Thursday, June 26, 2025

Chronic Pain Thoughts: Volume 40

 Dear Reader,


While doom scrolling Facebook reels, I came across Claudia Merandi from The Doctor Patient Forum. I am empowered. There are so many things I didn't know.


What I do know is this:


In 2012 when my back started to hurt, I ignored it for a while, doing things I would normally do until I couldn't. I then went to the doctor as I could no longer stay active. I was sent to Pain Management who did a series of injections, I then started to get pain in my whole body along with this “running” sensation. I was diagnosed with Fibromylagia and given Gabapentin and Muscle relaxers. I wasn't happy with my treatment as I was feeling worse and not better, so I found another provider.


I happily went to Wisconsin Spine & Pain (Called something else at the time). I was given tramadol and switched to Lyrica. I went through years of medication switches and injections before I had had enough. I then found and wrote to another pain provider about my history. Once I switched in 2023, I knew things were off, but I had to keep going.


I was taken off tramadol as I'd already gotten off Cymbalta thanks to Cymbalta Hurts Worse on Facebook. I was told that tramadol was making my pain worse. How? I couldn't do anything that I used to be able to do. I went from being active (getting those 10,000 steps a day to barley 2,000) to nothing. I couldn't stand, walk or bend.


As you know from my previous post that I got Disc Replacement surgery, because that pain in my back? Was made worse by everything I went through. My back currently doesn't hurt but I still experience widespread pain all the time.


Through the years I've experienced the following treatment suggestions:


*Lose weight (where? I'm 5 feet tall and 110 pounds naturally after having 4 kids)

*Try Swimming (I hate swimming and once I get “cold” it's over for me)

*Try Yoga (I did both before, during and after)

*Strengthen your core (Duh, isn't that was Yoga was for?)

*Physical Therapy (I've exhausted my insurance benefits for this multi years)

*Medications: Tramadol, Cymbalta, Gabapentin, Lyrica, Meloxicam, Celebrex and multiple others. Notice how only one is actually for pain and that didn't work

*Read a book (I've got multiple titles of books that should “help me”)

*Try counseling (I have thanks)

*I've had several of the following injections: Epidural Steroid, Facet Join, Medial Branch Block, Nerve Blocks, Radiofrequency Ablation, Trigger Point, Sacroiliac Joint, Caudal (this one worked but they only did it once and refused to do it again) and Injections into my hip and neck.

*Change your diet (I've done this several times over but again, have to watch my weight, being such a small person it's not worth being accused on having an eating disorder)


I've been raw dogging it with 4x Ibprofen, 2x Tylenol and 1 Tizadine twice a day. I don't have any other choices. I can't be put into the position again; I can't go in once a month.


I'm just an adult in pain asking to be trusted to take my medications without humiliating drug testing and monthly appointments that I can't afford.


https://www.thedoctorpatientforum.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@claudiaa.merandi1969



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