Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Location: new york, USA
Chonic Upper Back Pain For 8 Years Posted: 12-27-07 21:26pm
Hello,
(I thought I would be asking a doctor so
that’s why the below sounds the way it
does but I am curious to know if anyone is
going through the same thing as I am)
I am a 23 year old female suffering from
chronic upper back pain for 8 years. Over
time the pain has moved to both arms.
There are times more often than few that I
cannot move my entire arm or body. My
fingers will pound and the mid back is
stiff. I have gone for the entire protocol
of tests which all come back negative
(including 5 MRI's). Recently, as a new
symptom, I get the spasms in the chest
area as oppose to only in my back. I have
gone through 5 years of PT, tried many
different methods of relief and meds and
nothing seems to work. The many prognosis
that I have been given are; Fibromyalgia,
Myofascial Pain, and stress related. I
guess my question is if the prognoses
accurate as no one has given me an actual
diagnosis? Is there anything else it could
be? And if the chest spasms are related to
the chronic back pain or is it a different
condition altogether?
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 824
Thanks: 17
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Posted: 12-28-07 15:20pm
Hello Stacy,
WELCOME to this remarkable forum.
It really hurt to read your post and only
get a feel for the pain and frustration
that you have had and are still going
through.
May I ask if you have gone to several
neurologists/spinal surgeons for their
thoughts, or to just one doctor?
Something(s) is not right that is for
sure.
I have not had the situation that you
describe, however, I hope that if someone
has had a similar situation that they will
respond to your post.
RichT
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stacy1111
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Location: new york, USA
Hello Posted: 12-29-07 22:13pm
Thank you for the reply. I have been to
several ER's and docs who have ruled our
surgury yet they cannot tell me whats
wrong. I guess its just a matter of time
before someone figures it out.
Stacy
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 824
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Posted: 12-29-07 23:01pm
Hello Stacy,
Thank you for the additional information.
Stacy, would you be interested in seeing a
spinal doctor in the Boston area, or one
in the Washington DC area?
RichT
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stacy1111
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Location: new york, USA
Hello Posted: 01-19-08 13:31pm
Sorry it took so long to get back to your
comments but it would be hard to travel to
those area for treatment.
I recently had a trip to the docs and they
are looking now towards the foods that I
am eating. I feel that its just something
to do since they don't know whats causing
the pain or how to help. Almost nine years
now and the fustration doubles on the days
I can't move. The meds dont work, the
therapy did not work. At least if they
found something, they can treat it. They
are going in blind and the giving up part
it becoming more clear to me.
Anyway....needed to just get some of this
out so I guess I did. Thanks,
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 824
Thanks: 17
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Posted: 01-19-08 15:18pm
Hello Stacy,
Sorry to read that you are still in pain.
Again, if I may ask, have you been to a
neurologist/spinal surgeon for their
advice and counsel.
You only talk about "docs", which leads me
to believe that perhaps you have not been
to a neurologist/spinal surgeon. A
medical spinal specialist with "MD" after
his/her name.
Am I correct or not?
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stacy1111
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Dec 2007 Posts: 6 Location: new york, USA
hey Posted: 01-20-08 17:28pm
Yes I have been to a spinal surgeon who
said I did not need surgery. I have been
to practically 7 ER's, and countless other
docs. I have not been to a neurologist
because every other doctor said its muscle
related. I probably should go to one since
I have seen every other type of doc. I
guess that will be the next step.
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RichT
Active User, Really EHEALTHy
Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Posts: 824
Thanks: 17
Thanked:0
Posted: 01-21-08 16:24pm
Hello Stacy,
Thank you for sharing some more
information with me. I am glad that you
have seen a spinal surgeon.
GREAT that you now plan the next step to
see a neurologist. I truly hope he/she
will be able to help you.
May I chat a bit about ERs? I don't know
how ERs are by you, but here they are
SOOooooo rushed and their main concerns
are the really big life threatening cases.
Our experience with ERs is that they will
take any immediate steps that need to be
taken, but then you need to see your own
doctor or a specialist for the medical
difficulty you are having. Does that at
all sound familar with the ER situation by
you?
Back to a neurologist - Stacy, try to find
the very BEST neurologist that you can.
Talk to others that have seen a
neurologist for their recommendation.
Call the hospitals for their
recommendation for an excellent
neurologist. Even call the offices of
the sports teams to find out the name(s)
of the neurologist that they use for their
players.
Make an appointment with the one at the
top of your list, and then make an
appointment with the second top one on
your list. I know you have seen a number
of doctors already, however, another
opinion can be very helpful.
You have not mentiioned whether you have
had an MRI. If not, I would hope the
neurologist would recommend that you have
one. Hopefully it would at least
tell(show) you if there is a spine/nerve
problem or not.
And if the doctor also things you have a
muscle related problem, then ask him/her
for the name of a doctor that specializes
in that area.
I wish you the best. Please stay in touch
and let us know how things go for you. I
truly hope that you can find a solution to
the severe pain that you have been
experiencing for far too long.
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