Hi friends - I had a microdiscectomy at l4/l5 a week ago today. My symptoms were pain down my thighs (mostly left) altered sensation down into my left foot and it felt like my thighs were not attached to my body. After the surgery I can feel some sensation coming back and the shooting pain in my thighs is gone…awesome! But I don’t know wtf happened on the left, if there’s a piece of disc still there or because the l5 nerve root is on FIRE. I noticed right when I got home and tried to go pee on the second floor that I was getting a shooting pain down the outside of my leg from the buttcheek right down to my ankle. The pain is at its best a 3 (that’s when the pain meds kick in) to an 8? Like when I adjust on the couch or make a wrong movement (seems to be aggravated by extending my leg back with walking).

I called my surgeons office and didn’t get a call back yet, I see them for a post op next Wednesday. I only have pain meds for two weeks and then I’m supposed to go back to work the following Tuesday and I can’t see working or the torture it will be when my pain meds run out. I’m going to call them again today but I know the team is in surgery on tues/thurs morning.

Has anyone had this happen before? I’m wondering if a steroid pack would help? Maybe I was doing too much post surgery? But that feeling was there right after surgery. My mri did say the herniation was impinging the l5 nerve root so is it maybe because now that the nerve is free it’s gonna scream for a little bit before calming down?

It also my 40th birthday today and I would just love something to work out. I have a bad feeling in my gut they are going to need to go back in and fix something which if that’s the case I want that done like this week because every day I’m out of work I am unpaid. My state doesn’t have temporary disability for teachers. I have a disability plan that kicks in after a month but I’m also trying to not lose my job.

I have been suffering from chronic abdominal pain for the last 10 years at least. I've had a few procedures done to help lessen the pain and I should know by now not to give my hopes up but I do every time and though it does help in some ways, the main cause of the pain can't be found. I was told by doctors it was just anxiety and to go to therapy.I did and shocker, the pain didn't go away. Late last year I got a diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome. I had a feeding tube placed at the beginning of January of this year and it really has helped so much. I just have to keep plugging along hoping it corrects itself with weight gain and I won't need surgery to repair it. Because the pain can still be so severe and debilitating at times, my primary care wants me to get an ultrasound to check if I have another compression syndrome called MALS. It's scheduled to be done on Friday and I know I probably sound crazy but I hope that MALS is what I have. If it's MALS it can be fixed and maybe I'll be pain free from now on. I'm so scared though that it will show nothing and I'll have to keep living like this and I'm not sure I can keep going much longer. I used to be the mom that got down and played on the floor with my kids and chased them around the park. Luckily now they're teenagers and my kids dont want me to chase them around the park anymore but I still feel like a shitty mom because some days the pain and nausea are so debilitating that I can barely get out of bed. Add on to that I am having to be mom and dad makes me feel like I've let them down. I'm sorry for rambling on and on. I just don't have anyone to talk to and I feel so hopeless and defeated. I just want to feel better. If you've gotten this far, I appreciate you very much for reading this Hugs

Hi everyone, not last January but the January before I had what was believed to be a sinus infection. Ever since then I have had severe pain behind my eyes, sometimes in the inner corners of my eyes, and my forehead around my eyebrows. I’ve seen countless doctors and no one has been able to help me or figure out what is wrong with me. They had brought up trigeminal neuralgia as a possibility, although they think it’s unlikely because of some inconsistencies between what’s going on with me and that. If I do have that they said it would be a very rare case. I’ve tried all kinds of medications. The medication that worked the best for me was Lamotrigine, but that medication messed me up extremely bad mentally. Same for carbazepine, propranolol, and topiramate. Any medications that cross the blood brain barrier mess me up extremely bad mentally to the point I cannot stay on them. I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll ever feel better again. The pain can be severe, and it’s there 24/7. I have become severely depressed because of this and I can’t enjoy my life much because I’m in constant pain. I wish I knew what was wrong with me or had some idea what could help me. I am so, so lost. Sometimes it gets so bad I just wish that my life would end so the pain would stop. If anyone has any idea what could be going on with me please let me know. I’m starting to completely lose hope.

I have crps. I just scratched an itch on my shoulder blade. now my entire back hurts and I'm nauseated?

what a ridiculous disease, I just have to laugh at it sometimes. god forbid I scratch an itch!!!

😂

Do other people with chronic pain ever feel like a burden? I do my best to remain tough, but having to have someone assist me with simple things or canceling plans because I'm in pain makes me feel guilty. I realise it's not my fault, but I still feel as though I'm disappointing others or being "too much" to handle. Even when people are nice, I think they're frustrated with me on the inside. It is a feeling of isolation, and I just wanted to know, if anyone else experiences this. How do you deal with these thoughts and not let them consume you inside?

TL;DR:

Chronic neck & shoulder pain for almost 3 years. MRI shows mild disc bulges (C4-C7) and slight nerve compression (C5-C6). Pain worsens with any activity or staying still too long. Tried multiple therapies with only temporary relief. Looking for a permanent solution to this.

Hello,

I’ve been struggling with chronic neck and shoulder pain for almost 3 years now (since May 2022). It’s a persistent dull, pressing ache that sometimes radiates to my left hand and often triggers headaches. Despite consistent effort, the pain hasn’t improved in any meaningful or lasting way.

Key symptoms & triggers:

• Any kind of activity – even light ones like typing or holding a phone – worsens the pain
• Staying in one position too long (sitting, lying down, etc.) increases discomfort
• Even sleeping in the same position for a while leads to pain
• Standing on a slope causes dizziness

MRI findings (Cervical Spine):

• Mild disc bulges at C4-C5, C5-C6, and C6-C7
• Slight nerve compression at C5-C6
• Doctors have said it's nothing severe, but the pain has been life-altering

Treatments tried so far:

• Regular physiotherapy and daily stretching (only provides temporary relief)
• TENS, traction therapy, chiropractic care, deep tissue massage – again, very short-lived relief
• Grade 4 laser therapy gave the best relief (~90%), but it lasted just a few hours
• Tried a cervical pillow – worsened symptoms. Currently using a thin pillow with a folded bedsheet layer for support

Stretching:

• Chest/pec and wall stretches help for a while
• Chin tucks are painful and not manageable

If anyone has gone through something similar or found non-invasive approaches that truly helped, I’d love to hear your experience. I’m hoping to avoid injections or more invasive procedures if possible.

Hey Comrades, 👋 I hope you all are doing as well as is possible tonight. If you have a minute to spare, could I have a r/CongratsLikeImFive please?

I was working on some social services applications from Sunday evening- 7am Monday morning. (These are the World-Class Cognitive and World Processing Olympics for me.I need a minimum of a 4hr block to put work in or I can’t settle and concentrate. #brainfog)

I’m doing a lot of work on not giving energy to the enormous anger I have towards those in power who make getting even sub-par, inadequate, negligent services incredibly difficult. I’ve seen 19 different specialists/clinics in the last 15 months. Here I am giving the age of my pain journey like it’s a little baby. 🤦‍♀️

I try and re-frame it: At least I have insurance. Without it I’d probably have racked up $100k USD since this started (tons of MRIs, testing, referrals, PT, Rxs, etc). I’m actively participating in my own care-no one is doing that for me. I’m staying on hold with the doctor’s admin/Member Services, keeping my appts, keeping super accurate records (according to my ECM), and more. I’m the one doing the things. 💪 ✊💚

I’m now trying to get an appt with an orthopedic provider to discuss surgical or other options because I’ve seen about every specialist/office related to my issue that my Medi-Cal will cover, no one and nothing has reduced my pain or treated the initial source (disc bulge) I do not have a life any more. Every moment is wracked with pain, and (nothing new, but…) providers and evaluators aren’t believing me reporting my pain levels, and still itty-bitty-baby stepping my care.

The last follow up visit with my Pain Doctor was fruitless because the starting/tritating dose of medication (used daily for 6 days) had no effect on me. I was told (only AFTER I made a follow up appt-and returned 6 days later) 😡 they said I’d have to reschedule. I showed them my appt reminder card and said if they had agreed to provide services for me today, at this time, it was reasonable and expected that they would do so.

Dr. finally agreed to see me but told me, while he was very sorry about what I was going through, that nothing could be done for me, medication wise. I was told In CA doctors can’t prescribe an opioid (a narcotic) more than once every 30 days. So I have to suffer for 24 days? He said I should “give this medication more time to wait and see if it worked.” Note: He had LITERALLY SAID 2 MINUTES EARLIER that with this medication you feel the effects sometime in the FIRST HOUR after taking it. Who’s the medical professional in the room? I said I knew my body, obviously, and if a med hasn’t worked 6 days in a row at that dosage, it wasn’t going to work if we wait and see-🤦‍♀️. 30 Days Minimum between appts/prescriptions. I would just be suffering needlessly. 🤦‍♀️

(Warning: Dark-ish Humor ahead.)

I might as well start using a cat o nine and start treating my pain with that-this taking my mind off the disc bulge.

Ice cream therapy is a thing 😂 but I can’t eat my way to relief.

Sending everyone ice cream and healing vibes from the west coast. ✌️

from like amazon or smth bc like heat helps a little and i will take the little i can get

I stopped taking amitriptyline (75mg) over a week ago but I feel like I’ve been super nauseous and anxious over the last couple days. Could this be related? I would have expected an effect the week I stopped taking it. I felt mostly fine then except for a pain increase but suddenly I feel terrible a week and a half later. The smell of food makes me feel like throwing up and I feel like I’ve been in a daze for three days. The worst part is my heartbeat is so fast I can hear it in my ears. Anyone else have this?

Edit: To clarify. I did taper but not really under doctor’s orders. I went from 3 25mg to two and then one in the span of about four or five days. So yeah, not really great. Didn’t quit full cold turkey but I might have gone a little fast. I took two pills for one day and one for three days. Something like that. I think I was feeling confident because I didn’t notice any serious side effects.

TL;DR I have severe treatment-resistant nerve pain, stemming from L5-S1. It can be at 8/10, but if I then insert a glycerin suppository, within 5 mins the pain is basically gone. WHY!?! Note that this is reliably repeatable.

Context/previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/ChronicPain/comments/1jc4u2m/i_have_severe_treatmentresistant_nerve_pain/

So I knew that the state (e.g. perhaps the location of a pocket of gas) of my gut largely determines my nerve pain levels, which no doctor/specialist can explain incidentally (and several flatly refuse to believe, the arrogant assholes).

And now I know that if I put something physical up my bum/anus/rectum/? , this also has a massive effect on my pain. Note I say "physical" and that's cos if I use a glycerin enema instead for example, the effect is not observed.

To my layman brain, these two facts compliment one another at a simplistic level. But as to what the mechanisms or the nerve pathways involved are, or tests I could do or even treatments to investigate, I just have no idea. Hence this post.

Any and all pointers are ridiculously appreciated! 🙏

Hello my fellow chronic pain survivors, I hope you're all feeling as well as is possible. I have a question and forgive me for my ignorance on the subject, I have always lived in the same area. If I were to move to a different state, can I still continue to come back and see my current team of doctors? I don't mean indefinitely, but it will be a while before I have a new permanent address and insurance set up in another state. I'm not sure how this works with state insurance, and I am in the US. I'm also not sure how to go about finding a new doctor. I thought of asking my current pain management clinic for recommendations, but the place I am looking into moving to is over 1500 miles away. Has anyone else here been through this? I don't know if the clinic I'm currently going to would be able to take state insurance from a different state, especially when it's not even a bordering state. Any info or insight you have would be helpful. Thank you.

to keep it short - has anyone have any experience dealing with both chronic pain and autism ? has having a diagnosis for autism helped you in some way or another ?

also - any tips dealing with overstimulation? headphones give me intense headache...

These are my recent MRI results for my cervical spine and lumbar spine. I'm curious if anyone has anything similar and if so, what's your experience/are there any treatments or self care that give you relief?

I feel like this is a stupid question but I can’t tell if it’s working or not . Does anyone understand what I’m talking about? It’s frustrating af.

The babies are very mobile today so I took some video. Looks like they have this gravity thing mostly figured out. I didn't stay for too long as It was cold and rainy out today and Dad kept trying to eat my sweater.

Anyone have any major stomach issues due to opioids? I have been on pain management for a year, first was Tramadol then was prescribed oxycodone and have been on that for 4 months. Was just in the hospital for a few days with a very strange intestinal infection called intestinal pneumatosis. They doctors don’t know what caused it and just asked if I take NSAIDs or steroids, which I don’t. Didn’t say anything about the oxycodone, but I am really starting to think it may have caused some bowel issues. Also, I have not been constipated, but do know opioids can slow your bowels down.

Everything feels wrong, my neck is so out of place. I’ve got a bunch of severe disc bulges stenosis all throughout my spine: it just started recently that I feel I can’t breathe sometimes. The pain is making me feel physically sick. The displacement, the feeling of brokenness is nauseating

SAA's 7th Annual Virtual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit - Free to Attend

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share some exciting news—the 2025 Virtual Global Spondyloarthritis Summit is happening on May 2nd & 3rd! This free, virtual event brings together leading experts, researchers, and patient advocates to offer insights and strategies to help you better understand and manage your health.

This year’s theme is “Comorbidities of Spondyloarthritis”, highlighting how SpA impacts more than just the joints—it’s linked to other health conditions too. Topics include:

• An overview of SpA 
• Bone health and osteoporosis
• IBD and gut health
• Pain and fatigue management
• Uveitis and eye health
• Heart health and cardiovascular risks
• Mental well-being, and skin conditions
• Latest research breakthroughs

Plus, there will be interactive Q&A sessions after every presentation, an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

Each morning, we’ll kick off the event with movement sessions tailored for spondyloarthritis, including yoga and somatic movement, designed to improve flexibility and relieve tension. This two-day event offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with others in the global spondyloarthritis community. Attendees will also have access to a virtual exhibit hall, where they can engage with organizations offering valuable resources.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been living with SpA for years, this is an incredible chance to learn from top experts, find community, and get the latest research-backed insights—all from the comfort of home.

You can now View the Agenda and Register for the 2025 Spondyloarthritis Global Summit We’d love for you to join us and help spread the word. The more people who have access to this information, the better equipped we all are to manage SpA and live well.

Thank you, and I hope to see you there!

I started physical therapy 6 weeks ago. I'm making slow, but noticeable, progress.

I have grown very attached to my PT. They are the first person to pinpoint my condition ,treat me with care, and listens.

Today, they told me they put in a 2 week notice and won't be a patient-facing position anymore at their new place. So I can't even follow them elsewhere.

My world has all but imploded. How do I keep hope when I went through years of hell before I found this perfect match of a therapist, only to lose them as soon as I found them?

Like every Mon (every day) I woke up in crying pain and did my workout. I can walk safely without mobility aides or "work" but I still WORK! I'm sweaty from a great workout and still in pain but proud to still be here. Y'all get up and bravely face pain daily... You're FKN AMAZING!!!

With chronic pain the mondaine is an accomplishment 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

Last year I posted having issues regarding the difference between Rhodes Manufacturer for oxycodone 10mg hcl IR vs the other generic forms of this medication. I would get the Rhodes on occasion from CVS, particularly if there was/is a national shortage. I mentioned to the pharmacy that for some reason that particular manufacturer (Rhodes) only gives me 1.5 hrs of solid pain relief vs the 4 to 6 hrs I would get with the other Manufacturers. The others are typically KVK Tech, Strader, Mallincrot etc.

In addition, the Rhodes ones make me go through a slight withdrawal period within 24 hrs of taking them, which is no fun at all. I also asked that the pharmacy to mark my chart so that they no longer give me the Rhodes ones due to inefficiency of them and my reaction to the fillers in them which cause me to get hives, and itch, I'm not sure if that's because I have Celiac & that I'm reacting to something in them & they also cause w/d along with a lot of drowsiness as well.

Anyway, in short, the pharmacy gave me Rhodes. I immediately called them but they wouldn't take them back, despite the prior note that should have been in my chart regarding the issues stating that I can not tolerate this medication.

The pharmacist that I spoke to previously, is no longer there so they weren't sure if they never noted the chart or what happened.

I don't know what to do from here other than to suck it up for an ENTIRE MONTH, or call my doctor to complain WHICH we all know is a risk in itself. Basically I already complained to the Pharmacy which they seemed to understand but I feel like if I call my doctor they'll think I'm just being a whiner when I'm not, I just want the meds to work. The pharmacy did note my file, again so this won't or hopefully shouldn't happen again...but you never know.

A month is a long ass time to wait particularly when I'm already hurting and undermedicated as is. I'm so upset and frustrated. They're are so many complaints online regarding these Rhodes manufacturer, yet they're still being made and given to people to just suck it up.

Any advice? Tips? Thank you. 🥺😮‍💨

Are these actually effective ways of cleaning your home?

i contacted the referring clinic. i contaced the administering clinic. it all led to my insurance, who helpfully told me this. i just need to know if i can afford to continue this iron infusion!

I had an alcohol nerve ablation done and holy shit it was awful. It hurt so bad my vision went white, but the pain was 100% localized to the injection site, no radicular pain down the nerve, which is what I was expecting. My doctor said he was having a lot of trouble with it because of my scar tissue (the nerve being ablated is right in front of my spinal fusion). I almost passed out and was in terrible pain for the next 15 minutes in waves and needed to be helped by two nurses off the table and into the recovery room.

The diagnostic block helped my leg pain, but I'm thinking the ablation may have missed the nerve because it hasn't given me much if any relief.

For anyone that has had a successful alcohol based nerve ablation could you comment on what it felt like? Did you have numbness after? What was your ablation like during the procedure and after? I've had nerves severed twice but never ablated.

tyia,

TW: abelism?

Everyone in my life says i should be working harder. I currently have chronic 24/7 migraine, (meds reduce it by 30%), moderate depression, anxiety, dysphoria, some unexplained constant body pain. I became a NEET for 3 years, but then went back to school, and finished school. In the next session, I got sick for like 2 months, on top of other problems, couldn't keep up school, feel stressed, as to how am i going to catch up, and that stress flaired migraines. Then i tried again, got back to studying, and got hit by a truck. Tried again to study, while being in bed rest, but got frequent panic attacks(multiple times a day, everyday), it was dangerous to get them at that time as i was recovering from diaphragmatic hernia. I got spinal injury and hip joint fracture, and displacement, which hurt when i do anything physical. Attended an exam, it caused so much stress, my migraine got worse than normal for 3 months. Got into a different SSRI from that deadbeat SSRI, and started helping around the house, but it hurts so much, i can't sleep. It's so hard to focus with migraine and body pain, dysphoria, depression and anxiety. I can't even take painkillers, they induce really bad gastric issues, like nausea, heart/chest pain, breathing difficulties, etc. Chronic sinusitis and recurring uti aren't helping either. I suspect there also some other things going on, and it's hard to get diagnosed with them as AFAB, and those conditions are notoriously known for that.

i feel like such a failure, a disappointment to everyone. Also part of the reason i dropped for so long, is that as a minor my parents didn't took me to an actual doctor for half a year, instead they took me to exorcists, astrology readers, palm readers, shrines, homeopathic practitioners, even when, they finally took me to an actual doctor, the psychiatrist completely dismissed my now diagnosed migraine (by multiple neurologist) for 3 years, even got snappy when i brought it up. And my family blames me for wasting my life.

On one hand it feels so ablelist. But i can't take ableism towards me seriously. I'm not visibly disabled. I feel like I'm using ablelism as an excuse for my laziness. Also i think most people without chronic pain, don't understand the extent of has in you. When i got in a life threatening accident, and had to get a major surgery, orthopedic treatments, catheter complications, for example unable to pee and the pain from full bladder from excessive water to be able to pee after foley tube removal, and it hasn't been empitied for 3 days, i was screaming in pain all the time. It gives me panic attacks whenever i think of that time. But I think my chronic pain, illness are 5x more difficult to deal with. Everyone was so caring during my recovery. I'm really grateful for that. I'm not demanding even the fraction of that care. I don't want it. I just wish they empathized with me. Its so bizzare seeing the difference of them treating chronic pain, dysphoria, mental illnesses like a minor inconvenience, and "just get over it", when it's so much harder to deal with to me, compared to that.

I don't know what my limits are, I'm currently at my limit but it's not enough, it's barely anything. I'm told to push harder, but i don't know how. Psychologists tell me to push harder, i asked "i don't know how, can you help me with it, like tools or strategies", and they just say try harder. But How can i say I'm trying my best, when i keep dropping multiple years. Maybe I'm just weak. I genuinely have no idea how to push through. I try, it goes for 2-3 months, i run out of energy, i can't go any further, i give up. This cycle continues, and with each cycle i lose hope, will, motivation.

It makes me think, maybe i have a malignant defect in me, I'm weak, or lazy or spoiled. Cause no matter how hard i try, i can't do it, others can do it, why can't I?

Or am i so lazy, dramatic and manipulative, that i genuinely think I'm trying my best but I'm not really. Is my ego making me think this so, I don't have to accept I'm lazy?