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Chronic back pain; new symptoms; doctors refuse to test more than CBC
A summary of my symptoms: back pain,joint pain, dizzyness, weakness, fatigue, numbness, nausea/vomiting; and when bad, headache/confusion.
Just warning you all now, it gets long. Summarizing 7 years isn't easy.
They dont know why i have the pain because every MRI and XRAY shows that my spine is fine and no nerves are being pinched. 6 years ago, i had surgery to “fix” my genetic spine condition (“spondylothesis”, where spine bends to far and the wings on back hit the bone below. It gave me 2 fractures), but it only helped for a month.
Despite this, NONE of the doctors have tried doing anything. They all tell me there's nothing there, and then just shrug it off. And I mean, they literally just give me meds and don't even try helping or actually testing for other causes; they all just assume it's "just" chronic back pain. Which makes NO sense to me why they'd assume that, when there's NOTHING wrong?! I've had a few suggest things like failed back surgery or neuropathy, but yet again, none of them actually followed up and tested that (Until I finally had enough and made them recently).
Anyways,since about a year ago its spread to all my joints. My knees are the worse, elbows second. It takes me many hours to fall asleep because it gets worse after any amount of time being still, to the point that if I dont move or stretch, the pain spreads and my arm's get numb. My knees periodically hurt so bad that I can't walk. The smallest amount of pressure seems to cause enough pain that I lose control for a few moments-- I guess they give out. I have given up completely on taking stairs, because even on a good day, stepping down hurts and makes them go weak. Sometimes only enough to make it difficult, sometimes enough to make me collapse. It's also happened a few times without stairs; anytime I spent long on my feet, like after a 6 or 8 hour shift. I tried standing up and instantly ended up on the ground. Since then, I've been trying very hard to avoid being upright for long.
That was a year ago. Now about a few months ago, it's gotten very bad. It's like my body needs every ounce of energy just to try to work properly. And you can barely call it that. I can't spend more than half a day out of bed. For some reason, if I do, I get nausous. And if I dont take meds/get back onto bed, I vomit, without fail. I've waited a week and then tried spending a day up and without medicine (promethazine; zofran doesn't help), and every time I vomit. Even with medicine, im now experiencing dizzyness and numbness constantly, even in bed sometimes. I feel very lightheaded, and any activity or movement makes it worse, like waves of dizzyness, and makes whatever im moving more numb. It's like trying to move through extremely thick water. It's very hard to focus, especially when that strong. My vision sometimes gets blurry, and sometimes get headaches when it gets strong. I'm unable to do anything anymore! I'm supposed to be an art student-- after fighting my back pain for so long I FINALLY declared my major this year-- but now I can't draw because of the numbness and loss of control! Standing, holding up my arm that long, trying to draw with a numb, jerking hand? Yeah, doesn't work! I've been on bed rest as much as possible, and the numbness is fine for the most part. But I get up, even just sitting, and soon I can barely feel my legs. The tingling replaces any feeling.
I've had MRIS, xray, CT scans, blood tests, and Nerve conductivity test/EMG. They all came back normal, except recently they said my blood tests was just 1 pt too high for my kidney; and the doctor who performed my EMG said the results were negative, but he thought it was weird how long it took for my muscles to respond? He also said the test would only show nerve damage if it was more than 50%, which is not reassuring.
I know I'm not a doctor, but I also know my own body, and this ISNT normal! It's nothing like when I get migraines, or just have a bad back day. There's clearly something going on, more than just chronic back pain! I dont think my entire body would not be affected, and certainly not to this extent. My best guess is something nervous system or muscular, maybe autoimmune disorder? The problem is that no one will test it! Ive asked multiple times, but the best i could get them to do was a blood tests amd the EMG/NCT! They made it clear they didnt even want to waste time on that, and REFUSED to budge about any real tests. They just say it's "unlikely" and continue to assume its not serious and just chronic pain. Do they think I'm joking when I say I can barely spend time out of bed, or that I'm physically unable to do simple things like, I don't know, care for myself?? I don't know what else to do to make them take me seriously and realize how badly this is destroying my life. I lost all my dream's of traveling and actually enjoying life because of the back pain, and now the one thing I had left, the one thing helping me cope-- my art and drawing-- is gone too. And these "doctors" don't give a single damn.
Just warning you all now, it gets long. Summarizing 7 years isn't easy.
They dont know why i have the pain because every MRI and XRAY shows that my spine is fine and no nerves are being pinched. 6 years ago, i had surgery to “fix” my genetic spine condition (“spondylothesis”, where spine bends to far and the wings on back hit the bone below. It gave me 2 fractures), but it only helped for a month.
Despite this, NONE of the doctors have tried doing anything. They all tell me there's nothing there, and then just shrug it off. And I mean, they literally just give me meds and don't even try helping or actually testing for other causes; they all just assume it's "just" chronic back pain. Which makes NO sense to me why they'd assume that, when there's NOTHING wrong?! I've had a few suggest things like failed back surgery or neuropathy, but yet again, none of them actually followed up and tested that (Until I finally had enough and made them recently).
Anyways,since about a year ago its spread to all my joints. My knees are the worse, elbows second. It takes me many hours to fall asleep because it gets worse after any amount of time being still, to the point that if I dont move or stretch, the pain spreads and my arm's get numb. My knees periodically hurt so bad that I can't walk. The smallest amount of pressure seems to cause enough pain that I lose control for a few moments-- I guess they give out. I have given up completely on taking stairs, because even on a good day, stepping down hurts and makes them go weak. Sometimes only enough to make it difficult, sometimes enough to make me collapse. It's also happened a few times without stairs; anytime I spent long on my feet, like after a 6 or 8 hour shift. I tried standing up and instantly ended up on the ground. Since then, I've been trying very hard to avoid being upright for long.
That was a year ago. Now about a few months ago, it's gotten very bad. It's like my body needs every ounce of energy just to try to work properly. And you can barely call it that. I can't spend more than half a day out of bed. For some reason, if I do, I get nausous. And if I dont take meds/get back onto bed, I vomit, without fail. I've waited a week and then tried spending a day up and without medicine (promethazine; zofran doesn't help), and every time I vomit. Even with medicine, im now experiencing dizzyness and numbness constantly, even in bed sometimes. I feel very lightheaded, and any activity or movement makes it worse, like waves of dizzyness, and makes whatever im moving more numb. It's like trying to move through extremely thick water. It's very hard to focus, especially when that strong. My vision sometimes gets blurry, and sometimes get headaches when it gets strong. I'm unable to do anything anymore! I'm supposed to be an art student-- after fighting my back pain for so long I FINALLY declared my major this year-- but now I can't draw because of the numbness and loss of control! Standing, holding up my arm that long, trying to draw with a numb, jerking hand? Yeah, doesn't work! I've been on bed rest as much as possible, and the numbness is fine for the most part. But I get up, even just sitting, and soon I can barely feel my legs. The tingling replaces any feeling.
I've had MRIS, xray, CT scans, blood tests, and Nerve conductivity test/EMG. They all came back normal, except recently they said my blood tests was just 1 pt too high for my kidney; and the doctor who performed my EMG said the results were negative, but he thought it was weird how long it took for my muscles to respond? He also said the test would only show nerve damage if it was more than 50%, which is not reassuring.
I know I'm not a doctor, but I also know my own body, and this ISNT normal! It's nothing like when I get migraines, or just have a bad back day. There's clearly something going on, more than just chronic back pain! I dont think my entire body would not be affected, and certainly not to this extent. My best guess is something nervous system or muscular, maybe autoimmune disorder? The problem is that no one will test it! Ive asked multiple times, but the best i could get them to do was a blood tests amd the EMG/NCT! They made it clear they didnt even want to waste time on that, and REFUSED to budge about any real tests. They just say it's "unlikely" and continue to assume its not serious and just chronic pain. Do they think I'm joking when I say I can barely spend time out of bed, or that I'm physically unable to do simple things like, I don't know, care for myself?? I don't know what else to do to make them take me seriously and realize how badly this is destroying my life. I lost all my dream's of traveling and actually enjoying life because of the back pain, and now the one thing I had left, the one thing helping me cope-- my art and drawing-- is gone too. And these "doctors" don't give a single damn.
Hello~I am so sorry you are going through all this. I am surprised that the doctors won't do any other tests except blood work to rule out issues such as MS, etc. You may have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, MS, many issues, but, the doctor has to take time to really search. This is not fair to you.
All this being said, please try seeing a naturopathic physician, he/she will listen, do many many tests, and work with you in getting your health back. They will prescribe the right amount of vitamins,minerals and herb that might help as well. Some do acupuncture, this is big help to so many, including myself.
Very important also, SEE A CHIROPRACTOR. You obviously have many misaligned vertebrae in your neck and spine, these will can very well cause the problems you are having. He/she will take some x-rays, read them, and then decided what type of adjustments will help. It may take a month or so to start feeling better, but you will feel better.
So, see a naturopathic physician and a chiropractor, between the two, you should be on the road to recovery.
All this being said, please try seeing a naturopathic physician, he/she will listen, do many many tests, and work with you in getting your health back. They will prescribe the right amount of vitamins,minerals and herb that might help as well. Some do acupuncture, this is big help to so many, including myself.
Very important also, SEE A CHIROPRACTOR. You obviously have many misaligned vertebrae in your neck and spine, these will can very well cause the problems you are having. He/she will take some x-rays, read them, and then decided what type of adjustments will help. It may take a month or so to start feeling better, but you will feel better.
So, see a naturopathic physician and a chiropractor, between the two, you should be on the road to recovery.
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