Venting! Doctors suck!

[thparker13]

Sorry I’m venting today, just left a surgeons appointment for him to spend maybe 10 mins with me and no suggestions after I waited over an hour and a half to see him.
So here’s the deal, I’ve had chronic neck pain for over two years now, I’ve had so many injections and have now done ablation twice in different levels since they weren’t hitting the target the first time (go figure, even when I told them they were to low), any who, another surgeon noticed I have a cyst and suggested that might be what is causing my pain and headache so he suggested I speak to another specialist to see what he thinks. I was just grateful at the idea that finally, after two years, someone looked harder and noticed something… well I was so excited to get this appointment today and looking forward to answers just to be deflated and dismissed. He told me that there was nothing for him to do and the cyst couldn’t be causing me issues and walked out..
I can’t help but feeling so frustrated, I’ve literally been in so much pain for over 2 years. I understand that my MRIs only show slight issues, but it’s those issues that are causing me great pain! I’m not asking for surgery, I’m not asking for pain killers, I’m literally asking for answers!
I think what is so frustrating is that there is pain, I have mobility issues, physical therapy didn’t help, injections haven’t helped, ablation hasn’t helped but it’s ok for them to just suck it up and get passed it. I promise you, if any of these doctors suffered the way we do, they would immediately be treated and yet we are told to just live with it!
I’m so irritated, frustrated and completely defeated! Chronic pain is no joke and is utterly exhausting, and yet most people have no clue what it feels like to live everyday like this.
If any of you have any suggestions, please, I’d love to hear them! I take plenty of meds and supplements, I’ve done PT, I sadly can’t afford acupuncture or massage, if there are any other suggestions, I’m here.
Thank you!

 

[JamieMarc]

@thparker13 What about neck stretches and self-massage? Have you examined your sleeping position and evaluated how your pillow(s) might be affecting your neck? Just some thoughts. There are other neck exercises, too, that you can search for on YouTube.

I have osteoarthritis and cervical radiculopathy in my neck. I have found a pillow (after many tries) that works well for me, and employ daily neck stretches, especially in the morning, as well as self-massage throughout the day. I'm also careful about my neck posture in relation to whatever task I am performing. I do take medication, also. And supplements, like you.

Hugs, my friend!

 

[thparker13]

Thank you for responding! Yes, I have the same issues as you with my neck along with multiple levels of bulging discs, but they say that is normal. I also have a slipped vertebrae, but not enough for them to care about as well.
I have tried soooo many pillows and found one that works for me as well.
I do try to do some stretching and massage, but the pain is mostly centralized to the center so it’s hard to fix that.
Just frustrating when I know there is a problem but yet there are no true answers!

 

[sunkacola]

Just frustrating when I know there is a problem but yet there are no true answers!

I fully get this. And unfortunately, that seems to be what those of us with fibromyalgia have to deal with all of the time, one way or another. At least, we can come to this forum and understand and support each other.

 

[Fibromom3]

I’m so sorry for you. I completely know what you are talking about. I went to do many pain specialist that did nothing to help me and I just wanted to jump off a bridge. It wasn’t until I flew out to John’s Hopkins hospital in Baltimore that someone made me feel like I wasn’t crazy. They believed me, and helped me get on a road to help. Please let me know if you have any questions. If you are anything like me you are not “med seeking” you just need medicine to help you feel better. My new specialist said only 5% of people that go to pain specialists are med seeking… the other 95% just need real relief from the awful pain we have. Don’t let people shame you.

 

[sunkacola]

Hi Fibromom, I'm glad that you finally found some reasonable help from doctors. And...I am interested to know what the folks at John's Hopkins did that helped you get on the road to help. If you don't mind telling us, that is...I think it might be helpful for others to know what was helpful to you.

Interesting statistic on people and pain specialists I don't know if that is technically accurate or not, but I completely believe that it is, or is at least very close to being true. The fact is, if a person were simply seeking drugs there would probably be easier ways (although illegal) to get drugs than to go to a pain center and get drug tested and have to fill out innumerable forms and talk to doctors. None of us who go through this think it's fun.

And yes.....do not let ANY one shame you for wanting to get some relief. Anyone who tries to do that simply doesn't have a clue what it is like to live with this every day. I don't blame anyone for not understanding, but to try to make someone ashamed or refuse to believe what we are saying is genuinely cruel.

 

[thparker13]

Hi there Fibromom! Thanks for responding!
It’s so frustrating to see how these doctors just shrug off fibromyalgia like it’s nothing.
I did however go see a new Rheumatologist earlier in the week and to my surprise he said he feels like he knows what is going on with my body, and also said, it’s not to say I don’t have fibromyalgia with this but he believes I also have Non radiographic axial spondyloarthritis. What a mouthful! I am not trying to understand this and what this means to me as well.
I also see a pain specialist, and mine continue to throw whatever I want or don’t at me, I’ve explained that pain pills give me constipation, and can’t tolerate them as they make me itchy as well.. so their answer was to add another medication.. I absolutely cannot take more medication! So frustrating!
I am however happy to finally find a rheumatologist that is going to work with me and has answers, as were the only said, and I quote “I’m sorry you are hurting, there is nothing I can do for you, it’s in your head, download an app for mental health, this is what fibromyalgia is, a mental thing” I literally was crying, I was having an awful flare-up and his remarks left me exhausted and angry!
I too would be interested in hearing about what John Hopkins had to say! Here in Las Vegas, we don’t have the best healthcare, and the closest to me would be me going to California or Arizona in hopes for some answers.. instead I rely on finding the best doctors for me that my insurance will cover.