Help Chronic Pain

Question:

Thanks you guys, it is so good to be back.      You know, I have been afraid of this happening. I had back surgery 1n 1996, and I knew I would have to have it again. But it is worrisome because of the interaction of pain meds for your back and your headache. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I tend to not go to the Dr. so much for other stuff.  I have so much to deal with medically and monetarily with my headaches, that there is a reluctance to add any more to the mix.      Also, because I rebound and, and because strong pain meds ravage my body so, I get a real problem when I take pain meds too often, which in my case is two days in a  row. Because of this, the last few months, I have had to stop taking pain meds for my back for 2-3 days, in order to stop a headache caused my the pain meds. Then, my back is killing me(actualy my left leg and hip) and I can’t do anything but lay on my left side, 24/7 and rock back and forth groaning. So back to the pain meds. Also, I end up taking  alot more Phenegran and Benedryl  and Ativan to try to control the side effects of the pain meds. The end is getting near, I believe. Thank God.    I know I am not the only one on this ng who has these worries, and I would sure like to hear how other people handle these types of situations. I know alot of you out there have really serious long term dual pain status’s. Thanks, Sue

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sue – Your symptoms sound like the sciatica I had from a herniated disk several years ago. So just to present another side – a cat-scan showed the hernia in the disk, so I had surgery and I’ve been fine ever since. It was called micro-surgery so the incision was small, and as surgeries go, it was easy. I was up walking the next day – relatively pain free! (Although my back was stiff for quite some time.) I couldn’t sit for a few weeks afterwards on doctor’s orders, but once I got through the recovery period, my back has been better than ever. I know many people have a strong bias against surgical correction for a back problem, and maybe for good reason, but for me, it worked! I just wished they had operated sooner – there is some residual permanent damage to the nerve in my leg and foot. Good luck on whatever course you end up on! Phyllis Sue.  I know what you mean.  Pain medications give me a headache, too. Do you have a slipped disk or cracked bone in your back?  The reason I ask is I have sciatica which makes me a lot like you prescribe.  I know I am going to get flak for saying this but I am going to say it anyway.  I went to a chiropractor (throw fruit, throw tomatoes, boo, etc.) and he fixed me up right away.  I went to him because all doctors do is prescribe drugs and want to cut.  It worked for me. — Val in Boise "  Thanks- I hope it will be better. I have arthritis in my hips, degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, bone spurs and some congenital malformation in the hips.  My siblings, who share these traits, all had back surgery before they turned 30.

   This time, the dr. told me that my weight gain had really exacerbated my problem. I told dr. Merle that, and we are going to try a different preventative med than the Elavil. Since increasing the dosage, I have gained 60 pounds. But I want to wait until Im off any pain medication for my back and that situation stabilizes. Trying different preventative meds is not something that I am looking forward to. But there are a couple of things out there I have not tried, and maybe one of them will do the trick. I did notice the difference, this time, of how people treat you when you tell them about back surgery vs. chronic migraine. I got meals, errands run, prayers in church, housecleaning, flowers, etc.. for my back surgery. For migraines-de nada. And for all my back problems, I have had nothing but impatience.Well, I guess it’s the difference between the known and unknown. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sue

Response:

Sue – Your symptoms sound like the sciatica I had from a herniated disk several years ago. So just to present another side – a cat-scan showed the hernia in the disk, so I had surgery and I’ve been fine ever since. It was called micro-surgery so the incision was small, and as surgeries go, it was easy. I was up walking the next day – relatively pain free! (Although my back was stiff for quite some time.) I couldn’t sit for a few weeks afterwards on doctor’s orders, but once I got through the recovery period, my back has been better than ever. I know many people have a strong bias against surgical correction for a back problem, and maybe for good reason, but for me, it worked! I just wished they had operated sooner – there is some residual permanent damage to the nerve in my leg and foot. Good luck on whatever course you end up on! Phyllis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Sue.  I know what you mean.  Pain medications give me a headache, too. Do you have a slipped disk or cracked bone in your back?  The reason I ask is I have sciatica which makes me a lot like you prescribe.  I know I am going to get flak for saying this but I am going to say it anyway.  I went to a chiropractor (throw fruit, throw tomatoes, boo, etc.) and he fixed me up right away.  I went to him because all doctors do is prescribe drugs and want to cut.  It worked for me. — Val in Boise "

Response:

Sue.  I know what you mean.  Pain medications give me a headache, too. Do you have a slipped disk or cracked bone in your back?  The reason I ask is I have sciatica which makes me a lot like you prescribe.  I know I am going to get flak for saying this but I am going to say it anyway.  I went to a chiropractor (throw fruit, throw tomatoes, boo, etc.) and he fixed me up right away.  I went to him because all doctors do is prescribe drugs and want to cut.  It worked for me. — Val in Boise "

Response: