Frustrated with lack of pain management

[Beki345]

I am a 49 yr. old single woman who has suffered with chronic pain for 18 yrs. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Disorder in 1995 by a top Dr. in Boston after a car accident. My pain began in my mid-back and cervical spine (C5-6). I also taught aerobic and did some pretty major over-use injuries to my spine. I have also been treated for depression/PTSD through therapy and medication since I was in my early 30's. After seeking help at a pain clinic and getting no relief, I sought a surgical opinion and found that I had a moderate to severe bulging disc at C6 and mild bulging disc at C5. I chose to try every therapy possible and while doing so, I began having problems with my lower back.

Currently my diagnosis on that is a bulging disc at L4-5 and a leaking disc at L5-S1, Degenerative disc disease, some spinal stenosis (that my Dr. doesn't seem to be too worried about) and some bone spurs. I experience leg pain and numbness and have gone to 3 pain clinics over 7 yrs. with very little success. I've had every injection possible, lidacaine drips, magnesium drips, rhizotomies (Radiofrequency ablations), dicograms, MRI's, the problem is that the problem can't be pinpointed.

I've also had migraines for years which I am on daily meds for, but I still get them weekly and my neurologist is out of answers. An excellent surgeon said that I wasn't a good candidate for surgery because he couldn't guarantee me a good outcome and the latest studies show that people with FMS, depression and migraines do WORSE after surgery than if they never had it.

For the past few months I've had some new symptoms, stomach pains, diarrhea with constipation in between, itchy skin that feels like bugs are biting me, dizziness and even a couple of bouts of bad unexplained hives. I've just started seeing a new primary care Dr., my old one retired and wasn't good anyway. But the Dr.s don't seem to even know what to look for! I'm on 2 anti-depressants per day, 2 migraine meds per day and 2 if I feel one coming on, 2 sleep medications per day because I cannot sleep due to pain, a muscle relaxer and Percocet 10mg/325mg as needed (lately 2xdaily, 60 USED to ast me 4 months!)

My latest pain Dr. said that she has no more answers. My new PC Dr. will not prescribe pain medication. I am ready to quit permanently because I cannot live this way. I have pain EVERYWHERE! I am on SSDI, so I don't have money for "extra's" like a chiropractor or massage therapy. And worst of all, I live alone and can't even do housework. My 2 kids (in their 20's) think I'm a "complainer and whiner" when I ask them to help me. Being a burden makes me more depressed. Can anyone relate and offer me advice? Is there something my Dr.s have overlooked? I go to specialists in the Harvard Medical School group of Dr.'s in Boston. I'm like a totally different person than I used to be and hate it!

[jollyman069]

i am so sorry for the pain you are going through.. it took me about 12 yrs to find a pain specialist who could find a way to control my pain, i have had one back surgery in 93 on L5_S1...and after that because of renal failure my other disc hernaited.. so i finally found the pain spec. i go to now and i take a timed released morphine 30 mg. and up to 4 percs 10/325 a day fro breakthrough pain, and every 6 months i get a series of 3 shots in my spine.. my pain is never completley gonw but it is controled.. i dont know if this wiull help you i hope maybe something in there will good luck nd may god bles you.. please keep us informed how you are doing anf if you need to talk or have questions feel free to pm me, and there will be sevel others that will answee and many of them are more knowageable then me..brian

[Tuckamore]

Hello Beki,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am glad you found us at MedHelp. I am very sorry you are having such horrid pain. I,m sure being alone and having no support makes it worse.

It sounds like you have had some good diagnostic procedures but not the answers you are seeking. It maybe possible that the pain is due to the diagnoses they have given you. Fibromyalgia/Myofascial Pain Disorder causes most ppl significant pain. And the skin and gastrointestinal issues could be related to the interaction of the medications along with all the stress you must be experiencing. But I am not a physician and I would not want to guess about your physical problems.

What I can suggest is that you locate another PCP. I don't know what state you live in and that makes a difference as to which physician can prescribe what for you. If your PCP is not doing the job that you hired him to do you need to find one that will. If you hired a plumber to fix your leaking facet and after you paid him it still leaked what would you do? I hope your response is fire him.  Physicians are really no different than plumbers. They are not Gods.

And it appears that your pain is not sufficiently controlled. You have multiple reasons to have pain. You just know need it controlled. If your PMP is not willing to prescribe medications that will ease your pain than it sounds to me as if you also need a new PMP.

Hang in there. We are here for you. Will will support you in any way we can. You may also PM me if you would like. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. I hope you will be able to obtain some pain relief soon. Please take care and I will look forward to your next update. Tuck

[Cindee56]

Hi, I am sorry for how you are feeling.  I can relate, as I have many of your symptoms.  I have fibro, cervical spine problems, lower back and buttock pain, knee arthritis, hand arthritis, carpal tunnel.  It's  a nightmare.  I am 52 and I used to be very active and happy, now I am miserable and stay home all the time because of the pain