I don’t spend a lot of time writing about my chronic pain, my use of opiate medication or my disability. It’s mostly managed now, but it was a journey that started in 1998 and didn’t really settle until about 2013, so approximately 15 years of my life.
Fellow blogger and all around awesome dude Rory has been having a very bad time with pain and a failed procedure and a jerk of a doctor. These are things I know all too well. It breaks my heart and pisses me off that anyone has to go through the crap that I went through. What did I go through, you ask? Get comfy, I’ll tell you…
It started with headaches and pain and numbness in my hands. I worked on a computer eight hours day. I was in management and carpal tunnel syndrome was having a surge in popularity as a work comp claim. Everyone wanted extra breaks. Yeah, I was a little jaded by the slackers. Anyway, because of the surge in claims and my own stubbornness, I didn’t see a doctor for a long time.
I won’t go into all of the details in this post, it would take several post to document everything. I’ll sum it up with a very broad outline.
My first diagnosis was a problem in the neck, C6-C7 region. Physical therapy, ice, rest, Vicodin for pain, Soma for muscle relaxer, modifications at work, etc…still had pain and numbness. New doctor, new diagnosis…cubital tunnel syndrome. That’s in the elbow, the nerve that tingles when you whack your “funny bone”. I had surgery to move the nerve in February of 2000. Then recovery, therapy, more work mods, more Vicodin and Soma, but I was still in pain.
New doctor, new diagnosis… Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The nerves and blood vessels that go into the arm were being pinched between my first rib and my collar bone. Surgery to remove the first rib. This was a pretty major surgery with the incision in my neck and bone removal near lungs and major nerves and blood vessels. I had the surgery in December of 2000. I haven’t worked since. Complications from the surgery and I lost the use of my arm for three months. On top of that, I still had pain.
The same surgeon realized the first surgery for the cubital tunnel syndrome failed because the nerve had moved back. So another surgery to fix that nerve. That surgery was in November of 2002. A lot more invasive, muscles moved around, scar tissue scraped off the partially dead nerve, moving and securing the nerve. More recovery, more physical therapy, more Vicodin and Soma.
By summer of 2003 my surgeon was done with me. He was ready to write paperwork for the Work Comp insurance company and their attorney and my attorney (yeah, I had to get an attorney after fighting over a year in my own) that I was all better. But I was still in pain. CONSTANT PAIN! This is when I went to the first Pain Management doctor.
I think I’ll stop here and continue on another post. Even trying to be brief, it’s a long story. So...part two soon…
King Ben's Grandma 
Hello King Ben’s Grandmother I have chronic pain and have had many many operations. I am in Pain Management which started last year. I am on my third Pain Course for Chronic Pain where we learn to live with our pain as pain can not be healed. The psychology of living with chronic pain is what we are learning with some of the best people in teaching these courses. I am attending a University Hospital south of where I live. It is the best place to go when you need this help. Just wanted you to know what works for me and many many others.
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I’ve been through many more medications, many therapists, many procedures and finally had an intrathecal pain pump implanted in 2013. It gave me back my life. I honestly think that if the doctors and insurance company had listened to me, and aggressively treated me early on that it would never have developed into fibromyalgia.
I’m always happy to hear about treatments that help chronic pain. It’s a very debilitating problem. Thank you for sharing another option for those of us living with it!
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I have never heard of a inthrathecal Pain Pump till now. What doe sit do ? Pump pain medication into your system when needed ?
You are welcome for my notes about the Pain Courses. I find we get some help as we discuss what works for each of us in class. Thank you for your reply KIng Ben’s Grandma !!
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Intrathecal pain pump is like a constant drip of meds but it’s all internal. The meds go into the fluid around the spine, so it’s direct to the brain and nerves. Mine has fentanyl, marcaine & clonidine.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrathecal_pump
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Thank you for letting me know what a Intrathecal Pump is and what it does King Ben’s Grandma !!
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Nasty business indeed Grandma, l await the second part 🙂
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My god(dess), woman! You’ve been through more than I’ve ever heard of, and that’s saying a lot. I’m so, so very sorry to hear about this. It saddens and angers me to know that the system can do this to someone and get away with it. Like WTF?? All I can say is wow, on several levels–their incompetence, the bureaucracy and the lengths you’ve had to go to, your strength and sense of humor despite all this, and so on. Keep fighting the good fight, Dearest Dude. We love you 💖🌟💖💪🏼💜🙌🏼💓
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I’ve barely scratched the surface… I get SO angry when I find out someone else is dealing with the same kinds of crap! I guess it was time to put my experience out there, if nothing else, to let others know they aren’t alone in the fight, and that it does eventually resolve. My pain is mostly managed now and has been since 2013. But…O-M-G!…what a freakin journey😵
All my love to you my Dearest Cosmic Sister Dude! (and your weekend visitor😘 Where are my pics?😯😉💕)
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Oh my gosh, what a journey. I have to say I haven’t been to the Dr in a long time. The last time I went for a problem, I had to get MRI’s done and they said the scans said I was fine. BUT I was still having the problems. It just jaded me that if I go back for something new (anything else, really) they will just keep saying the same thing. Yet, I am afraid they are missing something in the big picture – like you – and who wants to go through all those surgeries that still don’t address the problems like you have been through. My gosh, so sad and frustrating.
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I haven’t ever put it all down, but reading how a fellow blogger (one of my awesome WP family) is having to go through so many of the same things I did, made me think it was time. I do a lot of ranting and whining, but I also want my experiences to help others know they aren’t alone. Chronic pain, mental health issues, raising autistic children, all can feel overwhelming and isolating. When I was going through the surgeries and everything I definitely felt alone. I was in therapy part of the time, but it’s not the same as sharing with people who live it.
Our medical system is horrible! Medicine for profit. Patients don’t matter, only how much their insurance pays. Ah, don’t get me started…😤💌💌
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Good, Lord… You have been poked, prodded, and twisted aroud as much as my mother. All of the types of surgery, all the opiates, etc… And, she too remains in utter pain day in/out.
I’m so, so, sorry you have been put through all of this.
A majority of my mom’s issues were because of her sjogrens syndrome. Her body can’t heal properly and most medications she’s either allergic to, or had severe reactions to.
I feel for you and only wish that the pain somedays subsides and you get a break.
Love ya, Lady!!! 😍 😘
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I’ve barely begun the story, it gets worse😭 then, thankfully it finally gets better. My pain is mostly managed these days but it took 15years to get there😵😷
Love ya back💕💌
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I admire the strength you have had to endure all that you have in the past 15 years. You really do remind me of my mother. Unfortunately, she is still in a tremendous amount of pain.
I look so froward to reading more about what has happened to you over this long, hard time.
God Bless, You! 💗
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