Curious to understand what kind of treatment we're all receiving. Please choose the option that describes your treatment and whether or not you're happy with it.

Feel free to comment if you'd like to elaborate on your answer.

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week 5

1. had it once 2 years ago.

c6-C7 degrading a bit .. mostly caused from surfing (paddling prone)

2. recall it took about 3 weeks to recover

questions

1. after week 3 , i was like 90% better if not more but suddenly set back as if it was week 1… weird - didn’t do anything

2. im doing it all (PT, Ibuprofen) massive ice / heat … rest. day job allows me to prioritize

3. if i’m sitting - doing nothing - leaning back.. no pain. really only pain in physical activity

a. now i’m getting muscle spasms where the nerves go (shoulder / back) .. very active last 2 days .. but never had them before . muscles reactivity ?

b. should i not be surprised on recovery time/path

45m / very athletic

thx!

Hi everybody. I need help. I finally went back to pain management after 7 months. I found a really nice place and she seems like a really nice doctor. I have a lot of issues and a lot of pain. The doctor called in my prescriptions to CVS. I told her that I believe there was a shortage of that particular drug there. And she said she hadn't heard anything from her other patients. Well they're out of stock. So I had the doctor transfer it to UCI outpatient pharmacy and they told me since the doctor was more than 5 Mi away they could not fill a controlled prescription that's a hospital Pharmacy and I know they carry it because I used to get it filled there a year ago. I live in Orange California and my doctors in Anaheim. So I'm asking you folks if anyone knows a place in these areas where I can get painkillers filled at a pharmacy. Thank you

Hopefully this is okay. This is more a general question. I have elderly parents and my mom is on a pain medication. Nothing crazy - one opioid and has legit issues.

She always has gone to mom and pop pharmacies bc she said they tend to be consistent with their medications and such. But is something going on that is restricting access to controlled meds with small independent pharmas? The one she went to for years shut down after they could no longer get controlled meds. She switched to another mom and pop and said things were just fine. But now apparently they told her that their wholesaler is not going to be supplying controlled meds anymore. This doesn’t appear to be due to legal trouble or anything. That was my first thought.

But after research I’ve found some things that said wholesalers are doing to widespread to mom and pop pharmacy. Apparently they tell them that they won’t be supplying controlled meds anymore. They can appeal and have a 30 day grace period. They appeal and then the appeal is rejected. This sounds exactly what happened to my mom’s pharmacy. They had asked her a few months ago if she could transfer other meds there. I’m guessing this is due to their wholesaler requiring non controlled meds along with controlled ones. Then they shut down basically a month or so later.

I might have answered my own question but wanted to verify. I’m new to all of this and was just trying to help my mom find a new pharmacy. I’ve called around and other mom and pops have said they don’t sell controlled meds at all. Anyway curious what others are experiencing. I’m guessing she’ll need to go to Walgreens or something instead.

I know I am healing. I can eat on my own now, ive stopped using the bedpan, i can sit for longer, and im starting to try to walk again. People keep telling me im improving. I know to get back to my life i need to become functional. But how do i stop the negative thoughts. I am still in so much pain, i equated taking a few steps as walking through buckets of glass. Any touch feels like sandpaper or fiber glass. But im improving. I cant see it though. All i see is what ive lost. I dont want this life. Where all I see is my pain and what its taking from me. Its dehumanising, needing help changing, going to the bathroom. And my partner is leaving, he has to. Its long distance, i had moved there, that was the plan. I moved my cat there, we got the apartment. And now im home and he has to leave. How am i supposed to do this without him. He says i shouldn’t think so much of the negative, but i cant do this. Everything is hard, and i cant do this without him. He’s coming back in February, but i know i wont be ready to go with him then. Im afraid. I am so broken, my body, my mind, my soul. How can i think of anything except what im losing. I don’t understand why this happened. I was starting to get better, i went to yoga twice a week. I was happy. And then my health just fell apart again. What i thought was a flare left me bedbound and hospitalized for 5 weeks. Why. I just want to go back to my life. I don’t know how to think everything else. Im trying hard to do pt. But every time i try to walk i just feel like a failure. I just want my life back. I want to feel human. I want to run, and cook, and take a shower. I want my partner. I cant do this without him.

I’ve been doing PT for shoulder impingement on my left one and now I’m experiencing pain and soreness in my right one, anybody know why this would happen?

Just yelling into the void. I had a set of tests done 2 weeks ago, the result came back last Tuesday. I purposely did not look because I didn't want to be upset during Thanksgiving.

Anyway. I looked today, it's bad. Another degenerative disease (not pain related) that will get worse over time, burden my loved ones and take away my independence. For those keeping track at home, that's 4 chronic illnesses all diagnosed before 40 plus 2 close calls with other random diseases and a curable cancer.

I wish I had never married or had kids it makes this harder. Truthfully my life has always been difficult. Serious injury in my teens that caused chronic pain, another life long disease diagnosed at 25 and then now two more. I've never had peace in my body.

Subconsciously I wonder if this is why I chose to work in Clinical research. Maybe it's my small way of trying to help myself.

But, hey, I guess silver lining for today. My pain meds were refilled ahead of my appointment so at least I don't have to fight for them.

I haven't slept well for months and I'm feeling like I'm going to go insane from it. This pain is just unreal and the doctors aren't helpful. I have chronic migraines, chronic knee and back pain along with horrible neck pain and dizziness when laying down. Yet the doctors say I'm to young for all of this. I'm 18 and I'm adopted so idk if it's genetics or not. Any advice??

A few years ago, I had spine surgery and, like many others, I still deal with pain, nerve damage, and arthritis. I’ve tried many treatments: medications for epilepsy and depression, nerve blocks, trigger point injections, hot saunas, cold plunges, weight lifting, yoga, myofascial release, therapy, physical therapy, and counseling.

About four months ago, I broke a bone and went to pain management for help with the pain while it healed. They prescribed me hydrocodone. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I felt better than I had in years—it was life-changing.

When I followed up with pain management to finish my case, the doctor reviewed my MRI reports and medical history. I explained my situation and my efforts to manage my chronic pain. Then he looked at me and said, “Has anyone told you your pain isn’t going to go away? You have permanent damage.” I was shocked; no one had ever told me that before, even though by now, I know.

He asked how the hydrocodone made me feel, and I told him quite hesitantly, I felt the best I had in years. For context, I have been taking 1/2 -1 tablet once daily to every two days when I get really stiff over the last four weeks. Even though I should have been resting to heal, I felt like doing things again when I was on meds twice a day.

He suggested (still in shock) we continue using hydrocodone long-term and try some additional facet injections and continue trigger point injections We talked about PrP. He added that being in long-term pain leads to high morbidity rates and that having a good quality of life is important. He also noted that I have years of records showing that my other treatments have not worked. Hearing that was overwhelming.

Not the kind of drama I need each month....My Dr. wanted to try me on the generic Lyrica ( Pre..... I can't remember how it was spelled). The insurance said no to the pre authorization, so we are sticking with Gabapentin. I really can't complain, I am prescribed the Gabapentin, Tizanidine, and Hydrocodone each month. and since my retail pharmacy is connected to the hospital where my Dr practices, so far I have no experienced not being able to get my prescribed meds, however, I do think that insurance companies deciding which medications are best for me, rather then my Dr, is a bit distressing, but I realize it is an extremely expensive medication, and maybe if we had appealed again and again eventually they would have said ok, but...I don't think I can handle that drama every month.

I'm not seeing pain management until the 20th of December, and my GP is still determined to get me to cut down on dizapem, despite them telling me to continue it.

I've been on it since June, taking the lowest dose possible to prescribe each night before bed (except a few odd nights I don't take it) because it stops my muscles stiffening up overnight, spasming and allows me to pee properly lol as my tight muscles from scar tissue are close to my bladder (within my pelvis). I'm learning to care for myself for the first time (which hasnt been going too badly), so my flare has been ongoing for 3 weeks varying in severity since my ex dumped me and withdrew care abruptly.

Because it's impossible to rest/relax when there is no one around to help me anymore, ive had to push through and get on with it, at some points I've ended up just crawling on the floor, other days I'm walking around but the nights are hell. I'm in pain by 5/6pm, which sucks as I was doing well at managing it generally for longer before needing nighttime pain killers (night is always worse as nerve injury in pelvis so walking, sitting, peeing all make it worse). I'm only around 3-5 hours sleep per night due to pain.

So I've got 14 tablets, and I need to make them last for 3 weeks lol until I see my GP again with an update from my pain management doctor who may or may not decide to keep me on them. I wouldn't usually ask Reddit for medication weaning advice, but as I said my GP is still pretending I'm not on this daily even though I've told her I am, and each time I've tried to come off them I stopped being able to walk/eat/pee. I'm going to continue taking the normal dose for a night or two to try to get a handle on this flare, but after that I need to have a plan lol. Despite me saying I take it every night, and my physios have recommended it for me to return to rehab (they kicked me off due to unmanaged meds/lack of communication between teams) they seem to still think it as and when needed. So here we are.

My plan is to start cutting the tablets in half, and then doing a few days of altering one night at full, one night at half for a week. Followed by the next week at just half. But I have no idea if that's even safe. I'm pretty annoyed they only gave me 14, but it's clear until I see pain management this it it. So what do I do lol 😂

Edited to add that my PT said it could be something related to my myelin sheaths being damaged and not functioning correctly.

He mentioned maybe ankylosing spondylitis or something also. But I did have a lumbar mri and the orthopedic doctor did not see thar

I'm dealing with severe nerve pain all over my body. My bulging discs aren't thought to be causing the pain. Im being sent to a neurologist so I hope they could have answers. My physical therapist said he is at a loss for words and he thinks it's going to be a more severe diagnoses....

I'm 28 and for the past year at first I was dealing with muscle like pain in random parts of my body that would flare up in pain and alternate spots within a 5 minute period in my body.

Then it's now full blown aching and burning both legs front and back. And my legs and arms feel heavy and weak. I feel a wetness and hotness a lot. Also alternating places feeling like a bug sting. I have issues to sleep at night from it. I have to fight through it to walk and function normally at my job.

My arms are starting to burn and my face.

I do get constant headaches in the back of my head and neck

I feel like i always feel dizzy and nauseated and shaky randomly not related to blood sugar

I've had strep throat like 3 times each year which I feel isn't normal

I can't get vitamin d up it's at a 12 and daily doses doesn't help

Low mcv count regular doctor didn't seem to care

I have ibs-c

My family and I have been terribly sick for 3 months straight (my son just started school) and it's been miserable, so it has made me realize how difficult it must be for those living with actual chronic pain/illness in their life. The one good thing about being sick this long is that it has opened my eyes to a whole group of people who live in pain constantly.

Ironically, I've already been ghosted by someone who I thought was a friend because we've been sick for 3 months! Insane.

Anyway, I'm wondering what you would appreciate? How can we be supportive? What are some things that would be helpful?

Also, I'm thinking about starting an online support group at my church for those suffering from chronic illness, so you think that would be helpful?

Thanks for your input, I hope you all have better days with less flare-ups.

Hello fellow sufferers,

Thank you again for joining this community.

With this post I want to share my story with systemic and body-wide tendon pain. I apologize for the length, but I wanted to be as specific as possible and also write it in a bit of a more narrative style, to add a human aspect. I might add in the comments some links to my medical reports or exams, if anyone is interested and could benefit from it.

A little intro about me

A few words about myself, before all of this happened. All of my life I have been very active and athletic, with a particular love and aptitude for the outdoors and endurance sports. Until the age of 21-22 I never had any injury or even minor ache despite a lot of running, hiking, cycling and so on. Starting around five years ago, I occasionally had some extremely minor pointers to a “particular” muscoskeletal conditon, as I developed a few bone growths and occasionally some weird (but not debilitating) tendon pain in a couple of spots across the body, often with not such a direct link to mechanical load. The affected spots were mainly my wrists, knees and ankles, but the symptoms were (compared to now) quite mild and intermittent. Given my extreme mechanical loading, I was thinking I just had a particular “predisposition” to develop injuries and that I needed to be careful with my body. Because of this I decided to run less and focus on cycling.

Despite this, between the age of 23 and 26 other than cycling I was often going on multi day hikes, backcountry skiing trips, mountaineering, and 10-15 km runs. All of this without major issues but sometimes some “strange” aches.

In those years my cycling shape improved dramatically, to the point that I started to do well in amateur races and even win a few hill climbs. In the spring of 2023, after a couple of years of more intensive training, I was contacted by one of the most prestigious amateur cycling teams of Italy and offered a sponsorship contract, which I signed for the 2024 season. I undertook a VO2 Max test that resulted in a maximum oxygen consumption of 77 ml/kg/min, which my team told me it was exceptionally high. At the time I felt ecstatic about the opportunity, which was kind of unexpected.

The turning point

Unfortunately, and coincidentally, a few months after this, during a race in October I developed a nagging posterior tibialis pain that I never had before, together with some discomfort in the outer knee. In the following months, I reduced my training load and started rehabilitation, physical therapy, underwent meticulous bike fittings with high-tech tools and so on. My pain was somewhat improving and after one or two months I was back to training 5-8 hours per week. Still, I noticed some alarming and exaggerated responses to small changes to my bike fit. For example, during a 4 hours ride with some of my teammates, I developed a sharp and deep ache in my interior knee, where I never felt anything before. The pain was so sudden and so sharp I barely made it through on my way back. At the time, I attributed to minor changes to my saddle and cleat positioning, but talking with my coach, bike-fitters, and physiotherapist it was clear that the response was abnormal. At that time, I had my first doubts I could pursue a competitive cycling career, but I would have never imagined what would come next. Despite that, I could still cycle, hike and exercise almost normally.

Fast forward to January 2024. Right after New Year I got an infection with high fever for 10 days, probably the most intense in a few years. I don’t know yet if it was a flu or COVID. I just know that that febrile episode changed my life like I never could imagine. Right after that infection, I developed a sharp sciatic pain that lasted a couple of weeks and then subsided, like I never had before. A couple of weeks after recovery, I started going back to the gym to work on rehabbing my “overuse injuries” with my trainer. I already had my doubts about my cycling possibilities, but I was trying to tell myself that it was all “bad luck” and “mechanical” and that since I was normal and healthy I could recover.

During that hour of rehab, I did exactly the same exercise routine as the previous 3 months: core exercises, single-legged glutes bridges and various dumbells. During that hour I was already feeling something “off” but I kept on pushing through.

The next days I woke up with staggeringly intense pain in both my high hamstrings and elbows, spots where I never had the minimum discomfort ever before. The pain was so intense initially that I had troubles sleeping and that for several weeks I could barely sit on a chair without a special V-shaped cushion. In the following months, the pain extended to virtually most tendons of my body: first shoulders, then ankles, hands, fingers and even jaw. The pain tended to get getter with rest and worse with repetitive or strenuous movement. Despite those clearly alarming signs, I initially tended to ignore the pain and push through. I still attempted some bike riders and even small hikes and runs. I was so dumbfounded and in denial that I could not accept what was going on. After a 1 hour hike/run the pain in my ankles and knees was getting worse and worse, and I felt sharp pain in other tendons like my hip flexors and abductors, also places I barely knew “existed”.

In general, looking at my symptoms I realized I had an incredibly exaggerated response to any mechanical stimulus. I immediately realized that my condition was beyond normality and I simultaneously booked two appointments with my city’s most renowned rheumatologists.

Seeking answers

The first one, who I saw in February, who also happens to be the head rheumatologist of my city, after ordering a bunch of bloodwork, US, MRIs, did not find any evidence of a rheumatological condition and gave me no diagnosis nor treatment. All my bloods tests were clean, and just some minor bone edema and effusion appeared to imaging, with the tendons themselves looking good, despite the persistent pain.

Right after that visit I came across this post by u/DeepSkyAstronaut and I saw a strikingly similar situation: tendon pain all over the body being over-sensitive to any stimulus. In that post, OP described his endless story and struggle with doctors and specialists failing to diagnose his condition, which increasingly becomes debilitating and severe, until 10 years after his first symptoms, thanks to his own research and self-determination, got a rheumatologists to listen to him and prescribe him anti TNF-a medications, having linked those invisible symptoms to spondyloarthritis. Despite having a couple of differences with my condition, I was then determined to go for an all-out push with doctors to at least try biologics, which OP reported helped him significantly.

Alarmed and warned by his story, I went to my second rheumatologists visit much more prepared, printing a clear overview of my symptoms and exams and bringing u/DeepSkyAstronaut story to the table as well.

All my bloodwork being 100% negative, my MRIs only showed:

• Minor to moderate marrow edema reactions in metatarsal, ankles, heels and femur
• Minor synovial effusion in my knees and ankles
• Minor signs or plantar fasciitis

The second doctor actually believed me and claimed having one similar case in his 40 years career, that responded well to Humira. Here’s his diagnosis: enthesophaties, consider serinegative undifferentiated spondyloarthritis with an exclusive entheses and tendon pattern, metatarsal stress reaction, myofascial syndrome.

Right after seeing my papers, he immediately claimed: you need a Biologic. Honestly, other than the widespread tendon pain by me reported, the evidence of bone marrow edema suggested him a condition of serinegative spondyloarthritis, as no impact or traumatic stress had occurred.

Unfortunately, the doc just retired a few months beforehand, and for the Italian health care system, biologics are hospital medication that needs to be prescribed by an active rheumatologists.

In the next four months I saw three other rheumatologists, including the whole medical team of the first one who visited me, who disagreed with the last diagnosis and were not willing to prescribe me anything other than muscle relaxers and NSAIDs, claiming that “there is absolutely no evidence of a rheumatological condition”. I was a bit in despair, but not giving up. In late August 2024 I managed to have a private appointment in a specialized centre in Milan, where the rheumatologists agreed that given my previous activity levels, debilitating symptoms and minor evidence from imaging, a trial of 2-3 biologics was advisable and justified, stating that “there are mechanisms beyond our current level of understanding” in tendon damage and that “biologics can target proteins having different roles in tendon degeneration beyond a visible inflammatory response”.

Well, unfortunately after that visit he doc recommended to go back to my hospital in Genoa (my hometown) and start treatment there. Unsurprisingly, the doctor at the hospital did not agree to what said in Milan and told me “we cannot do it here, it’s too risky and without foundation” and sent me back in my search for treatment.

Only in October I booked my 7th rheumatological appointment in less than one year, and the doctor finally agreed I most likely had a rheumatological disease and that suggested therapy with DMARDs or Biologics, confirming the diagnosis of “undifferentiated spondyloarthritis with a primary enthesitis component”.

I recently started Sulfasalazine, which for now gave me no relief, and hopefully in February I will be able to move to a biologic. More than this, in the last months I developed my knowledge of similar cases and started to understand more about other mechanisms of widespread tendon pain: oxidative stress, mitochondria issues and more, which I’ll describe in another post in the next week

PS: a few more words about my situation as of today

As of today, my physical activity is limited to 30-60 minutes of gentle walking per day, broken into 10-20 minute segments at most, occasional short bike rides (20-40 mins), and some gentle yoga or stretching. Even in areas where I don’t experience sharp pain, I am extremely prone to developing it with minimal exertion or repetitive movement. Some areas are particularly affected, such as my right anterior tibialis, left posterior tibialis, and several knee tendons, with certain tendons flaring up more than others. In these spots, the pain can be so persistent that it interferes with daily activities like walking, driving, and working.

Additionally, I sometimes experience discomfort in my upper body, including the shoulders, wrists, and fingers, also after light activities such as prolonged typing and writing, carrying objects. Also, I have a sensation of “thickening” or fibrosis of several tendons, which could hint at widespread synovitis or non-inflammatory degeration or fibrosis, but this was not really considered by any doctor. I also experience frequent popping and cracking noises related to my tendon issues when bending joints like my ankles, knees and fingers.

If anyone has any strategies or tools to help deal with the feeling of “I’m nothing but a big burden on all my loved ones”, I would really appreciate it. I have been going through a bad flare up for a few weeks, and have been bed bound and mentally really struggling too. I have had to lean on my loved ones, mainly my partner and my sister VERY heavily. I can see it is waring on them, and I just don’t know what to do with these feelings or what more I could be doing to lessen the load on them. I am now worried about their wellbeing as well as my own. It’s such a mess, support appreciated, thanks in advance <3

Just checking in.

How are you?

hi!! i'm booked for an ablation on my C7 this wednesday. it's the second time i've chickened out doing it, and i need to either get it done or live with the pain. i just need help sussing out whether or not this doctor's office is giving me red flags, if i should get a third opinion, or if i'm just being dramatic.

the main problem is that i'm really scared. i don't like the idea of someone poking around my neck with hot wires, and the medial branch block was extremely painful -- i dunno if the dr didn't give the lidocaine time to work or what happened, but i was crying in pain. i got 1.5mgs of alprazolam for this procedure, which doesn't seem like enough judging by what i've read. they told me to take a muscle relaxant with it, but i also don't know if those things are safe to combine.

also i'm pretty worried because the office has been non-chalant about the whole thing, which makes me even more skeezed out. they told me i can go back to work the same day, that there's no pain after the procedure, and that it's really not that big of a deal. i can't take the day of the procedure off of work (due to the nature of my job, if i take one day off, i'm "removed from the booking" which means i have to take the next two weeks off), and if the pain is 5,000x worse like i keep reading it'll be, i think i'm screwed.

am i reading too many horrifying reddit posts, or should i trust my gut and not do the procedure? i tried to get a second opinion to see if i could find someone who would sedate me, but the place i went to was a medicaid mill -- filthy and gave out opioids like candy. should i get a third opinion to see if someone can sedate me for this? or suck it up and raw dog it?

Now drying my hair takes so much less energy and effort and I can wash my hair more often! Worth it.

So Im purposely keep this kind of vague. A couple months ago I saw a new to me doc in the same practice as usual. He proposed a pain pump for one of the issues I have. With the way it was being discussed...it seemed like he thinks this as a done deal.

He was talking like this is gonna happen and I was getting upset at the idea of it. At the time I said nothing so I could think and talk it over with my husband.

I came to the conclusion a pain pump targeting the one pain area that has a cure of surgery in my future. Leaves everything else still painful is weird. Why are we only going to treat one area of pain. I admit there is a chance of misunderstanding on what a pain pump does? I made my next appointment with someone else. He is still considered my doctor though...if that makes sense?

So in all my vagueness I would like to hear from yall. I really have the feeling (due to stuff) my medication is either going to be reduced or cut off. I don't want a pain pump. I thought it was ultimately my choice. Now I get the feeling that if I don't do it they will stop treating me.

Anyone been cut off because you don't want to be a guinea pig? Can this be considered being combative on my part? It doesn't make sense? If this was my only source of pain, then I would consider it.

Can anyone explain if a pain pump works for them?

Is this gonna be used against me?

Kentucky is going to be med legal in January, but I was wondering everyone’s experience getting a med card if you also go to a pain management clinic. Did you have to choose? Did they start prescribing it? I only get Tylenol 4s but did not know if that would be a barrier to my current medication.

I was told a while back by the lawyer helping me seek disability that it was pointless for me to try getting disability because I was actively seeking treatment for my pain. I just sort of gave up after that but I still can't work. No matter how much I want to. I feel useless and I can't afford any of my medical bills. (Or any bills for that matter.) I have to do something.

I don't know if it's worth trying again or if I need to resort to other lesser means to make ends meet. Thoughts? Advice?

Endo destroyed my body and basically made my digestive system stop functioning. I have a bunch of other conditions but I'm not getting into the full list.

Food is painful. All food. No, low FODMAP, AIP, low histamine, etc, none of it helps. All food causes pain when I eat it. Doctors have no clue why, they want to slap an IBS label on me and deny me further care. "Just eat more fibre and take antidepressants" ok well fibre causes pain so bad morphine doesn't help and I'm extremely suicidal on antidepressants. I'm not here for dietary advice either, trust me you don't have the magic diet guide that will work for me. Plain rice and chicken makes me sick. I'm probably dealing with a motility and digestive or absorption issue and maybe even others.

I ate food on the weekend because I was hungry. Doctor gave me a new med. Seemed like it was going to work. But if I eat more than half a meal per day the pain just comes roaring back. The whole right side of my abdomen, back, hip, and leg are burning. It feels like I have hot itchy sand moving thru my intestines. It feels like I need to cut my leg off to relieve the pressure pain. There's no comfortable position. Most days I'm up by 4am because the pain is so bad it's impossible to sleep thru.

I've been eating very little to reduce my pain but it's hard. Because im constantly starving and tired and weak. But food causes such severe pain it feels like there is knives in my abdomen. Im at work rn and about to lie on the floor because the pain is making me fucking crazy.

I'm hoping after I lose enough weight doctors will listen to me. They don't believe me when I talk about how painful eating is. I cant walk the pain gets so bad. All I do is lie on the floor and cry and scream and curse the world.

Pain, not sleeping, and not eating is literally making me go crazy. I have no control over that I need medical care. But I'm not a person. Not according to doctors. I only exist to suffer and struggle to work. Every day I hope to not wake up.

I am curious if anyone has successfully managed their peripheral neuropathy pain. My symptoms are mainly: hypersensitivity to touch and temperatures, as well as the pins & needles and burning sensation, only on the right side of my body. These symptoms are caused by a spinal cord tumor.

So far, I have tried gabapentin (was nearly maxed out at 3600mg/day for months) and that barely did anything for me, and I’m currently on pregabalin (600mg/day). The pregabalin is slightly more effective than gabapentin was, but it’s still not enough. Lidocaine cream helps a bit, although the effects are short-lived and I have to apply SO much when I do use it.

Sleeping sucks, taking showers hurts, I only wear shorts because pants hurt my legs too badly. It’s fucking miserable and I’m just so tired

On a long diagnostic journey, no answers so far. Pain is in many of the joints on the right side of my hand (pinky and ring, which that area was swollen after a hand injury). Going to see a rheumatologist next. Any other investigative ideas? Trying not leave any stone unturned as I search for a diagnosis.

A little background I was diagnosed with chronic cluster headaches this year which is what resulted in the conversation mentioned later. It’s been hell and a process getting to a point of acceptance and I’m at a point where I can manage enough to find a new functional normal. I’ve also had chronic migraines (usually just auras with a mild headache) for as long as I can remember, and was diagnosed this year. I’ve also had severe cramps for year. Point being I’m used to pain in some way shape and form most of the time.

Anyway I was talking with my mom about my life recently and my medications when I went to visit her and she asked me, “Have you ever lived a day without pain?”

I honestly didn’t have an answer. Truth is that I don’t know… and if I did I think the answer was probably no… I don’t think I’ve seen my mom look so sad at a response. I’m curious if others have had a similar experience…. I’m not sure if I’m sad for her or sad for me… I’ve been stuck thinking about this since she asked me. I want to move in from it… I will eventually… but for now I’ll be stuck revolving around this question for a bit longer.

I'm just curious where on the body everyone puts their patch. Are there spots that are better than others? Thanks for your help ❤️

So I’m due to have a patellofemoral joint replacement on Thursday, and I’m just wondering if anyone has had either a patellofemoral, or total knee replacement?

It’s been over a decade since my last knee surgery, and I’ve gone through other illnesses in the meantime (brain cancer, renal issues etc) that I’ve had surgeries on but have left me suffering with severe chronic pain requiring large doses of Oxycodone to manage.

I remember from my last knee surgery (Tibial tubercle osteotomy) both the immediate and ongoing post operation pain were really severe.

Since I now struggle with pain on a daily basis much more than my previous surgeries, I’m wondering what the post operative pain from the replacement surgery is likely to be, and just how much of a bad ride I’m in for 😣, hopefully someone has gone through something similar, and can give me an idea of what I can expect so I can mentally prepare myself.

Many thanks in advance

After cooking for thanksgiving, which I love to cook for my family. It's sad. Sometimes I feel it's the only thing I can do any more of that helps out. But I ended up spending friday vomiting the whole day because of pain. Saturday my body was so exhaustedI couldn't do anything. Taking a shower was a complete nightmare. I was so out of breath and in so much pain. I was supposed to take my daughter shopping and go see a movie. I feel like a burden to my whole family. Sometimes I just want everything to end cause I can't keep doing this. Other times I feel like it would hurt them more to not have me here so I stay because of them.
But I feel like my resolve's growing weak. I have seen perfectly able people act helpless, how do they do that? How do you get pleasure off of other people waiting on you hand and foot? I don't understand. I just want to go back to being completely independent. Literally, if I had a magic genie and one wish I wouldn't wish for money, I would wish for independence.