JClooking
11-18-2008, 09:45 PM
I seem to jump from board to board but that's mostly because I'm getting frustrated with the medical community. It started with a creepy crawly feeling in my spine...doc. suspected MS but the MRI didn't reveal any spots but two disc bulges. I had 3 epidurals and PT but no relief. Now I have pain in my neck, shoulder and scapula. New doctor says muscle spasm and gave me a muscle / nerve block injection....nothing other than 4 hours of no pain from the anesthesia. Something I realized was that my neck pain, creepy crawly feeling becomes much more intense the day or two before my period starts. While I was looking around, found something that said that FM can become worse during your period. Since the other issues don't make sense as far as intensifying with menstruation this seems to but I never considered FM. Is it possible to have it with only the neck and shoulder pain I described or are there other things that would rule this out. I do suffer from depression and anxiety and have had carpal tunnel and tennis elbow. Could these be related or am I just looking for a syndrome instead of individual issues. I'm getting very depressed and frustrated with all the doctor appointments and no relief.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Any insight would be appreciated.
Sponsor
DeBeachSiren
11-19-2008, 01:06 AM
Hi Jet,
First and most important Fibro is a disease and no longer is a syndrome. Some of the issues can be unrelated. Most of my pain is in the left shoulder, neck and between my shoulders. I always say I feel like there's a baseball under my shoulder blade. I used to have headaches 24-7 from the nerve entrapment that it would cause. I have 2 electrodes in my head connected to a battery in my back, it pulses and short-curcuits the nerves. This is where the good share of my pain is. I never knew that the monthly cycle could cause fibro problems, I'm passed all that anyway thank goodness. Haha!
Have you ever kept a pain journal? I found this to help a bunch in the begining, you may see patterns. Write down a list of your concerns and take them to your Dr. appt.'s. You might want to check out a pain management doctor. I've had nerve blocks and ablations to deal with related issues.
Read what you can about different things that fibro can cause. Do you take anything for your depression? Do you take anything for muscle spasm?
It's frustrating I know deciding on what to do. I used to make doc appt.s for one thing and by the time I got to the appt. the pain would be somewhere else sometimes. Don't give up. We on here will try to be as helpful as we can.
DeBeachSiren
First and most important Fibro is a disease and no longer is a syndrome. Some of the issues can be unrelated. Most of my pain is in the left shoulder, neck and between my shoulders. I always say I feel like there's a baseball under my shoulder blade. I used to have headaches 24-7 from the nerve entrapment that it would cause. I have 2 electrodes in my head connected to a battery in my back, it pulses and short-curcuits the nerves. This is where the good share of my pain is. I never knew that the monthly cycle could cause fibro problems, I'm passed all that anyway thank goodness. Haha!
Have you ever kept a pain journal? I found this to help a bunch in the begining, you may see patterns. Write down a list of your concerns and take them to your Dr. appt.'s. You might want to check out a pain management doctor. I've had nerve blocks and ablations to deal with related issues.
Read what you can about different things that fibro can cause. Do you take anything for your depression? Do you take anything for muscle spasm?
It's frustrating I know deciding on what to do. I used to make doc appt.s for one thing and by the time I got to the appt. the pain would be somewhere else sometimes. Don't give up. We on here will try to be as helpful as we can.
DeBeachSiren
rosebuddy
11-19-2008, 07:58 AM
Have you been diagnosed with chronic myofascial pain. I had pain in my neck and shoulders and it was from trigger points (not tender points) that i had injected and released. i am symptom free now. I was treated by a magnificent pain mgmt doc. I hope you feel better soon.
JClooking
11-19-2008, 04:07 PM
Sorry, I wasn't trying to be offensive with calling FM syndrome, just meant that I hoped I wasn't looking for a "disease" when in actuality I just have a multitude of singular issues. I know it's a sensitive subject because it took so long for it to gain recognition as a legitimate disease.
I had trigger point injections in my neck and due to have more today (at least I think that's what it is where they inject anesthesia and a steroid into the tissues) and last time I had relief for four hours but as soon as the anesthesia wore off, my pain returned so I'm not optimistic about today other than the 4 hours of relief I got with the shot.
I would like to know if there is anyone who has noticed an increase in their symptoms prior to their period. I just thing it's a strange symptom (or exacerbation of a symptom) and am running out of reasonable explanations to why I get no relief and if I'll ever be pain-free (pain meds have mildly effectiveness.)
Thanks!
I had trigger point injections in my neck and due to have more today (at least I think that's what it is where they inject anesthesia and a steroid into the tissues) and last time I had relief for four hours but as soon as the anesthesia wore off, my pain returned so I'm not optimistic about today other than the 4 hours of relief I got with the shot.
I would like to know if there is anyone who has noticed an increase in their symptoms prior to their period. I just thing it's a strange symptom (or exacerbation of a symptom) and am running out of reasonable explanations to why I get no relief and if I'll ever be pain-free (pain meds have mildly effectiveness.)
Thanks!
Pammyann
11-20-2008, 05:43 PM
Yes, my pain is worse right before my period and most of my pain is in the neck, shoulder and back areas.
rosebuddy
11-23-2008, 10:12 AM
You have a lot of chronic myofascial pain symptoms. If you aren't getting any relief, I would see a different pain mgmt doc. The injections should cause the muscle to spasm and then release and not hurt anymore. What helped me the most when i needed to understand fibro and cmp was Devin Starlanyl's book "Fibromyalgia and Chronic Myofascial Pain" Read this book and you will understand and you will be given all the info you need about docs, meds, symptom relief, etc. it is by a doc who has fibro.
rosebuddy
11-23-2008, 10:16 AM
When my shoulders were swollen and my neck hurt, I would put dry rice in a long sock and microwave it and put it around my shoulders. May that would give you some relief.
JClooking
11-24-2008, 08:33 AM
Thanks Rose,
I've been using a heating pad at night and that helps some. I've actually had more pain in the days following the injections. But then again, I found out he was using some herbal mixture instead of cortisone so maybe it just wasn't powerful enough to affect the muscles.
I am miserable and will see if they have that book in my library.
I've been using a heating pad at night and that helps some. I've actually had more pain in the days following the injections. But then again, I found out he was using some herbal mixture instead of cortisone so maybe it just wasn't powerful enough to affect the muscles.
I am miserable and will see if they have that book in my library.
BelleoftheSouth
11-25-2008, 08:03 PM
Hello...I had a terrible time with my neck and shoulders. It felt like my collar bones were up to my ears and it was painful. My Doctor has me in Physical Therapy and I was told I have severe Tendonitis. My PT is fantastic. I hurt for a day after he's worked on my shoulders and neck then I feel almost normal..whatever normal is.
It's raining now and I'm in agony but I see my PT in the morning and I hope he can get these Trigger Points released because they have tightened back up.
My Doctor told me if PT didn't work then I have to see a Pain Specialist.
Good Luck to You and I hope you get the proper care asap.
Belle~
It's raining now and I'm in agony but I see my PT in the morning and I hope he can get these Trigger Points released because they have tightened back up.
My Doctor told me if PT didn't work then I have to see a Pain Specialist.
Good Luck to You and I hope you get the proper care asap.
Belle~
DeBeachSiren
11-27-2008, 05:14 AM
Hi Jet,
Are you using moist heat? With the rice sock thing (MY sock has a commercial name, but be careful with these. I heat mine for a minute and a half. If it isn't warm enough I heat it up more, but at 15 second intervals) and herbal microwave things, they deliver a moister heat. These things in the microwave can catch fire.......be carefull. I have a heating pad with a thin sponge-like layer. I spray it with lavender linen water. It's soothing and lavender is a calming aromatherapy herb. I grow it and it's wonderful wafting through my kitchen window with a breeze. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if the heating pad didn't come with this sponge layer don't wet the heating pad down.......you'll get zapped. Dry heat seems to make me spasm more. I use ice more often than not.
What kind of herbal mixture did you get shot with do you remember?
Hope you see some better days soon.
DeBeachSiren
Are you using moist heat? With the rice sock thing (MY sock has a commercial name, but be careful with these. I heat mine for a minute and a half. If it isn't warm enough I heat it up more, but at 15 second intervals) and herbal microwave things, they deliver a moister heat. These things in the microwave can catch fire.......be carefull. I have a heating pad with a thin sponge-like layer. I spray it with lavender linen water. It's soothing and lavender is a calming aromatherapy herb. I grow it and it's wonderful wafting through my kitchen window with a breeze. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence, but if the heating pad didn't come with this sponge layer don't wet the heating pad down.......you'll get zapped. Dry heat seems to make me spasm more. I use ice more often than not.
What kind of herbal mixture did you get shot with do you remember?
Hope you see some better days soon.
DeBeachSiren
BelleoftheSouth
11-29-2008, 09:05 AM
duh..I never once thought of using anything other than water with my Heating Pad.
I swear, I wonder where my brain took off to because it isn't with me :)
Gentle (((HUGS))) All and have a nice Saturday.
Belle~
I swear, I wonder where my brain took off to because it isn't with me :)
Gentle (((HUGS))) All and have a nice Saturday.
Belle~
spruey3
11-29-2008, 09:49 AM
Do you have pressure in your head also? And is it better when you lie down??
JClooking
11-30-2008, 02:47 AM
No, no pressure in my head. Most of my pain is in my scapula and have tingling, creepy crawly feelings in my upper back. My emg came back normal so I know it's not due to my bulging disc. My doc. upped my script from Vicodin to Norco and has recommended massage and, possibly accupuncture depending on whether my insurance will cover one or both. I'm really hoping this helps because besides being tired of the pain, I'm also terrified of becoming addicted to the pain meds.
Thanks for the suggestion of using moist heat. I've been using a heating pad with the sponge but haven't been wetting it down. It does help, though.
Thanks for the suggestion of using moist heat. I've been using a heating pad with the sponge but haven't been wetting it down. It does help, though.
spruey3
11-30-2008, 04:33 PM
I hope you start to feel better soon JetPuppy :)
I was just wondering, since I had similar problems, since April that recently exploded to MUCH worse, w/ pressure that eased when laying down. I Just got out of the hospital last week because it was so bad that I was completely disoriented and vomiting non stop for a couple of days... I had a blood patch done of the spine, I had a Cerebral Spinal Fluid leak the whole time.. I am a heck of a lot better, well my head is at least, since then :)
Good luck, and I hope you find something that helps soon :)~S.
I was just wondering, since I had similar problems, since April that recently exploded to MUCH worse, w/ pressure that eased when laying down. I Just got out of the hospital last week because it was so bad that I was completely disoriented and vomiting non stop for a couple of days... I had a blood patch done of the spine, I had a Cerebral Spinal Fluid leak the whole time.. I am a heck of a lot better, well my head is at least, since then :)
Good luck, and I hope you find something that helps soon :)~S.
DeBeachSiren
12-04-2008, 03:14 AM
Hi Jet,
Have you ever thought about ablations, nerve blocks or stimulators? These procedures work for me although sometimes they have to be repeated when the nerves reroute. This has been so helpful to me and has knocked out a lot of the pain meds that I used to take. I have no problem with the insurance companies on these things, but they did hem and haw around a bit before they okayed the stimulator. Maybe this would help since you don't want the pain medication.
My best to you,
DeBeachSiren
Have you ever thought about ablations, nerve blocks or stimulators? These procedures work for me although sometimes they have to be repeated when the nerves reroute. This has been so helpful to me and has knocked out a lot of the pain meds that I used to take. I have no problem with the insurance companies on these things, but they did hem and haw around a bit before they okayed the stimulator. Maybe this would help since you don't want the pain medication.
My best to you,
DeBeachSiren
bevann26
12-10-2008, 01:34 PM
i have heard about these treatments on here. i have never looked into it though...sounds very painful to me!
bevann
bevann