OT: my injury story if any doctors are on this board.

[61cygni]

Can't help you with any of this, but surgeon 2... what an .

 

[tdrink]

My brother has suffered from those for years, he thought they finally went away because he hadn't had them in a couple of years but boom they came on like crazy again a few months ago. He's not one to complain and he says they are completely debilitating and make tears stream down his face. It's so frustrating they can't pinpoint what causes them or how to treat them, wondering if you've found out any causes or suggestions for relief? There is a reason they are also called suicide headaches. Hope you've found some way over the years to alleviate some of the pain.

Yes, I've recently had great success extending time between clusters, reducing the severity of attacks and reducing the length of the cycle. And all of the success came from visiting online forums with fellow sufferers. All of the doctors I saw over the 30 years i have dealing with it have not helped at all.

If your brother has not tried it yet, hyperventilating pure oxygen is the most helpful tool in the arsenal. My doc couldn't get me a script so i use welding O2. I can't discuss in this forum the other alt therapies, but he could PM me or he should at least visit clusterbusters.com

It is very common for sufferers to have clusters less frequently but with more intensity as they get older.

 

[8893]

The internet, and especially this insane asylum, is not going to help.

I think you and others have proved you wrong here.

 

[superjohn]

Yes, I've recently had great success extending time between clusters, reducing the severity of attacks and reducing the length of the cycle. And all of the success came from visiting online forums with fellow sufferers. All of the doctors I saw over the 30 years i have dealing with it have not helped at all.

If your brother has not tried it yet, hyperventilating pure oxygen is the most helpful tool in the arsenal. My doc couldn't get me a script so i use welding O2. I can't discuss in this forum the other alt therapies, but he could PM me or he should at least visit clusterbusters.com

It is very common for sufferers to have clusters less frequently but with more intensity as they get older.

Thanks for the info, I know he was pretty desperate after his last bout with them. I will pass along the info.

 

[8893]

One thing sticks out to me. Doctors know a lot less than we think they do. Keep trying. Good luck.

The thing I have learned is that the most effective medical treatment is often more art than science. We want certainty that frequently isn't there.

 

[Skol33]

I've been hurt going on 8 months now.
not finding many answers anywhere.
so i figured if the right person sees my story maybe they will be able to shed some light.

I was lifting a 40 lb box at work.
I bent over and kinda jerked the box while picking it up.
I felt a tingling sensation in my right testicle as i was lifting the box from the floor to a cart.
couple hours later that day, i noticed a pain/heaviness in my stomach.
I went to the doctor and they diagnosed it as a sprained groin and a strained abdominal muscle.

I started doing physical therapy. didn't seem to help and seemed to get worse not better.
few weeks go by and i try lifting a similar box to see if i can.
this time i feel a popping sensation in my right testicle. no pain just a pop.

I tell all this to the doctors and they send me to a Urologist.
The Urologist has them do a ultrasound on my testicles.
the test shows nothing wrong and he says it is probably a hernia and refers me to a surgeon.

The first surgeon orders a CT Scan.
The ct scan shows nothing, no hernia, no nothing.
The surgeon says it's not a hernia and maybe it is just a sprain/strain.

I go see a 2nd surgeon.
The 2nd surgeon says maybe it's a sport's hernia and orders a MRI scan.
The mri shows nothing and the surgeon basically tells me,
whatever my problem is that he can't hep me and doesn't want to see me again or hear about my case.

I go back to the original doctor that I first saw and tell him everything that has happened in the past 4 months.
He isn't sure what to even say but he says his boss has been a doctor for 40 years and wants me to see him.
His Boss diagnoses me with a spigelian hernia.

I go back to the 1st surgeon i saw with this information of a spigelian hernia.
This surgeon doesn't agree with this new diagnosis but agrees to use a camera and go inside my stomach to see if he can find anything wrong.

I just had the surgery today.
My fear was to wake up and not be fixed and this has happened.
He told me that he saw no hernia anywhere but did notice that my Appendix
didn't look right. so he removed it.
He doesn't think my appendix was causing all of my pain but isn't sure.
I won't know if it helped until the anesthesia wears off.

This has really been an injury from hell.
been in bad to severe pain for the last 8 months.
anytime i lift something or do anything physical at all.
the pain just spreads to different areas and intensifies.
I'm kinda losing all hope.

since the doctors seem to have no answers for me.
i figured maybe someone on here maybe would.
at this point it can't hurt.

Thanks guys.

Sorry that you have been going through this. Since you have ruled out different hernias you may want to have someone check your psoas muscle
This can cause abdominal pain and groin pain. It is also very commonly associated with back pain. there can be a clicking or popping sensation associated with it. It can also sometimes feel like appendicitis. I would suggest you talk to a physical therapist or maybe have a massage therapist check this out for you. Its worth a shot. Good luck

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

Sounds like this episode of House:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painless_(House)

That was the first thing i thought of too.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Sorry, man, and good luck. I have experienced something similar; but not as severe. Hurt my knee in late October playing soccer. First Orthopedic Surgeon said just a sprain, get some Physical Therapy and some paid meds and go home. I have injured enough leg joints playing soccer of the last 30 years to know that something was wrong. So, I go to the second doctor, show him the same MRI and he says I have a ACL team and sends me to P/T and advises that after 6 weeks of P/T, he will reevaluate to see if I need ACL surgery. So, I go tot he P/T and after 2 days, he believes that I do not have an ACL tear and instead dislocated my knee and everything should be OK after all my ligaments go back into place. WTF!?

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Can't help you with any of this, but surgeon 2... what an .

yeps. he basically talked to me like i was lying about being in so much pain.
his exact words to me " you sound like you're in pain everywhere "
" i don't want to hear anymore about this case, make sure they don't forward me anything "

incredible that he would talk to anyone like that.
because the tests didn't show anything wrong.
i guess some doctors won't believe it unless they see it.

was DR Edward Hannoush from the Hartford Hospital.

 

[buddy]

Sorry that you have been going through this. Since you have ruled out different hernias you may want to have someone check your psoas muscle
This can cause abdominal pain and groin pain. It is also very commonly associated with back pain. there can be a clicking or popping sensation associated with it. It can also sometimes feel like appendicitis. I would suggest you talk to a physical therapist or maybe have a massage therapist check this out for you. Its worth a shot. Good luck

I hate to have to give myself up here, but as a former physician(yes, I am crazy and have anger issues with UConn athletics, but I love UConn and can't help it ), I cannot be silent. I have to agree with this. Most pain from that region radiates to the groin/testicle. I am sorry that you had probably an unnecessary appendectomy. Your doctors were clearly at a loss and did not know what to do next. IF and it's a big IF, your MRI and CT ruled out any other pathology, then it is probable that Chiromike is correct. In addition to his suggestion, it may be worthwhile to consult a specialist in pain management in your area as they may be able to offer alternative therapies for you.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Sorry that you have been going through this. Since you have ruled out different hernias you may want to have someone check your psoas muscle
This can cause abdominal pain and groin pain. It is also very commonly associated with back pain. there can be a clicking or popping sensation associated with it. It can also sometimes feel like appendicitis. I would suggest you talk to a physical therapist or maybe have a massage therapist check this out for you. Its worth a shot. Good luck

thanks for that info. I will do some research into that and bring it up to the surgeon, when i see him in 3 weeks.
they have been asking me if i have any back pain at all and I don't.
just a pain that is sorta near my back but deep inside.

 

[joober jones]

I wish I knew how to help but sadly lack any real medical knowledge. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[superjohn]

yeps. he basically talked to me like i was lying about being in so much pain.
his exact words to me " you sound like you're in pain everywhere "
" i don't want to hear anymore about this case, make sure they don't forward me anything "

incredible that he would talk to anyone like that.
because the tests didn't show anything wrong.
i guess some doctors won't believe it unless they see it.

was DR Edward Hannoush from the Hartford Hospital.

That's absolutely horrible behavior from an MD, I don't normally condone outing someone on the internet but it's certainly fair game with this guy, maybe save someone from actually having to deal with him.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

worst part was, I could have picked anyone around here for a 2nd opinion.
i picked him. i did a lil research on google and the hartford hospital hernia unit had decent reviews.
so i chose to go to them for the 2nd opinion.
i was hoping for an older doctor but they scheduled me with him.

then when the doctor who diagnosed me with a spigelian hernia referred me to his surgeon.
worker's comp made me chose between 1 of the 2 surgeons, that i already had seen.

 

[David 76]

Wonder if the Dr. thought you were trying to manipulate pain killers out of him? Still wrong.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Wonder if the Dr. thought you were trying to manipulate pain killers out of him? Still wrong.

during these 8 month...
i have not missed 1 day of work until today, because i had surgery.
only pain killers i've been taking are motrin and tylenol.
pain gets to be very bad and i just have been sucking it up.
they finally gave me stronger stuff after the surgery today.

 

[David 76]

Please, I'm not questioning you. Just trying to make some kind of sense out of a crazy response from the doc.

 

[uconnfan68]

during these 8 month...
i have not missed 1 day of work until today, because i had surgery.
only pain killers i've been taking are motrin and tylenol.
pain gets to be very bad and i just have been sucking it up.
they finally gave me stronger stuff after the surgery today.

Have you seen a chiropractor? I'd be willing to bet money on nerve pain caused by disc impingement. I had what I thought was a pulled groin muscle for over a year. Rest wasn't helping. Chiro helped a bit. Still there but lessened. I have bad discs in both neck and lower back, and have been through the epidurals for both. The neck one didn't work, but the chiro managed to switch the pain to the other arm, at which point I stopped seeing a neurosurgeon. It eventually got much better. The pain from the groin was similar to the sciatica, which is why I'm saying nerve issues. Nothing much really helps nerve problems, but the chiro may help a little or a lot.

 

[scrappy2.0]

Sorry that you have been going through this. Since you have ruled out different hernias you may want to have someone check your psoas muscle
This can cause abdominal pain and groin pain. It is also very commonly associated with back pain. there can be a clicking or popping sensation associated with it. It can also sometimes feel like appendicitis. I would suggest you talk to a physical therapist or maybe have a massage therapist check this out for you. Its worth a shot. Good luck

Agree completely. I've been a PT for 20+ years and what he has is Iliopsoas Tendonitis. The bottom line is that it can be very tough to deal with for sometime. OP you need to go to your doctor and check this avenue out. You need to see an experienced PT as this is a touchy area. Your core needs to be strengthened but it has to be done carefully or you can get WORSE. You need to strengthen your abs and you will have pain doing this--no getting around it AND I would NOT advise to do this yourself. You need a PT who can help guide you the RIGHT way to stretch and train your core.




:

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Agree completely. I've been a PT for 20+ years and what he has is Iliopsoas Tendonitis. The bottom line is that it can be very tough to deal with for sometime. OP you need to go to your doctor and check this avenue out. You need to see an experienced PT as this is a touchy area. Your core needs to be strengthened but it has to be done carefully or you can get WORSE. You need to strengthen your abs and you will have pain doing this--no getting around it AND I would NOT advise to do this yourself. You need a PT who can help guide you the RIGHT way to stretch and train your core.




:

you really think that is the problem? my 1st 2 symptoms were tingling feeling in the right testicle and then a popping type feeling in my right testicle with constant pain and heaviness is the right abdominal area associated with soreness in the groin area but have also had piercing pain in both testicles on and off. so many different areas hurt on and off. i've never ever imagined i would be hurt like this. i will write a few of these comments down from you guys and show them to the surgeon when i see him again.
Thanks for all of the help.
I really do appreciate the help.

 

[huskyharry]

I'm very sorry for your suffering. I had a patient (Marine) with similar pain that started after a vigorous abdominal workout including multiple Burpees.
That patient was diagnosed with a pain syndrome related to a peripheral nerve injury and your situation sounds similar. The multiple negative examinations and studies do not suggest to me that you had an indication for surgery,
I would suggest medications that can help calm down nerve related pain. They do take a whole to work and you might not get the best results from the first medications. Meds of this type includegabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), amitryptilline (Elavil). The dose is usually increased over time to help with tolerance of the side effects. The Marine patient also saw a pain management specialist (sub specialty of anesthesiology) and had an injection performed to deaden the specific nerve causing the pain. Regrettably for him, nothing worked very well and he is being medically retired from the Corps. Good luck and I hope you recover well from your surgery!

 

[WeAreUCONN]

I'm very sorry for your suffering. I had a patient (Marine) with similar pain that started after a vigorous abdominal workout including multiple Burpees.
That patient was diagnosed with a pain syndrome related to a peripheral nerve injury and your situation sounds similar. The multiple negative examinations and studies do not suggest to me that you had an indication for surgery,
I would suggest medications that can help calm down nerve related pain. They do take a whole to work and you might not get the best results from the first medications. Meds of this type includegabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), amitryptilline (Elavil). The dose is usually increased over time to help with tolerance of the side effects. The Marine patient also saw a pain management specialist (sub specialty of anesthesiology) and had an injection performed to deaden the specific nerve causing the pain. Regrettably for him, nothing worked very well and he is being medically retired from the Corps. Good luck and I hope you recover well from your surgery!

I'm very sorry for your suffering. I had a patient (Marine) with similar pain that started after a vigorous abdominal workout including multiple Burpees.
That patient was diagnosed with a pain syndrome related to a peripheral nerve injury and your situation sounds similar. The multiple negative examinations and studies do not suggest to me that you had an indication for surgery,
I would suggest medications that can help calm down nerve related pain. They do take a whole to work and you might not get the best results from the first medications. Meds of this type includegabapentin (Neurontin), pregabalin (Lyrica), amitryptilline (Elavil). The dose is usually increased over time to help with tolerance of the side effects. The Marine patient also saw a pain management specialist (sub specialty of anesthesiology) and had an injection performed to deaden the specific nerve causing the pain. Regrettably for him, nothing worked very well and he is being medically retired from the Corps. Good luck and I hope you recover well from your surgery!

thanks for the info.
i was hoping this was fixable but after almost 8 months....
i don't have much hope left.

 

[sledog]

Did you go to a GOOD MD / hospital?? Like Yale, or NYU Med??

If all else fails, try a raspberry colonic.

 

[J-dog]

thanks for the info.
i was hoping this was fixable but after almost 8 months....
i don't have much hope left.

Don't give up… There's a Sports Medicine Doctor out there somewhere that will have a solution for you. Just keep working it. You'll find someone.

Good luck & hang in there...

 

[ctchamps]

you really think that is the problem? my 1st 2 symptoms were tingling feeling in the right testicle and then a popping type feeling in my right testicle with constant pain and heaviness is the right abdominal area associated with soreness in the groin area but have also had piercing pain in both testicles on and off. so many different areas hurt on and off. i've never ever imagined i would be hurt like this. i will write a few of these comments down from you guys and show them to the surgeon when i see him again.
Thanks for all of the help.
I really do appreciate the help.

Agree with those that say not to give up. This is either a nerve or muscle problem. Difficult to diagnose and harder to determine best modality of treatment. I agree with those who believe this is a psoas muscle problem. Do some internet search on this muscle and look at the modalities of treatment. Treatments suggested are non invasive, but unfortunately can require a considerable amount of time to correct the problem. Just think of the first 8 months as the discovery phase. Not a waste of time because it ruled out other problems.

Just suffered a combo of lower back pain and torn ligament on the left hip. Excruciating pain for six weeks. Modest to slight pain for another 3 months. Situation was caused by my hip flexor muscles on the right side dominating the other muscles. Had no forewarning. Helped my neighbor move his boat and that was the final straw. Stiffness the next day and severe pain two days later.

Went to a great massage therapist. She, along with pain meds (advil) got me through the acute phase. Then we treated the chronic problem. Still treating it with exercises to stretch the hip flexors. Lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.

Hope you can find a solution and get out of pain! Prayers that it be as soon as possible.