The Pain Relief Network

I was 25 when my first symptoms showed up. A charlie horse in my right calf that would not loosen, would not ease, that sent pain up my whole right side. My lower back also seized. I had a false positive RA test come back and that is what the Doctors thought it was. They gave me Arthrotec, and pain meds. Shortly after they figured out the false positive test and then began to think I was drug seeking, because the pain only increased it never went away. A normal day was living at a 6 on the pain chart.

Three years ago I had a MRI, the lab tech told my GP that there was arthritis through out my spine and some degeneration. She gave me pain meds and muscle relaxants but not enough, even as good as she is in the back of her mind I believe she also thought I was drug seeking. Two years ago I developed a heel spur, and planter fasciitis, I went to physical therapy for it. Through the patient intake forms they found out about my back and examined it. The PT could not believe that I was still able to walk, my muscles from spasming had become cement in my right glutton maxims, I had also lost feeling at the back of my right thigh. He recommended a Neurosurgeon. It was discovered that I had bi-lateral pinched nerves and that L5 and S1 were almost fused. The surgeon wanted to do back surgery right away.

There was no correcting the pinched nerves they suspect that the nerves had been pinched when i was 25 and now were unrepairable. In preparation for surgery they took me off all pain meds, and gave me the three cortisone shot in the spine. The first shot, I had a mere 24 hours where my pain level was at a 2. I cried for hours out of happiness. The next morning I was back to 6, by the time the next morning rolled around I was up to 10. I called and asked for pain relief, they told me the Dr could not prescribe unless he saw me. He had seen me two days before! Once again I was the drug seeking patient.

My father had had the back surgery, twice, he was worse now then he had been before the surgery. I talked and researched and made the decision not to have the surgery. I went to my GP and while she is the best Dr. in the world, she has to watch what she prescribes me.

Right now I am on flexeril and Tylenol 3. These things she can prescribe without to much worry. They keep me at level 6 and I can function.