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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by stargazer2 on April 27, 2008, at 16:44:54
I have had this for about a month now. It came on rather suddenly without any trigger and I initially went to a massage therapist twice, but that made the pain worse. Then I called my Primary care MD who was away, but saw her colleague who prescribed Skelaxin, Vicodan and an anti-inflammatory. Not much relief with that. Then I went for PT, 4 visits, heat, ice and e-stim and stretching exercises. Initially OK, but by the 4th visit pain got worse since the therapist tried to reduce the arm pain by pulling my neck out, like in traction.
I continue to have pain in my neck and shoulder and arm, along with stiffness. I use ice constantly. The only med that helps is vicodan but that can't be used all the time.
Should I try chiropractic, although i'm afraid of their practices with the neck cracking and all.
I do believ alot of this has to due with a new job, stress and lots of computer work sitting in one position too long.
Anyone hear of trigger points and treating those?
Help, my depression is coming back as the pain eats away at my health. It's either mental breakdown or physicial breakdown, I never have freedom from both issues....Why?
Stargazer
Posted by Sigismund on April 27, 2008, at 19:06:33
In reply to Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on April 27, 2008, at 16:44:54
What you need is a diagnosis. IE, what is causing the pain.
I wonder, only because it happened to me, whether your pain is referred from some upper spinal thing.I wouldn't do chiropractic until I'd sorted that out.
But shoulders are complex. Lots can go wrong there.
A good physio should be able to help.
Posted by Sigismund on April 27, 2008, at 19:09:29
In reply to Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on April 27, 2008, at 16:44:54
OK, I read your post.
Your physio must have thought there was spinal involvement, I guess, thus the traction.
You got any pictures of your upper spine since the pain started?
Posted by seldomseen on April 28, 2008, at 3:18:48
In reply to Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on April 27, 2008, at 16:44:54
Is it your right or left arm/shoulder?
If it's your left it may be a cardiac problem or a vascular problem.
In any case, have you tried neurontin?
Seldom
Posted by Phillipa on April 29, 2008, at 12:17:50
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain » stargazer2, posted by seldomseen on April 28, 2008, at 3:18:48
Stargazer just saw this. I had something similar in nursing school was told too stressful for me and to stop no way I said saw a great chiropractor who did the x-rays, then some gentle manipulations, then electro stimulation which did work but I was feeling good at the time mentally. I do understand as if my head is okay seems my body breaks down. Write when you can. love Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on May 7, 2008, at 13:23:01
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by Phillipa on April 29, 2008, at 12:17:50
Stargazer just saw words trigger points mentioned by you. They are a diagnostic tool for fibromyalgia did the doc suggest this to you? Tried to diagnose me with this years ago but the trigger points were not there. Google them and it shows shoulders, chest, thigh, and where they are. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on May 7, 2008, at 13:29:58
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by Phillipa on May 7, 2008, at 13:23:01
Here they are may not have copied don't think that is it. Phillipa
If you are devastated by symptoms of severe widespread pain and daytime exhaustion, yet your blood tests are normal, you may have fibromyalgia syndrome or chronic fatigue syndrome. Both are serious chronic illnesses that have specific criteria for diagnosis, but may be overlooked. Also, you should be aware that the distinction between fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome is "very fuzzy rather than sharp," and up to 70% of fibromyalgia patients meet the diagnosis for chronic fatigue syndrome.*Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS)
Routine lab tests do not detect the widespread pain of fibromyalgia. Instead, the diagnosis is made by a physical exam that takes about five minutes. When light pressure is applied to the surface of the muscles throughout the body, patients with fibromyalgia find this painful, especially at the tender points used for diagnosis.To meet the fibromyalgia criteria for diagnosis, patients must have:
A. Widespread pain in all four quadrants of their body for a minimum of three monthsB. At least 11 of the 18 specified tender points (see diagram**)
The 18 sites used for the fibromyalgia diagnosis cluster around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions. The finger pressure that must be applied to these areas during a "palpation" exam is roughly equivalent to the amount that causes the finger nail bed to blanch or start to become white. Over 75 other tender points have been found to exist, but are not used for diagnostic purposes.
While many chronic pain syndromes display symptoms that overlap with fibromyalgia, the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) multi-center criteria study (published in the February 1990 issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism) evaluated a total of 558 patients, of which 265 were classified as controls. These control individuals weren't your typical healthy "normals." They were age and sex matched patients with neck pain syndrome, low back pain, local tendonitis, trauma-related pain syndromes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, osteoarthritis of the knee or hand, and other painful disorders. These patients all had some symptoms that mimic fibromyalgia, but the trained examiners were not foiledthey hand-picked the fibromyalgia patients out of the "chronically ill" melting pot with an accuracy of 88%. Fibromyalgia is not a wastebasket diagnosis!
Although the above diagnosis focuses on tender point count, a consensus of 35 fibromyalgia experts published a report in 1996 saying that a person does not need to have the required 11 tender points to be diagnosed and treated for fibromyalgia (Wolfe F, et al. J Rheumatology 23(3):534-9, 1996). This criteria was created for research purposes and many people may still have fibromyalgia with less than 11 of the required tender points as long as they have widespread pain and many of the commonly associated symptoms below.
fatigue
irritable bowel (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, etc.)
sleep disorder (or sleep that is unrefreshing)
chronic headaches (tension-type or migraines)
jaw pain (including TMJ dysfunction)
cognitive or memory impairment
post-exertional malaise and muscle pain
morning stiffness (waking up stiff and achy)
menstrual cramping
numbness and tingling sensations
dizziness or lightheadedness
skin and chemical sensitivities
Posted by stargazer2 on May 9, 2008, at 19:36:57
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by Phillipa on May 7, 2008, at 13:29:58
Today, I went and had a cervical xray done, so we'll see what that shows.
I'm just falling apart...I never remember feeling BOTH physically well AND emotionally well at the same time. NEVER, even when much younger, although the emotional problems were usually the most prominent feature.
I wonder why that is???? I do believe in the physical and emotional being entwined together and right now I am both really anxious and stressed and my back and neck are still out of whack.
I think alot has to do with my posture as I always slumped pretty badly from being so tall.
I would give anything to feel good physically and emotionally, is that too much to ask in life?
The few times I can remember that I felt both at the same time felt so good because it was so unusual to have bothe feeling at the same time. I always was either depressed or sick.
Can anyone relate????I have fought all of this my whole life and it has never stopped for any length of time.
I'm pretty tired of it alll..................
SG
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2008, at 19:41:08
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on May 9, 2008, at 19:36:57
Stargazer seriously used to run and do all sorts of things and felt wonderful med free too. Hope the x-ray shows something. Love Phillipa
Posted by stargazer2 on May 10, 2008, at 23:39:00
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain » stargazer2, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2008, at 19:41:08
So you had good health once? Some of us can never say that. I was never diagnosed with somehting before depression but i knew I never felt well even as a child. It must have all been related to my prpensity for depression and it kind of shows you the wiring or chemicals can be defective all your life.
I'm working with a woman now who is burning the candles at both ends and she now has a goiter so I believe you can ruin your health too if you do too much.
MY theory is that you make yourself sick if you don't know how to slow down or say "no" when you have too much going on...a classic for somany today.
What caused your thyroid disorder, any ideas?
sg
Posted by Phillipa on May 10, 2008, at 23:50:10
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on May 10, 2008, at 23:39:00
Believe it not the pdoc said it was signing the piece of paper marriage. One week after getting married it went. Love Phillipa
Posted by maree on June 25, 2008, at 23:09:25
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by stargazer2 on May 9, 2008, at 19:36:57
> I would give anything to feel good physically and emotionally, is that too much to ask in life?
>
> The few times I can remember that I felt both at the same time felt so good because it was so unusual to have bothe feeling at the same time. I always was either depressed or sick.
>
> Can anyone relate????I have fought all of this my whole life and it has never stopped for any length of time.
>
>
Hi Stargazer, yeah, I would love to wake up tomorrow and feel WELL!!! To know that I have enough energy to get through the day, and for it not to be a problem if I find that I have to do something else, to have to walk further than I had planned, to be really and honestly happy to go out tonight because my partner wants to go square dancing or visit somebody.
I used to live a very full & busy life, till a stroke brought fibromyalgia into my life, now, I do nothing all day and I am still tired.
I would like to LIVE again, not just survive. I have forgotten what it is like to leap out of bed and be able to hurry, hurry, hurry, because i am running late for a job that I love, I have forgotten what it is like to feel WELL.
Posted by Laurapat22 on December 2, 2008, at 12:50:06
In reply to Re: Severe neck/shoulder pain, posted by maree on June 25, 2008, at 23:09:25
I know how you feel. I am only 23 and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 7 months ago, but have had the same symptoms for over three years. I have intense neck, chest and upper back pain and horrible sleeping problems. I never feel rested and lately my fibro fog has been pretty bad. Fortunately, I am a pretty functional fibro patient... I go to work, I exercise and I go out with my friends a lot, but I never feel GOOD. I always just push through the pain, because I refuse to let fibro rule my life. I hate the pain and I hate the fatigue, but worst of all I hate that no one understands or gives you credit for all the energy and work you put into doing everyday things. I dont expect a pity party, but I would appreciate it if I didn't get crap from my friends for missing so much work. I probably bring a lot of my pain on myself, because I refuse to slow down (I just cant make myself stop and relax) but I wish there was something out there that could just allow me to live the life that everyone else has. I thank god everyday that I do have the drive to accomplish pretty much everything I want to, but that wont be there forever. Because after a while, you start to just give up hope that any of it is worth it, since you're just going to be in pain the whole time anyway. I am so afraid that this will only get worse. I am trying to become a lawyer, and I'm going to law school next year. the workload isnt what even scares me, its the fact that I will be sitting in a library 10 hours a day, while my muscles get stiff. Or that if I dont get enough sleep I will be in intense pain for the rest of the week or even month.
This is the most annoying condition, because you are the only one who can feel it and no one will ever understand. I almost feel like more people get sympathy when they have a cold, then when you have fibro. I totally understand your pain!
This is the end of the thread.
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