Help please

[041051]

I had been seeing a Consultant at the pain clinic for several years but when he retired I was, for some reason, sent to various other medical professionals all of whom treated fibromyalgia. Four years later I have received no treatment for the original pains. I asked for a referral back to the pain clinic and I had a telephone consultation just before Christmas. The Consultant told me that the Consultant who told me that I had shoulder impingement didn't tell me that (I had a discussion with him and he said that I could have an operation for the impingement but he felt there was only a fifty fifty chance of success so I declined the operation) and that the three injections in to my shoulder had worked. This is also inaccurate because it was the three injections in to my neck that had relieved the pain for a short while. I do have fibromyalgia but the pain clinic have never been involved with that side of things. I now have to see this pain clinic consultant in February for a face to face appointment but I don't feel confident about the outcome when she appears to be trying to negate previous diagnoses and treatments. What is my best way forward with this ?

[katieoxo60]

Hello 041051, I understand how you feel and at the end of the day all these changes of opinion over time make you mistrusting of the professions opinions. The other outcome of this is poor diagnosis, possible incorrect treatment , and a lifetime of suffering in pain with no one who seems to understand only fellow sufferers. Operations do not always turn out successful and can make matters worse, but poor outcomes are swept under the carpet. However a fresh light on your pain issues might help so I would see the new person and try to form an opinion of whether they can be of help to you., if you do not they may think you don't want help with the pain. I am a chronic pain sufferer too with arthritis and numerous opinions of diagnosis going from sublime to ridiculous. Have learn't one vital message from all my treatment /or not do not challenge a Drs opinion even if he knows nothing about the subject. Best wishes PS I had a diagnosis of shoulder impingment and was offered injections about two years later, it was actually due to overdoing things on an existing damaged shoulder joint which eventually settled down . It still hurts if I do too much lifting above my capacity so you do need to listen to your body too we are all different.

[041051 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm sorry it has taken me a while to respond but my arthritic hands and fingers needed a rest. I'm sorry that you have been having pain issues and have also had some poor outcomes. I do wonder if the problem with my shoulder was caused by a fall that I had in 2014. The problem is that I can't remember for sure when the shoulder pain started. I had the fall (I hadn't been drinking, I have syncope and I blacked out half way down some stairs) in March of 2014 and I saw a rheumatology nurse about it in the December of that year so it could have been as a result of the fall. Initially I was aware that I had strained some muscles in my right ankle and I was concentrating on that in the first instance. Also, I couldn't put any weight on my right foot for a few days so the problem with my shoulder wouldn't have been immediately obvious. I have trouble lifting things, doing housework if it involves repetitive movements and walking. I will see the Consultant but I have had a look at the medical records that I can access online and they show that I have impingement and I'm pretty sure that that can only be because the G.P. received that information from the orthopaedic Consultant. I have copies of most of my medical reports but I never received a letter after that particular appointment. I do hope that you are coping and you're right about listening to our own bodies.

[katieoxo60 in reply to 041051]

Thank you for your reply, generally shoulder impingement is from accidents like you describe or sports injuries . I have had three upper arm /shoulder breaks from falls. Have use impairment as well as pain with over use. If your records show what you say then its unlikely you will get any other help except pain killers or group theraphy as it is known so you can compare how to manage pain. As mentioned by others distraction theraphy works wonders there are some good books on that to read as well as CDs some can be found on the Arthritis Action site as you mention Arthritic hands. I find a certain amount of typing helps to keep hand joints more subtle, not found a solution to wrist weakness though, it can be quite painful to lift a plate. I use a china cup for tea (lighter) or a freind uses plastic cup. Hope some of the replies helped you to stop and think. Good luck with finding things to releif the pain and remember this site is a distraction theraphy too. Enjoy your day

[Poppy_Ann]

Hi there, I have been to several pain clinic's but have to say none have ever reduced my pain I belive that they are not there to help remove pain but to help how you cope with it I do not believe that there is any way to remove long term pain no matter what meds they put you on they can help in the short term but as soon as your body gets use to them you need a stronger and stronger dose to get the same level of reduction until you are on the maximum you can take and then you get more pain trying to reduce the meds than you had before you started taking any of them, the pain clinic tries to get you to do some sort of distraction which takes your mind off the pain they work on the fact that the majority of people can only think of one thing at a time and if you are thinking of the activitie you are doing you will not be thinking about the pain, so if you have a hobby you like that you like to do whenever you can feel the pain start stop whatever you are doing get out the activitie you like to do and concentrate on it. Most people don't give it a real try as they keep thinking of the pain instead of concentrating on their hobby I know it is hard to do at the start but if you keep at it you will find out that the pain is reduced compared to the past and the longer you keep at it the better you will feel.Good luck finding something that works for you regards Poppy Ann.

[rabbits65 in reply to Poppy_Ann]

An excellent “ post” Poppy Ann . I agree with all you have written. 😊

[041051 in reply to Poppy_Ann]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. My problem is that walking has always been my distraction and I tried to maintain this for as long as I could. I have adamantly refused to increase or alter my pain medication because I don't want to become addicted or reliant on it. However, the pain in my shoulder makes me feel physically sick after a very short while and although I keep stopping until the pain subsides it reappears after a few steps. My pain medication is to help with other issues and had been prescribed prior to the impingement diagnosis. I'm a great believer in self help and I have made contact with a local charity and arranged to meet someone for a walk in a local park tomorrow. I'll do my best and if I don't succeed I will try again next week. I also have syncope so I might just fall flat on my face but I don't allow that to stop me trying my hardest to keep my mobility

[Rainbowblues]

Hi I’m sorry to hear of your concerns. I’ve suffered with back pain and shoulder for 10 years since a car accident. Had trigger point injections which allowed me to work full time. These all stopped with COVID. So last two years have been self help mostly. I’ve been introduced to the act model for psychology which has been great it’s about learning your values not like cbt at all. I’ve also come across a great pain management book which is not only informative it is really helpful and very easy to read. It’s written by a professor of a pain clinic with 20 plus years experience in the field. It’s called ‘the pain free mindset’ by dr deepak Ravindran. I hope your concerns at least get somewhat less if you are more informed. Best wishes and hugs 🤗