Hello dear friend...I feel your pain!

Having been through the system myself, I can identify with you! All I can advise, is that you need to become your own advocate and take your healthcare into your own hands.  Not an easy feat when you are in chronic pain.  My journey has lead me through 2 back surgeries, resulting with a multiple disc fusion (L4 - S1) and now I have been blessed with more herniated discs (C1 - C3), severe stenosis and spondeliosis.  Because I am not pissing or crapping my pants and have not had any paralysis, the Dr.'s just tsk, tsk and tell me there isn't much they can do.  Too many discs involved and with half my back already consisting of titanium bolts and brackets, I have to say I agree that surgery is not an option.

So where does that leave us?  I have been through over a year of PT and ritualistically perform my stretches throughout the day.  I have been on medical leave for 4 weeks and will most likely need to terminate my employment as my job is mostly computer work, which is the last thing my body needs.  I shouldn't even be on the computer right now, but old habits die hard and I am truly a geek at heart.

I am on a regiment of anti-depressants/anxiety meds and in a way, they do help me with my outlook at least.  They help me from becoming too despondent and hopeless.  I have come to the conclusion that my family Dr. is truly not capable of providing me with the care I need.  Sore throats, sprained ankles, paps, the occasional odd mole...that is what she is capable of treating.  A chronic, progressive degenerative disc disease, with fibromialgia, chronic osteo-arthritis throughout my body and of course, depression/anxiety (no wonder) are more than she can deal with.  Drug seeking?  You bet!  I am always trying to find "something", "anything" to stop the pain when it gets real bad.

I recently asked her to refer me to a Psyciatrist to manage my mental health meds.  This was the start of my taking my health into my own hands and it was the best move I could have done.  I also sought out a therapist who specializes in chronic pain management, which has been very beneficial.  Finally, I asked my Dr. for a referral to the U of M Pain Management Center.  It took her almost a month, but the referral finally went through, so now we will see what the real experts can do.  Once the dust settles, I will be searching for another Dr. who can handle more complex medical cases.

Hang in there and remember, you are in control of your own healthcare.  Don't get lost in the system and don't let them wear you down!  Another reason to seek out a therapist is to have a professional validate what is happening and vouch that it is not "all in your head".

A final note:  If you can find something every day (I try to do this in the morning) to be greatful for, it can make the pain more bearable...you know, at least you have a home, a loved one, food to eat, flowers in your garden, the ability to type, walk (or in case shuffle ), etc.

Good luck and best regards,

Surviver48&counting

10/11/08 1:30am

That was an awesome response, Thank you so much. Yeah it is true I could be alot worse off. I have not had any surgeries, I just know my whole back has been really hurting for years and I was so sick of not knowing if it was in my head or not.  Do you have any idea what the results of an mri would indicate? You sure have been through some major stuff by the sound of it.  Yeah, back problems can really interfer with alot of activities.  I worked in nursing for 14 years lifting on some really heavy people, but I loved them all.  I am now on SSDI after losing my last job (hospice care). I wish I could find a Dr. who can just tell me what the hell is really going on biologically with my body.  I have this condition caslled uvitis/iritis and it is severe when it flares up.  With no treatment the retina detaches and that is permanet (I will go blind) most of the Dr' around here don;t even know what it is , they don't have a clue as to how to help me.  I was given triptipans (migraine meds) for the severe eye pain this causes because the Dr' did'nt want to give me narcotics.  They are afraid to give me pain control because of my mental illness.  Anyhow, I developed serotin syndrome and had to admit myself to the hospital, not a medical but a phyciatric hospital.  I just think that many error and lack of knowlege is previlant from my experience.  It is exhausting trying to get care.  thanks for your support and I hope everything works out for you.  Hey, I'm on my SSDi from when I worked and it is O.K.  I'm going to college but have missed days because my back was so f#*^ed up.  I could not even stand  upright.  I feel like a freak at times. How can I go out in public bent over like that?

Anonymous

11/ 6/09 3:30pm

I think there are many of us who suffer with pain, who search and can't find the proper health care professional or come across health care professionals who can't do any more than what they already have. I too have had my share of pain..now I have bone spurs in my shoulder, bulging discs in my neck and degenerative disc disease in my lower back. But I want to tell you that there is relief! I know this because I have found this most incredible piece of technology and I have used it on my shoulder, neck and back, and my family uses it as well. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me at this email: livingwithpain82@hotmail.com, send me your number and I will contact you directly. Sounds too good to be true? Just wait till I tell you about it! I wish you all the very best in your lives, God Bless