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Avatar universal

Undiagnosed and only getting worse

I've been suffering from undiagnosed chronic pain for the last 14 years and I'm only in my mid twenties. I was the passenger of many car accidents as a child and I think that's where it all stems from.

The muscles through my shoulders and neck are very tense and knotted. It's spread to the front of my neck, collar bone, and chest. I've been seeing a pain management doctor for the last 4 years. Before that I tried many treatments such as various chiropractors, physical therapists, cranialsacral therapy, and acupuncture.

My pain responds to treatment/meds initially quite well then it just stops working after a few weeks. I wish I knew why. My x-rays and MRI's come back completely normal. The doctors can feel how messed up my muscles are just by barely touching my neck/shoulders and I've been told I just have chronic muscle knots.

It's not fibro because it's so localized and I don't identify with many of the other symptoms of it. I've tried LOTS of different meds and patches. Either the pain didn't respond to them or it did and then the pain came back after a few weeks.

My doctor mentioned that a breast reduction may help. I'm 5'6", 145 lbs and I'm a 34DD. Insurance considers breast reduction a cosmetic surgery (can't afford that) and it's not guaranteed that will work. I know that my breasts definitely exacerbates the problem though.

The weird part is that a few days a month I feel almost no pain. The muscles feel just as messed up to the touch but somehow there's no pain. Otherwise I'm in a good amount of pain. I have not been able to figure out what factor(s) control the amount of pain I experience. I'm keeping a pain journal right now to help with this.

About a year and a half ago I started having VERY high pain one week before my period. I recently told my regular doctor and she said there's no use testing my hormones for that (????).

I was using a lacrosse type ball to lay on and roll out the muscle tension. That worked amazingly for awhile and now it causes me more pain (tender in addition to my regular tight dull achy feeling).

Right now I'm on vicodin. Some days it wipes out the pain, other days it does nothing. I honestly need something stronger but there's no way I could keep working on anything stronger. I'm posting this because my pain has been so out of control these last 2 weeks that it's negatively affecting me at work. I can't focus, remember anything, and I feel exhausted all the time. I want to keep my job but at this rate it's not looking good. I highly doubt I could get on disability and I'd much rather resolve this pain and keep my job. That's why I'm reaching out to you guys.

Please help!!!
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Avatar universal
I forgot to mention the trigger point injections. The pain doctor has done those and they make me sick. They provide a some relief for about 24 hours after which isn't worth getting them regularly done.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hello
I am so sorry your in so much pain. I know it's hard.
I have a lot of back issues and Fibro as well as reallly bad spasms that leave me flat on my back for days at a time

I am don disability right now with a review comming up.
I have only gotten worse thru the years
I also have arthritis and RA.

I was on Oxys and Hydro ( Norco)
Norco on and off for around 9--10
Years and daily past 3 years
I went off the pain med because I didn't like what they were doing to my mind and my body.

It's been a rough ride and it takes me at least an hour to get up outta bed without the pain meds.
I do take Lyrica for my Fibro and it helps some also 800 mg Ibuprofine 3 times daily for my arthritis

I totally agree with the a I've post about the injections.
I have had them and they only worked for 1-2 weeks
Also had a nerve block in my neck for the knots like you have..

All it did was give me migraines for over a month stright?????
NEVER again... Lol

Did you say they did the trigger point test on you to see if it was Fibro?

With my Fibro I have a lot of the same pain issues and areas

Hope you find something out and something that will take.care of your pain

Peace
Lesa
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just curious if you have tried trigger point injections.  They can be very effective. The reason I suggest that is that one of the therapies for the knots is using a ball(myofascial release)

Hope this helps

T
Helpful - 0
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