Pain increasing..

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Sage48

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I cannot believe this..the pain from my SI joints is really bad today. It has been increasing for the past several days. I had an diagnostic injection last month..which did indicate the SI joint is the cause of my back pain..and there was cortisone in the shot..which helped calm the back pain down for several weeks now. BUT,,,the steroid has worn off I do believe. The pain on the right side into the leg and now the foot and little toe on the right side is increasing by leaps and bounRAB today..amazing. I have been taking my pain med..BUT it is not working all that well. My PM Dr. does not give me any breakthrough meRAB...and has stated that he will not give me any stronger med that what I am now on. OKKKKKK, so I am having to tough this out. I have used ice, heat and walking, not walking, laying in bed...anything that I can think of. I see my family Dr. on Wed..as he has to give his ok on me for the SI joint fusion planned for the end of June. ( I am the one who wanted to wait on the surgery until after granRABon's graduation and visit up north to see mother in law..so I can't blame anyone but me for this situation). Just almost getting to that frantic point where you don't know what to do.. Any suggestions??? Thanks for listening to me .... hope you all are having a better day than I am!!

Leslie
 
Thanks again Moldova...you are right..it is much nicer here in the fall/winter!! Yes, we do have flowers most of the year round. And the cold weather does make you hurt more... I was wondering if I could take arabien...but maybe a couple hrs. after I take my pain meRAB. I don't want to overdo here...just get a little sleep! Scarry. I am not seeking meRAB., just want to get out of the extra pain! I will speak with family Dr. at my appt. on Wed...see what he suggests! Thanks for your support!!

Leslie
 
Sage,
I am so sorry, honey, you are not doing well today. Maybe weather also contributes to how you feel? We have such a nasty, rainy and cold weather - my pain is thru the roof also.
I wonder if you would use Tence unit and moist heat - would it be helpful to you? I started Tence Unit and while I am on it, feels so good! Also pad with moist heat feels good too.
I did not get any relieve from steroid shots (I had 9 of them during 3 years). I wonder why your Doc doesn't give you BT meRAB if you suffer so much from pain? In fact SIJ gets worse sometimes after I walk. Sometimes I have to stop and go back home, feels like it's stuck and pain spreaRAB to the hip and bottock...

Hang on Sage, and Good luck to you!
 
I pray that this surgery is an answer to your pain. Please keep us posted on the dates and know that you are being prayed for daily. I wish we all could find an end to our pain. It is so sad that we are all suffering so much. (((HUGS))))

Lincoln don't know what happened but sounRAB scary. Please know that I love Frosties and every time I have one I will think of you now. :D
 
Hey FROSTY!! Like the new name!! It is difficult to change names...but I really think it is a good idea....too easy otherwise...and scary.
I haven't called GH because I told him I'd let the PM Dr. take care of the pain for now (when I was up there)...I think the steroid in the SI joint injection worked...which was nice for a change---but not it seems to be wearing off and I didn't realize how much it helped! The little toe is just starting to wake up...but the rest is already there...no fun. The surgery is scheduled for 6/30 as far as I know.. I arranged it that way for a reason..I want to go to NC and see granRABon graduate..then husband wants to go to MA to see his Mom..she's in the nursing home. I figured I was already in pain..so what was another month...ha....big mistake on my part...but oh well...at least I'll get to stay in a wonderful cabin up in NC...mountains/hot tub/deck can't wait..leave on 6/11 and will return around the 22nd. That is not going to be fun with the driving...but my Mom and 13 y/o grandaughter is coming with us... grandaughter is thrilled....she didn't want to go on vacation and walk the national parks out west...has already done that and didn't want to do it again..wish I could have gone in her place!!!
I will have to go up to see Dr. G/S the last week in June for physical/tests etc... I really am getting a little concerned about this surgery...SCARY...and this from someone who has had several surgeries! It's the non walking thing I think..how will I manage???? I will...just have to get my grit up.
What type of job are you going for??? Will it be full time?? Let me know how you make out!! Good Luck.. Take care..don't over do!!

Leslie
 
Thanks Moldova...I know that you really understand what I am trying to say about the SI joint pain. I usually try not to walk a lot...it really does make things worse. Had to go to the store today...used one of those little electric buggies...to get around the store...it helps...but I hate using them. I dug out one of those vibrating electric paRAB that you can lay on. I put it in my chair and just let it do it's thing for about 45 min. this afternoon. It helped a bit..I do not have a tens unit..so this is the best I can do! The weather where I am..is SUNNY and the humidity is like 6%...which is highly unusual.. (this is Florida...humidity is usually at the top of the charts).. Has been very, very windy..so I guess a low front has been going through for the last couple of days...maybe that is helping create this pain. I had changed PM Drs. a couple of months ago..the last one just basically gave me the oxcycodone..and said that he was just doing palative treatment..he didn't know what was wrong with me.. So the new PM is just giving me the same # of pills and nothing else... EVEN when I tried to tell him I am not sleeping..like, can you help me with this?? And he basically said take the problem to my primary care Dr. And this was after we found out what is causing the pain.. I don't dare call him..he said, well, I am giving you 4 pills a day.. (thanks so much...)... I tried a hot shower also..and that helped a little too... It's just that I dread the night...I had a bad night last night and don't want another one tonight. Thanks again for your support...gotta go and lay down again...feel the leg & back starting up again.. Hope you have a better night...take care.

Leslie
 
Hi Leslie - I think we have posted between ourselves a few months ago. I'm usually on the Pain Management board, but I lurk here too!! I had my SI joints fused several years ago and it stopped my pain completely. I went through the same things that you are going through now - the steroid/novacaine injections really did help me but only for a day or two. But, like you, they were the proof that my pain was indeed coming from the joints. So, the only advice that I can extend would be to seriously consider having the surgery. I can understand your need to put it off until after your family obligations have been fulfilled, but just as soon as you can see your way clear to do it.....DO IT!! In the meantime, stay off your feet as much as possible, try not to put stress on your joints, take anti-inflammatories if they aren't contra-indicated in your particular case and use heat. I wish you much luck and a speedy recovery Leslie!! All the best - Memere (KathyMac)
 
Thanks Diet!! I sincerely hope that this works for me. The Dr. didn't seem to think that the prolotherapy or the radiofrequency would work for me at this point. I have had this problem since I fell....5 1/2 yrs. ago and it just seem to keep getting worse and worse. So I have to trust the experts opinion...
I got a call this morning from the DRs. office...I had thought that we had set up the surgery for th 6/30...and was please with that...husband had taken vacation so that he can be with me in the hospital..(in another city - 60 miles from home..)..BUT got a call today saying they were scheduling for 6/26...I got a little upset..trying to explain that husband had taken vac. time...etc...and that they had called last week for the same thing...and I thought that we had gotten it straightened out for 6/30...well guess not... So now I have to kind of hurry up after we get home from seeing his Mom up north...on the 22nd.. I really needed the extra few days...
I am praying this works... This week has just been so unpleasant...not good..ugly whatever!! I am just hurting...that injection seems to have worn off. oh well... Thanks for caring...you take care...
How are you doing today, recovering after your test??????

Leslie
 
Hi Sage, I am also an SI joint pain sufferer and can identify with your plight. For that type of severe pain that the Percocet does not help your PM doctor should be giving your a stronger medication. When my radio-frequency nerve ablations wear off, my PM doctor usually gives me a duragesic patch to wear so that I get relief 24/7. Seems to me that your pain is being under-treated. I imagine that you know this but I was wondering if you have the option of talking with your GP about better PM or of changing doctors? Even with the fusion planned, this is still a ways down the road. Best of luck to you and I hope your flare dies down. You will be in my thoughts! Lisa
 
Thanks CaliGirl...for your post. It took 5 1/2 yrs. to figure out where the pain was coming from..& this long with meRAB. that were at times, not enough by anyones imagination. What I take, dulls it...sometimes even almost gets rid of it...but it always comes back..& then there are the BAD times...and that is what I am having this week. Unfortunately, my primary doesn't like opiate meRAB...I'll have a hard time getting arabien prescribed...really. I had to change PM Drs. in Jan or Feb....cause the old one did nothing but the one med. for 2 1/2 yrs...pallative. Nice. So I hate to seem as if I am Dr. shopping..especially with the surgery at the end of June...but in the meantime...wow.
Hope you have better days!!!

Leslie
 
Leslie,
I would be upset with my Dr also; I can't understand why some of them treat their patients in such cold hearted manner. I know they have to be careful about meRAB, but don't they see that you are not seeking PK, that you are really need to keep your pain under control?

Sorry you have to deal with it.
Lucky you, you leave in a State I love so much. I think if I would leave in Florida 24/7, my pain would be better in a winter and autumn at least. Just looking at flowers and palm trees can make me feel so much better.

I try not to take Arabien often; I do it maybe 1-2 times a month. But when you can't sleep, it is not fun; next day more pain for me for sure. Can your GP prescribe you Arabien in case you need?

I hope next day will bring you some relieve.... I wish you a better day tomorrow.

Take care!:angel:
 
Hi Leslie,

I'm so sorry to hear you have increasing pain. :( We were supposed to get rain so I wonder if that upped it. It has been doing that to me lately. Have you called Dr. G.S. about it? Perhaps he can give you something for breakthru pain since he is going to do the surgery. He might say no, but he might say yes too.

How long are you putting off the surgery? Early June? Please keep me in the know when you do. I might have a job soon so I might not be able to check as often (I hope to but I might end up coming home and going straight to bed!!).

I don't know if you realize it, but I had my screen name changed recently. I hate that because now noone recognizes you but you were right about the safety and I worried a bit.

Hugs your way...

Love ya,
Lisa
 
Sage,
can you point out for me where is exactly your pain located?

I started my PT last week. She can't do much for me since all problems I have, so she uses Tence unit (love it!), moist heat from head to toe and body massage. Just great!
She worked on massaging my back and touched SIJ - i jumped from pain. She said it's very inflammed, area around it very hard to a touch. And since than hurts so much all day yesterday and today.

I hope your surgery will be the answer for you and that you will never suffer again. Many people who have this type surgery only (I mean no other areas) doing pretty good; I hope you will be one of them, sweetie.

Take care!
 
Sorry that you are hurting so much Moldova...
I hurt in my lower back...more on the right side...if you find that "dimple" off to the side of your lower spine/sacrum...that is what is horrible...if the Dr. pushes on that area...YIKES>...PAIN...and it sets it off.. The pain travels down the buttock...outer theigh...outer lower leg/ankle edge of foot and into that nasty little toe.. I guess that one of the nerves is also being irritated and that is why I have so much pain in my lower back also. BUT that dimpled area...OUCH..when they exam me and either push on that area...or make me do something (exercise...walk....sit...stand) it sets it off. I hope that tells you where the SI pain is coming from. I sincerely hope that this surgery fixes me. I know that I will probably have to have PT..for a bit later on...and that is ok..just to get everything settled down.

I hope that your therapist is getting your back calmed down a little...if she is messing with that SI joint...I hope she has lots of ice or heat.. Feel better...

Leslie
 
Sage, I don't mean to add confusion to the situation but....here goes. You mentioned that your doc said that radio-frequency nerve ablation would not work for you. I'm not sure why he said this, but you've got nothing to lose by trying it. If it does not work you could still have your surgery, and if it did work, it's a lot less risky than the surgery. Just thought I'd bring this up because it has worked well for me and enabled me to live a semi-normal life. I'm concerned that if you are working with an orthopedic surgeon, he won't give this any consideration because they do not typically do this prodecure. It is done in a pain center. SI joint fusions are done so rarely and no one has recommended this procedure to me. Then again, I don't know the details of your situation. Just want to make sure that you overturn every stone. Good luck!
 
sage, sorry to hear your in so much pain i hope you get relief soon. Big((((hugs)))))). If you don't mind me asking i see you have had the injections now those didn't work for me itheir, not to discourage you but what is the next step? Surgery? Whats the prognosis? I found that mine is worse due to the piriformis muscle and that could be possiby the cause of the foot and leg pain as the sciatic nerve runs through this. I hope i don't have a longer road ahead of me and hope PT can provide somer relief and or point me int he right direction. Now i tried doing something they told me to do at home and omg am i hurting. Prayers your way!
Love, Monkey
 
hey Monkey...sorry to hear that they haven't been able to diag...or fix your pain yet.. It is such a long road.
I was give 2 SI injections over a 2 month period. The injections took my pain away...(which was nice!!) They were diagnostic for the SI joint. If the pain went away...it was the SI joint the pain was coming from..finally an answer!! The Dr. said basically that I have had this so long that the PT or Prolotherapy would not be the cure for me. I am having a sacroiliac joint fusion on the right side. It is not an easy fix...according to my Drs. I will basically be immobile for up to 3 months...nice. Can't do any weight bearing on that side.
At this point I am just praying this will fix me...and I will be able to go on and live a "normal" (whatever normal is!!) life!
I hope that you will find an answer to your pain...it takes forever..or so it seems in some cases...let's hope you are diagnosed soon..

Leslie
 
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