I need to get relief

Blarg. I feel like I've tried it all and I need new options. My back and neck have become so knotted that getting out of bed has become difficult. Even my physical therapist and chiropractor commented on the horrific state that my muscles have twisted themselves into. Swollen and tight I just don't know what to do anymore. I do not enjoy living in a drug induced stupor... but I need to sleep, I need to function... Physical therapy and other manipulations work best, but like most health insurance companies they are stingy ******s. I am running out of ideas, pt appointments, and slowly edging my way up the narcotic ladder.

Any suggestions, ideas, anything is welcome.


Thanks
Jess

Hi Jess
Welcome :O)
I dont know much about what your condition(s) are but im terribly sorry to hear that you are having such a hard time. I sure know about Insuarce and alternative therapies thou. Im not naming and names (Evil blue) but my new insurace sure does pretend like I need a doctorate in insurance-ology just to figre out if I can afford to sneeze! Let alone cover bio-feedback .They gave me a big fat NO WAY new girl! No SOUP for YOU!
I miss my old insurance carrier.. they even covered my pain psychology. No questions asked. *sigh*

I dont use perscription narcotics. I would rather vomit, eat more nutrients, wipe of sweat and go on about my day. But then again, ive got lil ones. Its just me. Mommy has to be on the ball 24/7! Now... if i didnt have little ones in the home thou.... Dare I dream of sleeping in? Kidding, it isnt that bad. Labor of love.

I see a Pain Management Specialist (kinda a funny story how we met). I was very specific. He completly understood. But unfortunatly, taking away each pain individually took a while to start up, about 3mos. Im gladd I stuck with thou. But, there this one part. I tried to talk to Miss Mary about it.... It this whole "Depending on someone other than myself".. kinda took a while to get used to... still kinda bugg s me come think of it.

*huggs*
dani

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TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood

Jess, First, welcome to the Chronic Pain Forum. There are not many of us on here because we found the answer in a treatment or pill. We have tried and live with pain. You don't say much about why your muscles are knotted up. What type of doctors have you been to? It sounds as if your insurance paid for so long and is now starting to close out the options. This would depend on several factors including what the doctors and PT therapists are passing on to the insurance company. The Ins. companies are in business to make money so they often try to limit but what are your doctors saying? Many of us here have been down the same road and have tried many things even surgery and are still on this site which means the options have not worked or have not worked well. Pain meds are needed at times to mask the pain so we can have some flevel of functioning in our lives. It is not that we crave the pain meds. As far as options, what options are your doctors giving you? Have you tried a Pain Management Specialist. Have you tried natural options. Many of us know the struggle as we have been there for years. There is a reason they call it Pain Management. Hope you keep looking for options and find one that works for you. 

Hi Jess,

Welcome to HW...I'm sure most of us here at one time or another have tried NOT to give into taking PM.  I did for 3 years following Triple Cervical fusion surgery, I did many alternative treatments including Prolotherapy which I believe worked the best for me in an effort to continue to work AND not have to take PM's.  Unfortunately, the ergonomics of my work station was undoing all the good my therapies were!  I had a final injury in 2003, that sent me to the reality mode.  I gave my notice at work and applied for SSD and made the painful decision to see a PMD.  At my first Pain Managment MD visit I told my Dr. I did NOT want to give in and start taking drugs.  He explained that in the CP situation I was in that it was an absolute necessity and would make my quality of life better.  I shuddered at the thought and I remember the dilemma and turmoil I felt when I began to take "DRUGS".  I felt defeated to say the least, to go this route was admitting to myself my true situation.  Pain gave me no other choice then to do it, from the 1st days dosing I realized that it did indeed take the edge off.  Its now been 6 years of PM, assorted anti spasm meds and the likes, as well as many, many alternative therapies.  Physical Therapy exercises have become routine in my life as has PM.  My point is you can take PM and continue to seek different treatment modalities and hope for the best.  Taking PM isn't the end of the world, it DOES take the edge off (sometimes) and allows you a somewhat better quality of life.  There are many nutritional supplements that you can take to help detox the negative impact PM has on certain organs and body functions!

Insurance companies just add to the stress not covering needed treatments....do what works best for you and I hope you get some relief soon!

Patti

Thought I had put a blurb about the cause of the pain.... hmm. One of the many ailments that I have is peripheral neuropathy (epilepsy and syncope too). It causes my nerves to be highly sensitive and pain to linger. I got into a car accident roughly 3 1/2 yrs ago which resulted in the mess my muscles are in. The only explaination that doctors and therapists alike can give me is that my naturally very limber body is trying to support itself by tightening up. The whiplash probably cause my neck and sholders to tighten, which slowly lead to my back, and is now traveling down to my glutes.
I do see a pain management specialist, i get trigger point injects and a facet injection now and then when it gets really bad (trying to hold off on getting a spinal block but that is an ever dwindling hope). Also have done reflexology, active release therapy, cupping, effleurage, and accupressure.
My PM sees me traveling a slippery slope with my meds... another problem I have to face is my ever increasing tolerance for pain killers and muscle relaxers. I get a new and stronger pill roughly every 4-5 months, and the only reason that I can hold out for so long is that I rotate my current pills every week.

Jess

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'And because I want it so much I will accept no substitute.'

Jess