Can Anyone Please Explain this Pain

Hello All, I hope that you are all comfy this evening. I'm writing from Massachusetts and have come here a bit with my confusing questions. I'm back, with more.

Short background: 63 yo woman, with Secondary Progressive MS (since 20's) and diagnosed with PMR and GCA mid June 2019. Rheum #1 put me on 60 mg pred for one week and then went 40 for 2 week, then to 30, when I had temporal headache. Back up to 40 2 weeks. Then to 30 again.

Dropping to 30 was a few days before an appointment with him and I had horrendous bilateral hip, glute, upper thigh, lower back pain. Did not have that level of pain at diagnosis. Went to appointment, he took bloodwork, said "numbers in range," and sent me off. I'd been hawking at him all along about TOO FAST OF A TAPER. He did not listen. A week later I had my bloodwork done by my own decision and my CRP and SED were higher than at diagnosis.

I put myself back to 60 an searched out and found Rheum #2 at one of the big teaching hospitals in Boston. Saw him and he first wanted to relieve some pain so gave me cortisone shots in hips and general meet and greet. I will see him and his Fellow again soon. They are good communicators. I believe I'm with the right doctor now.

About a week or two before I saw Rheum #2 I'd had my first appointment at a pain management center, to get a hold of MS pain that just wouldn't quit.

After seeing Rheum #2 I went back to Pain Center for a test nerve block for lower back pain. Failed test, had no change. Since then, my pain level has gone wild, and all is out of control. I've got level 8 pain in hips (stronger on L than R), Left Glute, both upper thighs, all across lower back. I can barely walk. I've used a walker for years for safety, now I use it because it's the only way I can walk at all. I am presently on 40 mg prednisone for 4 weeks, on Rheum #2's slow taper protocol.

The pain persists and here's what's been done to try to stop the madness: Rheum #2's cortisone to hips did not provide relief for very long. Pain Management Center: 20 mcg Butran patch, 100 mg Tramadol, Epidural Lumbar/Sacral Spinal Injection done 8 days ago has not yet kicked in (my lower back is a mess). I can do NOTHING. A ride in the car is torture. I measure what I can do in how many steps it will take. I take Extra Strength Tylenol, it's a waste of good pills.

On top of this I came up with Laryngitis 12 days ago, finally went to Primary Care and it's likely that all of the prednisone and it's tendency to cause reflux has irritated vocal box. So he doubled my Protonix and told me to not talk or whisper for a week, and if it is still a problem then there will have to be a scope. It's ok, not talking, got no problem texting my hubby across the room.

I've had it. I feel as if I will never be the same again. The pain is at the level where every little effort makes me sweat. I can stand for perhaps 5 minutes at the most. It's obvious today that if I am to go anywhere aside from my house, it will be in a wheelchair. I do not go anywhere, as the pain is just too much to handle.

What is going on??? Thank you in advance for any insights you may have.

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