Just stopping by

Bigcase:
I am so sorry to read about your follow-up visit (post epidural corticosteroid cervical injection) and the reality that pain persists. I can understand the flow of tears. Pain is emotionally and physically taxing. The day to day grind of pain changes one’s essence of being.

I kept hope that pain would not always follow me. It was not to be. I have had to adapt and adjust. And will have to continue to adapt and adjust.

I have mentioned in other threads a unique clinic in Portland, Oregon that I visited when I was diagnosed with avascular necrosis affecting my hips/jaw. Surgical remedy with total hip replacement is not an option for me, so I explored alternatives that might provide benefit. Research brought me to the emerging speciality of “restorative medicine” - a wholistic approach to supporting the body to aide itself. Some of the treatment modalities looked promising. Plasma injections using a patient’s own undifferented stem cells (harvested from a person’s own blood or adispose tissue) into damaged joints and tissues to stimulate fibrin and collagen and tissue repair. I had two injections with short-term benefit. I think the modality would have been of more sustained benefit if it were not for underlying Addison’s disease and necessitated corticosteroid continuance. I continue to be intrigued by plasma injections and/or stem cell injections/infusions.

You might find restorative medicine as an untapped and advantageous approach for your cervical and shoulder girdle limitations.

The RestorePDX clinic in Portland, Oregon has an informative web site. While you would not be a patient at RestorePDX as it is not logistically feasible for you, browsing the clinic’s website would provide you with awareness of emerging trends and treatments under the umbrella of restorative or functional medicine.

There have been a handful of people who have come to this forum after having plasma/primordial stem cell transfers. I do not recall anyone who was disappointed by the effects/results. All benefited to some degree, small to moderate benefit.
Karen

Bigcase,

Having had chronic pain for the last 20 years I too have had terrible insomnia. I tried all the benzos and Ambien and none of them worked well for me. Tried Trazadone and lots of others and finally my MD decided I should try Hydroxyzine(Vistaril). He said it had almost no known side effects and was safe to take longterm. I have been on it now for 15 years and it works well for me.

With all the issues Doctors now have with taking narcotics and benzos together, it might the be worth a try for you.

It's so miserable not to be able to sleep even if it's just a night or two.

I sure hope you find what works for you.

Cindy