Pain Relief Connection

Can you relate to this person’s struggle?

“I have fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis. I also suffer from depression and anxiety because of the pain. It’s incredibly hard to keep my self-esteem lifted these days. I can barely take care of myself. Even before the pandemic and really scary stuff we’re all living through, I never did my hair or makeup and don’t care what I am wearing because the only time I left the house was to go to the doctor’s office. Now, well, at least I don’t have to feel guilty for not going anywhere, but the rest of it sure sucks!

I’ve lost all of my friends, but I do have a wonderful, thoughtful, and understanding husband and if I didn’t have him, I would be completely alone. All my ailments just bring me down to the point where I am usually wishing I won't wake up in the morning. Don’t get me wrong, I am not suicidal, and I am a fighter no matter how much I’m suffering. I just have zero self-esteem left here!”

One of our own is feeling frustrated. Can you help?

“I used to love to help people! But now I hurt to the point I can barely walk. I sit and cry all the time. The pain is so real, and I have issues taking the medications that is out there for it. It caused other issues that I ended up having to have surgery. People look at you like you are just trying to get out of helping! No, I can’t stand more than 5 minutes without feeling like I am going to fall flat on my face due to the pain. It sucks to have Psoriasis and the Psoriatic Arthritis.”

Pain management specialists can play a vital role in addressing chronic pain.

A pain management specialist is a physician with special training in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of all different types of pain. They have an in-depth knowledge of the physiology and neuroscience of pain. They have the experience to evaluate patients with complex pain problems. They are capable of running the diagnostics and testing required to pin-point the issues. And most importantly, they provide appropriate prescribing of medications to varying pain problems and skills to perform procedures such as nerve blocks, spinal injections and other interventional techniques.

A pain management specialist also plays an important role in coordinating additional care such as physical therapy, psychological therapy, and rehabilitation programs in order to offer patients a comprehensive treatment plan.

Have you been to a specialist? Share your experience with us.

About 85% of people experience myofascial pain sometime during their lifetime. Are you among them? Share your story with us.

You might not even know if you are or not because this high percentage may not be accurate. Myofascial pain is often under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed or overlooked because it’s hidden in another type of diagnosis such as headache, neck and shoulder pain, pelvic pain, limb pain or nerve pain syndrome.

So, what is myofascial pain syndrome? It’s a pain condition that affects the muscles and fascia. “Myo” means muscle and “fascial” means fascia. The fascia is the thin, white connective tissue that is wrapped around every muscle.

Myofascial pain and trigger points can develop in any muscle in the body. However, the most commonly affected muscles are those in the upper back, shoulder and neck.

"Wow! I have scoliosis and sciatic pain somewhere! The surgeon wants to do a fusion! I don't know how that's going to help me! I keep calling to get an idea of my MRI and x-rays, but I'm not getting a call back! Thank you for your input! When I worked, I walked 5 miles a day!

I then had gotten a cyst on my spine sitting on my sciatic nerve, and walking helped, but the pain was still there. The same surgeon did surgery and it was then that I quit work. 6 years ago! It's way worse now, and I don't know if the Dr exasperated it or removed it. Any info from you is greatly appreciated!"

“The painsomnia is unreal. Every time I go to move, I have to rearrange all of my pillows and props which takes a while. Then, to resettle back in after it hurt to shift and turn. I usually get up every 2 hours or so to walk up and down the hall, because if I don’t move, getting out of bed in the morning can take forever and getting going is very difficult. So there you have it. A typical night.”

Who here struggles with hip pain? What options have you considered?

Hip resurfacing can be an alternative to hip replacement surgery. In hip resurfacing, the surgeon smooths out damaged parts of the femur bone. The affected bone is then capped with a metal covering that helps the joint move more freely.

Hip resurfacing is usually performed on younger patients, generally under 60. The procedure benefits the physically active because the alternative, hip replacement, can leave the patient with some joint instability. The procedure is only recommended for people with strong femur bone tissue.

“Hey folks! Love and peace to you all. My heart goes out to all of you who suffer with chronic pain no matter what the cause may be.

I’ve had this disease for 25 years I am currently now 58. Most of the time was basically just a psoriasis but in the last five years I’ve had nothing but more debilitating arthritic issues. Everything on my left side from my shoulder all the way down to my foot is in near constant chronic pain.

I’m currently on disability for two months. I’m debating if I should file for permanent disability? Sadly, I just have to face that this is a degenerative condition. I’m not going to get better. And if I’m having trouble now, should I keep pushing to work? The stress can’t be helping, in fact, maybe it is accelerating the degeneration. Could I trade some financial comfort for a few more years of relative physical comfort? Heck of a choice, but I’m just being clear-eyed about it and honest with myself.

I would love to hear how the disability process works if any of you have went through it and would like to share your story, I’m all ears!”

We wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. May it be pain-free.

What are you for today?

What over the counter pain reliever do you swear by?

Could a prior injury have been a factor in developing arthritis? What happened?

“Orthopedists have believed for years that torn tendons or ligaments put patients, no matter how young, at risk for arthritis. But quantifying the long-term risk has been difficult because most orthopedic patients are not studied for extended periods after their injuries.

Dr. Mininder Kocher, an orthopedics professor at Harvard Medical School, has reviewed the available data and determined that the chance of getting arthritis within a decade of tearing a tendon or a ligament in the knee is greater than 50 percent.” [Source: The New York Times]

“I say ‘I’m fine’ all the time because I don’t want to talk about the pain, the numbness, and the fatigue because it is my story all day, every day. It is my version of normal & it doesn’t deserve any more energy than it’s already stealing from me.

A lot of the time it’s because I know the other person will say something like ‘yeah, I’m tired too,’ which will just make me angry at them when I know they’re just trying to be nice. You don’t know my kind of tired unless maybe you just ran a marathon with a severe flu, jet lag, and a hangover!

Sometimes I will tell people if I’m having challenges getting words out. Or if I can’t raise my arms because I’m wearing an invisible lead cape. We are warriors & we will not let MS and chronic pain steal our identity!”

Spinal cord stimulation, also called neurostimulation, directs mild electrical pulses to interfere with pain messages reaching the brain. A small device implanted near the spine generates these pulses. The implanted generator used in spinal cord stimulation has similarities to a cardiac pacemaker, leading some to call the device a pacemaker for pain.

In recent years, smaller devices have made implantation less invasive, and innovations—such as devices that are compatible with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)—have expanded the options for people likely to consider the therapy.

Spinal cord stimulation can be tried for a short time before a person commits to having the implant or having any lasting negative effects. The trial period is part of a two-step screening process to select those most likely to benefit. Careful screening is needed because spinal cord stimulation does not work for everyone. Most people who are good candidates for the therapy, however, report at least a 50% reduction in pain, as well as significant improvement in daily functioning.

Today is World Diabetes Day!

That tingling feeling and numbness in our hands and legs? Don’t ignore it. Hands and feet paresthesia (tingling and numbness) is the earliest sign of the presence of peripheral neuropathy. Share your story with us!

Peripheral neuropathy can be the result of autoimmune diseases, traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes, and exposure to toxins.

Diabetes is one of the most common causes of neuropathy. This is because high glucose levels affect these nerves by damaging the blood vessels supplying the nerves. The blood vessels that feed the hands and feet are small in size, and so if they get affected by hyperglycemia, they will be the first to manifest problems.

Where are you on the scale today?

Breakthrough pain, also called episodic pain or flare-up, is pain that comes on very quickly and severely when we’re already being treated with long-acting pain medications. In a flare-up, the pain "breaks through" our routine medication.

Breakthrough pain may become severe enough to disable or immobilize. In order for pain to be identified as breakthrough pain, persistent pain that is controlled and stable, usually by medication, must first be present. Breakthrough pain is usually, but not always, experienced at the same places as the underlying persistent pain.

Have you experienced breakthroughs? How did you manage it? Share your story with us.

Chronic pain may be the result of damage to the nerves that transmit pain (neuropathic pain), but chronic pain also affects the entire nervous system, sometimes in a permanent way.

When any type of pain lasts a long time there can be changes in the spinal cord and the brain that change how we perceive painful sensations. Some chronic pain can be very difficult to treat and can become so frustrating for patients that it is often accompanied by depression or other emotional problems, which may be tied to the very same changes in the nervous system.

"I do pretty good until my feet hit the floor, after about an hour my feet just become unbearable, then my lower back , then the neck and headaches. By then I just sit and CRY. Take a couple of pain pills which helps enough to move around for about 3 hours. The pain is always there 24/7😢 I've had a Nerve Stimulator inserted in my spine, hoping for a little relief. I'm not holding my breath though✌ but would love to hear from others."

Many of us here struggle with chronic back pain. Share your "back story" with us!

Spinal stenosis is the condition where the spinal canal is narrowed and the spinal cord and / or nerve roots near it are compressed or pinched.

The spinal canal is the hollow passage that runs through the bones in the back known as vertebra. The spinal canal contains and protects the spinal cord. When the spinal cord or nerves are compressed by spinal stenosis, it may lead to symptoms like pain and numbness of the hands, arms, legs, and/or feet, depending on the region of the spine where the compression is occurring.

Spinal stenosis most commonly occurs in the lower back (called lumbar stenosis) and neck (called cervical stenosis). Very rarely, the thoracic region (mid to upper back) of the spine is affected. People who have lumbar spinal stenosis may experience lower back pain, as well as pain, tingling, or weakness in one or both of their legs. These symptoms are often triggered when walking or standing up, and then subside after sitting down or leaning over. People with cervical spinal stenosis may experience neck pain and stiffness, in addition to pain, weakness, or numbness in the hands, arms, and legs.

Happy Halloween!

Skellie says, “Remember to take better care of your body than I did!”

Wishing everyone a pain-free, spooky day of fun!

How are you celebrating?

Today is World Psoriasis Awareness Day. Share your story with us to help raise awareness!

About 11 percent of those diagnosed with psoriasis have also been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), furthermore, approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis will eventually develop PsA.

Psoriatic arthritis often may go undiagnosed, particularly in its milder forms. However, it's important to treat psoriatic arthritis early on to help avoid permanent joint and ligament damage. Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, and depression. It is essential to begin and maintain appropriate treatment by a rheumatologist as soon as possible.

The misuse and abuse of opioids in the United States take the lives of more than 90 Americans every day. The most recent reports estimate more than 65,000 deaths from drug overdoses over a 12-month period—a record high. We all know it is a serious national public health emergency.

While this is absolutely and without question tragic, there is now so much apprehension about prescribing pain medications that chronic pain sufferers with legitimate needs are finding themselves in an awful position. There is an overcorrection happening that too often leaves people in pain begging for refills and being treated like addicts.

Do you feel like you’ve been unfairly treated by this response to the controversy?

The symptoms of fibromyalgia and neuropathy can be very similar. Sufferers report a painful "pins and needles" feeling in their nerves. Has anyone been diagnosed with either disease - or perhaps both?

Fibromyalgia is thought to be a nerve pathway disorder that causes nerves throughout the body to experience pain when there is no real reason for pain. Fibromyalgia does not cause permanent nerve damage and the symptoms usually come in flares and then subside for awhile.

Neuropathy, sometimes called peripheral neuropathy, is caused by actual damage to nerve endings. This causes severe pain that is constant, it does not go away as it does with fibromyalgia. Often, neuropathy is a result of high blood sugar levels.

Does anyone else just want to vent about living with pain today? Go ahead, let it out. We understand.

“I try not to complain most of the time because I know that there are people who have it way worse than me, but I’m so sick of my pain today. Seriously. It’s so exhausting to just hurt like 70% of always. I don’t even ask for the pain to go away, just want to be able to sleep! Is that too much to ask? ”

Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels sustained over a long period of time. Peripheral neuropathy is the most common form of neuropathy caused by diabetes.

Peripheral diabetic neuropathy is also known as peripheral diabetic nerve pain and distal polyneuropathy. It affects nerves leading to the extremities—to the feet, legs, hands, and arms. The nerves going to the feet are the longest in the body. After they branch off the spinal cord in the low back, they have to go all the way down into the feet.

Because the nerves are so long, it’s most often these nerves that are damaged; there’s more of them to be damaged. This nerve damage can lead to the foot problems often associated with diabetes, including foot deformities, infections, ulcers, and amputations.

“I have osteoarthritis in both of my thumb joints. I'm 70 years old, still very active and work full time in my business. My condition is getting increasingly painful. I am currently getting by with painkillers. I have seen a surgeon but I'm really concerned about the long recovery time.

Has anyone here had basal thumb surgery and if so would you mind describing what the surgery and recovery is like? I would be most grateful.”

Do you understand what it’s like?

“I am in pain constantly. My whole body hurts from the time I wake up until I go to sleep. I try not to complain and stay positive, but it is a living hell. People don’t understand what it is like.”

Corrective orthotics can help reposition the area of the body that is the source of chronic pain. Have you seen success using them?

When we think of orthotics, we tend to picture inserts into our shoes to correct for fallen arches and other foot issues – and these can work wonders for foot pain.

There are also orthotic braces for the back to support and correct the spine, and many other parts of the body. The concept is the same – realign the body to relieve the pain while providing additional support to reduce stress and strain on the area. Typically, you would see a specialist who can create a custom orthotic for you.

There is also a wide variety of braces, posture correctors, and wraps available over the counter that you can use effectively to treat pain from injuries. Simply wrapping an injury soon after it occurs can reduce inflammation and provide additional support to aid in healing.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that the immune system attacks healthy cells in the body by mistake, specifically affecting connective tissue leading to joint inflammation, pain, and degeneration of the joint tissue.

RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once. RA commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. In a joint with RA, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed, causing damage to joint tissue. Cartilage is a flexible, connective tissue in joints that absorbs the pressure and shock created by movement like running and walking. It also protects the joints and allows for smooth movement. Persistent inflammation in the synovia leads to the degeneration of cartilage and bone. This can then lead to joint deformity, pain, swelling, and redness.

Share your experience with us.

“I have Fibro and a degenerative disc in my back along with bad knees, bad hips and crippling arthritis in my legs. And I’m only 53. I’ve had much of this for 10 years now.

I’ve taken everything as in pills to help, but no surgeries. I refuse. I’ve had injections for years and nothing has helped me. I got addicted to opioids having been on the highest doses possible for humans. I took myself off all meds and now on only Tylenol 600 four times a day. I suffer everyday 24/7 non-stop.

Best of luck to you all. It’s not easy to suffer. Keep up the Fight!”