Have you tried acupuncture and did it help you?

@SW-User so sorry to hear. Dry needling doesn’t even have a good name. Half of this is marketing. Dry needling sounds like something you do to punish Hitler in hell or something, not something to heal your pain!!!

@Fallflower lol. Yes it would make a good torture technique. It's just long thin needle that goes deep down in and stabs nerves. I could feel it as it was piercing different layers of tissues. I couldn't handle it. I hate needles anyway so I had to stop in the middle of treatment.

@SW-User the EMG was the most painful thing I have went through next to a bone density test ,,stabbing you with the probe is bad enough ,then they put electricity to it to see if it gets through the nerve ,to see if the electrodes pick any signal up .(that could separate the fakes from the ones really in pain quick )
My friends who have had it done at non VA facilities say they numbed them up for it ,,,not at the VA
The severing the nerves (actually they scar them so the signal is cut off to the brain )
That crap hurt bad too ,but I endured it ,but I got little help from it and its not permanent anyway so I declined a second go round
I got the most benefit from the Epidural Steroid Injections
but it also comes with its own risks
Pain is hell ,and thanks to those who abuse narcotics it getting harder
I wouldn't wish my pain on them ,,but I do believe you reap what you sow
(and yes in a way I am glad my pain stopped me ,something had to ,
I do in a way think I am getting what I asked for ,,now I know what Dad went through

@rckt148 I've had the bone density scan but not the probe thank goodness. The nerve induction test was also painful and oddly left bruises all over me. I have nerve damage in both my legs, I also have 3 discs pushing inward against my spinal cord, I have pars interarticularis which is a broken back that never heals, bone spurs in my upper back, arthritis all over, severe headaches and migraines on a daily basis, back spasms, just to name a few. I'm only 41. Yay me... Also I can't take any pain medicine because pain medicine does not work on me.

😳 Well I guess I should stop being a crybaby now. Very sorry to hear what both of you are and have gone through. It’s the lack of hope that gets me down. How do you get through it?

@SW-User I had major back surgery in 1990 ,
I was told I would need more surgery and more then likely every 3 years or so the rest of my life ,
That was 30 years ago ,,so I have been more then blessed I can still walk
I paid for that $20.000.00 just my 20 % and my insurance paid the rest
But I am a Vet ,I was talked into giving the VA a try ,,bad mistake ,its been a roller coaster
But now I am done with the VA
I am finally giving up and going to a civilian facility again .
They have already accepted me when they said at first they had no openings
but they pulled my medial records for when they could get me in
they called back right away saying the VA is nuts and they will see me right away .but I have one more pain appointment at the spinal cord injury clinic and I can happily tell them I am leaving ,I am done being toyed with
I finally found someone willing to help me
not just keep pushing me under the rug
So I hear ya man and I am sorry you suffer too ,,
but I am long past all that "In 20 years they will be able to grow you a new spine " well thats what they said 30 years ago
my pain keeps increasing and they steady cut back on my pain meds ,I am done with the VA

@Fallflower I know many do not want to hear my answer
I put a lot of faith in God
I am only on 15 MG of Oxycodone a day ,so thats sure not my source of strength to go on .
My family gives me the want to ,God enables me so I can
I would say I was healed (Sort of )
but I did not listen to the Doctors
I went back to work 9 days after surgery when I was suppose to be in recovery for 6 months ,,but I was losing my life ,I fought to save it
but a spur in my right shoulder ended my comeback
But I have adjusted my life to knowing what I can do and what I can't
and now macho man enlists the help of others instead of trying to prove I'm not disables (part of my spine is missing and I am still showing up young men ,but I was very arrogant and very stupid )
But pain blocks do help ,and the small amount of narcotics ,
but its mainly refusing to quit
Had I give in to the pain ,I think I would have been dead long ago
So I thank God every day for enabling me to walk ,and I do the best I can with the gift He gives me ,,,I walk ,work from time to time and I spend as much time with my family as I can
They are my reason to press on ,
And dear pain wears on you ,even small amounts of it
so you are not a cry baby ,and add stress and that increases it
So I hope you find something that works

@rckt148 I've tried many pain medications throughout my life and nothing has helped me. I have liver damage from all the pain medicines that I have taken. I tried Oxycontin and oxycodone and neither one helped me. I had a lateral hernia operation where they put the patches out of my stomach and when they brought me back from anesthesia almost flat lined because the morphine they was giving me did not help. The doctors gave me the maximum amount and it did not touch the pain. With a procedure that only last a few hours I ended up staying there two full days. People with minor aches and pains have no idea what we have to endure.

@SW-User No they don't
I am never out of pain so if I can get it to a 5 of 10 I call that a good day
I have also damaged my liver ,heart problems ,nodules on my lungs I am a walking medical basket case LOL ,and its driven me to want to commit suicide a few times
(My brother finally did ,and he was in no where near the shape I am in )
But my Kids are the reason I push on
When I had a heart attack all my kids were on the ambulance ,my Grandson was ready to whip everyone he thought was talking to long .
My Youngest was a basket case ,,all of them tore me up seeing how bad they were hurting
So I could never be so selfish as to kill myself ,I do know it would hurt them .
Just about all meds constipate me and I have had 6 polups removed and I have scaring they keep a close check on to make sure it does not turn into cancer .
So I do feel for you ,and I do understand
Wish I could do more then pray for you ,,but I know that is the only reason I have the strength to go on .
So I have prayed for you and the young lady both
I pray you both find some relief and peace ,
Pain has so many other things that go with it ,I pray that you have the strength to endure
I know its not easy ,never give in to dark thoughts ,and never give up
Nothing is more lonely then being flat of your back ,,and no one knows what your going through ,but I do ,your not alone
you are welcome to talk anytime ,
Thats why I am here ,keeping my mind occupied helps some