Do you all have a pain management doc? Some of these people, along with anesthesiologists can be pretty creative when it comes to pain.

Cathie

Please know if you can get the right Dr. TPI can be a wonderful relief. In 1984 I suffered from facial pain, TMJ pain and terrible headaches daily. I barely could make it to work. Luckily, I did not take the advice of local dentists and have TMJ surgery. I spent 400 hrs. in the library researching and then flew around the country to see the top dentists in the field treating this condition. I chose one who was absolutely fabulous and he remained my dentist until he died (18 yrs.) After only 2 months or so of TPI in my head and TMJ - all the pain was gone. The face was another story and I continued to need injections for years to get it into remission. It finally worked. However, it did return and I'd have to get booster inj. He was just wonderful and truly with out the TPI, I would not be here today. Having been in his office and waiting room I have learned much about them after 24 yrs.
In the past 24 yrs. I have had TPI from my feet to the top of my head. I must say they all helped to put the pain into remission.
I now am fortunate to have another Dr. who is equally as good at the injections and find relief with him as well. It can be a long process and the pain comes and goes. Don't give up! I would try TPI with a verty reputable DR. Be sure they know who Janet Travell is - she is the woman who we can thank for the TPI and has a book instructing Drs. how to do them. I would not be without her wonderful book. I think it iscalled Myofascial Pain Treatment.
Just google her and you can learn all about her,
Good luck
Sydney

I am sure the right doctor makes a great deal of difference.

The Orthopedic Surgeon, who injected my back, really hurt and it took several days to get over it. The Podiatrist, probably did not use a needle anywhere near the size the surgeon used, but it did hurt.

The first time I saw the pain management doc, who I go to for occasional TPI, I expected the same thing, but it was totally different, more like a tiny bee sting. He said the difference was that he uses a very, very fine needle. Sometimes, when I go, I get my husband to draw a circle on the areas that need injecting.

I feel sorry for him, because his treatment has gotten him so much attention and business in our area, that his hand is bothering him from so many repeated injections all day. I don't know if that is carpal tunnel or what, but when I go, I go early in the day, so I can get him when he is fresh...

Cathie

Hi, I had the injections done yesterday. They did hurt while the med was being injected for sure. I feel some relief (cervical radiculopathy) but there is one spot that hurts more then it did before the shots which is leaving me just as uncomfortable as b4. Dont know if its supposed to be sore afterwards. I also get migraines now and then and before the headaches start i get wavy liquid in the center of my eyes that work their way out to the sides in about a 45 min period and when they are gone the headache is there. I dont get it often but about a half hour after the shots it happened so it made me a little nervous. Yorkiemom I live in brooklyn too wonder if its the same doctor. I also have yorkies lol 3 of them. Barbara

I can't say I have had the eye symptoms you describe, but I get plenty of others. I am in the Dallas area; the TPI website I posted was for Melody and her husband Alan, and it was in Brooklyn...

There is always some pain after TPI, and it may take a couple of days to ease off. I think the worst one was after the epidural, when the doctor shot me up and when the needle hit its target, I got a sciatica like pain shooting down one leg. It was gone fairly quickly and the epidural helped tremendously...

Cathie
P.S. In order not to hijack this thread, I am sending you a PM...

So it isn't just my imagination. There are times when the pain is worse than others. Nights when it's hardly noticeable and others where I'm going crazy. I'm not sure what causes this for me. Increased stress perhaps? Whatever it is it's really aggravating never knowing what to expect til I actually get into bed for a bit.

I have severe fibromyalgia and a pinched nerve in my lower back. I have been treating with a pain specialist for 6 years. He is great! I take methadone and oxycodone for pain. My regular doctor prescribed 5% lidocaine ointment for topical use several months ago. It works very well. I told my pain doctor about it and he suggested that I have lidocaine infusions. So, I had the first one today. It hasn't done anything so far. It did make me feel "out of it". Luckily, my daughter went with me, so she could drive me home in case that happened. I guess these infusions work for approximately 2 weeks. I guess I will have to wait and see. I saw where others said that it was not very good, etc. I don't know. I just thought I would put my 2 cents in.

I hope you get some relief from the infusion, I have been getting them for over a year now and although they don't take the pain away completely they give me lots of good days. I am always out of it for a few days afterwards, although I am so tired by the time I get them that maybe it is just sheer exhaustion. The first three days I still get pain but it is only on the surface of the skin, it burns immensely and then the pain lessens.
My pain doc has seen patients whose pain has gradually disappeared and I can say one foot(which used to be my worst is now a lot better than the other).
Remember not to overdo it too much when you do feel good as the pain can come back with a vengeance, I wrote a sort of blog last year if you want to read it just look at my old threads.
I get around 3-4 weeks relief now but only have the infusions every6-8 weeks which is a living nghtmare as you know there is a treatment but in the UK I can't get access to this.

If the lidocaine ointment works, why not try the patches called Lidoderm? They are less invasive than an infusion.
I've used Lidoderm for years. They are very nice.

Mrs D, I have had a strange experience as the Infusions are good but the patches don't work at all, in fact they worsen my condition( maybe I am not inserting them on the correct place)