I quit going to work and begged doctors to see me. I saw I wasn't getting anywhere, and I started keeping a hand-written journal. I finally got an arthroscopic procedure which showed that my pain was real. I was sent back to the same pain clinic I was dismissed from. I went from vicodin to methadone and eventually long-acting morphine.
Still, I tried to work, and got another desk job closer to home. I lasted 6 months before quitting. My yearly income had dwindled, and I couldn't make ends meet. I had additional surgeries performed on my shoulder, and my pain kept flaring. I was also diagnosed with Tarlov Cysts and now everything else hurt. Therapists worked with me in the pool, but I still saw no relief or progress. It hurt just to drive to get the PT and I was so tired that driving became unsafe. My sessions became more sporadic and I finally stopped going. It crushed my spirit. I have to thank God and my faith for keeping me going.
Over time, I regained my strength, and I started to see and feel improvement. I also won my disability case, after being denied twice. It was truly the battle of my life.
My current list of diagnoses are:
- fibromyalgia
- myofascial pain syndrome
- snapping scapula syndrome
- cervical degenerative disc disease
- 2 Tarlov cysts
- migraine headaches
- major depressive disorder (really?)
In 2013, I started logging my pain with " Manage My Pain Pro". It has truly simplified my life. What I used to do longhand now just takes a few minutes each day. And I can find information needed so quickly, something that was frustrating and difficult for many years. It's accurate because I keep it up to date. So when I look back, I believe what I wrote. I prepare for each and every doctor's appointment ahead of time by reviewing the charts, pain levels and prn medications taken. The more I use this app, the more I learn I can do with it. With this app, I never lose sight of what is happening with my body, and it gives me the confidence to have the answers to any doctors' questions.