When I first joined this site a few
months ago I had asked about having an MRI. I had herniated discs in my neck and Sciatic pain in my butt and leg. Well I have been doing exercises
for a while now and it did help with the disc pain BUT I am still having sciatic pain.
I have it 24-7 and its really starting to depress
me to tell you the truth. They do not know what is causing the sciatica. I have to go see a Neurologist and have a needles stuck in me. They shock you to find any nerve damage. They say it can be painful. I am just very sick of being in pain. The doctor will not give me any pain med because he said it would just mask the pain and they would not know if I was getting better or not. It hurts to walk, sit, stand you name it.
Sorry to moan about my problems. I know it could always be worse but it is starting to get old.
I also have yet another lump in my back. I had one removed back in OCT. It was an infected lymph
node that they had to check for lympoma. I could just cry. I go back to the doc on Tuesday. Sorry this was so long. Thanks for listening. :-)

By Bellajoe on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 02:56 pm:

(((Trisa))) I'm sorry your are in such pain. I wish i could do or say something to make it go away for you.

By Dana on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 03:04 pm:

Oh, hugs, sweety. No one likes to hurt, and hurting long term is just the worst. I'm so sorry you are going thru this. I pray they will find the root of your problems so you can heal.

By Marg on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 03:45 pm:

(((Trisa)))

I kind of know how you feel. My Sacroiliac joint in the hip is inflamed and the pain is paralyzing. But no where near what you are going through

I fell asleep with ice on my back this afternoon and if actually feels a little better

Praying for you!

By Trisa on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 06:33 pm:

Thanks guys :-)
Marg I hope your inflamed joint
gets better very soon. Sounds very painful
you poor thing.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 08:48 pm:

I don't buy that you can't have pain meds because they wouldn't know if you are improving or not. If it were me, I'd be quickly looking for a new doctor.

The neurologist is probably going to do an EMG. I've had them, twice, and they are really no fun. The only good thing about the EMG is that when it hurts the most is when the nerve being tested is really alright. What it is is that they run an electric current from one needle to the other, and if you feel pain it means the nerve is OK because the electric current is getting through from one needle to the other without blockage. A damaged nerve does not conduct as well. The test actually measures the amount of current getting through and the pain is just an unfortunate consequence. Wish I could say something encouraging about having the procedure, but I really can't except that it is one of the very best ways to check for nerve damage or blockage. They just don't like to use it unless other means of diagnosis don't work because it does have the potential for pain. The last time I had this test, about a year ago, I was in tears at the end of it because it hurt so much, and knowing that the hurting meant the nerves were OK was not much help at the time. Fortunately, once they turn the machine off the pain is gone and there is no lingering pain.

Sciatic pain is because something is pressing on or compressing the sciatic nerve somewhere. If they didn't uncover what is causing it with the MRI, then the EMG is really the best test, even with the hurting.

But seriously, if it were me I'd be looking for a doctor who could find some way to provide pain relief that didn't interfere with healing. And I am sure that this is possible.

I hate to say it, but there are doctors who just don't take pain and the debilitating effects of chronic pain seriously, even given the changes in guidelines for pain management from the AMA. From everything I have read in recent years, the AMA and almost all medical associations and organizations have made pain relief a high priority simply because chronic and serious pain are so debilitating. Pain slows healing, causes emotional depression, and interferes with anything like a normal lifestyle. And a doctor who is willing to look at alternatives can find a way for you to have pain relief without interfering with treatment. Maybe you should demand (and I mean DEMAND) that your doctor refer you to a pain management specialist if you don't feel like changing doctors at this point. There is just no reason to endure chronic pain without exploring all the options for controlling it. Measuring improvement by how much it does or doesn't hurt is, to my mind, a fairly primitive way of making a diagnosis.

By Trisa on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 - 09:29 pm:

Thanks for all that Ginny. Yes living with pain
is a bit depressing. As far as the doctor goes
I have had 2 doctors refuse to give me anything for pain. They both said the same thing. Yes I have heard that that EMG test hurts and I am a tad scared. Are you allowed to have anyone in the room with you when you have this done? I will at least ask my doc next week if she will send me to a pain management specialist. They treat you like you are just some stupid person who really is not in as much pain as you say you are. It really isn't right or fair. How would they like to take care of kids, clean, cook, and be a wife while in constant pain. I feel so bad some days when I know I could have been nicer to my family if it were not for this darn pain all the time. Yes it could aways be worse and I am thankful I have so much and that I dont have some really awful disease but that does not mean I should sufer everyday. Thanks again to all.