Chronic pain at 19. Doctors are stumped. Please Help

[Violingirl19]

Hi everyone.two years I was in a major car accident. Since the accident I've been tossed from doctor to doctor because I have chronic pain.im only 19 and it's destroying my life chronic back,neck,and arm pain. I have had blood tests, MRI and everything came back normal. If anyone has any suggestions. If it helps, I have no inflammation. I've also been to two orthopedics,a rheumatologist, a neurologist,

osteopathic doctor, physical therapy, chiropractor and nothing helps and doctors are stumped. Please help this is destroying my life.

[sylvi]

Sending hugs as i am afraid i don't have a answer for you sorry.xxx

[Ali_H]

Have you had a detailed mri scan if neck, shoulders and spine - that may give some answers.

All the best

Ali

[Violingirl19 in reply to Ali_H]

I had one done of my neck and it came back normal.

[Ali_H]

It might be worth asking for one on shoulders and upper spine below the neck. I don’t know what else to suggest really- maybe a physio assessment of range of movement and muscle strength?

Ali

[Violingirl19 in reply to Ali_H]

Thanks for the suggestions, going to see if maybe I could get another MRI done and I'm going to look into the physio assessment. Couldn't hurt.

Thank you so much!

[lupus_01]

Dont know what type of pain you have. Is it tingly? sharp? achy and dull?. You could have nerve damage from the accident so could ask to see a neurologist and see if they could help. Unfortunately a lot of the time it does feel like you are being offloaded onto the next medical person. It took 30 years and endless visits to surgeons, rheumatologists, pain clinics, osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, neurologists and gp's to finally get my diagnosis.

[Violingirl19 in reply to lupus_01]

Thanks! The pain I have varies from burning to a stabbing/ constant ache. I went to a neurologist and he didn't have many suggestions or ideas on what could be wrong. He though I looked nerve wise.

[cathie]

What injuries did you suffer? Could the pain be residual? It may not feel like that but. Could you get referral to a pain clinic?

[Violingirl19 in reply to cathie]

I had no visible injuries except for a small mark on my shoulder. I just got severe whiplash and they didn't see anything else. But they said the trauma was enough to really mess me up.

[Yogi-bear123]

what pain relief are u on?

[Violingirl19 in reply to Yogi-bear123]

I've tried every type of over the counter pain killers as well as topical numbing gels and creams. Nothing really helps. The pain killers do nothing.

[Yogi-bear123 in reply to Violingirl19]

Need to move up a notch, get something stronger from your gp or even better get your gp to refer u to a pain specialist. Took me 2 years to find the right concoction of drugs to get on top of my pain and also be able to function! ...there is nothing worse than not being able to get on top of pain. Do your research and go and have a chat with your gp about seeing a specialist, Good luck .

Anya

[Fruitbat100]

I would say a full spine MRI and go from there. Depending on where/what the pain is, the pain clinic have a number of options. My favourite is nerve ablation for leg pain - they are amazing and well worth the once a year refresher!

[Violingirl19 in reply to Fruitbat100]

Ok thanks 😊 definitely going to look into a full MRI.

[Yogi-bear123 in reply to Fruitbat100]

Nerve ablation sounds like a possibility for my lower back. What medication are u on and do u have to stop it when u are treated?

[Fruitbat100 in reply to Yogi-bear123]

Hi Yogi, sorry for the delay but I’ve been back in hospital for something else. I have not had to stop any of my meds for when the treatment is done as it is all done using a local anaesthetic under X-ray guidance. However I know when it has run it’s course as my pain meds need to be increased again until the next treatment.

[lesres]

sorry wish I could help hope you find the answer

[Pamelah5]

Hi, have you thought of seeing a Osteopathy they work with the whole body not just the part which is hurting. In the last 18months I have been involved in 3 car accidents none being my fault the last being August 2017 car was written off!! I was diagnosed with Seropositive RA last October 2016 caused from first accident from Nov 2015. I couldn't cope with physio being too harsh went to see Osteopath to where I still attend.

It might be worth you seeing a Osteopathy , mine has helped tremendously not only through car accidents also for my RA.

There is light at the end of tunnel Its worth giving a go.

Best wishes sending {hugs}

Pamela x

[Nicole2000]

Hello Violingirl,

My daughter suffer with chronic pain and she is just slightly younger than you, 18. It started when she was 11 after an accident and she was left with a rare pain condition. At the beginning of this summer she had a 3 week residential stay at a Specialist Chronic Services for Pain. They work with teenagers and young adults who are chronic pain suffers. If you would like more information, just send me a private message.

With best wishes,

Nicole x

[Michiganpbc]

Have you seen a doctor trained in pain? I have chronic pain 17 years now triggered from a car accident. You should be seen by a physiatrist they are the only medical doctor specialist and trained in pain. My pain is from inflammation around bones tendons old fractures abnormal spine and neck posture related to broken bones and fusions 17 years ago. I have a great pain doctor who works with me I try different therapies; meds , physical therapy , CBD oils, heating pads, aromatherapy for relaxing my body muscle spasm meds, warm baths with Epsom salts and accupuncture. Find a good pain management doctor there and he will evaluate your pain properly. Let us know how it goes hang in there 🙏

[cathie]

It sounded like trauma so a good physiotherapist might be able to help with massage and exercise. I'm in edinburgh and know one such here if that might help.

[Mhairi54]

That sounds really awful for you. Have the doctors considered anything like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome? This is when pain is triggered by an initial injury but instead of getting better, ends up becoming more long lasting and persistent, often out of proportion to the initial injury. Don't know a huge amount about it but one of my colleagues had a family member who has it.