u/Pretend-Spinach-1228

I have so much empathy for people who live with uncontrolled chronic pain. Trying to get help while you’re already exhausted and hurting feels like an impossible maze.

I currently am in a lot of pain with a pinched nerve in my cervical spine (I think)

Went to the ER because i couldn't take the pain anymore, and they gave me morphine and tramadol through iv while there, but couldn’t send me home with anything, so I called my primary care doctor. They couldn’t prescribe anything either and referred me to pain management. Pain management didn’t answer, so I left a message.

My neurosurgeon’s office took a message for her this morning, but I still haven’t heard back about a plan. I’m assuming imaging will be the next step.

I also called my neurologist to schedule an EMG. They don’t perform them, so they referred me to another neurologist who does. Once I have the EMG, I’m supposed to call my original neurologist back to make an appointment to review the results. The other neurologist’s office is closed on Wednesdays, so I had to leave another message.

At this point, my only option is to keep going back to the ER whenever the pain becomes unbearable until I can get in with pain management. Thankfully, it’s somewhat bearable at the moment, but I’m only sleeping three or four hours a night, sometimes less. On top of that, I’m still trying to manage diabetes, thoracic outlet syndrome, and hEDS, all of which come with their own symptoms and complications.

I’m currently taking a muscle relaxer and naproxen because they’re supposed to reduce the inflammation around the pinched nerve, but they aren’t doing anything for the pain.

My husband is picking up my second round of prednisone, which will be another five-day course. The last time, I finally started getting some relief around day four, but it also caused my blood pressure and heart rate to spike. I haven’t started this round yet, and just getting up from the couch to give my quail water outside caused my reading to shoot up to 160 while I was standing there.

I’m exhausted, frustrated, and honestly just at a loss.

I'm looking for guidance that's pretty specific.

I have hEDS as well as TOS. I also have diabetes and was prescribed Ozempic.

I am not allowed to lift more than 10lbs because of the TOS, but when you are on Ozempic you can lose muscle mass if you don't strength train and my muscles are what's holding me together (because my connective tissue sure isn't!)

Any advice on how to keep muscle mass with only being able to lift 10lbs other than getting enough protein?

TIA!