Hi everybody.

I finally found the new forum! I've had MP about 5 years. I was able to reduce what I'd call agony to "just barely noticeable" pain with the methods of transverse friction described in this forum by "Painfree".

I discovered them by researching the old "braintalk site" after a neurologist scared me by suggesting a transection. I've been more or less pain free for about 2 years now thanks to this site.

When I was reading the old threads looking for hope, it was scarce, but just remember, most of the cured don't bother posting anymore. They are too busy doing other things, like running, jumping and clicking their heels together. Keep your collective chin up. And keep researching. I understand there are more than 80 different causes for MP.

So keep trying to find a solution that's right for yourself.

All the best.

kellie

Thanks so much for posting and letting us know your are doing well. It is good for those of us who are still searching to have hope. I have heard of this transverse friction. I do believe it could work for some but maybe not everyone. It is worth a try and I quess you do not have to take medication, if that so? That would be a real plus to find something that is not a pill/medicine.

Thanks for your update.

Blessings!!

Hello there.

Yes, you are right. It took me a long while, lots of pain, lots of research and thinking outside the box, to figure out the connection between my MP and the potentiality it was caused by scar tissue from several laproscopic surgeries impinging on my LFN. (Especially as docs do not like to admit surgeries can cause this incidious disease.)

Maybe I'm wrong about that, but gee, coincidence? - the treatment worked, when all that was on offer from the medical community was more drugs and more surgery.

Good luck finding a solution to your pain. I really feel for everyone with this horrible condition and wish docs could understand how truly painful it can be.

HI ALL
Just wanted to suggest that some of you may have the same cause as myself.After 20 years of misdiagnosis of neuralgia,I discovered
a displaced thoracic rib(between the shoulder blades),my physiotherapist twisted my spine and when it clicked INSTANT pain reduction of 50%,90% by the end of the fortnight.Most days I am now totally pain-free.
Hopes this helps

Mike
I am happy for the fact you have found relief. 20 years is a long time to have MP or symptoms like MP. What a change in your life!

I have been told my MP could be my back problems. I had an operation in 1992 and I think it could be a result of cutting of the stomach muscles.

My MP is not has painful now as in the past. So that is an improvement. Also I know I tolerate it better. I know my limits as to how much I can physically do too.

Take Care and thanks for sharing.

Jeeze, I thought I was the only one. I have had MP for 14 years, first few years I was told I was crazy (nicely buy that it was a psychological problem). They tried depocote ,(sp?)didn’t help tried another doctor was told basically the same thing. I let it go for years (mostly due to no insurance). Years later another doctor said it was neuropathy and I took Gabapentin for a year with no real relief. Again, I went years suffering through. The only things that have kept me going is things like Vicodan that were actually prescribed for Migraine headaches or other ailments, ( also been accused of trying to get pain meds for recreational use….God if they knew the pain.) I would stock up for use when my legs were on fire with the feeling of white-hot sharp objects stabbing my thighs.

I have been using a cane for about 10 years. It helps me not have AS MUCH pain later in the day when the pain at its worst but it is still not a fix.

Recently (February 14th) after a stroke (TIA) I was chatting with the neurosurgeon while still in the hospital, asked if I could ask some other questions and he did some “pin” tests diagnosed the MP in 2 mins, and said he new how painful it was and had the hospital give me some vicodan for relief. To come see him when I got out and we would discuss a very simple operation to clip the nerves, well I was fired from my job ( they said because of “poor performance” but it was because of the stroke and limited duties for a month). Bye bye Insurance!

That was 5 months ago the pain in my legs has gotten so bad that I have trouble functioning, getting out of bed is a problem sometimes. I cannot work. If I do not do, too much walking around I can actually sleep through the night.

I applied for Medical Assistance and am receiving it, so I have been doing the Doctor thing for the MP, heart, stroke and diabetes, I feel a little better. My Neurologist gave me Lyrica and it works a bit but I am up to 75 mg 4 times a day, It tends to put me to sleep. She agreed that I should get the operation. Medical Assistance is crap insurance and I haven’t yet to find a Neurosurgeon that will accept it. There is only one Pain management center in the state that will accept it… Its 70 miles away. Anyone with this disease knows 70 miles in a car will exacerbate the MP to the spike status.

So I guess I am looking for suggestions, I saw the posts about points to press and stretching but I didn’t quite get it, so further explanation would be greatly appreciated.

Just damn tired of the pain and inability to work and fuction.

Thanks for the ears!
Czar

Czar
You are welcome for the ear. It helps to be able to talk to people who have MP or at least know what it is.
Different things work for different people. The Gabapentin and an anxietiy medicine works for me to calm the never spikes and shocks. I have not had bad ones like I had in the beginning Jan 2003. I have the nerve sensitivity on my left thigh. I am very sensitive to clothing and bed sheets. The Lidoderm patch has help me also.

I hope you can get insurance coverage to have treatment to help your pain. I know how MP keeps us from doing many things. I had thought of having my nerve burnt where it comes out of the spine. Then the Doctor moved away. So have tabled that plan for now. I do water exercises 3 times a week it seems to help me.

Keep pursing your treatment or maybe someone here will share something that worked for them to at least help tone down the pain.

Keep us posted. Blessings to you!
Lookingup

Thanks for the reply, Figured I'd update a bit. My Medical assistance is handled by an MCO...United Healthcare.

I am starting to learn how the system works.. ***** and complain! The state has a number to call when you are not happy, they in turn call the MCO (managed care) and things begin to move.

They nixed the Lyceria, complained, doctor wrote a note saying medically neccessary .... got the Lyceria, taking 5x daily now lessens the shocks but pain and is still there, as long asI sit down every 10 mins or so I can live with it, it's getting worse these last few months...

I have to large areas on my thighs I can draw an oval where I am numb but tingly, rub something against it and I am crazed, so I know what you are going through.

The complaints have also as of yesterday gotten me my own case worker (I have other issues) also they agreed to pay a pain management doc local to me --supposed to find out today when I get to see him. Will let you know how it works out…

Till nextime

Czar

[QUOTE=painfree;54763]Meralgia Paresthetica can be the result of Myofascial trigger points (knots) in specific muscles especially Tensor fasciae latae, Sartorius and psoas/Iliopsoas - which also causes back pain. Tense bands in the paraspinal muscles may also play a role.[QUOTEpainfree;54763]

Muscles? Doc told me (new pain doc) there is a tunnel where the nerves run through the outside of the pelvis this is blocked (by weight in my case). It can have other causes but he said manipulating the muscles was absurd that if it worked it was a cause other then Meralgia Paresthetica. Only a steady dose of Tegretol plus Lyrica will relive most of the symptoms; most often surgery is the only way to actually alleviate all of the pain impulses.

For 4 days, I have been taking a cocktail of Lyrica 75mg 4 times a day plus 200 mg of tegretol two times a day and one 750mg Hydrocodone two times a day if needed. I am down to half two times a day as of yesterday. Which was the best day I have had in years… jeeze a doctor that knows what he is doing!

Yesterday my car broke down I had to walk a half a mile took me an hour resting every so often, but NO SPIKES, pain yes but no electrical SPIKES. Furthest I have walked in 10 years. After I got the car home, I was able to work on it myself and fix it sitting on a stool. My God, I am functioning, a little tired, a little buzzed but functioning. Today I am hurting a bit but tolerable, going to try an get a job I think.

No longer just the Czar of pain, now the Czar of hope!

Czar that is fantastic you found a doctor that was able to help you to function again. I have tried a couple of different medications but found topamax and cymbalta together work well for me. I still get sore when I do too much but it is much better than the pain I was getting everyday. I go back to my neurologist in July and he said he is going to try to cut back the topamax. But I really don't see that happening. As for the trigger points, when my leg is really sore, I will rub it and it does ease the pain. Would I rely on that solely? no. I also found heat helps it. When my leg gets cold, the numbed area gets really sore. I will either turn a space heater on or put a heating pad on it and it helps.

Well, Here's to the Czar of Hope and the continuation of no more pain. Take Care!