Pain Sucks

First off, I am glad that my situation is not more serious than what it is. I could be in a lot worse shape medically. I have no desire to take away from those suffering serious medical problems.

That said, pain sucks... I thought maybe a rant might help get things off my chest.

It started in late December. I started getting pain in my shoulder and arm. I figured it was a pulled muscle, and ignored it. Over the next two weeks the pain increased. It got to the point that all I could do was sit on the couch with an ice pack.

After seeing the doctor, it was decided that there may be a pinched nerve someplace. I did two rounds of Prednisone, with no effect at all.

By this time, the pain was even worse. It felt like someone was cutting me with a razor blade from my shoulder to my wrist, non stop, every moment of every day. Sleep was all but impossible. There were times I felt like I was just going to go insane from the level of pain. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. I have had kidney stones, broken leg, broken ribs, prostate infection, NOTHING came even close to the level of pain I felt with this.

I was referred to pain management to see what could be done. Opioids were the first line. No effect at all. I tried massive doses of OTC, and natural remedies, as well as creams, ice, heat, etc. Honestly I did not care if I overdosed on them, as long as it would kill the pain. No effect, none. Chiropractic visits helped for a couple hours at most.

It had been weeks at this point of just agony, no relief at all. My doctor had to fight with the insurance company so I could get an MRI done. Finally got it approved, another 2 weeks out.

The MRI showed that I had 2 badly herneated discs in my neck. One at the C3-C4 level, and one at the C5-C6 level. I have no idea how they happened.

The pain management doctor got me set up for a Cortosoid injection, but that was another 3 weeks out. In the meantime he put me on Gabapentin, an anti-seizure med that can also help nerve pain. It took almost 3 weeks to get the dosage right (almost the max does before I saw any kind of relief), and for it to build up in my system. Those 3 weeks were HELL.

During that period he set me up to se a neurosurgeon to get her take on it. She is recommending an artificial disc replacement at the C5-C6 level, but wants to give it another couple of months to see if physical therapy, and the spinal injections help.

After the first injection it took about 10 days to see a difference. It helped about 50%. At least I was able to sleep again. I just had the second spinal injection done on Friday.

The second injection seemed to be working faster than the first. By yesterday, I was pretty much pain free. Some, but nothing like it was back in Jan. and Feb. For the first time I felt like I could do something. My home business has suffered a lot, since I could hardly use my arm, and jobs around the house were piling up.

I was able to do some chores with little pain, although my hand would still go numb every few minutes. The numbness is far better than the pain.

Now today, I am hurting again. I guess I did too much yesterday. Pain is not unbearable, but not pleasant either.

I just want to get back to normal, be able to work normal, be able to fix things around the house.

Pain Sucks!

Rant off...

I had a nerve canal at the C5-C6 level that was too narrow. It put pressure on the nerve down the left arm, and you're right. It's awful. I couldn't look over that shoulder for months.

They did a foramenectomy on my left side to fix it, but all during the runup to that was nasty. And the pain does shoot right down your arm.

a reply to: MrRCflying

I feel you. Pain is the body's way of telling us something's wrong.

As a life support triage specialist...the 1st question in an Er...is where do you hurt?

I can full body assess in 60 secs or less, skull to spine to feet and back up....tell me where it hurts....and I'm working on 3-4-5...basic interpretation s....and then you're mine, and gone...rollin'

Pain is not fun, but at times....crazy as it is...pain is a necessary signal...

Peace

a reply to: MrRCflying

The MRI showed that I had 2 badly herneated discs in my neck. One at the C3-C4 level, and one at the C5-C6 level

Welcome to the C5-C6 club... Just a word of advice, some people recommend a chiropractor.
For me I felt it made it MUCH much worse, yes if that is even possible.

I also found out tons of people have a problem in that area.

Therapy & exercise did help mine. (with the right therapist)

a reply to: ketsuko

I was hoping a foramenectomy or a partial disconectomy would be possible. The surgeon said that it is too far gone for those though. If I had to have surgery, it would either be a fusion of the vertebrae, or an artificial disc replacement. Neither of which sound like too much fun.

I am hoping that things will continue to get better and I can avoid the surgery, but I don't know.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Chiro only helped for a short time after the visit. I probably went 10 times. Who knows, maybe that put me in longer term pain than I would have been. At the time, I was just looking for some relief. Even a couple of hours seemed like a blessing.

originally posted by: MrRCflying
a reply to: JAGStorm

Chiro only helped for a short time after the visit. I probably went 10 times. Who knows, maybe that put me in longer term pain than I would have been. At the time, I was just looking for some relief. Even a couple of hours seemed like a blessing.

I went through the same thing, first visit was sweet relief after that horrible.
Therapy did help a lot more.

Also, sounds crazy but going to the dentist was Ahhhmazing!
Laying in that chair at that angle was the most comfortable my neck had been in a long time.
Talked to my dentist about it and he too has problems with C5-C6 and totally understood.
So if all else fails go to the dentist (lol jk)
or look for that kind of recliner to take pressure off your neck/shoulders.

I am supposed to be getting an inflatable hot tub delivered today. Hoping that soaking, will help relieve some of the pain, and relax the muscles.

Good old FedEx is up to it's tricks though. It came from half way across the country to within 90 miles of my house, then overnight it was shipped back to it's departure location. Not sure if it was damaged, or just FedEx messing things up.

a reply to: MrRCflying

Yes pain does suck. It's part of my daily life. I have torn rotator cuffs on both shoulders and had surgery on my back a couple years ago (it was fine for a while but work put me right back where I started).

a reply to: Skid Mark

So sorry to hear that. Getting older, and having things break down is no fun.

I hope you can find some relief as well.

Ever tried CBD? I tried it and it did nothing, but I know others it works well for.

have you tried an inversion table?
link to amazon

The theory is to take pressure off the back vertebra. Don't know if it will help, I just hate to hear you have this much pain to live with. Good luck and please stay away from those pills. (easy to say from here I know)

a reply to: network dude

No inversion table yet. The PT is doing traction on my neck when I go however. I also bought a traction device that is supposed to "gently" stretch the neck. Yea, right. Felt like my arm was going to rip off. LOL

I am off the opioids now, they did nothing, but still on the Gabapentin. I was taking the max dose of Hydrocodone for about a week, the pain doctor told me not to take more, as even one extra could stop my heart. Nice. Not worth the risk, especially being they did not help. Not sure how people get hooked on them, they did nothing for me.

a reply to: MrRCflying

My disc was herniated then burst one day.
I think I know what getting shot in the back feels like now.
First surgery was to remove the stuff pressing up on my sciatic nerve. Second surgery was to remove all the scar tissue caused by the initial injury and the first surgery.
This process took years and no amount of pain killers was enough.
I still get pain but not as bad.
Luckily, as long as I'm careful, I can do most things fairly normally these days but not prolonged physical labour. I've had to limit some things.

After the initial injury I spent around 9 months in bed and had to crawl on hands and knees to the toilet. Watched far too many box sets and learned to hate TV. (even more).

You have my sympathy. Hope you get some relief as soon as possible.

One more gripe. Insurance... What a pain to add on top of pain.

I had seen a chiropractor for 2+ weeks, and done exercises prescribed for 3 weeks by my doctor, as well as saw the pain specialist. The doctor and pain doctor agreed it was time for an MRI.

Insurance company denied it 3 times, one time just 2 hours before it was to be done. They wanted me to do 6 weeks of Physical Therapy first, before they would approve it.

The pain doctor said it was a bad idea to start treatment without getting imaging, and having a diagnosis. How can an insurance company dictate treatment, before a diagnosis is made? Makes no sense to me. He went to bat for me, and was finally able to get it approved.

I have been to PT for 12 treatments. On my last visit the PT did a re-evaluation, and put in for a further 16 treatments.

I got a letter in the mail from the insurance company a couple of days ago. They said something to the affect of: "your request for 16 PT treatments has been denied. This is beyond the number typically required for your condition. We are approving 4 additional PT sessions, after which we will cover no further PT treatments."

So, I guess I don't fall in the mold they think I should. I guess they would rather have to pay out $30,000 for a surgery, than to pay for a few additional PT sessions, which may keep me out of surgery.

Makes no sense to me.

Right now, I sit here with toothache [has subsided a bit as I took a co-codamol]. Apparently I have to endure this up until my appointment next week, when I will have both those feckers pulled.
I know my pain is less than backpain etc. but when you have it it still sucks and drains everything out of me. I hate toothache the most, always have. Maybe because it's close to the brain.

Anyway, whatever pain you are all in, I hope you find something to sooth it as all pain sucks big time.
Was weird to see this post after I just talked about my pain with my husband.
So S&F
🤒

a reply to: MrRCflying

I hear ya!!!
I have spinal stenosis, nerve damage, arthritis...I'm on gabapentin and I used to be on another pain med, but they took me off of that one because I am on a blood thinner. I am in pain every day of my life and have been for many years. I don't remember what it feels like to not have pain.

Hope your situation improves.

a reply to: MrRCflying

Try Kratom.

a reply to: MrRCflying


Glad you're better.....sometimes normal can not be achieved. At 74 I've certainly realized nothing is more important than being healthy ! I broke my neck (c-4 and c-5) and had a plate inserted from the front....loads of fun...but did get back to where I can still do my firewood...

pain does suck !

Same here.

Its good to know you're not the only one in pain all the time and I know that, in heaven there is no pain, that keeps me going.

I ruptured a disc in my lower back (insidiously painful) and then tore a rotator cuff, hurt my knee and the pulled my shoulder out hahaha.

Life is pain. Those free of pain have NO IDEA how hard it makes trying to be positive. No idea at all.

Some days I simply dont want to wake up at all, that's not me being all down, its just the truth, I want the pain to end.....

Heres to empathising for one another and hopefully seeing each other in heaven.

originally posted by: underwerks
a reply to: MrRCflying

Try Kratom.

I will look it up. Never heard of it. Thanks!