Pain Sucks

a reply to: Night Star

I hope your situation improves as well!

a reply to: Joneselius

Thank you! Sounds like you have had a rough time of it. Hopefully you can get some relief as well.

I am sure one day we will see each other up there, not too soon though.

a reply to: Hecate666

Been there. Face swelled up like a balloon. It happened a day after my fathers funeral. I can't help but think that stress had something to do with the infection coming on. I hope you get well soon!

a reply to: Hecate666

Liposomal Vit C did incredible things for my toothaches..


As for nerve pain, you kinda have to "luck out" to find something that might work. Even then, a lot of the stuff takes a while to have an effect. Either that, or tackling the source of the issue.

In your case, at least they know the possible source.. But given that, its unlikely that typical medications will work.

Nerve pain is a very unique, sharp form of pain. Its certainly not pleasant.

If you have a vitamin B deficiency (namely B1 & B12 iirc), taking vitamin B can help some. Alpha-lipoic acid can also help, but oral supplements arent as effective as injections and the injections arent available in every region.

Acetyl-L-Carnitine and Co-Q10 are other easily accessible things that might help.

a reply to: MrRCflying

I've got the same issue and went through the same crap. There really isn't anything to fix it I guess. The only thing that helps is going to a chiropractor, massage therapy, and acupuncture. But as that all can add up financially. I just deal with it.

Some days are better or worse. Just part of getting older I guess.

originally posted by: MrRCflying
a reply to: Hecate666

Been there. Face swelled up like a balloon. It happened a day after my fathers funeral. I can't help but think that stress had something to do with the infection coming on. I hope you get well soon!

I'm sorry to hear of your health problems. I hope it can be sorted out without surgery.

On a slightly different note, you and others mentioning toothaches and dentists brought to mind a story I read over 20 years ago, but that struck me as unusual.

Apparently, a man who had been having a knee problem for years. He was reduced to limping and no doctor could figure out the source of his pain. They did every examination under the sun, even an exploratory of the knee in question.

Shortly afterwards, he visited his dentist for a wisdom tooth that was giving him grief and the dentist decided to extract the tooth.

He had limped to the dentist, struggled to get into the chair, but after the tooth was removed he was able to jump out of the chair and walk around normally, no limp, no more knee pain.

The article mentioned that our nervous system is so complex and entwined that it could be that the knee problem actually stemmed from that particular tooth.

I think the Orientals have a better understanding of how our bodies work and can localise the true origin of pain, which is not necessarily the area the pain is at.

originally posted by: Encia22

originally posted by: MrRCflying
a reply to: Hecate666

Been there. Face swelled up like a balloon. It happened a day after my fathers funeral. I can't help but think that stress had something to do with the infection coming on. I hope you get well soon!

I'm sorry to hear of your health problems. I hope it can be sorted out without surgery.

On a slightly different note, you and others mentioning toothaches and dentists brought to mind a story I read over 20 years ago, but that struck me as unusual.

Apparently, a man who had been having a knee problem for years. He was reduced to limping and no doctor could figure out the source of his pain. They did every examination under the sun, even an exploratory of the knee in question.

Shortly afterwards, he visited his dentist for a wisdom tooth that was giving him grief and the dentist decided to extract the tooth.

He had limped to the dentist, struggled to get into the chair, but after the tooth was removed he was able to jump out of the chair and walk around normally, no limp, no more knee pain.

The article mentioned that our nervous system is so complex and entwined that it could be that the knee problem actually stemmed from that particular tooth.

I think the Orientals have a better understanding of how our bodies work and can localise the true origin of pain, which is not necessarily the area the pain is at.

Most probably true! I have looked at the pain maps for C5-C6 nerves. According to every one I have seen, I should only get pain and numbness in my thumb and index finger. C6-C7 is supposed to be the nerve that goes to the middle and ring finger. On my MRI, C6-C7 is in perfect shape, no problems. Yet I am still getting pain and numbness in the middle and ring fingers.

The only thing I can figure, is there is some kind of interconnection of nerves there, maybe something unique to my body. Not as extreme as a tooth causing a limp, but still some kind of mix up in the neve pathways.

originally posted by: MrRCflying

originally posted by: underwerks
a reply to: MrRCflying

Try Kratom.

I will look it up. Never heard of it. Thanks!

It’s helped a lot of people. It really helps neuropathic pain as well.

a reply to: MrRCflying

That's weird! I guess we are not all wired up the same.

This might sound silly, but have you looked into acupuncture therapy. I know next to nothing about it, but some people have had success with it. I suppose finding a proper acupuncturist amongst the many charlatans is not easy.

originally posted by: MrRCflying
a reply to: Hecate666

Been there. Face swelled up like a balloon. It happened a day after my fathers funeral. I can't help but think that stress had something to do with the infection coming on. I hope you get well soon!

Oh man, thank you and everyone else for the nice words.
And sorry to OP for using this thread for my own predicament, but even knowing someone else has or had it kind of helps a little bit. I am right this moment in a not so bad phase, but about 20 min ago I was ready to either hit myself unconscious or pull the bstrd out. It comes in waves.
I am sure stress isn't helping, it seems to get worse when I read crap on the internet. So I haven't since. It was so bad, I didn't know how to sit or what to do.
Will call the dentist tomorrow and ask if I can see them earlier, I can't live like this for another 7 days. If not, I'll go to an emergency one.
I am putting vast amounts of Gengigel [better tasting, painkilling gel] on the tooth, have even fixed it myself with filler and taken co-codamol. Still, I am scared when it comes back, there is just no relief and the pain is a full on 10.
I'd rather cut my own little finger off slowly, than have toothache. Seriously.

a reply to: MrRCflying

Stories like this make me glad for our insurance and husband's company. HR sucks ... but, they will go to the mat with insurance if your doc says you need a thing. And insurance rarely puts up much fight.

a reply to: MrRCflying

The doctor and pain doctor agreed it was time for an MRI.

I think I learned a dirty little insurance MRI trick.. get it first without approval and as long it show something, they will then approve it...
worked for me so far. 4 MRI's approved after the fact.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: MrRCflying

The doctor and pain doctor agreed it was time for an MRI.

I think I learned a dirty little insurance MRI trick.. get it first without approval and as long it show something, they will then approve it...
worked for me so far. 4 MRI's approved after the fact.

Like my father always said, "It is easier to ask for forgiveness, than to ask for permission." In some things, I think that is right.

That sucks dude... and sounds a whole, whole lot like exactly what I went through...

I also found a permanent solution to my problem... maybe it will help you?

Read about it here...

originally posted by: MrRCflying
First off, I am glad that my situation is not more serious than what it is. I could be in a lot worse shape medically. I have no desire to take away from those suffering serious medical problems.

That said, pain sucks... I thought maybe a rant might help get things off my chest.

It started in late December. I started getting pain in my shoulder and arm. I figured it was a pulled muscle, and ignored it. Over the next two weeks the pain increased. It got to the point that all I could do was sit on the couch with an ice pack.

After seeing the doctor, it was decided that there may be a pinched nerve someplace. I did two rounds of Prednisone, with no effect at all.

By this time, the pain was even worse. It felt like someone was cutting me with a razor blade from my shoulder to my wrist, non stop, every moment of every day. Sleep was all but impossible. There were times I felt like I was just going to go insane from the level of pain. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. I have had kidney stones, broken leg, broken ribs, prostate infection, NOTHING came even close to the level of pain I felt with this.

I was referred to pain management to see what could be done. Opioids were the first line. No effect at all. I tried massive doses of OTC, and natural remedies, as well as creams, ice, heat, etc. Honestly I did not care if I overdosed on them, as long as it would kill the pain. No effect, none. Chiropractic visits helped for a couple hours at most.

It had been weeks at this point of just agony, no relief at all. My doctor had to fight with the insurance company so I could get an MRI done. Finally got it approved, another 2 weeks out.

The MRI showed that I had 2 badly herneated discs in my neck. One at the C3-C4 level, and one at the C5-C6 level. I have no idea how they happened.

The pain management doctor got me set up for a Cortosoid injection, but that was another 3 weeks out. In the meantime he put me on Gabapentin, an anti-seizure med that can also help nerve pain. It took almost 3 weeks to get the dosage right (almost the max does before I saw any kind of relief), and for it to build up in my system. Those 3 weeks were HELL.

During that period he set me up to se a neurosurgeon to get her take on it. She is recommending an artificial disc replacement at the C5-C6 level, but wants to give it another couple of months to see if physical therapy, and the spinal injections help.

After the first injection it took about 10 days to see a difference. It helped about 50%. At least I was able to sleep again. I just had the second spinal injection done on Friday.

The second injection seemed to be working faster than the first. By yesterday, I was pretty much pain free. Some, but nothing like it was back in Jan. and Feb. For the first time I felt like I could do something. My home business has suffered a lot, since I could hardly use my arm, and jobs around the house were piling up.

I was able to do some chores with little pain, although my hand would still go numb every few minutes. The numbness is far better than the pain.

Now today, I am hurting again. I guess I did too much yesterday. Pain is not unbearable, but not pleasant either.

I just want to get back to normal, be able to work normal, be able to fix things around the house.

Pain Sucks!

Rant off...

originally posted by: Hecate666
Right now, I sit here with toothache [has subsided a bit as I took a co-codamol]. Apparently I have to endure this up until my appointment next week, when I will have both those feckers pulled.

I, and many others I have passed this on to, have postponed getting a tooth pulled for months, even years, by simply swishing with very warm salt water... swish the salt water as much as possible on the tooth having the pain.

In my case, the pain stops within 5-10 minutes - every time.

I feel sorry for you OP. I have been there many times over the last thirty five years. Pain sucks.

Over the years I did get better at trying to reduce risk, but have not got a lot of patients and still overdo things and pay the price. The worst is when you just are doing something minor and not paying attention and trigger an event. When I worked I was cautious, but at home, I am not worried about major problems so sometimes twist the wrong way and pay the price.

a reply to: tanstaafl

Magnets... Never thought of that. I have heard it has been used for pain, but never even given it a thought since I started with this.

Thank you. I will study up on it. It is worth a try. At the worst of the pain, I was willing to try anything, including a chainsaw to cut my arm off. LOL

a reply to: rickymouse

Thanks! I figure it will probably be a long term problem. I am hopeful that if I can strengthen my back and neck, it will limit the "events".

One of my major fears is that I will turn wrong or something, and ALL the pain will come back. I DO NOT want that pain back.

originally posted by: MrRCflying
a reply to: rickymouse

Thanks! I figure it will probably be a long term problem. I am hopeful that if I can strengthen my back and neck, it will limit the "events".

One of my major fears is that I will turn wrong or something, and ALL the pain will come back. I DO NOT want that pain back.

I am a firm believer of a good chiropractor, but not the bone breaker type. Gently aligning the back helps most times for me. But if you have bad disks or major problems it does work well. I had a couple of injections one time to bring down the inflammation so my back could heal, that was the sciatic nerve that was a problem and the chiropractor could not get that one fixed. I did not need the third shot though, they did some pictures and with my input of how it was getting better, they decided not to give the third shot....but the bill was almost as much as the appointment with the shot but we did have insurance that covered it totally.

a reply to: tanstaafl

Oh my word!!! I just had a chance to read your post. I can't believe the similarities in our situations. I was not in any accident, and cannot account for the herneated discs. other than possibly shoveling snow. I am not certain on the shoveling, but it is the only thing I can think that may have triggered it. It started about a week after a heavy snowfall.

It is just crazy, the way you describe it. Beyond horrible pain, on the borderline of psychotic/suicidal. That is exactly how I felt. There were times the pain was so intense, I actually thought I was going to go insane. I am not exaggerating there either, I felt like I was.

After pain meds this morning, I am feeling much better. I think the injection I got on Friday is beginning to help. I am in probably 80% less pain than I was at it's worst. I feel like I am functional again.

I don't want to be on the pain meds forever though. The magnets are worth a try. I am a bit skeptical, but optimistic.

Can you point me to what I need? Maybe a link to where I could purchase some? I am for sure going to give it a try.