Chronic Pain

Hello, everyone. :]
I know that this is kind of long but I want to be thourough because someone out there may be able to help me. Even if it isn't what I could be suffering from, ANY insight would be much appreciated.

Anyway, I am 21 years old and I have been dealing with chronic pain for roughly two years. Everything varies upon day to day. Sometimes the pain is tolerable and sometimes it is incorrigible, though it is always present. It only occurs in my upper body but not always in the same places, or it can be in all of my upper body at the same time. On both sides of my body, it can be anywhere from my fingertips and hands, all up my lower and upper arms, underneath my arms, my shoulders, the upper half of my chest, under and around my collar bones, my upper back (right at the bottom of my shoulder blades and up), the back and sides of my neck, and when it is really bad the very bottom or sides of my jaw. The pain also varies from pins and needles, tingling, burning, itching, stinging, aching, throbbing, shooting, pulsing, stabbing, cramping... Sometimes the area of my pain is tender and some of the times I am not. It can feel like a bruise, or a sharp stabbing feeling. Sometimes, certain areas can be so sharp that with a small movement it can take my breath away. No matter the pain sensation, the level of the pain, or area of it, it is always very sharp. The pain feels deep. As if it is in the joints, bones, tendons, muscles, sometimes my skin, and sometimes it feels like my veins themselves hurt.

Anything and everything can cause a flare up. I try and limit my actions, movements, non-movements, and etc... I have given up so much because my love of doing certain things are just not worth the pain. Every movement and non movement can make it worse. Cold worsens it and heat does little to nothing. I have tried so much to help rid it or relieve it just a bit. No pain meds work, anti-depressants don't, better sleep does nothing, anxiety meds, muscle relaxers, meds for muscle spasms, physical therapy, chiropractors, massages, exercise, diet, acupuncture, natural pain meds,... Typing this is causing me immense pain and the longer I do it the worse it gets and the longer the flare up.

I don't have fibromyalgia, or myofascial syndrome. I have already been misdiagnosed with them and more. I have tried to do research and figure it out myself, but nothing. I have been tested for so many things and they always come up negative.

*sighs* I just want a name, I want an answer...

I wish I could remember when and how it exactly started. Frankly, I thought nothing of it and assumed it would go away. I think it started toward the end of my high school days. I remember my arms getting tired a lot more easily and resting them, but I don't remember pain. I assume that it got to its worst point around the end of July to the beginning of August... Anyway, the earliest mention from me was in a blog in October of 2007, stating that I have been dealing with it for a while. It just got to a certain point and the pain just plateaued. It hasn't gotten worse or better and there aren't any other strange symptoms to go along with it.

If anyone out there could help me (even if it isnt the answer), I would most appreciate it. A new idea is even appreciated, even if wrong.

Someone, somewhere has the answer I am looking for. It is just hard... I have already given up hope for the most part, but who knows. I hope someone proves me wrong and can help me.

Thank you to anyone who has taken their time to read this, and thank you even more to anyone who responds.

Also, please, share your story here with me. I love being there for people, even if it is to just listen.

Hi oleander,

I am new to this forum, but not new to pain management. I am a chiropractor. I was injured about 18 months ago, 2 surgeries later, I am still suffering from chronic pain. I am only 34, and was trying to get pregnant when this started.

It has been a very tough time for us...

anyway... on to you...

you say you were screened for FM, but what about MS? Have you had an MRI of your spine or head? If not, you need to. Also, what treatments have you tried?

I would recommend a chiropractor (maybe one who has 'decompression therapy' as one of the tools they use.

Acupuncture and massage are both also options you can explore. I know massage can be expensive, but maybe you can find a nearby massage school, and utilize their clinic.

Dear Sweetasoleander,
Your story is so moving. I have no answers for you but will lift you up in prayer. I would advice you to plea with your doctor to send you to Cleveland Clinic for a total workup. You are correct in that there has to be an answer. you cant go on like you are. especially at such a young age. I can't imagine what you are going throug...well, yes I can, after going through three back surgeries myself and not getting much relief right now. I may be going through another stimulator trial in the coming weeks myself..not sure. YOU must be your own advocate. Fight for more tests and answers and don't settle for anything less. I will keep you in my prayers as I said before. One thing I push for too is an MRI of your brain.Good luck and God bless.

Hi Sweetasoleander,

I'm so sorry to hear you're having so much pain, especially at such a young age. I understand well the frustration of not being able to get an accurate diagnosis for widespread pain that moves around. It took me seven years to finally be diagnosed. In my case it turned out to be fibromyalgia. (That was 20 years ago when very few doctors had even heard of FM.)

I can understand why they thought you had FM since your symptoms sound very similar – except that the pain of FM generally occurs in all four quadrants of the body. Like Lexie, I also thought of MS. And have you been tested for Lupus? I suspect both of those possibilities have already been considered.

If you've never been to an acupuncturist before, you might give that some serious thought. Chinese medicine takes a different approach than Western medicine and can often figure out where problems are coming from that have baffled Western doctors. I explain a little of that in this article: Treating Chronic Pain with Acupuncture Chinese medicine does not try to replace Western medicine, but rather help it. They actually complement each other very well when they work together.

I do hope you're able to get some answers soon. I know how miserable and scary it can be to keep wondering what is wrong.

Best,
Karen