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What Causes Pain In Arms, Shoulders, Back And Legs And Feet Numbness?
Question: I have had three neck surgeries and still have pain in arms and shoulders. I now have back pain and leg pain and numb feet. I take medication daily. My life is subpar and do not want to live with the chronic pain. Help me
Brief Answer:
Chronic pain
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
I am sorry to hear that you are having increasing pain from your neck surgeries. This is a very common problem and may plague you for years. In my practice I have come across numerous patients who have developed long term pain issues associated with prior neck and back surgeries. To help control this I have had to use different methods to gain control of the pain.
First I recommend that you start on a regular exercise program Despite the pain exercise will help increase your overall physical health and improve core body strength. I do not recommend joining a gym and starting a vigorous exercise but I want you to start walking daily and I mean daily. Without walking your body will become weak and never heal.
After you Start exercising then you need to start a program of meditation and relaxation. Part of the healing requires a strong mind. the meditation and relaxation exercises will give your mind the mental power it needs to help with the pain. I usually recommend muscle relaxation or dreamscape relaxation. You can find books and handbook in the library or book store that will help.
With the exercise and relaxation/ meditation I then will recommend a trial of medical marijuana. The use of medical marijuana will help reduce pain and without further addiction to opiates. the addition of medical marijuana reduces neuropathy and is approved in Europe and Canada for chronic pain and myofasical pain from Multiple sclerosis.
Lastly I would consider surgery only if as a last resort.
The above options have shown to improve quality of life. But I must emphasize to you that the first two modalities are necessary for your wellbeing. If you chose the easy route of medications you will end up with a less than optimum result and quality of life
In summary
1. Start aerobic exercise program
2. Start Meditation and relaxation exercises
3. Trial of medical marijuana
4. Opiates and surgery
5. Do 1 and 2 with emphasis
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions or if you have any other information you need
Chronic pain
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns.
I am sorry to hear that you are having increasing pain from your neck surgeries. This is a very common problem and may plague you for years. In my practice I have come across numerous patients who have developed long term pain issues associated with prior neck and back surgeries. To help control this I have had to use different methods to gain control of the pain.
First I recommend that you start on a regular exercise program Despite the pain exercise will help increase your overall physical health and improve core body strength. I do not recommend joining a gym and starting a vigorous exercise but I want you to start walking daily and I mean daily. Without walking your body will become weak and never heal.
After you Start exercising then you need to start a program of meditation and relaxation. Part of the healing requires a strong mind. the meditation and relaxation exercises will give your mind the mental power it needs to help with the pain. I usually recommend muscle relaxation or dreamscape relaxation. You can find books and handbook in the library or book store that will help.
With the exercise and relaxation/ meditation I then will recommend a trial of medical marijuana. The use of medical marijuana will help reduce pain and without further addiction to opiates. the addition of medical marijuana reduces neuropathy and is approved in Europe and Canada for chronic pain and myofasical pain from Multiple sclerosis.
Lastly I would consider surgery only if as a last resort.
The above options have shown to improve quality of life. But I must emphasize to you that the first two modalities are necessary for your wellbeing. If you chose the easy route of medications you will end up with a less than optimum result and quality of life
In summary
1. Start aerobic exercise program
2. Start Meditation and relaxation exercises
3. Trial of medical marijuana
4. Opiates and surgery
5. Do 1 and 2 with emphasis
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions or if you have any other information you need
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
I am a 60.4 year old male. 75" and 235lbs. BP run between 190/90 to 126/78 depending on pain level. Medication include Norco 10mg, XXXXXXX 350mg, Xanax 0.25 five times daily. Lisinopril 40mg, Simvistatin 10mg, Trazadone 150 @ HS with 2 mg Melatonin. Additionally Deplin q day. PRN meds include Zantac OTC, stool softener bid.
Previous surgery Vasectomy, T&A, two ACF, C3-5 with bone grafts and Stalift spacers, and one Posterior C6 laminectomy. Multiple epidural steroid injections with poor results.
Medical Hx Factured neck C1 and C6, Renal Calculi, HTN, non smoker, rare alcohol intake, and depression. Dysthymia vs bipolar disease. Insomnia with 4-5 hours sleep, awaking from pain.
Tried numerous antidepressants with poor results. Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Seratonin uptake inhibitors and the combination. Neuro tin and Lyrica pushed me closer to sucide.
Work Hx includes 29 years as a CRNAS, and surgical scrub nurse, and ICU nurse. Lost my licenses and job due to current medication and chronic pain.
I live in a state that does not have medical marijuana available. My current medical internist informed me if I test positive for THC he would no longer write prescriptions for the pain medications listed above.
Neck problems first occurred 2006 with ACF, next ACF in 2008 and posterior laminectomy 2013. Each procedure has resulted in increased pain. MRI from 7/14 shows moderate to severe lumbar stenosis with multiple protruding disc at same level. Spurs on cervical and lumbar vertebra show foramen stenosis as well as spinal cord stenosis.
Continueing problems has led to chronic depression. Exercise is not existent in my life. Either from medication and or depression.
I sit most of the day with heating pads and taking medication to be comfortable. The thought of living this way has led me to think of sucide, however my love for family has blocked any action at this time.
I have tried seeking other providers to help however when they see my list of medications I'm labeled a drug seeker. Experiences with Pain Management doc was poor. All he wanted to do were blocks. Unless his medication dissolved bone his blocks were a bandaid on the problem.
I'm very close to being at the end of my rope. I don't know where to go for help or who to ask.
Sincerely, JL a
Previous surgery Vasectomy, T&A, two ACF, C3-5 with bone grafts and Stalift spacers, and one Posterior C6 laminectomy. Multiple epidural steroid injections with poor results.
Medical Hx Factured neck C1 and C6, Renal Calculi, HTN, non smoker, rare alcohol intake, and depression. Dysthymia vs bipolar disease. Insomnia with 4-5 hours sleep, awaking from pain.
Tried numerous antidepressants with poor results. Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Seratonin uptake inhibitors and the combination. Neuro tin and Lyrica pushed me closer to sucide.
Work Hx includes 29 years as a CRNAS, and surgical scrub nurse, and ICU nurse. Lost my licenses and job due to current medication and chronic pain.
I live in a state that does not have medical marijuana available. My current medical internist informed me if I test positive for THC he would no longer write prescriptions for the pain medications listed above.
Neck problems first occurred 2006 with ACF, next ACF in 2008 and posterior laminectomy 2013. Each procedure has resulted in increased pain. MRI from 7/14 shows moderate to severe lumbar stenosis with multiple protruding disc at same level. Spurs on cervical and lumbar vertebra show foramen stenosis as well as spinal cord stenosis.
Continueing problems has led to chronic depression. Exercise is not existent in my life. Either from medication and or depression.
I sit most of the day with heating pads and taking medication to be comfortable. The thought of living this way has led me to think of sucide, however my love for family has blocked any action at this time.
I have tried seeking other providers to help however when they see my list of medications I'm labeled a drug seeker. Experiences with Pain Management doc was poor. All he wanted to do were blocks. Unless his medication dissolved bone his blocks were a bandaid on the problem.
I'm very close to being at the end of my rope. I don't know where to go for help or who to ask.
Sincerely, JL a
Fractured neck was age six.
Correction: work history was 39 years and not 29 years.
Additionally involuntary muscle contraction started 3 months ago. This includes spasms in my neck muscles causing my throat and ears to hurt, and involuntary tonic/clonic decorticating arm movements as well as involuntary leg movements. Finally my upper thoracic muscle causing me to have difficult inspiration. Two XXXXXXX and Two Xanax decreases the spasms in about twenty to thirty minutes.
Correction: work history was 39 years and not 29 years.
Additionally involuntary muscle contraction started 3 months ago. This includes spasms in my neck muscles causing my throat and ears to hurt, and involuntary tonic/clonic decorticating arm movements as well as involuntary leg movements. Finally my upper thoracic muscle causing me to have difficult inspiration. Two XXXXXXX and Two Xanax decreases the spasms in about twenty to thirty minutes.
Brief Answer:
deeply sorry fro your situation
Detailed Answer:
I am deeply sorry to hear about your situation. This is unfortunately a common story resulting from back pain and subsequent procedures that do not improve the quality of life. I wish you did live in a state where medical marijuana was legal. This is asking much but you may consider moving to a state that does allow for medical marijuana or see if your state is going to petition for legalization of medical marijuana.
If that is not an option then I might recommend seeking a naturopathic physician and massage therapy and other holistic medicine approaches to medicine.
I feel the medical community has abandoned people like you and then labels them drug seeking as a way to justify their behaviors. I have no additional counsel to give you. I can only hope and pray that you will be able to find your answer some where.
Good Luck
deeply sorry fro your situation
Detailed Answer:
I am deeply sorry to hear about your situation. This is unfortunately a common story resulting from back pain and subsequent procedures that do not improve the quality of life. I wish you did live in a state where medical marijuana was legal. This is asking much but you may consider moving to a state that does allow for medical marijuana or see if your state is going to petition for legalization of medical marijuana.
If that is not an option then I might recommend seeking a naturopathic physician and massage therapy and other holistic medicine approaches to medicine.
I feel the medical community has abandoned people like you and then labels them drug seeking as a way to justify their behaviors. I have no additional counsel to give you. I can only hope and pray that you will be able to find your answer some where.
Good Luck
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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