that you will be seeing one very soon. You may or may not have Fibro but the PMP should be able to determine that. I have a great PCP that treats me with respect and understanding. She too is doubtful that Fibro exists at the level that it is being diagnosed. She believes there are treatable answers for some of the ppl that are DX (diagnoses) with Fibro. Your new PCP is not alone in his opinion. That does not make him or my PCP a bad physician provided they don't dismiss you, recognize pain, search for an DX and treat it.

I wish you the very best. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. We are here to support you in any way we can. Take Care, Tuck  

[nurseaudrea]

I also understand your pain. I started having severe back pain when I was 21. At 23 had my first spinal surgery and by 26 had my third. I still hurt and need another fusion in the same area because it won't fuse properly.
I remember when I started having pain it took them over a year to find what the problem was. I had many x-rays that showed nothing and then an MRI a year later. That MRI wasn't that great for some reason because it only showed a slight bulge in a disc, but several months later they found that I had spondylolisthesis. That's where your vertebrae slides forward over another one and causes severe bulging of the disc. I had to have surgery. I feel like I am an old woman many days because of the pain. I would suggest you keep seeing a doctor until you find your answer. Too many times they will say it is Fibro when they can't find anything else. Have you had an MRI? There are other tests that can be done as well. Where is your pain centrally located? Do you have any shooting pain?
Just don't give up and keep looking for the answer. It can take some time to find the right doctor sometimes who will really listen. Good luck.    

Audrea

[ChronicPain1]

I feel your pain, both literally and symbolically. I'm 23 as well and feel like a 60 year old physically most days. I've also been told I might have fibromyalgia, the problem with that diagnosis is it can be impossible to correctly pinpoint. From what I remember it comes down to certain tender spots, and if you have X number of them, it could be fibromyalgia.

See if your doctor can get you an MRI. I had 2 MRI's years apart and they showed weakening discs in the C6-C7 area which was giving me intense nerve pain into my left arm. Degenerative Disc Disease it was also called, so if your back is that bad maybe you have something wrong with your discs.

As for the epidural, I tried having one done but I couldn't go through with it. I won't say why as I don't want to scare you, but I became squeamish which doesn't happen often to me. I'm not a big fan of injections for pain management as they don't last too long usually.

Know there are many others like you who feel chronic pain, you're not alone. I wish you the best of luck finding answers, I know how it is. It took me years for an illness when I was younger, and same for my current chronic pain. As advanced as medicine is becoming, it's nowhere near perfect. Good luck!