UPDATE~A bit nervous

Has anyone been to a pain management doctor before? It seems the pain I've been dealing with for 10 years isn't in my head and can't be cured with 800MG motrin, thanks doc! After seeing lots of doctors, I've finally gotten some MRIs done. My shoulder as rotator cuff tendinitis and I have three bulging disks in my neck C4,5,6. I have an appt with a Pain Mang. doc on Friday and they're already set up the injection appts as well

Update. Well it didn't go all that well for me I guess. I have cervical radioculopathy which is just the herniated disk. I got to see them on my MRI. My MRI also shows thickening of some areas which is the start of arthritis. I also have cervical degenerative disc disease and also occipital neuralgia. Which is a nerve in the back of my head. It's tender there and it shouldn't be. Which could be the cause of my headaches as well. So not only will they be doing the injections for the disks but also one in that nerve on the back of my head.
Fantastic.

OUch! That sounds serious. I have never experienced pain to that level. I just wanted to express my sincere wish that you get some relief.

I haven't been, but I am sending you positive and happy thoughts today. Hopefully this new dr can help you.

I haven't either Amy but sending you huge {{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}}}}} and hopefully you'll experience some relief from your pain!

No I haven't had to go but I use to have to take my Grand Pa to his to get injections in his knees. The injections can be scary at first but I really think how they make you feel will make it all worth while. At least in did for him.

Hope it all goes well with the doctor!

Yikes Amy, I haven't been to a pain management dr per se, but have had injectins in my ankles. And they did help a little anyway.

But don't you hate when dr's don't listen to you. After all we are paying them to listen. It's really rediculous. I can rememer going to a new FMD right after I had a major stroke (2 weeks in the hospital and most of that time was ICU) and the guy said to me "you can't complain about every little thing", needless to say that was the last time I saw him. My husband who had to help me do everything at that time was livid.

Oh Amy! I'm so sorry you are dealing with so much pain! I've never been either but do want to let you know I will keep you in my thoughts that this pain management doctor can find you some relief.

I can only imagine how frustrating it's been for you for them to finally be getting to a diagnosis. I watch the mystery diagnosis show on discovery health sometimes and it frustrates me to see how many doctors out there just dismiss symptoms without referring to another doctor and the YEARS of pain and sickness people live with before taking their health into their own hands because they were putting trust in their MD.

All the best to you sweetie!!

oh gosh. that sounds really rough. i hope this is what you have been looking for and need, amy...like joyce said we are our own advocates.

good luck and will be thinking of you!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxox

Thanks so much girls! I'm making DH take the afternoon off to watch the boys while I go to this doctor. I'm thinking he may have to also take me to my appts for these injections as well. I'm sure his command is going to love that I'm just so thankful that I've found doctors who are willing to listen and see that I'm too young to be in pain everyday! LOL!

i haven't been to one either Amy, but i'm so glad you're getting to go get some relief. sounds so painful!

I had two bulging disks a few years ago, and my doctor sent me to a pain management doctor. I went two times, and had one steroid injection. My husband had to go because they gave me some type of medicine before the injection. It didn't knock me out, but it made me a little loopy. The shot was not bad at all. It took about 5 minutes. After that, I discovered that my chiropractor did a decompression therapy at their office. I preferred to do anything natural, and I talked to the PM specialist. He said that the decompression therapy would be great, insurance covered it, and it didn't involve very much. After 3 weeks of it, I was back to normal and have not had a problem with it since. There is nothing worse than back pain, and you are having to deal with a lot. Will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I do see one. I was in a very minor car accident, so minor it was ridiculous...this girl barely grazed our car but it affected my neck and shoulders that I need to get injections in my shoulders every few months or I can't move. One shot in each shoulder. The last one lasted for 8 months though!!!! so it seems to be healing! Maybe? LOL

Good luck and if you want to PM me with any questions, I'll be happy to answer. I have a lot of experience with various forms of chronic pain for many years, about 20 years or more.

xoxo,
ja

I am usually the nurse in the room during the injection. They are quick and you should be able to see/feel fast results. Depending on the pain and the progress this might not be a permanent solution to your problem

i have never been, but it sounds like what I'm feeling with my neck and right shoulder blade lately...but sometimes it seems fine. Other times it just hurts for a week or two straight! I really do hope you get some relief!!!

Hoping you feel better soon!!!
Hugs

Sorry you're in such pain, Amy! I sure hope you find some relief soon!!

sue

Thanks for all the thoughts ladies! I wish I could go to a chiropractor, but my insurance doesn't cover it for some reason. DH can go, but not me! I did try going for awhile, but I didn't notice a difference.

Amy I don't know if this would help in your situation but my hubster and I have started eating flax seed oil. It's supposed to help with joint pains.

The way we were told to eat it is with cottage cheese and we add some cayenne to it to give it some flavor. Surprisingly it's not horrid but apparently flax seed in oil form is how it absorbs into the body otherwise as seed it goes straight thru and is ineffective.

I guess it couldn't hurt to try it.....

{{{hugs}}}

Laura Achilles wrote:

Amy I don't know if this would help in your situation but my hubster and I have started eating flax seed oil. It's supposed to help with joint pains.

The way we were told to eat it is with cottage cheese and we add some cayenne to it to give it some flavor. Surprisingly it's not horrid but apparently flax seed in oil form is how it absorbs into the body otherwise as seed it goes straight thru and is ineffective.

I guess it couldn't hurt to try it.....

{{{hugs}}}

Laura, I eat bread that is flax bread....do you think it goes straight through? I eat it because it is gluten-free, as toast for breakfast....because my chiropractor suggested since I have fibromyalgia I might feel better on a gluten-free diet. (So far, I just eat bread and some crackers.)

I work in an Ambulatory care clinic and we do Pain Mang. some people really seem to have relief but sometimes it takes a few inj. don't give up!

Julie I haven't done a ton of research on flax seed vs oil. But from what I've heard my understanding is that the oil absorbs "better" into the system rather than seeds.

I don't do it as often, it's my dh who has joint pains from time to time and my mom-in-law swears by it.

This sounds kind of strange, but the chiropractor suggested soaking raisins in gin! After they have sat there for a couple of weeks, you eat a spoonful a day. My FIL swears by it

Raisins in Gin! Can I sub Wine Thanks for the idea on Flax Seed, doesn't that come in pill form?

I understand pain very well. Eleven years ago I was thrown off my motorcycle at 100 mph. My left ankle in particular was causing me incredible pain, for 3 months my doctor to me to "suck it up". I finally got in his face and we did an MRI. Turns out I had done 3 months of physical therapy on a fracture. So needless to say my pain greatly decreased with the right treatment of the main problem. Three years later I fell off a ladder (oops!). It was almost 4 weeks before we figured out I had bulged 2 discs in my lower back. I spent 3 months lying on the floor for that one, but the discs did heal without surgery. I'll stop here because I could keep going. Constant pain can really wear you down, sometimes to the point of feeling pretty hopeless; but don't give up. Finding the right doctor, who listens, and getting the right treatment will make a huge difference. I found out they don't call it "practicing medicine" for nothing! and nobody knows what you are feeling better than you. I have made amazing recoveries that I was told probably would'nt happen,so please believe it is possible to live without this pain and I will make that my prayer for you. <a href=http

I agree! I'm just sad it took this long to get someone to listen to me! I'm glad the disks healed on their own, I'm hoping mine do. Did the do another MRI after treatments to see if they did? Sometime the pain is so bad, I just take a flexeril and go to bed