Mr. Asthma

Question:

Have you tried steroids? A burst of predispose sometimes will get that kind of problem under temporary control. Gordon

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->      Hi, I am a male in my mid-to-late twenties and a fellow chronic pain > sufferer. I have a very stiff neck, cervical whiplash, TMJ, chronic daily > headache and migraines. Now this condition has helped to undermine the quality > of my life. Recently I admitted myself to the hospital as I did not know what > to do to control my pain. Needless to say, it was a humiliating experience > spending five days in a psychiatric ward. It could have been a longer stay but > the treating physician let me go after I requested it. While in the hospital I > saw some pain management experts but I believe I undermined my own care by not > telling them what has worked in the past for my pain. They tried a lidocaine > patch and wanted to try Zanaflex (I tried this before and it failed). Then they > told me to make a follow-up with the pain clinic. While in the hospital I slept > maybe two hours a night and spent most of my time sitting in a chair outside my > room. I told the psychiatrist that if I am going to suffer intense pain I might > as well do it at home as it will not impose the same financial costs – he let > me leave immediately. >      I went to the pain clinic immediately after discharge and the nurse told > me I had to get a referral (I just saw two of their neurologists in the > hospital who referred me and she said something about specific forms). > Furthermore, she said there was a 6 week waiting list. The week before I went > into the hospital I had seen a headache expert (who recommended I go inpatient > because my case was too complex and I seemingly tried all the conventional > therapies, but given the waiting list at all the headache centers I should go > to the psych unit), a pain psychologist, and the ER 3x. Again, none of this was > very helpful and just added to my frustration, which precipitated me going into > the hospital. >      Well, the headache specialist I mentioned recommended the Michigan > Headache Clinic. I called them today but apparently they are out office for the > 4th of July weekend. I am trying to be more proactive about my pain management > at this point. Furthermore, I am waiting on insurance approval for another > round of radiofrequency neurolysis. I am willing to go out of state (my family > will pay for medical treatment) or even try experimental therapies. >      I currently am going to a well-known pain clinic in the Minnesota area. I > left the clinic for a few months but the neurologist I saw at the psych ward > said he was fond of this clinic. I was able to get in right away and they told > me they were not upset that I temporarily left the clinic and saw other > specialists.  But here is the problem: I am not getting complete enough relief, > but it is better than nothing.  Also, I look forward to the RFN as it seemed to > have benefit last year. >      What caused me to go into the psychiatric ward was abject depression and > pain. I had severe suicidal ideation as a function of intense migraine, facial, > and neck pain. It seemed to be a rational thing to do at the time. The good > news out of all this is that I have found MARGINAL relief, but not nowhere near > ideal, through a new strategy of exercise, behavioral modification, and > medication. My daily routine consists of taking a warm-to-hot bath 2x a day, > exercise 30-60 minutes a day 2x, physical therapy exercises 1x a day. I also > have increased my neurontin from 800mgs to 1200mgs. Prozac has been added for > depression (risky move given previous mania and panic that resulted) and I take > low-dose Klonopin to help with anxiety. Also, I am seeing a > cognitive-behavioral psychologist. So it seems like I’m at least getting some > reasonable treatment for some of the psychiatric problems caused by the pain – > even though I still suffer high levels of pain. I also take Vioxx, Imitrex, > Vistaril and up to fifteen tablets per month of codeine for severe pain. >      Right now I am enrolled in college and I have a friend who has a master’s > degree in education and several other degrees. He has taught several courses I > am taking right now. He used to be my roomate and is aware of my severe pain > problem. I am hiring him to be my tutor, trying to study as hard as I can in > spite of my predicament, and have contacted all of my instructors. Basically, I > am just trying to do the best I can. If anybody has any suggestions, > recommendations, or criticisms, they would be very welcome. > Thank you, > Ravens (I have posted here in the past so some of you might remember me)

Response:

Have you tried steroids? A burst of predispose sometimes will get that kind of problem under temporary control.>>>> I guess it depends on what kind of steriod you are referring to. If you are referring to the kind they use in epidurals (decadron) I have had over a dozen. The steriod injection doesn’t seem to work but lidocaine does temporarily dull the neck pain (while not helping the TMJ and headache). As far as oral steriods go, I have never taken any except for asthma (prednisone).

Response:

     Hi, I am a male in my mid-to-late twenties and a fellow chronic pain sufferer. I have a very stiff neck, cervical whiplash, TMJ, chronic daily headache and migraines. Now this condition has helped to undermine the quality of my life. Recently I admitted myself to the hospital as I did not know what to do to control my pain. Needless to say, it was a humiliating experience spending five days in a psychiatric ward. It could have been a longer stay but the treating physician let me go after I requested it. While in the hospital I saw some pain management experts but I believe I undermined my own care by not telling them what has worked in the past for my pain. They tried a lidocaine patch and wanted to try Zanaflex (I tried this before and it failed). Then they told me to make a follow-up with the pain clinic. While in the hospital I slept maybe two hours a night and spent most of my time sitting in a chair outside my room. I told the psychiatrist that if I am going to suffer intense pain I might as well do it at home as it will not impose the same financial costs – he let me leave immediately.      I went to the pain clinic immediately after discharge and the nurse told me I had to get a referral (I just saw two of their neurologists in the hospital who referred me and she said something about specific forms). Furthermore, she said there was a 6 week waiting list. The week before I went into the hospital I had seen a headache expert (who recommended I go inpatient because my case was too complex and I seemingly tried all the conventional therapies, but given the waiting list at all the headache centers I should go to the psych unit), a pain psychologist, and the ER 3x. Again, none of this was very helpful and just added to my frustration, which precipitated me going into the hospital.      Well, the headache specialist I mentioned recommended the Michigan Headache Clinic. I called them today but apparently they are out office for the 4th of July weekend. I am trying to be more proactive about my pain management at this point. Furthermore, I am waiting on insurance approval for another round of radiofrequency neurolysis. I am willing to go out of state (my family will pay for medical treatment) or even try experimental therapies.      I currently am going to a well-known pain clinic in the Minnesota area. I left the clinic for a few months but the neurologist I saw at the psych ward said he was fond of this clinic. I was able to get in right away and they told me they were not upset that I temporarily left the clinic and saw other specialists.  But here is the problem: I am not getting complete enough relief, but it is better than nothing.  Also, I look forward to the RFN as it seemed to have benefit last year.      What caused me to go into the psychiatric ward was abject depression and pain. I had severe suicidal ideation as a function of intense migraine, facial, and neck pain. It seemed to be a rational thing to do at the time. The good news out of all this is that I have found MARGINAL relief, but not nowhere near ideal, through a new strategy of exercise, behavioral modification, and medication. My daily routine consists of taking a warm-to-hot bath 2x a day, exercise 30-60 minutes a day 2x, physical therapy exercises 1x a day. I also have increased my neurontin from 800mgs to 1200mgs. Prozac has been added for depression (risky move given previous mania and panic that resulted) and I take low-dose Klonopin to help with anxiety. Also, I am seeing a cognitive-behavioral psychologist. So it seems like I’m at least getting some reasonable treatment for some of the psychiatric problems caused by the pain – even though I still suffer high levels of pain. I also take Vioxx, Imitrex, Vistaril and up to fifteen tablets per month of codeine for severe pain.      Right now I am enrolled in college and I have a friend who has a master’s degree in education and several other degrees. He has taught several courses I am taking right now. He used to be my roomate and is aware of my severe pain problem. I am hiring him to be my tutor, trying to study as hard as I can in spite of my predicament, and have contacted all of my instructors. Basically, I am just trying to do the best I can. If anybody has any suggestions, recommendations, or criticisms, they would be very welcome. Thank you, Ravens (I have posted here in the past so some of you might remember me)

Response:

Is there a certain name they call a doctor a headache specialist? I hope you get the help you need. Ryan

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->      Hi, I am a male in my mid-to-late twenties and a fellow chronic pain > sufferer. I have a very stiff neck, cervical whiplash, TMJ, chronic daily > headache and migraines. Now this condition has helped to undermine the quality > of my life. Recently I admitted myself to the hospital as I did not know what > to do to control my pain. Needless to say, it was a humiliating experience > spending five days in a psychiatric ward. It could have been a longer stay but > the treating physician let me go after I requested it. While in the hospital I > saw some pain management experts but I believe I undermined my own care by not > telling them what has worked in the past for my pain. They tried a lidocaine > patch and wanted to try Zanaflex (I tried this before and it failed). Then they > told me to make a follow-up with the pain clinic. While in the hospital I slept > maybe two hours a night and spent most of my time sitting in a chair outside my > room. I told the psychiatrist that if I am going to suffer intense pain I might > as well do it at home as it will not impose the same financial costs – he let > me leave immediately. >      I went to the pain clinic immediately after discharge and the nurse told > me I had to get a referral (I just saw two of their neurologists in the > hospital who referred me and she said something about specific forms). > Furthermore, she said there was a 6 week waiting list. The week before I went > into the hospital I had seen a headache expert (who recommended I go inpatient > because my case was too complex and I seemingly tried all the conventional > therapies, but given the waiting list at all the headache centers I should go > to the psych unit), a pain psychologist, and the ER 3x. Again, none of this was > very helpful and just added to my frustration, which precipitated me going into > the hospital. >      Well, the headache specialist I mentioned recommended the Michigan > Headache Clinic. I called them today but apparently they are out office for the > 4th of July weekend. I am trying to be more proactive about my pain management > at this point. Furthermore, I am waiting on insurance approval for another > round of radiofrequency neurolysis. I am willing to go out of state (my family > will pay for medical treatment) or even try experimental therapies. >      I currently am going to a well-known pain clinic in the Minnesota area. I > left the clinic for a few months but the neurologist I saw at the psych ward > said he was fond of this clinic. I was able to get in right away and they told > me they were not upset that I temporarily left the clinic and saw other > specialists.  But here is the problem: I am not getting complete enough relief, > but it is better than nothing.  Also, I look forward to the RFN as it seemed to > have benefit last year. >      What caused me to go into the psychiatric ward was abject depression and > pain. I had severe suicidal ideation as a function of intense migraine, facial, > and neck pain. It seemed to be a rational thing to do at the time. The good > news out of all this is that I have found MARGINAL relief, but not nowhere near > ideal, through a new strategy of exercise, behavioral modification, and > medication. My daily routine consists of taking a warm-to-hot bath 2x a day, > exercise 30-60 minutes a day 2x, physical therapy exercises 1x a day. I also > have increased my neurontin from 800mgs to 1200mgs. Prozac has been added for > depression (risky move given previous mania and panic that resulted) and I take > low-dose Klonopin to help with anxiety. Also, I am seeing a > cognitive-behavioral psychologist. So it seems like I’m at least getting some > reasonable treatment for some of the psychiatric problems caused by the pain – > even though I still suffer high levels of pain. I also take Vioxx, Imitrex, > Vistaril and up to fifteen tablets per month of codeine for severe pain. >      Right now I am enrolled in college and I have a friend who has a master’s > degree in education and several other degrees. He has taught several courses I > am taking right now. He used to be my roomate and is aware of my severe pain > problem. I am hiring him to be my tutor, trying to study as hard as I can in > spite of my predicament, and have contacted all of my instructors. Basically, I > am just trying to do the best I can. If anybody has any suggestions, > recommendations, or criticisms, they would be very welcome. > Thank you, > Ravens (I have posted here in the past so some of you might remember me)

Response: