Chronic Pain - Please Help!

sansan1

Hi,

I am a 30 year old woman, very healthy in every way except I have been a chronic pain sufferer since 1999.

The pain I have is in the upper part of both arms, but sometimes shoots down my arm to my hand. It is often much worse in the left arm. It is really affected by cold and especially damp, so living in Ireland in the winter is a total nightmare.

I have been to see every specialist you can imagine, traditional and alternative to try and solve this but not one person has been able to give me any type of real diagnosis or solution. I have been on arthritis drugs, had laser therapy, had my nerves tested, scans, x-rays, rolfing, acupuncture, osteopathy, homeopathy, chiropracter, massage, steroid shots in to my shoulders but nothing has given me long-term relief. I even had a root canaled tooth removed in an effort to solve this, and while I did have an improvement in pain levels it still continues.

This is really depressing for me. I am young, fit, healthy in every other way. But this is often debilitating. When it's very bad I have difficulty washing my hair, getting dressed etc. I am a young woman and shouldn't be feeling this bad yet!

If anyone has any advice, suggestions, or has had a similar experience I would love to hear from you.

Thanks!

San

Gremlinertia

I've recently, after over a decade of tests and frustration, been told i have complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It's slowly getting worse over the years, however is not as severe as some cases i've seen. Like you the cold is affecting it, there are secondary problems to like over compensation by some joints/muscles, it's pretty miserable, especially when most every type of pain management has failed. All i can offer is support, pain is a weird thing, so sometimes i come on here to rant a bit, i find it more comfortable than the specific chronic pain forums. Feel free to pm me if you want an ear.

sansan1

Hi Gremlinertia,

Thanks for the offer. It's so nice to hear that I'm not the only person experiencing this type of pain and frustration.

What exactly is Regional Pain Syndrome and can they do anything for it?

Thanks

Gremlinertia

Hiya, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome is something i don't know much of, it's a diagnosis used when there's no obvious reasons (neuropathic, muscular etc) to be found causing the pain.. All that can really be done is pain management, anything from tablets/injections to devices attached to your (spinal cord stimulators etc) back.. what about you? Have you any clues or are you in the dark at the moment?.

Grem..

SlimCi

God I could have written this post about four years ago. Had all the same kind of wierd symptoms, had the root canal done, saw a oral facial pain specialist, had a thingy made for my teeth to stop me grinding pain all down my neck, arms etc. Nearly was going bonkers and getting major migraines too. I actually went and got a course of physiotherapy on my neck shoulders and upper arms. It took about fourteen or fifteen sessions to be back to normal but I did get there and I really loved the sessions and came out feeling totally relaxed. A lot for me was to do with posture as when I walked I used to have my shoulders up around my ears and the fact that I had a car accident and had broken nearly all my ribs about fifteen years previously and never had any physio! Anyway also started exercising gently and got moving and now feel great, no pain. Maybe give it a try first with a registered physio, they are usually fairly expert in this area and very helpful.

squeky

I have chronic pain for the past 6 years from a car accident and have complex regional pain syndrome / nueropathatic pain and i have a spinal cord stimulator - if anyone wants to no anything just ask - but go to a pain specialist and not your GP as they dont no much about pain!

Pain specialist will do lots of test and procedures and try to help you, physio was no good for me as my nerve damage to bad but it is different for everyone.

spookwoman

Just reading this an saw cold effects you the most. Does your hands cramp when in the cold? Swell in the heat. basically i'm wondering if its caused by temp changes.

sansan1

No, I don't get swelling or cramping when the temperature changes. I don't think it's caused by changes in temperature, just affected by it. I have it all year round, the pain just gets way more intense in the winter, particularly when it's damp and cold.

Thanks

LMC

I also suffer from complex regional pain syndrom from nerve damage in my left arm - going on 7yrs now. Been on all types of meds then got the Spinal Cord Stimulator 2 yrs ago, its settled now and seems to be working as ive been able to reduce my meds.

Get your GP to refer you to a pain specialist, also there is a website called Chronic Pain Ireland, with numerous and very helpful people who like us suffer from chronic pain for years.. any questions re CRPS or SCS just ask