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I went to the Stanford Pain Clinic this afternoon. The guy diagnosed me with something something neuritis (I'll get a copy of the full report when the typists are done with it), which he says is under the umbrella of CRPS (although not by any means a bad case).
He says there are several things we can try:
- Medication, which is not likely to work
- Some kind of funky spinal stimulation thing, which is not likely to work
- A sympathetic nerve block, which might or might not give partial relief for three hours or three weeks
- Injecting Botox (into the nerve?), which is not likely to work and which "there is no way your insurance will pay for"
- Surgical or mechanical interventions, which not only likely won't work but could make things REALLY WAY WAY WAY WORSE
So I might get partial relief from an expensive and uncomfortable procedure that would, if it lasts long enough to be worth it, have to be repeated over and over forever.
This is it. End of the line. No more hope for miracle cures, or even nonmiracle cures, or ever having a normal life again.
He says there are several things we can try:
- Medication, which is not likely to work
- Some kind of funky spinal stimulation thing, which is not likely to work
- A sympathetic nerve block, which might or might not give partial relief for three hours or three weeks
- Injecting Botox (into the nerve?), which is not likely to work and which "there is no way your insurance will pay for"
- Surgical or mechanical interventions, which not only likely won't work but could make things REALLY WAY WAY WAY WORSE
So I might get partial relief from an expensive and uncomfortable procedure that would, if it lasts long enough to be worth it, have to be repeated over and over forever.
This is it. End of the line. No more hope for miracle cures, or even nonmiracle cures, or ever having a normal life again.
Sighsssssssss...
As someone who also lives with chronic pain, I know how hopeless this kind of thing can feel. I miss walking so damn much, and the pain in my knees even when I'm not on them is horrific, but then I'm also aware that there are people without knees who would be willing to put up with the pain and frustration just to have knees. But putting things in perspective doesn't do crap for the pain, so I totally commiserate with you.
OTOH, there are new medical advances all the time, so there may still be a "magic bullet" out there for you. Don't give up...be alert to new developments...and hang in there. There's just got to be future solutions and working remedies out there for folks like us.
More gentle hugs...normal life? I've forgotten what that feels like. Hahaha/sneer/sniff!