Just in case anyone was curious, I wanted to let you know that the doctors finally figured my pain out.

I spent three weeks in the hospital just trying to get the pain under control, it was so bad. I couldn't eat, pain made me nauseous and then playing around with all the narcotic dosages wreaked havoc on my belly and intestines.. I lost nearly 20 lbs. I weigh 104 now.

I had my ERCP, finally, and promptly got Pancreatitis..lol. Was just a slight case and I got over it. Bile duct was not the problem.

I met a WONDERFUL anesthesiologist who also does pain management and he decided to help me. He figured out that it's my intercostal nerve thats messing me up. Not sure how it started, maybe from my severe scoliosis or one of the surgeries but all the straining to pass stool for like 6 months when I had adhesions and a big kink just made it worse.

I now go for intercostal nerve blocks and trigger point injections twice a week in the hopes of teaching that muscle to 'lighten up' Let me tell you, it's no fun having someone jam a needle into the most painful areas of your back, into the muscle and then inject fluid, in like 9 different spots but the pain is over quickly and then I have wonderful numbness.
When the numbness wears off I still feel much better than I did before and I notice improvement every time.

After only 4 or 5 of the injection procedures I am feeling so much better it's just amazing. the horrible constant pain that made it difficult to breath is mostly gone.

When I left the hospital, I was wearing a 75mg Fentanyl patch, taking 30mgs of time-release morphine 3 times a day and taking percoset all the time as breakthrough medicine.

Now I only need to take the morphine. I had basically been on bed rest since I got home, as commanded by my doctor.. I just started feeling well enough to sit at the computer today.

I still occasionally need the breakthrough meds and I'm sure my pain will increase as I slowly become more active but what a difference. Hopefully I will continue to improve, if not then they will probably end up killing the nerve so I can function normally.

The only thing I'm worried about now is all this lying down immediately after having had that last laparoscopic surgery for adhesions..lying down for a month, that is.. but oh well, if they grow back faster it's still worth it, to know whats wrong with me.

Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions and help and listened to me blather on and whine and moan and complain when no one knew what was wrong with me. I really really appreciate it.

Thanks and I hope your all feeling well.

- Sarah

Wow Sarah! Finally, finally, finally!!!! I hope this is the solution for you. I'm so sorry you had to spend any time at all in the big house but it seems like this trip was worth it.

Thanks for checking in and letting us know what's been going on with you.

kathy

You reminded me of a tv show I saw a month or two ago. It was a medical mystery show on a guy who for no apparent reason started having neck pain. It progressed and was so severe that he could no longer work, couldn't walk straight or hold his head properly and his fiance dumped him because of it. As time went by he was eventually diagnosed with an incurable neurological condition that made a muscle in his neck constantly contract, hence the pain and deformity. I can't remember the name of it but it is a very nasty condition. This diagnosis happened waaayy back when Botox was first coming on the market and some bright spark of a doctor tried it as an experimental remedy on him. They couldn't fix the neurological condition but they could try relaxing the neck muscle with the Botox so the symptoms weren't so severe. After the second treatment with Botox, he was almost back to normal. He has remained pain free to this day because of that treatment.

What a relief for you that that anesthesiologist had his head screwed on properly and actually listened to you and decided to help. I hope that things stay improving for you.

Suzanne

Sarah,

This is such great news for you that you can have treatment for your pain! You've been through so much - we are so happy for you.

Sarah, I'm soooooooo glad they've figured it out! Now I hope you'll slowly but surely get back to a pain free and hopefully med free state.

Great news! I'm glad that someone was finally able to provide some answers and relief.

Sarah, I remember some of your last posts and was worried for you. Glad you are on your way back.

Jeff

Thanks everyone..

I'm also happy to report that my bowels have suddenly returned back to 'normal' .. well normal or me anyhow and it's finally time to start adding fiber again!

- Sarah