NEED HELP

[Vonda72]

I have working as a nurse aide for 18yrs.
2yrs ago I sustained an injury while at work lifting a patient in bed. I had a partner while attempting the lift but somehow I was left supporting the majority of the patients weight. After the patient was lifted from the floor, "we" and I use that term loosely had to then lift higher to get the patient in a special bed, then pull her up to the head of the bed. Long story short, since that time I have had problem with my back!
The area thats bothering me is inbetween my shoulders and up. From time to time I feel tingles in my arm( lot when you sit on your leg and cut the circulation off).
Every day no matter what I do, my upper back burns and my muscles stiffen up like rocks. I've had an MRI which was negative and yet, no one can seem to tell me what's wrong with me. I have been told everything from spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, arthtis, chronic fatigue to faking! I don't understand whats wrong with me....is it something mental or physical? I have problems opening doors and lifting certain objects, putting my hands behind my back, raising stuff up over my head etc. I have enough drugs to open a drug company... and I don't want to take them because they leave me feeling "LOOPPY". Recently I began taking steroid injection from the base of my skull to my tailbome. That help but only for a little while, now the doctor has me taking lodicaine injection which don not help at all.

CAn ANYBODY please help!! or give me some advise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[igarfy]

I think you injured your back and your line of work is not letting it heal. Just because it does not show up on an MRI does not mean it is not injured. If you can take some time off and JUST REST it may get better on its own. Or, you might try chiropratic or some other treatment. Fibro feels like having a tooth ache all over your body, I think more muscle pain and fatigue.Although it also involves pain in the spine. Hope you feel better soon. O, BTW, It take muscle relaxants too.

[Vonda72]

Thank you that helps! I know I didn't  mention that but I do have leg pain. It feels like someone is pulling  the nerve down the left side in the back leg ( like if someone was to pull the chord on a harp). I have the some tingling and some slight numbness. I was considering asking the doctor if I could get an EMG. But my xray did show like the last 3 vertebrae in my neck looked smashed together.

[buriedinfur]

If it is only in that area and not in your legs that doesn't fit the criteria for fibro. The tingly stuff and other things sound to me more like a back/nerve thing. Just because an MRI didn't show disk injury etc doesn't mean that you don't have a legitimate back problem - I know many people who suffer terribly who don't have anything show up in x-rays or MRI's.

Hang in there. It's frusterating dealing with chronic pain.