The VA sent me to an outside Pain Management Clinic; yesterday was my first appointment. The Dr. after checking me over decided that trying to manage the pain was more feasable. I was given three epidurol injections of lidocaine/steroid in the Right clavicle (shoulder) and the neck area as a trial to see if this may help. Also will be getting Cymbalta through the VA Pharmacy. My shoulder closer to the lower neck was quite sore last evening; but now seems to be better. Was told by him that the injections would take about 2/3 days before i noticed any relief. Set me up with another Appt. in 30 days.
Maybe if I get some lessened pain relief then my attitude will get improve more. I'm not afraid to say that I get frustrated at times and then some anger steps in. I don't want to be like that; but constant pain prevents me from doing many daily chores and the fatigue sets in after just doing the dishes and vacuuming the carpet.
I had to change out my engine radiator in the old Ranger P/Up Monday morning; all it took was about an hour & 1/2 and I couldn't bear to do much else; even let my short evening walk go. It was all i could do to take a shower; but the hot water felt good on the soreness and pain!
Enough whining from me before some one like Mike or Mark S. offers some cheese to go with it. If so; get some from Wisconsin! LOL
SnowGypsy said
04:11 PM Sep 18, 2014
Hopefully things will change around. Anger and frustration would certainly make sense so I would consider that normal in your situation. You are a fighter! Oh, and I never heard that "whine" with cheese thing before, funny!
NWescapee said
05:21 PM Sep 18, 2014
Hope you feel better soon! Wine with cheese is helping some chronic pain issues that Dale has going on, but more than that, he's started a daily stretching regime that is really helping his shoulder issue.
Stretching his muscles hasn't "fixed" the issue but has kept it from getting worse and if he skips his routine for more than 3 days he's almost crippled from pain again. Let me know if you need the name of the doctor / book he found that he feels is the most helpful. Before his artistic days he was a massage therapist and did a bit of research when he needed to figure out how to keep his shoulder / back from constantly giving him fits.
BiggarView said
05:32 AM Sep 19, 2014
Pieere, don't you know that whine and cheese AKA Laughter, is the best medicine???. I know it's working for me. As to your other medical stuff and the pain, we are with you.
cherylbrv said
06:36 AM Sep 19, 2014
I hope the shots and meds work for you. And you are welcome to whine and vent any time! We all need a little sympathy now and then, and as "family" we're here for you.
As Ruth suggested, have gentle stretching exercises or any physical therapy been recommended?
Lucky Mike said
11:58 AM Sep 19, 2014
Phewwwww!!!!!......when I saw "Pain in the neck" I thought you were talking about me!!
Now back to subject: Sorry Ed its friday and cheese is reserved for to-nites Movie.....but I could offer some Cheeze-its!!!
I hope things are turning for the better for you!! hang in there...
WestWardHo said
11:23 AM Sep 20, 2014
Pieere,
So hoping the shots work for you! You've been thru it.
Love the cheese and whine!
Sherry
suse1023 said
10:10 AM Oct 8, 2014
ugh, you poor guy-chronic pain is such misery!
I know a couple who are moving to Colorado for the newly legalized pain medicine she can get there--it's the only thing which seems to make a difference in her case, even with her morphine pump.
She's been through every pain management program known to man, since she was a young mom. Now she's unable to work any longer and just tired of doing all the right things and 38 years later is still experiencing unrelenting daily pain.
She and her hubby are desperate enough and think that there she can grow and use whatever quantities work for her with no legal or insurance worries.
I'll just be glad if she can get some relief, even if it means not seeing them as often as we like.
Do what you have to do Pierre, we're cheering for you.
rodeojoe said
09:36 AM Mar 14, 2016
Pain can be very upsetting and frustrating. It limits what you can do and how you can do it. I hope the treatment plan does offer you some relief. If not, have you considered any alternative medicine such as acupunture? It may be something to consider.
Talensnana said
08:42 PM Mar 14, 2016
Pierre,
I am so sorry you are in pain. I so understand the pain and exhaustion. I hope the injections work. Please be careful with the Cymbalta and learn about the possible side effects. I know it helps some people, but it also can be a horrible medication. There is a big lawsuit against the company about the medication. When I tried it my quality of life went down. When I tried to get off I had horrendous withdrawal symptoms. Please be cautious and careful.
PD CFK said
09:31 PM Mar 14, 2016
Pierre, Telling us how you are feeling is a good thing, not so much a whine as reaching out to your friends here. We can all send you a mental shoulder/neck massage. Plus, you can always count on a little levity from Mike and Mark to lighten things up a bit Here's hoping you feel better in the coming days. God bless, Pat K
Terry and Jo said
02:33 AM Mar 15, 2016
Keep in mind that this thread is originally about a year and a half old. While we all have empathy towards Pieere's health issues, his pain issues may have already been addressed. At least, I've not read of him speaking of it in some time.
Remember to check a thread's date of posting to avoid bringing up old issues, especially if some of those relate to issues resolved or no longer valid, as in the case of products that may not be available any longer.
Terry
PD CFK said
08:13 AM Mar 15, 2016
Thanks, Terry. So often I do not notice the date of the original post. Oops! Sorry.
PIEERE said
01:11 PM Mar 15, 2016
Hey Guys and Gals; it don't matter! Yeah i decided not to be such a pain for awhile, although I am! Yeah I have 10% lidocaine patches that help me sleep at night! Also doing some better most days if I don't overdo my activities!
Went to an orthopedic surgeon and he looked at the scan of my spine in the neck area; found out why I'm a pain in the neck! It looks like that of people in their nineties; said nothing could be done surgically to correct it. Bet it was caused when I had my back injury in 1985. I wake up in the morning and snap; crackle and pop like a bowl of rice Krispies!
Thank You for all the responses! PIEERE
Terry and Jo said
08:18 AM Mar 16, 2016
Ed,
You're NEVER a pain to us. In fact, I love it when you do get back on because then I know that Pieere is still keeping on with keeping on. At least it sounds like you are able to manage the pain, even if it won't go completely away. We have a friend in Oklahoma that also had a vehicle accident years ago, and every time the weather changes, she really gets to having neck and headache pains.
Our prayers continue to go out to you, so hang in there.
Terry
Ckerr said
11:10 AM Mar 21, 2016
I haven't been around much either. Glad to stop back by and see that Pierre is still here. Glad the pain is at least manageable if not completely gone.
Hugs,
Carol
PIEERE said
09:10 AM Mar 25, 2016
Thanks for the replies! Springs on it's way; but the chill of old man Winter tries to rear his ugly head; one early am its' 60; the next 34; back and forth like a see-saw. I need a vacation; so will make an excursion to see my daughter and grandkids in Michigan this July!
The VA sent me to an outside Pain Management Clinic; yesterday was my first appointment. The Dr. after checking me over decided that trying to manage the pain was more feasable. I was given three epidurol injections of lidocaine/steroid in the Right clavicle (shoulder) and the neck area as a trial to see if this may help. Also will be getting Cymbalta through the VA Pharmacy. My shoulder closer to the lower neck was quite sore last evening; but now seems to be better. Was told by him that the injections would take about 2/3 days before i noticed any relief. Set me up with another Appt. in 30 days.
Maybe if I get some lessened pain relief then my attitude will get improve more.
I'm not afraid to say that I get frustrated at times and then some anger steps in.
I don't want to be like that; but constant pain prevents me from doing many daily chores and the fatigue sets in after just doing the dishes and vacuuming the carpet. 
I had to change out my engine radiator in the old Ranger P/Up Monday morning; all it took was about an hour & 1/2 and I couldn't bear to do much else; even let my short evening walk go. It was all i could do to take a shower; but the hot water felt good on the soreness and pain!
Enough whining from me before some one like Mike or Mark S. offers some cheese to go with it. If so; get some from Wisconsin! LOL
Stretching his muscles hasn't "fixed" the issue but has kept it from getting worse and if he skips his routine for more than 3 days he's almost crippled from pain again. Let me know if you need the name of the doctor / book he found that he feels is the most helpful. Before his artistic days he was a massage therapist and did a bit of research when he needed to figure out how to keep his shoulder / back from constantly giving him fits.
Pieere, don't you know that whine and cheese AKA Laughter, is the best medicine???
. I know it's working for me. As to your other medical stuff and the pain, we are with you.
As Ruth suggested, have gentle stretching exercises or any physical therapy been recommended?
Now back to subject: Sorry Ed its friday and cheese is reserved for to-nites Movie.....but I could offer some Cheeze-its!!!
I hope things are turning for the better for you!! hang in there...
So hoping the shots work for you! You've been thru it.
Love the cheese and whine!
Sherry
I know a couple who are moving to Colorado for the newly legalized pain medicine she can get there--it's the only thing which seems to make a difference in her case, even with her morphine pump.
She's been through every pain management program known to man, since she was a young mom. Now she's unable to work any longer and just tired of doing all the right things and 38 years later is still experiencing unrelenting daily pain.
She and her hubby are desperate enough and think that there she can grow and use whatever quantities work for her with no legal or insurance worries.
I'll just be glad if she can get some relief, even if it means not seeing them as often as we like.
Do what you have to do Pierre, we're cheering for you.
Pierre,
I am so sorry you are in pain. I so understand the pain and exhaustion. I hope the injections work. Please be careful with the Cymbalta and learn about the possible side effects. I know it helps some people, but it also can be a horrible medication. There is a big lawsuit against the company about the medication. When I tried it my quality of life went down. When I tried to get off I had horrendous withdrawal symptoms. Please be cautious and careful.
Keep in mind that this thread is originally about a year and a half old. While we all have empathy towards Pieere's health issues, his pain issues may have already been addressed. At least, I've not read of him speaking of it in some time.
Remember to check a thread's date of posting to avoid bringing up old issues, especially if some of those relate to issues resolved or no longer valid, as in the case of products that may not be available any longer.
Terry
Went to an orthopedic surgeon and he looked at the scan of my spine in the neck area; found out why I'm a pain in the neck! It looks like that of people in their nineties; said nothing could be done surgically to correct it. Bet it was caused when I had my back injury in 1985. I wake up in the morning and snap; crackle and pop like a bowl of rice Krispies!
Thank You for all the responses! PIEERE
Ed,
You're NEVER a pain to us. In fact, I love it when you do get back on because then I know that Pieere is still keeping on with keeping on. At least it sounds like you are able to manage the pain, even if it won't go completely away. We have a friend in Oklahoma that also had a vehicle accident years ago, and every time the weather changes, she really gets to having neck and headache pains.
Our prayers continue to go out to you, so hang in there.
Terry
Hugs,
Carol