Welcome to the Pain management community!

[sandee1818]

Welcome to the Pain Management forum!  We are so glad you joined our community:)

If you or a loved one has experienced pain of any kind that has affected your life you've found the right place.

You'll find we are very supportive and caring and understand how pain can affect every aspect of our lives. We understand you may be shy to make that first post as pain can affect us in such personal ways, that's ok- But keep in mind that no question is too silly or strange!

Please feel free to look around the forum and get to know the options you have on your personal profile.

There is an option to view the 'community archives' located next to the green 'post a question' button. In it you will find the forum’s past questions and posts regarding the treatment of Chronic Pain and some of the possible treatments you may have had or would like to learn more about. There is also the 'health pages' option in the upper right corner of the forum. You will find some great information on symptoms and the different options available to treat your pain.

You have many options on your personal profile. You can 'add' friends, send 'private messages' and post 'notes' to the other members of MedHelp, as well as add Trackers as they become available! You'll also find you have a 'Journal' on your profile. You can write anything you like in your journal and chose to make it public for any other MedHelp member to see, allow only your friends to view it or keep it private for only you.
You may also want to fill out a little bit of information about yourself on your personal profile so we can all get to know more about you as you post and comment in the community.

We're so glad you have found Med help's pain management community and really look forward to getting to know you better, and learn how your pain has affected you and your quality of life.

We want to make sure this community is as helpful and supportive as can be. So If you ever have any ideas or comments on how this community can offer even more help and support, please feel free to message us at any time and we'll do all we can to make it happen!

The pain management community is very special and important to not nly us, but to the other members.  We welcome you to post your questions as well as offer any help and support you can to others here. We all deal with pain and ,of course , the issues involved with living with pain daily and we all have different ways of dealing with it. That makes us all well experienced in the things we must deal with day in day out and your experiences and knowledge will help members here that are new to this so we  encourage you to share your knowledge as we are sure it will help someone else.

Also tell your friends or loved ones about our community here. The more members we have the more support, advice and knowledge we have in our community and it will benefit everyone for the community to grow.

When you see a new member has joined feel free to send them a welcome note or message.

Sandee1818 & Tuckamore
Your Community Leaders

[sandee1818]

Hi Korhil,
     Welcome to the pain management community! We are so glad to have you here. Have you tried pain management? I believe this would be your best option. What does your Doctor say, is your condition chronic or do they expect it to heal to a full recovery?
Your PCP can refer you to pain management.
No one here is hero's we all suffer and support each other the best we can each day. It is always easier when you have support and we have so many awesome members here that offer support, compassion,kindness and friendship.
We are a close community and we do support each other and try to be there for one another not only for support with our pain issues but our every day lives.
We look forward to getting to know you:)

[Korhil]

I found this site whilst looking for help or just general pointers on how to manage pain. About 2 years ago I crashed my moped, resulting in 8 broken ribs, a broken shoulderblade, a bruised lung, battered spleen and sternum trauma. I have been coping ok up till now, but recently I have been feeling that I just don't know how much more I can take. This probably sounds whiny to all the true heroes out there who have been dealing with pain their whole lives, but every day I feel like there's a knife in my chest, and no matter what I do it won't come out. Can anyone please give me some tips on how best to deal with this? I have tried to stay positive, but as something of a natural cynic this isn't always easy. Thanks to all who take the time to read this, and I'm grateful for any advice you can give.

[opus88]

hi dear, no I've never heard of this, no doubt just another gimmick so beware.
Just wanted to mention to you that you need to click on the green button on the top of the forum, where it says 'post a question'
the way you posted this it was just added onto an old thread that probably won't get noticed.
so post this question again by clicking on  that green logo ok and I hope you get some replies.

[exotica00]

Has anyone tried the Pain Gone Pen?  It's made in England, West Midlands.  

As I'm recently suffering from unremitting night time pain and therefore from extreme sleep deprivation, I'm looking for something like a miracle.  Before I order, I'd like to hear from someone who has tried this pen and can tell me if it really works.

Thanks very much

Exotica00

[sandee1818]

Neel453,
  Thank you so much!

[tsullivan79]

The best place I have found when surgery or pain management is needed is MICROSPINE located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Here is a link to their site www.microspine.net They are literally miracle workers there. A lot of their patients have had surgery elsewhere and developed complications and they repair and fix the problems. They actually developed many of the procedures others are now trying to duplicate and their procedures are minimally invasive. Other places also have long recovery periods and with Microspine that is not the case. Imagine finally being pain free and leading an active and fulfilling life. I highly recommend them and suggest you contact them if you too want to be pain free. :)

[neel453]

sandee u r doing great job.God bless u

[dontundertand]

Well, I guess I should go ahead and formally intruduce myself. I am 28 yr old female. About 5 years ago I began to have severe left side abdominal pain. My first recourse was a GYN. He performed a laparoscopy to try and determine the source of the pain. I called his office shortly after the procedure eager to find out what he had discovered. He told me on the phone that there was nothing wrong with me and my pain was all in my head. I never even went back for my post-op. So I went to a second OB. We discussed the possibilities of the source of the pain and I tried several things for months before we decided to do a second lap and remove my left ovary. (I have 2 children already so while I was not ready to completely abandon the idea of another child, I wanted the pain to go away). This seemed to help but it was not long before I was back in her office in the same amount of pain as before. She diagnosed me with IC and referred me to a pain management doctor. The pain management doctor told me that he could control my pain but not to the extent I needed it without a confirmation of the diagnosis or another diagnosis. So for a few months I went to see him while going to a gastro who diagnosed me with IBS, and esophagitus, a urologist who confirmed IC with a cysto w/hydrodistention, another lap revealed endomitriosis, I've been told I have arthritis in my SI joints, and I saw one gastro at Emory who told me I had abdominal tears in my abdominal wall. So he sent me to a colleague of his who did trigger point injections for several months, which seemed to help but only for a few days at a time. When the injections didn't seem worth the hour and a half drive I began looking for a pain management doctor closer to home. I saw one who told me again kinda that he would treat my pain but that abdominal pain was not his specialty. So I went to him for a few months until I went to a local doc for a second opinion who seemed to know more about abdominal pain. He wanted to try a nerve block which I did but it really backfired on me. My symptoms got 10x worse overnight. When he asked about a second nerve block the next month I told him no way. I was not doing another one. I guess this upset him and he took me off my meds and prescribed only naproxen. I did a lot of researching and found the doc I go to now. He gave me complete validation and told me that I made the right choice not agreeing to a second nerve block. We're still in the process of finding the right combo for me but next month I'm doing a neurostimulator implant trial (yes, I told her to go ahead and put me on the schedule I'm ready). So we'll see how much it helps. My main concern with it is that it is going in for the IC and I have so much other stuff going on the area I don't want to get my hopes up too high and find that it doesn't help as much as I would like but only actually doing it will tell me.

I still feel like I'm missing something though. How does one go from being totally healthy to all these issues overnight? I feel like there's a link that ties it altogether that I don't know about yet. I had scheduled an appointment at the Mayo clinic about 6 months ago but was not able to keep it due to work trips going on. Haven't abandoned the idea of going, but I feel like I'm chasing a ghost sometimes and it can be pretty exhausting.

Thank you everyone!

[DeeJaye45]

Hello and thanks for welcoming all of us. I stumbled onto this quite by accident but am so glad I did. I live with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and spinal stenosis. I have had these for so long I don't know what it's like not to be in pain. But I, like some others have said, try not to let it affect my mood. I try to live each day to its fullest and do what I am able to do on that particular day according to my pain level. Though I am careful to never overdo because that just makes the pain worse the next day. I am currently trying to wean myself off the narcotic medications I've been on because they are no longer helping. But I have found a topical gel that works well most of the time. I absolutely love it. It is like my new best friend. And I can use it as much as I like. I look forward to new ideas for pain management as well.because as  I have found nothing works 100% of the time. It's good to have lots of options to choose from.

[teresamsmith]

Thank you for the welcome, hopefully I can get some ideas on how to handle this pain I have been dealing with now for years.  I am at my wits end and sometimes just feel like I can't even get up, now I have two five year olds that keep me going, but I can not let this pain get in the way of their happiness and childhood, or I will not, and have to say without these two guys, I don't know where I would be, but do look forward to learning some new ideas and how others cope...thanks again..teresa smith

[Rita48]

I have a tethered spinal cord and deal with constant pain.  Can you tell me what medication  will help with the pain in my leg and ankle.  It can go from mild to extreem.

[sandee1818]

We are certainly glad to have you here. As Tuck said we offer support and will try to answer any questions you may have:)
Welcome!

[Tuckamore]

Welcome to our Community. I am so very glad that you have joined us. If you find nothing here but support and encouragement I hope you will find joining our community is well worth your time. I know I have.

Feel free to post if you haven't already. We'll look forward to getting to know you. If you have any questions as you navigate this site please feel free to ask me.

If you would like to send me a PM anytime also feel free to do so. You are so welcome here.

Tuck

[Kazumi]

thank you. I am new to Medhelp and even newer to this community. The fact is that I've been struggling with pain since about a year ago, mostly in head, chest and legs. Nothing seems to help me so far, just thought i'd join this community as we all feel the same here...thank you for any support, hope that together we'll try to get some answers as well as some help.

[sandee1818]

Hi Maureen,
  I am so very happy to hear your son is doing better and appreciate the update very much:)
So many times we never get an update on how a person is doing so it is very nice that you took the time to let us know how he is doing.
Of course I hope his treatment keeps going well and if you have any questions or just would like to talk we are all here for you:)

[Maureen16]

Hello again.  I had posted on my college-age son who was diagnosed with spinal stenosis.  Just today he had a s.i. injection and then we went to a chiropractor who realigned his hips and did deep heat massage.  He was put on lyrica and is still taking vicadin for pain.  The lyrica is helping with the nerve pain in the leg.  Being 22 years old, he just wants everything to "return to normal."  I don't think one chiropractic adjustment is going to work but we need to work with the pain management specialist.  I said I would write back after that visit and here it is.  He is feeling a little better, definitely standing taller and straighter, but I think snowboarding in two weeks is out of the question.

[sandee1818]

Hi Rev,
I am so glad you found us:)
We all suffer from chronic pain here and we all support one another and many of us here have become great friends as well.
As you know dealing with chronic pain is very difficult and we need all the support we can get.
We look forward to getting to know you and hope you find the community as great as we all have.

[Revcharberry]

I am called Rev. (short for Reverend) and I am just joining.  I am a former teacher, mother of 4 deceased children with my 18 year old son being run over by a truck and kileed as he was riding his bike home from church last year.  I have been married for 27 years to a wonderful man of God and live alone becuse my husband is out in the missions field winning souls to Christ, we usually do it together but I am too ill to travel.  I have people who have keys and come check on me quite often.  I like to read, write and talk about God.  Now as to why I'm posting on this forum;I suffer from osteo and rheum. arthritis,Diabetes and diabetic nerve pain, fibromyalgia,chronic fatigue and God knows what else.  I take 17 different meds everyday, from percs. to vit. D, fromambien and ativan to flexeril and neurontin.  I found this site medhelp because I thought I was experiencing withdrawal from percocet so I googled percocet withdrawal and this website is one that popped up.  I was on the addiction page and for 3 days they got me through with their kind words of encouragemnent and support as I was in withdrawal and it was because doc. trying Nucynta because the perc dosage stoppped being adequate.  The Nucynta did not work and before I knew it in the wee hours Sat.   I was having hallucinations, I thought I was dead and I was upset because I couldn't clean kitchen and if one came to get my body  I'd be judged, I was trying to figure out how to get my leg over my balcony railing so I could fly.  Now that's not all but it all happened because I was trying to wean off of percs as I didnt want to be an addict.  The people at the addictions forum were so!!!supportive and basicallly told me that I have not been abusing them but my body needs them to deal with my chronic pain. One member told me about this forum and boy am I happy,  I will periodically check in with them because even though it was only 4 days it feels like we've been friends for a very long time. I'm glad to be a part of this forum and look forward to new friendships. Rev.

[Revcharberry]

Hi gryphon56, my name is Rev. I'll sign on as new in a minute but wanted you to know about something that struck me in  your post.  It is the burning sensations, have you ever had your legs, feet, fingers or hands just seem to be numb like with pins and needles?  I'll explAIn why I ask after I get your answer. Rev.

[Tuckamore]

Hi MedStudent,

I am glad to hear that you are not in severe, constant chronic pain. We have discussed OIH at various times on this Forum. I think that the majority of us are aware of this condition. Many of us have gone the route of ceasing narcotics to determine where our pain levels are or if indeed we are experiencing OIH. Any competent PMP will consider this possibility at some point in treatment.

Unfortunately for many of our members the disease process continues to worsen or is untreatable. We appreciate your concern and input. Reminders are always welcome.

Peace,
Tuck

  

[MedStudent215]

Hello all, I've been reading some of your stories and are touched and concerned at most. I know living with pain could be a very miserable fact of life. I myself also live with pain. I developed 3 hernated lower lumbar discs in a car accident years ago, and suffer from constant lower back pain and scatica almost on a daily basis. I've been on various medications for short periods, PT, steroid shots, etc... What disturbs me when I read some of these messages is some of the medications I read that people are on. To anyone who maybe in pain who might read this, who is taking heavy duty narcotic medications, I don't know if your doctors have made you aware of a condition known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia. A medical condition caused by chronic exposure to opioid-based medication. Not everyone who uses these medications will get this type of ailment, however anyone on this type of Pain Management is at risk. OIH is a condition in which use of opioid medications can make your chronic pain worse. Remember, we all have pain for a reason, that is our body's way of telling us that something is wrong, and to take it easier on ourselves. Our bodies are very great machines. Science has discovered that when we over-use these types of medications, our bodies will try to produce even more pain to overcome the effects of the opioid drug. Alot of doctors don't discuss this, their solution is to prescibe more medication, or stronger medication rather than have someone go threw withdraw which in some situations, might be the better solution. Just a thought....

[sandee1818]

AngeloA,
I will be glad to help and answer your question but I am having trouble finding it. I do not see it here. Can you direct me to where you posted it:)

[AngeloA]

Hi, all.

Can someone please give me an answer on my post?

Thanks

[samah21]

THANK for the welcome, ihave been looking for someplace to ask some question and i feel this is right one,but me engilish languge is not so good i try to do my best and i hope u understand and excuse my grammer  spelling and so.