update, and need some words of encouragement/prayers

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

My last post was about the possibility of getting trigger point injections,

a post which I made about 2 weeks ago. Well, I got the injections: 3, one in

my right shoulder, and two in my left shoulder. They worked miraculously,

relieving me from level 5-7.5 pain every day, down to level 3-5 pain every

day--but only for about a week :-(

The doctor also gave me a gentle muscle-building exercise to do twice a day,

but I haven't been doing it. The exercise is to lie on my stomach and lift

one arm and the opposite leg up about 5 inches off of whatever surface I am

lying on, hold it for about 5 seconds, and then switch. I am supposed to do

this 15 times for each side. He said " If you do this twice a day every day

for a month, I *guarantee* [magic word] that you'll be feeling a lot

better. " I don't really believe him, I think. Maybe that's why I haven't

been doing the exercise?

Anyway, I have a new pt appt. with a neurologist tomorrow who also does pain

management on the side (including oral pain meds). I am going to talk to him

about my sacroiliitis, DDD, spinal osteoarthritis, and of course the

neck/shoulder/upper-/mid-back pain. I think that I have myofascial pain

syndrome, and I am going to mention that to him.

My BIGGEST fear about seeing him tomorrow is that he will want me to not

take any pain medication, and that he will take me off of the Lortabs that I

have been taking every day for the last 3-and-a-half months. They are really

the only thing that gives me any pain relief, and if I don't get them, I

don't know what ON EARTH I will do to manage the pain--if I will even be

able to cope. Because since the tp injections have worn off, the pain is

back up to level 4.5-6.5 every day. Right now it's about a 6.

I read on the Mayo Clinic website (through nlm.nih.gov) that the two

medication treatments for MFPS (myofascial pain syndrome) are NSAIDS and

tricyclic antidepressants. Well, I am already taking a high dose of NSAIDS,

and I cannot take tricyclic antidepressants because they make me binge (eat)

like crazy. Plus, the lortabs are effective--just not as much as I wish they

were, especially with the weather getting cold and therefore my pain getting

worse. Plus, I am already taking Neurontin (gabapentin) at a very high dose,

plus a muscle relaxant called tizanidine (practically the same family as

Flexeril/cyclobenzaprine and Skelaxin/meloxicam).

I would like it if everyone could pray (if you pray) or at least wishfully

hope/think (regardless of whether or not you pray) that meeting with the

doctor tomorrow morning will have a good outcome in terms of everything,

most importantly my pain management. Also, any words of encouragement and

supportive feedback would be very welcome right now--gentle hugs included.

Well, I have written too much I think; I should stop now. Thank you to those

who read, and especially to those who reply. Sorry I've been quiet on the

list the past few weeks, but school has been keeping me very busy. Thanks

also to all who read and responded to my previous posts; I greatly

appreciate you.

e.h.

[Guest guest]

Jen,

A pain management doctor won't take you off something that works.

I have major back problems and had shoulder surgery too, this past January. No

gentle exercises for me. My doc told me to exercise it 8 to 10 hrs a day. My PT

liked to have a fit.

But, his concern was that scar tissue would build up and I would not get full

range of motion. He was right. I exercised that puppy til I thought it would

fall off. They want the exercises done slowly. (Are you sure you heard gently?)

Slowly gives full effect.

Did it hurt? Not as bad as I would have thought. Do those Codman's. That's

where you lean over and let your arm hang and move your arm sideways in front of

you. Those always felt good. If it hurts, take your meds. That's what they are

there for.

Go back to the ortho. When my shot didn't work, I needed arthroscopic surgery in

my shoulder. If not, I had a bone spur, not seen on x-ray, that ultimately would

have torn my rotator cuff. Now that hurts.

Jen, osteoarthritis does not just occur in the back. My shoulder was full of

arthritis. The exercises are important.

Cymbalta is terrific for pain and anxiety. And girl, you've got some

anxiety! With good reason. Wellbutrin is a good anti-depressant. I'm not a fan

of the others. The Cymbalta takes getting used to, so I was advised to take it

with Dramamine. Lyrica has helped tremendously and was told the side effects on

TV are rare. I got on it with no problem.

It's gonna be okay. It's a process to find what works best for each of us. We

all have tired of the length of time it can take to get meds right. Hang in

there.

Ellen

> E. H. wrote:

> The doctor also gave me a gentle muscle-building exercise to do twice a day,

but I haven't been doing it.

[Guest guest]

,

I had the same effect with the trigger point injections. After 3 sessions I

stopped because they didn't last more than a week.

I did those exercises that you described. They really do work! I still do the

exercises my PT gave me for my shoulders and it is 2 years after the fact.

Pain medication will be very helpful. But you do still need to keep moving.

Using non-medication therapies with the medication will make a major difference

in managing your pain.

I will keep positive thoughts that the appointment goes well!

Big gentle hugs, Tami

> E. H. wrote:

> The doctor also gave me a gentle muscle-building exercise to do twice a day,

but I haven't been doing it.

[Guest guest]

Honey, listen, you are not on a lot of pain meds. Gabapentin, and your muscle

relaxer are not narcotics. I am on Opana for all the chronic pain. I take 1

hydrodone (down from three a day). I also take percocet twice a day. The Opana

for basic pain. Is on a time released pill, I take every 12 hours.

> e.h. wrote:

> Well, I am already taking a high dose of NSAIDS, and I cannot take tricyclic

antidepressants because they make me binge (eat) like crazy. Plus, the lortabs

are effective--just not as much as I wish they

were, especially with the weather getting cold and therefore my pain getting

worse. Plus, I am already taking Neurontin (gabapentin) at a very high dose,

plus a muscle relaxant called tizanidine (practically the same family as

Flexeril/cyclobenzaprine and Skelaxin/meloxicam).