In pain and fed up! (long post, sorry!)

[puggy288]

So, this all began last August with an ache in my arm like I had had an injection, shortly followed by a severe nerve pain down the left side of my neck which would prevent me from being able to move my neck.  Through my work I self referred myself to the physio who was concerned with the nerve pain being felt in my neck and suggested I also visit my GP.  Whilst I waited to see my GP we did acupuncture in my neck and shoulder which helped short term. After visiting my GP I was prescribed Co-Dydramol, Ibuprofen and Amitriptyline 20mg.  

I then went on with physio to have hydrotherapy for 10 weeks as the pain was increasing and it was very uncomfortable to complete simple tasks.  Whilst having hydro the pain began radiating down my left arm from my neck and into my hand.  I was eventually referred to orthopaedics who sent me for an MRI of my cervical spine with a suspected prolapse disc in my neck.  By this point the pain was down the right of my neck and down my right arm.  I also started experiencing strange episodes where I would have a very sudden, sharp pain up my neck and into my head, where my vision went all blurry on my left side!  Needless to say the physio became more concerned and after having my MRI done tried to hurry my results as the whole process was taking forever!  The physio asked me to get my GP to get bloods done for inflammatory conditions at the time after discussing my current symptoms with me.

Between my MRI and having the results I went back to the GP (not my usual GP as she was off) and he was so unhelpful and told me that he didn't think there was anything wrong with me apart from me having low blood pressure and an allergic asthma. He has now made me change my Co-Dydramol to just paracetamol and changed my amitriptyline to 35mg, even though my pain was worsening.

After seeing the orthopaedic consultant a few weeks ago (this is how long it has all taken since October when sought medical help) I was discharged and told my spine looked lovely and healthy and there was nothing sinister.  I then saw the Physio who said she would write to my GP and recommend I am referred to rheumatology regardless of my bloods just so they can make an assessment of me in a rheumatoid sense, and to suggest that my neuropathic pain relief is changed.  

After waiting 2 weeks for my blood results I have finally been told today that... they are all normal, apart from being borderline anaemic, and the only suggestion that the horrible GP made is to change my diet and that I will be cured when I do!

I am at the end of my tether now.  I am a 24 year old female who is otherwise healthy.  I just keep getting looked at and told it's nothing and no results have come back with anything yet, and I am so worried that due to my blood results I am going to go no further.  

So my current symptoms/problems are; pain in my neck, both shoulders, arms, hands, down my legs and in my knees when I have been exerting on them, and also in my back - this is both an ache and nerve pains, mainly in my neck and arms.  I also suffer with IBS, but other than that I am fine, apart from this feeling of hopelessness.  It has got me so down and my anxiety is on an all time high.  I have had good medical health apart from receiving treatment for acne with isotretinoin last year, which everyone is disregarding as a cause.  Upon recommendation from my physio I now exercise 3/4 times a week to help build muscle strength to support my body and help relax me as I have been extremely tense due to the pain and discomfort.

I am seeing my GP next week but just want somebody, somewhere to be able to shed some light on this.  I'm sorry for the long post but it's just been such a horrific year of waiting and being in agony.  It hurts to type, hold a pen, pick things up, stand, and move sometimes and in my job this is something that cannot be avoided.  

Any suggestions/help/advice?!?!?!

[puggy288]

Thank you so much for this link!  It's very interesting to read.  My physio discussed with me possible disorders and this was one that she told me about.  I have only just recently learnt about it (during a pain management lecture in college) and I haven't been able to find that much info about it, not with a full list of experienced symptoms.  Reading through this I can see so many things that I experience, that I may have not associated with anything, that I have just grown to live with.  The neck pain that you describe sounds so much like the main symptom that I experience.  These past few days I have also been so light headed, to the point I've been swaying and have had to sit down with the room spinning around me, and this has been connected to pain in my neck.  It's horrible.  

Thank you so much for this information, I can arm myself with some potential information for when I speak with the doctor!  Thanks again, it's been very interesting to read, I hope you are well. Thanks :)

[puggy288]

I have tried to come to terms with the pain, but as everybody says to me I am young and should not be in this situation.  I try to look past it and concentrate on something else, and have adapted my lifestyle around the pain, but it feels more like it is shaping my life.  It stops me from doing the things I love, it stops me from enjoying my job, it stops me from being able to relax, and no matter how much I try to look past it and work around it, it just gets me down.  Admittedly I have learnt more about my own body in this past year, and I am coming to terms with that maybe this might not be a quick fix, that this could be a long term thing.  I have been told that I should not hope to get rid of this pain now, but that I may have to see different specialists to learn to live with it.  I do understand what you are saying, but having so much I want to do with my life, I'm 23 (not 24 typo in my original post) and the thought of having this, and as it gets progressively worse, for the rest of my life is terrifying.  It's not one of those things that you can just learnt to accept.  

[enajones1]

http://fibromyalgia.forumotion.com/t555-article-with-an-expanded-list-of-fibromyalgia-symptoms


Hope it helps

[enajones1]

I think the guy above me is on something!! Never ignore pain!!  Have u looked at fibromyalgia? I have it and I have all the symptoms I have explained. If u overwork ur body u have lots of pain, if u underworld ur body u have a lot of pain. Also stress will make it solo much worse. My pain will change with the barometric pressure too. I also have muscle spasms. The pain will move around, can be different each day. My neck and shoulders stay so tense and painful. I have a lot of leg and back pain too. They say it's not a progressive disease but I have had it for 10 yrs and I still get new symptoms all the time. I get the pain in the sides of my neck and head all of a sudden that I use to think I was trying to have a stroke. I use to have really low blood pressure too. Really really low. Then it became normal and now it's slightly high. Fibromyalgia is not all about the tender points like most drs try to make u believe. I have a site I will add for u to check out. It's the best one I have found. It lists a bunch of symptoms u would never dream had anything to do with fibromyalgia. I will post it in a min. Hope it helps.

[ctrl91]

As I said you can continue to see your doctor but cultivating aversion towards pain will only make you suffer more. We have been avoiding pain all our lives but to what avail? It will come back anyway. It is a condition of having this body. If we sit too long we feel pain if we stand too long pain etc. So learning about pain doesn't mean being macho and ignoring doctors but it is the most intelligent thing to do. I said nothing about ignoring the pain, quite the opposite, look at the pain and see how it operates. It isn't an entity, it arises and it passes away. It isn't fixed either it is always moving around, It has different intensities, there are different kinds of pains, pulsating, stinging etc. There is so much you can learn. So instead of worrying and fighting the pain just learn to accept,  observe and be with it.

[puggy288]

Thanks Diamond_Dixie!

I know what you mean, trying to learn to cope with the pain is useless, I tried to do that thinking I had just possibly injured myself at work and it just got worst which is where I knew something wasn't right.

Luckily I am seeing a different GP (as he told me my cholstrerool was so low he suspected me taking statins on the sly!!!) my normal much for smypathetic GP who knows what I am like and knows I am not just fishing for drugs! She is just so difficult to get hold of (being the best GP in my surgery!).

You mention about blood flow issues, I have suffered with Raynauds for years but it's just something I have put down to my blood pressure just sits quite low normally, I get this from my mum who has a naturally low blood pressure.  Recently I noticed painful swellings on my hands (not always painful just on bad days) which I wondered if they were a ligament or something.  When I saw the orthopod he told me they look vascular and so did the physio, and I have recently been told that my blood pressure is very low!  I'm going to mention it on Monday when I see my GP to see what she says.  They are on both hands and run in a curve with the line on my paml where my thumb bends, they are very green and hard.

Hopefully my GP will have some answers.  Even as I type this the pain in my hands radiates up through my elbows and into my shoulders and up my neck.  The worst thing is, I am studying pharmacy in an apprenticeship right now and can afford to be off ill from work so all I can do it grin and bear it at work!!

I was so positive about it all when I was referred to the orthos but after being told there was nothing they can do after weeks and weeks of waiting it has just knocked me right back.  You just end up feeling like your pedalling backwards all the time rather than forwards to the solution.

Will keep you updated with what the GP says. Thank you :)

[Diamond_Dixie]

Erase that STUPID post from ctrl91. He should be flogged about the face and head with heavy grammar ."Learn to be with the pain...?" Phooey.

Pain is a signal something is wrong; there is illness or injury. DO NOT IGNORE IT - especially at your age. If you were 60? I may have a...more tolerant response to that poster boy's post. Yes, every boo-boo you've EVER had will revisit you when you're older - but you've got a LOT of years before that happens. That's why "they" invented jacuzzis - for us old dames. You are WAY too young to have any chronic pain. Period. You are absolutely correct in your concern.

Now. Pain increasing with PT is something to definitely take note of - and the pain you describe can certainly be due to a serious illness.

You have tried all the "normal" remedies for muscle pain, strains, sprains, job-related problems etc. The pain has not improved, it has worsened.

TIME TO BE A SQUEAKY WHEEL. Do not relent. Call your doctor's office until you get an appointment and go back. I would go to another one completely - that one you have sounds like a lazy, dismissive jerk. Explain the meds are NOT working, even with the previously higher dose. They probably are thinking you're drug-seeking - which happens all the time. People with legitimate illnesses run into brick walls of opposition unless they continue to complain and comply. Yes, comply with every single thing the doctors tell you to do, no matter how ridiculous - they're just completing their cover-their-butts check-list so you can finally receive proper treatment.

At first glance it seems as though you have a cervical injury of some type, undiagnosed at this point. An orthopod can not help you - you need a neurologist. Remember, just because there is not a bit of proof on images, this is NOT indicative there is nothing wrong.

You could also have a blockage of some sort restricting your blood flow. That would explain your vision issues - and the fact they're intermittent reflects exactly what I just mentioned. Your symptoms are serious, and you must NOT ignore them if they continue.

PLEASE let me know how you are.

Dix

[ctrl91]

Physical pain is a part of life it is unavoidable. when we are young we think we shouldn't feel pain but we are not in control. pain arises due to causes and conditions and ceases when the conditions are have ceased. Learn to be with the pain instead of reacting with aversion which is only making you suffer. If you get old then pain will be much more frequent. So learn to observe the pain objectively when it arises. Try to just let go and observe the pain. Pain is one thing while the reaction is another. There is much you can learn from pain(like how strongly averse we are to it). You may find you can be with the pain with no problem at all. This is a great skill to learn and can help you to deal with other problems in life. You can continue to see your doctor if the pain persists but you don't have to suffer while you experience the pain. Hope this helps.