I am new here and haven’t been diagnosed with anything at this point. I’ve had a few people mention these types of things, and the point of frustration and helplessness, I thought I would inquire with others going through similar situations.

2 years ago I was in a very severe ATV accident; just about losing my lower leg. Since then I’ve had 3 surgeries, which were in an 18 month time-frame. Each time I was exhausted and in pain, but told it’s because of having surgeries back to back, and the nature of the surgeries -this was kinda expected. So, I tried learning to deal with things; knowing I would heal up eventually.

It’s now been 9 months since my last surgery, and I’m beside myself with the unbearable fatigue and pain. I’m currently being treated by my doctor with pain meds; Tramadol, Vicodin, Gabapentin, & Cymbalta. I’ve been on other meds and other dosing, but had to either lower the dosing, or eliminate that particular one.

Gabapentin I believed was working when I was on the 300 mg, 3 times per day, but I was like a walking zombie, so she decided to try 100 mg once daily which I’m stopping now, because it’s not helping, and I am wondering if it is making my fatigue worse?

I’ve cut back a day at work, because I can’t hardly function. The pain meds help with the pain, but don’t take it away. I’m unable to hardly keep my eyes open because the fatigue is so bad! My life has turned from being extremely active to hardly unable to live a normal life! After work, I go to bed. Weekends I sleep all day, and on the extra given day off during the week, I sleep the whole day, but never feel as if I’m refreshed!

I can’t continue living like this, and no one understands! My doctor seems to think it’s from the chronic pain making me so tired, but why do I continue to feel as if I’m spiraling? I constantly don’t feel well, and my muscles are soooo exhausted feeling! Anyone have any suggestions?

TIA
Becca

Hi Becca and Welcome !

Dang you have been through the wringer . I had three foot and ankle surgeries in a 12 month period, it is a hard comeback for sure. I think the Anasthesia itself takes a while to clear.

You have every reason to be tired. Chronic pain is exhausting physically and mentally. Meds can certainly make you a zombie and should be considered as a contributing factor. it can be a real challenge finding the balance between enough help with tolerable side effects.

Has your care team made any conjecture as to why you still have so much pain? Have you had follow up imaging, etc? It seems there can be a reluctance to get follow up MRI, ultrasound after surgeries but you have a new landscape in there and it can be worthwhile as far as getting info.

We all know from experience how hard it is to deal with the kind of loss you have in your life. I was Superwoman before, going all day, working out, Hiking for miles and miles and chasing a boy child around. It is a huge adjustment. Many benefit from therapy during such a time. It made a huge difference in my ability to cope. Depression and anxiety from dealing with the pain and the unknown about where you'll end up can take a toll. Get support if you need it. You have a lot to deal with and untreated depression and anxiety can make pain and fatigue worse.

come when you need support, commiseration or just to vent. Keep after your doctors and don't give up on healing.

Sending Healing Love, Littlepaw

Thank you Littlepaw! I'm so frustrated and depressed right now! My doctor clearly see's the depression and previously had me on sertraline, but it wasn't helping, so Cymbalta was the new winner; previously it was not affordable, and now with the generic and my insurance now covering the generic - she decided to try this(it's only been a few weeks being on Cymbalta). This is supposed to help with nerve pain (which I have bad nerve damage), as-well as the depression!

I originally spoke with my doctor, stating I'm so behind financially from my accident that I simply couldn't afford any more tests. But, I'm at the point that my quality of life is awful, and I will seek whatever I need. I do have an appointment in the next couple of weeks, to see if I can get a TENS unit prescribed, as I've heard it might help??????

What I don't get is how do you all work? I'm struggling greatly, and even struggling in my outside of work life. I feel as if I'm going to lose my boyfriend of almost 3 years, as I'm constantly just lifeless. All the things we do together I'm not doing! I SOOO WANT TO, BUT I'M NEVER FEELING GOOD AND SIMPLY TOO TIRED!

I'm not sure if acupuncture will work or what, but I'm willing to give it a try? And I'm not even sure If I have "RSD," "CRPS," but I do know if you have had chronic pain, and fatigue for over 6 months; which mine is now 2 years, this can be a possible diagnosis!

tia ~Becca

I think the work situation is highly variable with many needing to reduce, accommodate or just plain quit. I am glad you were able to reduce your schedule.

If your doctor wants you to have imaging and feels it will really add to the picture try to pursue it. You must do whatever you can to help yourself. Call around about imaging costs. You can even google price comparisons. I put in for MRI ankle Austin and found a website that posts fairly recent prices. you would be amazed the price differences, 1200-7000 for MRI. insane! Ask vendors if they can take just the negotiated rate for your insurance. If you live in a state where Balance Billing is illegal then as long as you are in-network they cannot bill you for the remainder past the contract rate if deductible is met. Ie: we charge 7 k but your insurance only paid us 2k so you owe us 5. You'd be surprised how often billing companies try to get away with this.

Some offices can and will write off co-pays. You just have to ask and let them know your financial situation. Also if medical expenses are a high enough percentage of income then you can write them off your taxes. They have to be pretty high though.

Not everyone is a fan of acupuncture but I have found it helpful. Finding a therapist who deals with illness and chronic pain is good. I found mine through the Psychology Today website list of practitioners. She used some alternative approaches such as EMDR and hypnosis which circumvent the conscious mind and get to a different level. For me it was a great adjunct to talking about it.

Littlepaw - Great info. The charges can get extremely confusing. Obviously with my accident costing over 100 grand, and my deductible being $3500.00 didn't need to worry about price comparison. Same again with the next year I had another surgery which was more then my $3500, so again price comparison for MRI's and such wasn't a big deal.

In the meantime, I was acquiring a lot of bills, and I didn't fit in the perfect financial box for help. I made too much to qualify for any type, but not enough where I can pay close to an extra $400 per month! I'm finally down to just under $600 left from the total $7 grand from the deductibles.

I am at the point of "I'll try anything" and some people have mentioned great results from acupuncture. You know how you get to a point where your in so much pain and tired of the fatigue that anything sounds great!

Right now we are doing process of elimination, but each time you have to wait to see if it works, and if it doesn't then you have a long waiting period to get back in! With that being said, makes it so frustrating! I'm a single mom, and I have so many responsibilities I'm very overwhelmed. I've mentioned these things to my boyfriend (we don't live together) but no one gets these types of things! Especially after 2 years! =(

Becca

Ugh! It does get overwhelmingly expensive. especially with insane deductibles like most everyone has now. Definitely look at balance billing. It varies by state. My son had an ER visit and I had to get a contract admin person and a supervisor to get the hospital to stop sending me bills. I had met his deductible and they still kept trying to charge me for the remainder of "their" price not the contracted price. It took a lot of phone calls (with people who insisted I had to pay) and me being a bulldog because I worked in healthcare and knew the law here. If I had not known better I probably would have paid it.

I can only imagine if I was elderly or cognitively impaired. The darn thing would've gone to collections. It was several thousand dollars of pumped up charges...

So did you meet deductible for this year? It would be nice for you to be able to get the workup you need.

I think it is very hard for people to understand what this kind of thing is like. Pain is not something you "get" unless you have it and it doesn't go away. Root canals, childbirth, kidney stones...all those things get better and people forget what the pain was like. A 24/7 animal is beyond most everyone's comprehension.

Sadly I was turned into collections from the hospital after only 60 days of getting my first bill! I was livid!!! I to work in healthcare, and I know you have 90 days before they can turn you into collections!!!!!! I wasn't able to pay them the $150.00 per month, as I had other obligations from other medical institutions from my surgery - in-which I had to make payments to. I was going to their website making small payments, while I had placed an item up for sale, on our local Craigslist.

When I called and asked to speak with their manager, they told me "well since it's already been turned into collections, it's out of our hands!" I was livid. I have always been perfect with my bills, and I stated to the hospital that I have an 825 credit score! What does that tell you!!!!!!!!!!!???? It tells anyone that I am very responsible, and take pride in my responsibility to made good with what I owed. A week later, I sold my snowmobile, and immediately was able to pay $1100 out of the $1500 I owed. They simply didn't care! I was totally shocked.

The sad thing is, I loved their clinical care, as I spent my hospital stays and had all 3 surgeries there, but I don't know if I can go back to them because of their inability to work with you, and their crooked billing department! =( This year I haven't even come close to meeting my $3500.00 deductible, and with my days getting cut from work, I don't know if I can afford to take on more medical bills. I feel like I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't! Vicious circle! this is where being poor would be beneficial for me getting tests done that I need! *sigh* I hate where I'm at!!!!

Could the constant fatigue and downward spiral of fatigue be fibromyalgia?
Many times a long standing condition or pain can drain your body down so far that fibro can become part of the problem also.

My questions are... what is the difference between CRPS and Fibro? They both involve pain, and fatigue?

Becca

CRPS is a very unusual animal. If you look up the Budapest Criteria it might help you decide whether it seems like a fit.