Thoracic Spine Pain Management
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi
Been a while since I've posted - I guess you get to the stage where you accept you're in a persistant pain cycle, and carry on regardless, despite the oppressive dull ache which is always there, like white noise.
Just passed my two-year 'anniversary' of having developed thoracic/cervical back pain, coupled with Dupuytren's Disease and muscle dysfunction in the shoulders. The underlying cause is still unknown...hypermobility, fixated joints, scar tissue build-up and tethering have all been suggested...scoliosis, Charcot-Marie-Tooth and rheumatoid arthritus all speculated due to family history on my mother's side.
All I know is I live with it, deal with it and try to remain positive - faith in a positive outcome, and to keep on fighting and searching for a way out - I guess these are the unintended benefits of membership to the club n one wants to be part of.
I find that heat (sauna), swimming, body balance classes and posture exercises do help alleviate the discomfort, so have built them in to my weekly routine. Movement movement movement! But I hate the constant popping and clicking. I went to a Tai Chi class and even the old people were looking at me funny (for this reason only I might add!)
Acupuncture and acupressure also help, even if only for a few days. My experience with Chiros and Osteopaths were poor - manipulation only goes so far in my experience - it certainly doesn't help the muscle knotting.
Next step for me is using a TENS machine to see if that has any more lasting effect. In the meantime, I guess the time is nigh to once again pressure the NHS into sending me off for an X-Ray or MRI - just got to get past the MSK specialist first. A year ago he accused me of catastrophic thinking. Thanks doc - but you don't feel what I feel.
Has anyone had any success with TENS? I've managed to find a couple of treatment protocols, so with a bit of luck I might get some assistance from this.
Medication-wise, I've tried to avoid pill popping. I don't think the severity of pain justifies it, although ibuprofen does help.
Does anyone ice on a regular basis? The heat vs ice debate is a frustrating, it seems the go-to answer is 'whatever works for you'. Well, they both do, but it would be good to know how it works for others. If ice is for acute pain only well I better stick to heat...two years equals chronic in most books I think.
Thanks for reading. I think there was a question in there somewhere! And all the best to those suffering in silent dignity.
0 likes, 24 replies
icecool jimbob0802
Posted
Tens helps.
Also coconut oil, biotin, silica capsules. I do not know where they can be purchased from but a quick search will reveal sources I am sure.
Has anyyone suggested a dexa scan to check for osteoporosis or doing a vitamin D level. Other treatments for thse spasms is Vitamin E, Biotin, Iron, Magnesium as mentioned, silica, there is a website on neuropathy too.
jimbob0802 icecool
Posted
Hi icecool
I did begin a vitamin/supplement regime back in March. I alternated day-by-day with the following:
A: Garlic, Vitamin C (high strength), Korean Ginseng, Gilko Balboa, Turmeric
B: CoQ10, Multi-vitamin, Turmeric
Before that I did take calcium with magnesium, but something was making me feel funny. Glucosamine & Chrondoitin was also something I was taking previously but stopped because the doctor said it was linkd with a build-up of the tissue found in Dupuytren's Disease - something else I've picked up in the past two years.
I haven't had any scans for osteoporosis and to be honest I think my Medical Practice here in the UK is fed up of seeing me. They have tested for Rheumatism before as there has been incidences of that in the family. It came up negative although logic would suggest that a lot of the issues I'm having with my hands, crepitus and back is that there is something underlying.
I'd be really interested to hear your thoughts about vitamin intake - I like to think I get most of the nutrition from my diet. But I do want to re-assert myself with nutrition and make sure I'm eating an anti-inflammatory diet. I would like to stick within daily allowances though. Also dubious about how I can measure the efficacy of supplements.
icecool jimbob0802
Posted
You really need a baseline of any vitamin that you take or have been taking.
The dr is unlikkely to do a Vitamin D.
A bone profile is usually the choice but the dr may refuse to do it due to cost!
Bone profile consists of vitamin D, calcium, phophate, parathyroid hormone level.
Vitamin B12.
If you have this test done then it is important NOT to take any supplementaion of B12 for a long time as this can skewer the results.
DIET. The anti inflammatory ones sound good.
Take care
amkoffee jimbob0802
Posted
I too am a chronic pain patient. I have three sources of pain and have suffered for over 11 years. But enough about me I just wanted you to know where I am coming from.
First off I am really disappointed that you have not had an MRI yet. That should have happened long ago. In fact right after the X-Ray didn't show anything. You need to work on your doctor to get that ordered.
I use a TENS unit and am in fact on my second one. I do get temporary relief from the pain. I actually only use it on bad days. I also use ice almost exclusively. I used to do heat in the winter and ice in the summer just for comfort. But I am now on prednisone and that makes me hot all the time so a heating pad sounds just awful. I always have several ice packs in the ready in my freezer. I was told by a couple of different PTs that it didn't matter which you used. It's a personal preference.
Whether you choose to use opiates to control your pain or OTC medication is a personal decision that should be made very carefully. Personally if I could manage I would not take opiates, but my pain is much to great for mere OTC drugs. But here is where I want to warn you. I spent the first year of my back pain using naproxen every day. I ended up with GERDS and acid reflux. So please use caution when using ibuprofen as it will do the same thing.
I realize that you don't want to take opiates for pain control but it might be worth asking for muscle relaxers. Take one at night and that might help with your pain the next day. Unfortunately it will make you sleepy, that is why I am suggesting using it at night. Muscle relaxers are not addictive so you will not have that worry.
And lastly you are right on with the moving. Keep moving. I did not and ended up making matters worse. And it was a long haul back to flexiblity.
One last suggestion is to find a group online for chronic pain patients. It will give you support and suggestions for treatments you may not have been offered. There are so many treatments out there. Email me if you want the names of some of the sites I belong too or alternate treatment ideas. Otherwise they will be monitored here.
Good luck to you. I hope you find relief soon.
icecool amkoffee
Posted
1. What exercises do/did you do to keep mobile?
2. Have you heard of an ultra sound portable machine for home use. I ask because I was thinking of buying one for my stiff ankles and buttocks.
3 . TENS Machine. My physio told me to leave it on for a few hours each day as this is supposed to be more effective at blocking the peain messages to the brain and it also stimulates the flow of blood to the root of the pain to wash away the toxic chemicls produced at the nerve roots.
She said that this is called the mechanism of pain.
Lastly I have an annulartear between L4 and L5. I wondered what treatment is available for this as drs do not seem to know much about it.
ray63269 amkoffee
Posted
Which muscle relaxer is best . And where do you position the tens if it's for thoratic pain as hope I'm doing it right
jimbob0802 amkoffee
Posted
Thanks for this reply amkoffee. I appreciate the time you've taken to message me.
What is your email address? Or is there a way I can direct message you? I would love to find about some of these websites. As mentioned in my reply to icecool above, I'm curious about supplements and the relief they can bring.
Having seen my doctor again on Friday it was pretty much spelled out to me that I should finish the current course of acupuncture and physio I am to see what effect it has. From that point there will be more justification to be referred to a MSL specialist and ask for a MRI (her point, which I took, was that the NHS usually do MRI's with a view to surgery or some primary form of follow-up - unfair as that seems).
I also had a chat with her about medication. I am going to stay away from this for now because I really feel I'm managing the pain okay. I have made a mental note about muscle relaxers though; although again, I feel that gels/rubs and TENS works well for me in this regard.
I tend to be okay with both ice and heat - I think heat probably does the job better for me.
jimbob0802 ray63269
Posted
Ray there are some useful videos on Youtube in terms of placing the TENS. It's quite flexible - you can put the electrodes directly over the pain but you must get the +/- right.
There are a couple of PDF files you can get from Google if you type in 'Tens placement for thoracic spine' or something along these lines.
jimbob0802 icecool
Posted
Hi icecool.
Don't know if this reply was intended for me or amkoffee but I will reply anyway.
1. I follow the exercises on the website Posture Direct - 17 exercises to improve your thoracic spine
2. Never heard of this!
3. Yes I have received the same advice. In this way it works like acupuncture.
ray63269 jimbob0802
Posted
ray63269 jimbob0802
Posted
jimbob0802 ray63269
Posted
Yep that is the placement I do as well. I think providers of TENS are pretty clear when they say it's not a cure to the problem, but helps alleviate pain and therefore helps quality of life.
ray63269 jimbob0802
Posted
jimbob0802 ray63269
Posted
Where you from ray? US or UK? I'm the latter - haven't had a MRI as explained in other posts. All the best for your MRI, hope you find out what's up.
ray63269 jimbob0802
Posted
The UK . My gp ordered my mri . I don't understand how you are not being allowed one . It's terrible that you haven't been yet
jimbob0802 ray63269
Posted
Yeah I know, you'd think they would just to get rid of me...must have made a dozen visits in the last year...I know I could invoke the NHS charter but would be easier if they just acknowledged I haven't got very far with the problem.