Powerless and In Pain

[DavisM1]

I am 32 years old and for the past 4 years now have been to over 22 doctors and specialist. I have changed my Primary Care Physician over 6 times. I have been to Ortho docs, Spine Specialists, Neurologists, Physical Therapists, Mental Health Professionals, Chiropractors, Urologists, Dieticians, and even an oral surgeon. I have had numerous tests Xrays MRIs and lots of injections and procedures. Some of them dangerous and painful and made my pain worse. I have been on so many meds I have lost count. I take pain meds over the counter and prescription. I wear many support slings and use topical pain creams. I have been told by one doctor that Im too young for all this pain and these symptoms and that it is all in my head. he put me on depression meds that made me feel like a zombie and did nothing but make me feel like I was in a fog. I am not depressed about mu life I am just so tired of being in pain and not getting any help or diagnosis. I am a mother of two beautiful children. I am married and happily so. I am happy. I told the doctor this and He said that Im one of those people that are looking for an excuse not to work. I have been a teacher at the same school for over 10 years. I also waitress part time and volunteer for the Social Services work it out program helping parents who are struggling find and keep jobs. I work over 12 hrs a day and usually 6 or more days a week. when he told me that I just am lazy and just don't wanna work I cried. I work very hard and I love my job. I just find it so hard anymore to get thru the pain. I don't like being on pain meds and Im devastated that I have to miss out on a lot of family activities because I am exhausted and hurting so much that I cant leave the house on my days off. I feel totally alone and have begun to lose hope. I use to exercise everyday. I participated in marathons and biked and swam every weekend. Me and my husband use to go on hikes every weekend and take the children camping and to the beach every other weekend in the summer. I have also loved gardening and am passionate about my dogs. I have a hound mix from the ASPCA and a German Shepherd. I can no longer take them for our runs. My husband is very concerned about me and he doesn't know what to do to help me. I feel that if many doctors cant help me then it is hopeless. I approached my doctor with information I had found online about fibromyalgia. He said it is not a real medical condition and its just an excuse lazy people use to get disability. I changed doctors and the next doctor said the same thing. Due to my insurance I can only see certain doctors and have run out of docs that accept my insurance. Im stuck with the one I have. I don't know what else to do. I am awake and in pain all night and tired all day and in pain. My life has become so very unfulfilling, and it has never been so before. this condition is keeping me from living my llife. If anyone has any advice or names of doctors or they have been thru the same thing and gotten help please let me know. I just don't know what else I can do.

 

[Lana]

I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through, What a loser doctor you have! he really needs to get more educated. Fibromyalgia is real and we are not lazy people. I had a great job and I was devastated when I had to quit. You have to get another Doctor, don't stay with a jerk like that!

 

[ramsvcu]

I have had chronic neck and shoulder pain for 6 yrs. due to cervical facet arthritis and recently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. After seeing a pain specialist for 5 yrs. wasting lots of money with physical therapy, etc. I decided to see a female rheumatologist who diagnosed the fibro. She felt my pain was made worse by anxiety and said to see a psychiatrist. He adjusted my gabapentin so that instead of taking it all at night, I take it three times daily. That along with Xanax twice daily has made the most difference with my pain. Muscle spasms and cold air sensitivity gone and pain so much better. I hope you are able to get the help you need. The pain is real, not in your head but being able to relax has really made a drastic difference for me.

 

[junebugrobts]

Your resume and mine are so alike, I, too have gone to many docs, have had fibro for over 2 decades but recently it
is so much worse i have really been seeking help. I finally got my MD to refer me to a pain specialist. I now am
on Gapapentin med and a pain patch. I am doing considerably better, Still have pain and the worse thing is muscle
spasms which also is a symptom of Fibro.Finally I feel i have some hope bog better days, even though I also have
Crohns disease.
Good luck, stay on board

 

[GemmaRowlands]

I send you my sympathies for the way that you are being treated. It is a struggle for a lot of people with this condition to get the help that they need simply because of the fact that there is so little known about it in comparison to other illnesses, however it would seem that your doctor is particularly clueless and unprofessional. Have you thought about asking whether you would be able to see somebody else in the future? Nobody should have to live their life in pain, and if you are given the help that you need there is every chance that you would be able to live the life that you would like to.

 

[DavisM1]

Thank you everyone for your input and support. I have recently seen a new doctor. However she said she feels she would like to rule out more conditions before she refers me to any other specialist. Including a rheumatologist. I tried to explain to her that I have seen all these other specialists and have had so many tests and things done. I live everyday of my life in the worst pain I just dont understand why a doctor cant try to help relieve it in some way. Im told repeatedly to take advil and tylenol. Ive taken it for years and its hurting my stomach. Ive had to go to a gastrointestinal specialist who told me to stop taking the pain relief meds but I cant because I have to have something to take the edge off. It has gotten worse this week. My ankles and wrists have been very sore and I have a stabbing pain in them and its hard to get out of bed or do anything. And I aslo have to work long hours and I am moving and on my feet all day from 430am to 600pm. I often go home now and cry on the couch after I put my children to bed. Its frustrating because my insurance company requires my primary care doc to give me a referral before I can see a specialist for fibro or RA.:evil:

 

[mariposa]

I have recently seen a new doctor. However she said she feels she would like to rule out more conditions before she refers me to any other specialist. Including a rheumatologist. I tried to explain to her that I have seen all these other specialists and have had so many tests and things done.

:sad: First of all, I'm sorry that you're having to face all this... and that you don't have a doctor who will work with you toward your best interests. :sad:

Secondly, I'm not understanding why your new doctor wouldn't have your transferred medical records from your old doctors. What would the need be to re-do all those tests if she sees the results in your previous records? They don't usually do that if current test results are in the record...only if they were inconclusive.

 

[Mowmow]

Ugh, I know exactly how you feel. Last couple of years have been very hard on me as well. I have been to countless doctors, none wanting to help me or give me a referral. They all either think its in my head or that I'm over exaggerating my pain. It's ridiculous. I am in pain, I know I am, why won't you help me? No! I don't want your prescription, just tell me what's wrong me and what can I do about it. Driving me crazy. I feel your pain, don't give up.

 

[DavisM1]

My doc had me sign a release of medical records. She said however that she has better tests and more extensive blood work she wants to run. I do think she wants to help. I just think she believes I may be lying or exaggerating my symptoms. I have been keeping a pain and symptom log and including photos of my joints and problem areas. I thought this may help greatly considering I cant be in front of a doc every time something is happening. Im holding out hope I will have a diagnosis in the next few months at least. Im trying to be strong and deal with the pain as much as I can. Its just so hard sometimes. As a teacher to Im on my feet all day and after lunch Im just in so much pain I feel like my teaching ability is suffering. I loss my concentration easily and the students correct me LOL! They are so helpful tho. They keep me smiling. Thanks everyone! ! Also too has anyone ever had extreme burning on the bottoms of thier feet and palms of thier hands. Today my hands and feet feel like fire?

 

[DavisM1]

Bloodwork came back ok just high sediments in my blood whatever that means? Now the doc wants to put me on sleep meds depression meds and anxiety meds. I told her No! I am not depressed or anxious. I cannot be drugged on sleep meds because my husband works nights now and I have two small children who may need me in the night. I told her I want a referral to an RA or Im leaving the office. I said that I wont take medscwithout a diagnosis. Im not taking meds just so she could"try this out"

 

[Trellum]

Best of luck davies, I think I will have run out of doctors soon, it gets tiring to see one doctor after another because the previous one didn't sound so convincing. Today I started questioning my own sanity, but I guess this is the life we got to live, plus it's our health! We need to do whatever it takes to get the best treatment options and accurate diagnosis. When in doubt I always see a different doctor, because you never know! I don't like it when they can't explain something to me.