ptsd Need Help With Chronic Service Connected Pain Issues.

[LivingInPain0341]

Alright guys, I am new here, and I am hoping that it will be good to talk to and hear helpful tips from fellow veterans on dealing with the VA hospitals lackluster care.

I'll start by introducing myself a bit, I am a USMC Infantry Combat Veteran, OIF era. I seek care in the VA Boston area. I am rated at 70% service connected, and am currently receiving Individual Unemployability because I had to leave my job due to my issues. I am being treated for PTSD, TBI, Chronic Upper Back Pain, Left knee pain (ACL and MCL tear), and GI issues (possible Ulcers, GERD, IBS etc... tests incoming). I also must say how grateful I am for most of the services offered to veterans.

Alright, so here is my main problem. The chronic upper back pain I spoke of earlier is currently under treated, and not diagnosed. I had sought help from a local Doctor, but had to stop going because I simply could not afford those prices any longer. This is the best I can write out everything, I have been trying to take notes and write everything down since my memory isn't all that good.

The pain: The pain is in my upper back, right side, shoulder area. It can get excruciatingly painful and debilitating. Not sure if it is related or not, but I get a strange 'electric shock' feeling on the back of my neck, right side, where the spine connects to the skull. The pain is definitely made worse by physical activity of any sort, even simply standing for more than 30 minutes can cause it to 'flare up' and driving is another time it acts up. Yard work and chores at my house are incredibly hard to get done without being in pain, and the pain leads to me being in a shitty mood. At it's worst it is a deep pain, like it feels like it is under the bones and such, a 8 or 9 on the stupid pain scale is not uncommon. The skin feels sort of subdued, like it's sort of numb feeling above where the pain is. This has been ongoing for YEARS now. At least 7 years. Documented in my med records since bootcamp.

The tests: The VA doctors have done many tests, XRAY's have been done, and they show nothing wrong. MRI's have been done, and also show nothing abnormal (that would cause that pain at least... cyst was located on Thyroid gland) a CT scan has been done on my head while I was having very bad migraines and it didn't show anything that would cause the back pain. I asked if maybe the Gall Bladder was involved as it can cause pain in that area, the GI specialist said it was doubtful, but in one of my upcoming tests (Ultrasound) he should be able to tell for sure.

"So called treatments": I will now list ALL of the things that either the Doctors have done, or I have done to try and curb the pain, and the results of the treatment.

1. Physical Therapy. Was required of me when I complained of this issue while still active duty. I did I believe 2 months at the Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital. It did NOT help me for this problem. I have done PT for my knee before, and that DID help, so I have a good grasp of how it is supposed to work. Currently, my VA Doc has suggested trying it again, I am NOT open to this idea, as A) no help previously, and B) I cannot drive into Boston 3+ times a week for PT sessions.
   
2. Menthol 10% cream. No help whatsoever. Was 'prescribed' by my Primary Care.
   
3. Lidocaine Patches. Prescribed by Primary Care doc as well. Oddly enough seems to make me notice the pain MORE when I have one on... otherwise nothing.
   
4. Nortriptyline 25mg. Prescribed by my local Neurologist doc when I could afford to see her. Didn't work.
   
5. Cyclobenzaprine muscle relaxer. Prescribed by VA doctors. Made me too tired to function, and made me felt weird. Didn't help with the pain either, but did help with getting to sleep.
   
6. Naproxen tabs. Both prescription ones and OTC, zero help. Told to discontinue due to possible Ulcers.
   
7. Acetominophen 500mg. No help. Told to stop taking them by PC due to possible Ulcers.
   
8. Oxycodone 10mg Acetominophen 325mg. Prescribed by local Neurologist. ONLY thing that has helped at all thus far. Was only given 1 bottle (40) before I stopped seeing that Neurologist, she stopped seeing me as a patient because she "doesn't know what's wrong with me, but it doesn't appear to be anything that she can help with" gave me the 1 bottle and said she hopes it helps and for me to go back to my Primary Care. Didn't fully cover pain, definitely took the edge off though and made me able to function.
   
9. Ice and Heat. Feels ok while icing/heating but doesn't relieve the pain and the effects don't last.
   
   

The 'diagnosis': As of now, no diagnosis. Things that the Doctors have mentioned... Muscle Strain, A sprain, Muscle spasm, scoliosis (false)

Things that I have mentioned that they dismiss: Lyme Disease, Gall Bladder Issues, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Ruptured Disc, Spinal Stenosis.

Current course of treatment: Pain Clinic said they will give me 'trigger point injections' and I am completely uninterested in that, A) they have no idea whats even wrong so I don't see how injecting something will work, B) I have family members with back issues (ruptured discs) who have had this treatment and they said it was NOT WORTH IT at ALL. But that is about it. They said they will NOT give me medication for it, first thing they said in fact, then said injections or nothing pretty much.

What do I WANT: I'd love to know what the main problem really is, but until that can be established I want PAIN RELIEF. this is INSANE that I have to live like this for no reason. I don't want to seem like a drug seeker, but HOLY HELL it's the only thing that has helped me out at all, and realistically I don't think I would have hatched a plan 7 years ago to constantly complain about the same pain to get drugs?? Is there something special I have to say to them to get treatment? Do they just NOT prescribe pain medication now? I know it is an issue in this country, but it's xxxxxxx insane that I just on my own dealing with this pain thats ruining my life. It's just not fair that I got to see how that 1 month of life went while I had a prescription, adn then that was it, now I'm back to nothing. It's literally driving me crazy. I don't even want a ton pills or anything!!! Just enough so that I can get stuff done around my house, and spend time with my girlfriend and family without being a raging jerk to everyone due to being in pain. I don't want to get addicted to them either, I understand that can happen, which is why I spread out that 1 prescription I did have. Even typing this out, they have me brainwashed to feel like a junkie by wanting medication for my problems.

xxxx.

Anyways, that did feel good to get off my chest... I really look forward to getting some feedback, or help, or ANYTHING. But even just venting was ok... I'm sure my Girlfriend is very tired of hearing me bitch about it all the time... ha ha ha.

Semper Fi.

-Rusty

[Pete53]

For a short time new members have to have their posts approved. You should get ptomoted fairly soon and will be able to post in real time. Had to do this cause it cuts down on spammers and also people who like to harrass Veterans. Sorry for any inconvenience.

[LivingInPain0341]

Thank you, I understand that safeguards need to be in place to keep out the riff raff.

Look forward to being a full member.

Can I not modify my profile until then?

[john999]

Livinginpain

I feel your pain and I mean it. I went about ten years with pain in upper traps and shoulder. It drove me wild. I could not get good DX for it until recently. Doctors now think it is herniated disc and stenosis in my neck that causes referred pain. The treatment is an operation but they cannot promise it will cure the pain. I have good ROM but reflexes in my left arm are pretty dead. If you can find a doctor in or out of the VA who has the same problem you do then you might get some decent pain relief. I still suffer but get fentynal which helps some.

John

[carlie]

Thank you, I understand that safeguards need to be in place to keep out the riff raff.

Look forward to being a full member.

Can I not modify my profile until then?

LIP,

Your membership has been advanced to provide more posting options.

BTW - when it comes to pain - I don't think we will ever find a solution

that will last all the time, whether it be RX's, therapy, heat/ice, etc . .

Pain needs continuous treatment to keep at bay the best we can.

JMHO

[LivingInPain0341]

Yeah, I agree with you about pain being permanent, I don't want a magic cure, though that'd be nice... I just want to take the edge off the bad pain, the pain that I know is lurking, waiting for me to try and be productive. That pain, and the knowledge that it WILL come back when I do physical chores or whatever is what is stopping me from getting that kind of stuff done. I'm not in terrible pain right now, by all rights I should get out in my yard and clean up the hurrican debris that's still there, but that looming threat of terrible pain stops me in my tracks... last time I did do yard work I was rewarded with about 8 hours of laying on my couch not moving trying to get the pain to subside. This is what my Doctors fail to grasp, that when I go to the appointment, obviously my pain scale is low, because I haven't done anything to cause it to flare up, so I am assuming that since they don't see me being in pain, that I must not really be in pain ever. It just sucks. Injuries and Wounds aside, I am still a relatively young man, I am not working, and I feel like my house is my own personal prison. I know I won't ever be able to comfortably do certain things, but I would like to be able to do SOME things. Keeping a clean house and yard would be one...

I have heard horror stories of those fentanyl patches, honestly that sounds too intense for me. I don't even like taking pills for anything, but when I know they are helping and can see the results, it eases my mind. That's why it is hard for me to keep up with the anti-depressants, I don't see a result, and I don't feel any better, so to me, I'm putting some weird drug in my body that isn't helping me, but will have weird side effects... with pain relievers, I feel better. I can get some work done, or walk around the zoo/park with my family and not be buckled over in pain, or be in a poor mood because I'm hurting while everyone else is having a fun time.

In any case, neither option has been discussed by my primary care. When I told her that my civvie neurologist had prescribed the 10mg Oxycodone, she replied that that is way too large a dose, and that she wouldn't continue the scrip for me.

To clarify as it might be getting confusing: I wasn't seeing both doctors at once. I had seen the VA a while ago, I didn't have any results for my back problems. I figured a civvie doctor local to me would be better, for one I wouldn't have to worry about driving into Boston for all my appts, and for two, I thought I would receive better care. Anyways, After the civvie neurologist prescribed medicine, then said that she couldn't see me anymore (because the problem was out of her scope of her specialty) and I went back to my civvie Primary Care, I realized I couldn't afford that battle. I took my test results from those doctors and the xrays and MRI's to the VA to resume treatment with them, for free.