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Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition in which the vertebra slips forward from the vertebra below. Spondylo means spine, and the word listhesis, literally means to slip. While this condition is actually fairly common in the population, it is rare for the condition to slip to a degree that is great enough to create problems. Physicians and the medical community label the varying degrees of slippage, from least to most severe, as grades 1 through 5. A complete slip, beyond that of a "grade 5," where the vertebra no longer sits on the other vertebra, is called Spondyloptosis. This condition can occur at any vertebra level, but is more commonly seen in the lumbar region of the spine. This is the area in which I experienced my Spondyloptosis. I am now considered a grade 5 following numerous surgeries, procedures, and a full body cast. There are a number of debated "fixes" (surgeries/procedures) for Spondylolistheis, but due to the infrequency of the condition becoming extreme enough to require surgery, they are more experimental than common practice, in my opinion. I am not a doctor, nor am I an expert on this condition, that is, if you consider an "expert" as someone whom has credentials in the medical field. I have simply dealt with this condition, first hand, for my entire adult life, and the majority of my juvenile years as well. My hope for this page on Spondylolisthesis is to utilize the power of the internet in order to reach as many individuals, in all age groups, whom may be dealing with this condition in their life. Whether the given condition is labeled at a level 1, or if the case is more severe, I hope that my personal experience, insight, and research with regards to the spinal abnormality, may help as many individuals as possible. This condition tends to be less well known than other conditions and diseases, and I found it difficult to connect with any fellow sufferer's during my painful, tough, and life altering struggle with this extremely painful condition. There are many "experimental" fixes for this condition, which are ultimately determined by the grade level found in the patient. I believe that it is highly important for anyone whom faces decisions regarding medical intervention be able to obtain as much information, even the detailed and nitty gritty (if you will), so that they may truly be able to choose the best option(s) for their specific case. Not only are there a few different surgical and medical procedures as possibilities for treatment, but there are also a few alternative options that may work well for both an intervention, along with possible combination of treatments, which may result in a more rounded and promising future for a patient. Treatment is often determined by the severity, but even in the most severe cases, there are a few options that may not be presented or addressed by a provider, therefore limiting options, and resulting in a rush for the operating table. Now don't get me wrong, I am not opposed to surgical intervention, as my condition was very severe, and without immediate intervention, my overall quality of life would have been bleak, even deadly. I would also like to note, that like many surgeries, whether it be on your spine or your heart, surgical intervention may assist in increasing the overall quality of life, but it rarely, if ever, makes one "normal" again, nor "fixes" the health issues completely. This is a myth. There will always be a sort of "life long up-keep," which is required to assist in allowing your body to work the best way possible, in a less than normal state. Again, this is my opinion, which is based simply upon my personal experiences, observations, and research. 

I hope that anyone whom may be just learning of this condition (parents who are educating themselves with regards to their child's recently diagnosed condition, any adult that has just been diagnosed, and is seeking information, resources, options and help, along with those veteran Spondylolisthesis sufferers), may take time to research the condition to the best of their ability, ask many questions, thoroughly investigate all options that may be available (both western medicine and alternative health care), and feel free to contact me with any questions, advice, stories, or anything else that may be prevalent to the goal of assisting each other in making the pain, along with our general quality of life, a little better. This condition is a life long presence and battle. It can be very scary, painful, and all around difficult. I will share my timeline from my earliest pain and symptoms, to my surgeries, and ultimately, my current struggles. I pray that this page may help both those facing a Spondylolisthesis diagnosis, along with anyone whom finds themselves seeking support for a family member or friend. Even if I only manage to reach just one person struggling to stay afloat in this overwhelming process, I will be grateful that my painful experience was able to make another's less frightening and isolating. I know that there are others out there, and I cannot allow those who are facing the same daunting unknown, struggle through the darkness, when I have already walked the journey. 

As a last note, if you are dealing with ANY chronic health condition, please take a moment to read both the poem "Footprints In The Sand" & "The Spoon Theory."  ~ Blessings ~

Chronic pain. Unfortunately, so many of us deal with it every single day of our lives. It makes daily functioning, everyday activities extremely challenging. Chronic pain affects many, if not all areas of our lives. Those whom have to battle chronic pain know just how much it can affect energy levels, attitudes, mental and emotional states, along with our general interactions and behaviors in our world. It is always on our minds, sometimes so much so that we cannot sleep, participate in activities, even eat. Chronic pain drains us, it drains our energy levels so much that it is a struggle to get out of bed. Once we get out of bed, we are faced with the challenge of "getting going" - so to speak. We are exhausted from dealing with the pain the emanates throughout our bodies, and for myself, it sometimes feels like I have been hit by a "mack truck." Depending upon the cause and source of the pain, which we may experience in a variety of ways, one thing seems to remain consistent, it is a daily struggle that is always present, and enters every aspect of our lives. 

Pain is our bodies way of telling us that something is not right. It is meant to alert us to a problem, and in turn, we are suppose to either "fix it" or stop the action/behavior that is causing the pain. But, when we are faced with a permanent health problem that results in continuous pain, we have to seek out different ways of "solving" our pain problem. So many solutions provided by the medical community are more or less "band-aid" fixes. Of course there is the popular "medication fix," which does not truly address the problem, although for those that have too much pain to deal with life, it is often a necessary evil. Surgeries and other medical procedures are common place for western medicine providers, but I must say that in my experience, many of these "solutions" lead to more problems, rather than fixing the underlying issues. -And I fear that there are a few docs out there that are a bit too excited to jump quickly to the surgery route, but, that is just my humble opinion - Of course there are situations that require surgical interventions in order to save your life, and I understand this as well, as I faced a similar dilemma. And while my operations and procedures promised not only to save my life (which they did) and reduce the pain, the outcome was far from what was suggested/expected, and to be frank, my pain remains a life long struggle (Not to mention a mix of ongoing and unpredictable problems that rack my body daily) . I find it funny (obviously not a funny haha, but rather just ridiculous), as so many doctors and providers often bill a given procedure or surgery as a fix, a fix that promises a solution to the given condition, end of story. All of us dealing with chronic pain, whether it result from spine conditions, injuries, illnesses, and so forth, know the truth. No matter how grand, no matter how praised the procedure, there is no simple, quick or ultimate answer or fix to the pain problem.

So many people want to believe in that fairy tale. And it is understandable, as we hate to see our loved one's in pain, especially if it is a long term, daily experience. It seems unending, and honestly, much of the time, it is. Medical science has come a lllloooonnnggggg way in a short period of time. That much is true. But, for all of you fellow chronic pain sufferers, those whom battle chronic ailments and diseases like cancer, auto immune diseases, spinal conditions, transplants, severe infections, and so much more, know that no matter how spectacular the presented solution appears, there is no band-aid that truly sticks. This is why I have began a page dedicated to chronic pain. While there are many causes for our pain, we all deal with similar struggles, face the same challenges, battle the same attitudes, medical system, and fight for a sense of normalcy. I hope that anyone and everyone who deals with chronic pain may feel that they can share their stories, their tears, their anger, and their accumulated knowledge & experience on this page. I hope that we can provide each other some support, resources, do's and don'ts, all in the name of decreasing the pain. 

Chronic pain sufferers are the only ones whom can truly empathize and hear other chronic pain sufferers. It is a struggle to get others in your life to really "get it." I find that while they try to understand, try to sympathize and be compassionate, it is nearly impossible for them to understand when they are not in it everyday, every minute, like we are.  I know that many of us try to remain quite about our pain, not to bother our significant others or family and friends, that as a general rule we try to avoid sounding like we are "complaining." And we are not complainers. We are usually survivors, courageous survivors that endure far more than anyone should ever have to deal with in a lifetime. It becomes beyond frustrating to get others to truly understand. We do not enjoy being in pain, nor do we enjoy having the same answer to the question, "how are you feeling?" This struggle often interferes and strains relationships and friendships. It can make us doubt ourselves, our bodies, our minds, and can result in an internal battle of anger, frustration, and sadness with ourselves.

I believe that this issue is similar to the struggle so many of us face with doctors, and convincing them how we feel in our bodies. We know ourselves better than anyone else. Yes, even better than the "god like," "know it all" doctors, who often try to tell us we are crazy or depressed when they can't find an answer to our pain and constellation of symptoms. It is an easy train to jump on, not to mention a frequently travelled train...it allows the doctor to appear competent when they doubt themselves (which they rarely admit), and with their authority and status, we begin to doubt ourselves, believing that our pain is not real, or that we are crazy, selfish, or attention hoarders. It happens so often, that we ignore our best advocate, our intuition. When we are ill, dealing with so much pain, facing daily fatigue and literally struggling to get through the day, we have little energy left to battle doctors, question their authority and push for help. I have experienced this first hand more than one time, and it nearly resulted in my death, and ultimately changed my life forever. I want to note that I do not dislike all doctors, and do promote visiting a provider(s) when you need to, but I want to emphasize how important it is to listen to your own voice, trust your gut, and not buy into the idea that the doctors know all and should not be questioned. From personal experience and while witnessing others' experiences, I have seen a pattern that seems to occur far too often, which I find frightening. 

I will post blogs to this page that describe various personal experiences in the "field of pain"...situations, stories, experiences, and interactions, that others that would likely not fully or truly understand, unless they too have been in the throws of chronic pain. I will also add my findings when it comes to what has worked for my pain, and what hasn't cut it. Please add your own suggestions, as we can never have too many ideas and suggestions for the relief of pain!!!

I have provided links on the right hand side of this page that connect to other posts that are related to medical issues and conditions. The pages' subject's are purely my personal interests, and do not include certain conditions/illnesses that may be noted on this page. They are all works in progress, as is this page. As of March 17th 2009, my other "health related" posts include: Spondylolisthesis Grade 5, Auto Immune Diseases, and Medical & Legal Malpractice. You can also access these pages, as well as my other blogs, including "5 positive things 4 today," "fortheluvofcats," "betrayal's journey to forgiveness," and "finding celebrities to donate their swag bags" on my profile page "CATLUV." 

My desire for this page is simple. I hope that it may allow a dialogue to open between all of those whom experience chronic pain, so that we can share, support one another, listen and truly hear each others pain and struggles with it (because sometimes that's all we need, no judgement, no comments, or even suggestions, just someone that really knows how you feel and can therefore provide validation in your experiences). I hope that anyone whom may offer ideas for pain relief, western medicine, alternative healing and everything and anything in between, may list their comments under new blogs added to the page (so that it may be easily accessible and all in one place). There are obviously a lot of different ailments, and with all these various conditions comes a variety of surgical procedures/options...Some are more successful than others, some are "newer" and/or "experimental," and many can only be found at certain medical hospitals, universities, communities. If you have information regarding any procedure, providers, hospitals, etc., please provide any details that you may deem important and ultimately helpful to someone dealing with the same or similar situations. From my experience, given the level of patient privacy rules these days, it is often hard to get all the information you need, the nitty gritty of the details, what to expect, how a doctor performs (even personality), all can help a fellow chronic pain patient find a good fit for their health care choices....hopefully, making their future a bit better through knowledge that may allow them to avoid certain things, and ask certain questions.

Hello...my name is June and I have chronic pain 24-7...docs don't seem to care enough to pinpoint...write a pain med script and out in 15-20 min.  Although, latest diagnosis is MS. I do have Accute Sciatica, arthritis and osteoperosis. I suffer extreeme depression and hope to get treated for it soon. I also have sleep disorder. It has been years since I have slept thru the night...tried ambien (sp) but was one of the sleep walkers with memory loss.

A thank you to Brenna who introduced me to this site and hope she gets the aid she needs soon.

I wake up in the morning with a smile knowing that I am alive! Getting out of bed not always that easy. Some morning's I make a bee-line for my meds. I have an unknown movement disorder,ephezema, fibromyaligia, restless leg syndrome and tintinitis. The docs are thinking for now maybe Parkinsons. M.S. has been ruled out. I am a mom of 4 with a 12 ,18 and 23 at home. I try hard to do my housework and some days get out and go to bible study, prayer shawl group or just visit. My problem is the good days I try to pack everything in. This of course gives a negative effect and spend most of the next day in the bed resting from fatigue. Then of course we have weather changes.

I try so hard not to complain because I know there are many more people out there worse of then me. I have found an old love of crocheting. In fact it is a good therepy for my hands keep them from cramping up so bad.

The problem with chronic pain is depression creeps in. Memories of things I use to do but can't do anymore. Not being able to play with my 12 like I did my older children. I use to be a very active person. Also just fighting constant pain ranging anywhere from a 3 to a 10 wears on a person.

I am also writing this to see how others handle chronic pain. I have found prayer is a miracle. I like to spend time with the Lord especially on days I can't handle and thank him for the good,great and in between days.

Suffering with Fibromyalgia      by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and Health

This what fibromyalgia is and what I suffer with on a day to day basis:

Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues.  Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression and anxiety.

Fibromyalgia can develop on its own or along with other musculosketal conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

Causes:

The cause of this disorder is unknown.  Physical or emotional trauma may play a role in development of the syndrome.  Some evidence suggests that fibromyalgia patients have abnormal pain transmission responses.

It has been suggested that sleep disturbances, which are common in fibromyalgia patients, may actually cause the condition.  Another theory suggests that the disorder may be associated with changes in skeletal muscle metabolism, possibly caused by decreased blood flow, which could cause chronic fatigue and weakness.

Others have suggested that an infectious microbe, such as a virus, triggers the illness.  At this point, no such virus or microbe has been identified.

Pilot studies have shown a possible inherited tendency toward the disease, though evidence is very preliminary.

Men and women of all ages get fibromyalgia, but the disorder is most common among women aged 20 to 50.

Symptoms:

The overwhelming characteristic of fibromyalgia is long-standing, body-wide pain with defined tender points.  Tender points are distinct from trigger points seen in other pain syndromes.  Unlike tender points, trigger points can occur in isolation and represent a source of radiating pain, even in the absence of direct pressure.

Fibromyalgia pain can mimic the pain that occurs with various types of arthritis.  However, the significant swelling, destruction, and deformity of joints seen in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis does not occur with fibromyalgia syndrome alone.

The soft-tissue pain of fibromyalgia is described as deep-aching, radiating, gnawing, shooting or burning, and ranges from mild to severe.  Fibromyalgia sufferers tend to wake up with body aches and stiffness.

For some patients, pain improves during the day and increases again during the evening, though many patients with fibromyalgia have day-long, unrelenting pain.  Pain can increase with activity, cold or damp weather, anxiety, and stress.

Treatment:

In mild cases, symptoms may go away when stress is decreased or lifestyle changes are implemented.  A combination of treatments including medicaions, patient education, physical therapy, and counseling are usually recommended.  Many fibromyalgia sufferers have found support groups helpful.

In 2007, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pregabalin Lyrica as the first drugh for the treatment of fibromyalgia.  In June 2008, a second drug, Cymbalta, which was previously approved for treating depression, was FDA approved milnacipan (Savella) for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Certain classes of antidepressant medications are sometimes prescribed for the disorder.  Studies show that antidepressants in low doses can decrease depression, relax craniofacial and skeletal muscles, improve sleep quality, and release pain-killing endorphins.  Other medications that are used include anti-inflammatory pain medications that work on pain transmission pathways, such as Gabapentin.

Eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding caffeine may help with problems sleeping, and may help reduce the severity of the symptoms.  Lifestyle measures to improve the quality of sleep can be effective for fibromyalgia.

Some reports indicate that fish oil, magnesium/malic acid combinations, or vitamins may be effective.  Reducing stress and improving coping skills may also help reduce painful symptoms.

Improved fitness through exercise is recommended.  Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise.  Starting out slowly and gently can help ease you into an effective program you can stick with.  Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles.  High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort.  Symptoms may be relieved by gentle stretching and light massage, as well as acupressure, acupuncture, and relaxation techniques.

Severe cases of fibromyalgia may require a referral to a pain clinic.

My condition of this is severe.  I have been seen by a pain doctor in a pain clinic for 2 years.  i am currently on seven different type of pain medications and one of them being Lyrica, i get anywhere from 10 to 15 injections every three weeks, i have physical therapy off and on, i do water aerobics and stretch exercising, heating pads, ointments, tense unit, hand massager, support group and church.  I have had accupuncture and other types of pain medications that i am now immune to.  There is so much to do just to get some relief that is very depressing for me and keeps me from being able to do alot.  But i try to have a positive outlook and be grateful for everyday that i arise.

Th not be the best advise for you and i know how you feel cuz i have no insurance and one of my prescriptions is $489. for 30 pills a month, but i have just found out that i can go to this place they call Pioneer counsiling and i see a therapist there for depression due to chronic pain and he is able to help me with this medication and i don't have to pay anything. Another thing i might suggest like i say i don't know if this will help you but have you ever taken Methadone? I used to take oxycontin and i became so addicted to them that i actually started trying to stop my pain by injection the medication so i had to have something that would help me come off the oxys and they prescribed me methadone..they used to use it to help heroine addicts in recovery and i gotta say it helped me ease the withdrawls of the meds and i was just thinking if  you could get a doctor to prescribe you this med then you could at least take it during the times that you don't have the money to get the morphine. It's only like $28.00 a month for 120 tablets i take them 4 times a day..Just a suggestion..i will pray for you and i hope you get the help you need. It really sucks not having insurance. I really don't know what your pain is but i do have fibromyalgia too and all i can say is God Bless you because it hurts my entire body every day all day and it is very painful to get up..Hope this helps you in some way

   I am a 47 year old female with alot of chronic pain. I have had 2 neck surgeries (C-spine) and 1 back surgery (L-spine) the first neck surgery was years ago and seem  to go well but as the years went on it was necessary to have another one. I have moved since my first surgery on my neck so i had to have another neurosurgeon. While he was doing my 2nd neck surgery they had a hard time keeping my oxygen level stable so he felt (according to him) that he had to get it done and get out ASAP..due to that things didn't set right and the fusions that he did have not taken away the pain and i suffer from that everyday..

I let the same doctor do my 1st back surgery all due to degenerative disc disease, after this surgery (with rods and 6 screws)  i was hospitalized for 1 week and was sent home. After 2 days of being at home and having home health come in to help me daily i ended up back in the hospital because i had a severe infection, at this point i stayed in the hospital for 3 days and then because the incision had to be left open to heal from the inside/out and because the infection had trails that lead from the infection outward so i had to be in a nursing home so they could pack the incision and also the tunnels with gauze 2 times daily..It was one of the worst pains i have ever felt and i have been in alot of pain for the last 10 years. So i spent 3 months in the nursing home and finally was released to go home with home health coming in 3-4 days a week to check and make sure all was going well..This surgery was done in April 2006. When i finally saw the doctor after a month he said he really didn't expect me to survive the infection..BUT THANK GOD FOR ME THAT I DID!!!!!

Now to the present...i am in more pain then ever before and i didn't think that could ever happen, so the doctor did some tests and found out that the fusions didn't heal correctly, and along with that i now have 2 screws that are loose. one is not to bad and i only get pain there once in awhile but on the opposite side the pain never stops and come to find out it is very loose, so loose that i can't move without having such severe pain it takes my breath away and it isn't as easy as "don't move that way" "don't stoop" "take it easier" all of these things don't work because i can be as careful as possible and the pain just hits me unexpectedly no matter how i move or which way i turn..

Now to get to the bigger problem::::The neurosurgeon wants to go back in and take out all the hardware and put this new procedure that consists of taking out all the hardware and putting in some kind of protein with kadivor bone and says that this should take the pain away within weeks..WELL THAT'S WHAT I HEARD BEFORE MY FIRST SURGERY..Now i need the neck to be redone and even more serious i need my L-spine done ASAP, it is to the point that i can hardly walk without being in so much pain. I am scared to death to have another surgery because i have COPD and for some reason they have a problem keeping my O2 stable, but not just that, the fact that the last one almost killed me...so the real problem I have decided one way or another the surgery has to be done but i have no insurance and it's really expensive..So i am stuck between a rock and a hard place..The surgery has to be done, I have no insurance because my husband and i have split up and he is without a job..I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO..But if anyone can help me pay for this surgery I would be so greatful, I would pay it back monthly...I am just in so much pain I don't know what to do...I AM BROKE ..this is a CRY for help..I don't usually ask for help, I am not that kind of person. I haven't been able to work in 10 years but i do the best i can to get by..but this is over my head and i don't know what to do.. I have bill collectors calling me 24/7 on medical bills that i owe that i can not pay and they don't take no for an answer..If you have other ideas or would like to help out please call and i will talk to you if you need to hear more..(307)789-8223...I have tried to get SSD and they say because my husband gives me $600.00 a month to pay my bills that i have to pay (elec. rent, gas, water,...etc..the necessities) that i don't qualify..i tried getting medicaid and they turned me down because i no longer have young children in my home...

PLEASE PLEASE TRY TO HELP ME GET THIS SURGERY....I want to beable to play with my granddaughter who is now 2 and not understanding why gamma is all of a sudden going down hill and can't get up...she is my pride and joy and helps me go on day to day..

I told my doctor my major goals are to beable to run the treadmill, swim, and to go bowling..things i have not been able to do in so many years and things i so much enjoy.. at this time in my life i am one of those people you see at Walmart riding a cart.."I'm 47 years old"...I can't do my own shopping..I wake up in the mornings and i have to wait for my pills to take effect before i can even move..One day my foot was asleep and i got up stepped on it and broke it in 2 places..Life really sucks for me right now..I don't sleep longer than 2 hours at a time and i have to take sleeping meds to help me do that...Chronic Pain "I HATE IT" if i can find a way to at least make the pain bearable i would be happy.

PLEASE FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO HELP ME

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

JODY BOWER

Hi.....Sweetie I read some of your stories. I know it is very hard to put pain into words. Last week was the worst week of my life. I did not mention,  to you that in 01/15/2000 I had a morphine pump installed inside my body. This pump has to be refilled every four months. The problems is, I have no health insurance or no money. I was insured with Kaiser. I found a doctor at Kaiser, who has made sure my pump is refilled and he knew I did not have Kaiser insurance. This month Kaiser found out that I was no longer insured with them. So my doctor was unable to refill my pump. I did not know where to turn. I called the doctor who was filling my pump, before I was insured with Kaiser. He is a real jerk!!!!!!!. No insurance and no money, so no refills. I went online to look for help. A doctor from the U.K. sent me a email and stated, that I should call my doctor and get the morphine in tablet form. My doctor is an angel.  I called as many pharmacies as I could. No one had the morphine  in stock. Without the morphine, I would go into withdrawal. Just like a junkie. I finally found a hospital that had the morphine. The pharmacy wanted four-hundred and fifty dollars for sixty tablets. My doctor could not believe how much money they wanted. I told you before I have a wonderful doctor and she called the pharmacy. When my husband came home, he told me it was only eighty-four dollars. My doctor is a saint.  For these last few days the pain has been unbearable. I can hardly walk. I never thought that the pump was helping me so much for the pain. I will read all your stories Brenna. God Bless Grace

xxhopexisnotxlostxx, the answer lies in the bible,as one who has suffered pain for the last 4 years I found relief in the good book, even if you don't believe, it is a jolly good read Brother David

Have you looked at my pages, auto immune misdiagnosis, chronic pain, betrayals journey to forgiveness? I wake up each morning feeling like i have been hit by a truck. I know. I know. There are others here that know too. You might wanna talk to gcruz, she knows all to well too. She's been facing this for 25 years. Me, about 3. My profile page has my story and all my links for various pages, i think you will relate with a lot. I am 27 in a 80 year old body too. You and I have been betrayed by our own bodies, bodies we don't even recognize anymore. Sound familiar? With you shoulder pain, you have a rib out guaranteed, as a result of the physical and emotional stress, from eveything and i am sure the flu didn't help. Were you vomiting? I wish you lived close, I could do work on you that could at least release that shoulder. I get soma body work done that helps with the pain, take a look at my high prescription prices page for a detailed description. Anxiety meds are cheap, and if you can get into a doc. one that will accept small payments, they are out there and some are willing to work with you, it might start help to combat one problem. I too, have bad anxiety, which dramatically increases with my cycles of inflammation of the auto immune disease. I have to have meds. period. I do meditation and reiki too. I'm afraid even if you can find a good doc. they won't have answers. Pain meds may be helpful, along with things like massage and yoga ~ once you get to a place where you can get out of bed, get ready and make it out the door. I know. I have been to countless docs, at the cost of my parents, with no answers. Like grace (gcruz) says, they don 't know what to do with us. Start doing online research about auto immune disease if you can, so you can get a sense of what looks more like you. Reactive Arthritis, Reiter's syndrome, Undifferentiated Spondylolarapathy is another, of course, Lupus and FM. There are a lot, all group into different areas that affect various combos. of our bodies. i.e. skin, joints, vision, digestive, neurological, kidneys, etc. I have over 50 symptoms that wax and wane and have been on a cheap drug that was originally meant for malaria, and it helps to decrease severity of symptoms, may be another good idea to consider. It's called plaquenil or hydroxychlorinquine (generic). They put you on it first to see if it helps. Are you swollen/inflammed a lot? the sed rate blood work is cheap and helps docs see if you are dealing with auto immune for sure. I hope that you find some help from this, check out those pages if you havent or when you have the energy

Brenna 

waking up each morning feels like the some kind of horrid obstacle course... my back certainly feels like i fell asleep on a hurdle. i have to brace myself for sharp and sometimes incapacitating pain if i want to even attempt to get out of bed. this morning the electrician had to help me out of bed...the super had to let him in to work on my apartment because i couldn't get up. talk about embarassment; some strange man seeing me in my knickers. i'm only twenty five years old but my body feels more like seventy. not one doctor has given me a proper diagnosis. i am sure being uninsured doesnt do much to help. i have a constant sharp pain underneath my left shoulder blade and its getting worse every day. ive been told i have fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, severe anxiety disorder... so most doctors think alot of this is in my head. i dont think losing circulation or even worse, the complete lose of function in my hands is something i am dreaming inro existance. i dont know what to do. has anyone else here had symptoms that are similar? are there any groups that offer help for chronic pain sufferers? i would like to see someone who can figure out what is going on before irreversable damage is done to my body. im afraid of what may happen if this gets any worse.

i feel like i am at the end of my rope... i'm 25 yrs old and completely alone in this city. i feel like misfortune is forcing me to harbor an almost bitter hatred for san francisco. i lost my job in february after missing most of january due to pneumonia. lets just say that i was in no way financially prepared to be unemployed. now i am so behind in rent, i am on the verge of being evicted... evicted for a SRO that has no heat and VERY faulty electricity. the stress has wreaked havok on my fibromyalgia. my days are now spent in agony. for the last week i have not been able to get out of bed due to the pain. its worse than anything i have ever felt. i am feeling so hopeless im sorry if it sounds like im throwing myself a huge pity party, i just feel like i am completely out of options. i have no money, no food - i even ate the last of the bbq sauce a day or two ago. luckily the pain from the fms makes me nauseous so i dont think about food too often. ive been denied all government aid and i really dont know what to do at this point...

I am 27 year old mother of one. I am currently separated from my husband and living with my mother. Recently I have developed some very severe dental problems which have kept me in chronic pain daily. I have insurance through my work, but I recieve very little financial help from my husband, who owes so much to state and various other debts, his already little wages are being garnished.

With my chronic pain, I find myself losing patience with my little girl. I feel so awful about this. She deserves a mother who is attentive and wants to play with her. She's a beautiful, loving and happy little girl. 

I really, REALLY need help with dental care. I need to have root canals and cavaties fixed before they become root canals. Please, please someone help me. I really need the help.

thank you

i am asking for help with my bills... mortgage, water, rent, phone, etc...

lost my job on 9/5/08...company - DB Roberts -- thought i was on drugs... (i was on my med for my migraines and back/neck pain but nothing illegal)... my speech was slurred, dizzy, trouble walking, comprehending, memory loss, etc...

i went to Dr. as soon as i could and i was diagnosed with MS 9/19/08, cannot work and waiting on disability. (had MRI's, catscan w/ and w/out dye on brain and back, did spinal puncture and 8 vials of fluid was removed)... on Rebif at this time (3 shots a week - i give myself)...

i am a single mother with a 17 yr old daughter.

many things hinder me from working... broke back in '83, have degenerative discs in neck/back, 3+ ruptured discs, migraines, anxiety/panic attacks, carpal tunnel, cognitive skills messed up, along w/ memory... , IBS, sciatic nerve.....and MANY other things... among them being chronic pain and depression on a daily basis... but, i have faith and i do believe...

anything would be appreciated.  thank you.

God Bless... t-, xo

additional08@bellsouth.net

Good Moring,

I am new to this group and not real sure how it works, but I am will ing to give it a try. I deal with trigeminal neuralgia and atypical facial pain. I ended up with this disabling pain, due to a sinus surgery 4-5 years ago. The nerve damage also affects the mucles in my face and it had dislocated my jaw. Any ideas of how to cope with the pain without addictive pain meds? Does anyone know of a grant/scholarship I might be able to obtain to get my jaw fixed? My insurance won't pay for anything dental, so I 've been real stuck to relieve the jaw pain. It is also, breaking my teeth. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Lioness137 

Hi Everyone,

I am a single, disabled mother with one child at home right now. I ended up with nerve damage in my face from a sinus surgery about 4-5 years ago. Due to the damage, my mucles and nerves dislocated my jaw (also been out for about the same amount of time. I live in Colorado and am on state insurance. The is absolutely no coverage to get this aligment fixed. Being on a low, fixed income, there is absolutely, no way I can get this fixed. It is breaking my teeth (that were perfect before this incident.) I am looking for a way to get a grant or scholarship to get the care that I need. I am continually in terrible pain. Any advice or help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Lioness137