Exploring Our Pain Management Toolbox
Pain management tool boxes are a concept I have discussed on occasion. I would like to ask folks what they have added to their tool boxes for 2008. What I am hoping to do is get an idea what types of things folks find helpful to add to it. It is my hope that folks will read the content of others' tool boxes and see what they lack. Those items can be explored further to determine if this might be a great addition to their own.Way too often folks are too quick to say something will not work when in fact, they have never tried it or found that to be true. I would like to us to explore this to determine why people do this and where do they get the preconceived idea that something won't work and it is not worth trying. For some it might be the opinion of someone they hold dear. For others, it might be a stereotype that many folks adhere to and which often is scarred by misconceptions and myths that have come down through the ages.
I encourage people to write their responses to my blogs on my pain management message board here on WebMD. Start the thread with "Exploring our Pain Management Toolbox". When I review the board, I will read posts and respond with comments or thought provoking questions to clarify anything I am not sure of. I encourage others to comment or post your views on another's posts so we can develop a rich thread of feedback on this topic. I think this will be a great thread to share and learn more about don't you????
~Indie
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: chronic pain, pain tool box, pain management, health and wellness
37 Comments:
I am a massage therapist of 19 years, I have seen a lot of migraines, headaches,neck pain, shoulder pain and general all over pain, mostly from that old bugger--STRESS!!! I have a hard time with doctors just handing out meds. and never addressing the deep cause. My work goes to the core of the problem and eventially the pains become less or they go away alltogther. I have had success with migraines and see actual results in just a few weeks of treatment!! I am not a doctor, but I wonder??? why is my work working and not the meds?? What do some of you think??
Kitty1
I agree!! Massage therapy is the best treatment ever! I've tried all the meds..sometimes they work, but usually just mask the real problem..STRESS.
This probably sounds crazy but I get quite a bit of pain relief by using icepacks on the headache site. It usually helps dull the throbbing until my oral meds have a chance to work.
Massage can do great things! Heat packs, cold packs and hot showers are great for relieving headaches, and muscle pains. What about exercise? The release of endorphins soothes pain. Constant backaches can be caused by weak abs, so situps can relieve this problem... Diet can play a big role in avoiding muscle aches- potassium, proper hydration (helps with headaches too!) and proteins....
I deal with chronic pain and take several medications -- Opana ER, Norco and Skelaxin, along with Cymbalta. None of these seem to help me very much, but I do notice if I don't take them my pain is much more severe. I take Fiorinal for my headaches, and it used to work with just one pill -- not any more. I guess I've built up a tolerance for it?
I agree with the above posts about massage. Massage does really tend to help with my back problems, neck problems and chronic migraines. I suffer from degenerative disc disease, and just recently decided to take medical leave from work to focus on getting myself better. I'd love to see what other people use in their pain management toolboxes. I find heat and cold to both be effective, as well as a TENS unit which I use daily.
PAIN MANAGEMENT IS ABOUT MANY SKILLS, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.
I HAVE HAD 3 MAJOR BACK OPERATIONS,MY MEDICATION IS RIDICULESS AS I TAKE OXYCONTIN 100MG PER DAY PLUS DOLOXENE AND PANADOL.
THERE ARE TWO PROBLEMS HERE
1 I AM ADDICTED TO THE OXYCODONE
2 MY MUSCLE AND NERVE PAI IS CONSIDERABLE
I DO HYDRO THERAPHY,MASSAGE AND PHYSIO PLUS I DO CBT EACH WEEK
MY QUESTION HAS BEEN HOW DO I BEAT THE ADDICTION BECAUSE IT PLAYS WITH YOUR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL WELL BEING
GO INTO REHAB IS SOME THING I HAVE TO LOOK AT BUT IF ANY ONE HAS AN ANSWER I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IT
At one time I was on at least 15 different medicines to try and control the pain I lived with 24/7. I have fibromyalgia, arthritis, as well as a cervical fusion which made things worse and also have most of the other disks in my neck are herniated due to the stress from the fusion,I have degenertive disc disease also in my cervical and lumbar spine. I suffer severe depression from all this chronic depression and have been hspitalized three times for that.
Now for the GOOD news. In October of 2007 I had a trial Spinal Cord Stimulator placed in my cerical (neck) and my lumbar (lower) spine and it what it does is turns the pain impulses going to the brain into a tingling sensation instead.
This worked so well after all else had failed to include multiple narcotics, massage therapy, regular physical therapy, tens unit, monthly trigger point injections, etc, etc. that in December 2007 I had the permanent ones implanted into my back.
This Spinal Cord Stimulator has changed my life my pain level has improved by 60-75% which for me is quite a big deal and I am still healing from the surgery so that percentage may still go up.
If you want more information their web site is www-medical.com
I hope that even though my entry is quite long winded it will help someone out there that has lived in the pain that I have for the last 17 years or so.
I recently had a back spasm which made me bed ridden for a while, and currently I am still undergoing treatment for my symptoms or back pain and sciatica, and rehab to get back into my regular lifestyle. For my 'TOOLBOX', originally my doctor prescribed me Vicodin/hydrocodon ES. After a few weeks my doctor wanted me to get off of the vicodin, and started putting my on Tramadol 50MG. I also took advil to help with inflammation. Now the tramadol seemed to work okay, but not as well as the vicodin since I still needed it with the vicodin. After another week my doctor stopped giving me the vicodin, which I told him I still needed it, but he wouldn't give it to me, so I had to go to my pain management specialist to get some. My primary doctor didn't want me to continue taking the vicodin, because it was habit forming and would lead to withdrawal symptoms, and that I should increase my tramadol to the maximum dosage per day. After a month of my initial onset of pain, I started seeing a chiropractor in the area that had the VAX-D spinal decompression system, which started working at controlling my pain after the fifth session. From there on I was able to get off the vicodin without any problems, and no withdrawal symptoms. After about the 10th symptom I was pain free and went cold turkey with the tramadol, which left me with the most terrible week of my life. I had all sorts of withdrawal symptoms, and it just made me feel completely miserable. I'm glad I was able to get off the meds, because personally I hate taking medications. I didn't mind the vicodin, because I had tooken that once for another injury a few years back, and I took that for about 5 months, and when I got off the vicodin, I had absolutely NO withdrawal symptoms, so I was quite angry with my primary doctor, for telling me that tramadol was not an addictive drug, and so on, and I was angry that he did not trust me with the fact that I told him I would not get addicted to the vicodin. I told him many times, that I would stop taking it and reduce my intake as much as possible as my pain got better, but he didn't trust me, so I was upset with him. THE BEST THING I WOULD SAY IN MY PAIN MANAGEMENT TOOLBOX IS MY CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE AND THE VAX-D SPINAL DECOMPRESSION SYSTEM, IT IS THE BEST FORM OF PAIN RELIEF EVER FOR BACK AND SCIATICA PAIN. IT KEPT ME FROM GETTING SURGERY, SO I'M EXTREMELY GLAD I FOUND THIS PLACE AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND VAX-D TO ANYONE WITH ANY LOWER BACK/SCIATICA PAIN, BECAUSE IT WORKS GREAT FOR LOTS OF PEOPLE. SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOTICED RELIEF WITHIN THE FIRST FEW TREATMENT SESSIONS. IT TOOK ME A LITTLE LONGER THOUGH BECAUSE I AM AN OBESE PATIENT, AND MY BACK AND SCIATIC PAIN WAS CAUSED BY A EXTREMELY LARGE HERNIATED DISC WHICH PUT ME IN BED REST FOR A FEW WEEKS UNTIL I FOUND THE VAX-D SYSTEM!!!
I have had fibromyalgia and arthritis for 20 years. I have been taking naproxen 350 mg 2x/day and tramadol 50 mg 1-3x/day. In the areas of exquisite pain I now use SALONPAS patches. 4 patches are allowed per day, so I use them, one on each knee in the location of the pain, one on my shoulder and one on my ankle. They provide relief for 8 hours and have made my life tolerable on the days I have more stress on my joints. Then I take MSM 1000 mg 1x/day for the fibromyalgia, which seems to keep that under control. Hopefully this will help some of you who have these conditions to cope with the everyday stresses from these afflictions. Anon
I am a massage therapist of just under 4 yers and I have to agree with Dedee 100%. I have seen a lot of headaches, sore muscles, and under educated people in the area of stress reduction. Stress is not an illness but will cause all kinds of illnesses. Learning to stretch, take life one day at a time, using ice and heat when necessary and utilizing massage on a regular basis will do wonders for regular headache and general chronic pain sufferers.
Pain Tx for me is less than effective. I've not used CII's before on a outpatient basis as I'm afraid I'll get labeled a user. Some relief from 15 mg hydro q6h, but still inadequate. Time is the only thing that helps amaliarate the pain significantly. Triptans aren't any good with aura or severe headache. The etiology must be elsewhere. Ice is helpful-as is Soma for cervicle spasm. Something called Diffuse Ideopathic Skeletal Hyperstenosis was thought to be the cause of 1 month of unbareable pain. I was offered Percocet, but felt that the pain threshold could do without it. Practictioners are worried about writing for CII's.
I would highly agree with the last anon post. Dr.'s and other practioners are entirely too worried about writing for classII/Schedule II meds that will provide significant pain relief that it leaves legitimately suffering/needful patients suffering. These patients now become viewed as drug seekers or abusers by the few that have abused the system. I know that for me narcotics have proven to be the only thing that has been able to help me, even though I have tried just about everything else that they could think of and that they suggested (that included about 25-39 different meds.) and they still are leary about writting sch. II meds for me.
I will try to keep this brief, but tend to go on a bit. After many years of chronic back, neck, hip pain from many car accidents and over-working and stress.....
After years of chiro, which did help a lot......after tenz unit, muscle relaxers, etc......
I found yoga.....and it works! there are many styles, depending on your health and personality....but it does work. It worked so wonderfully for me that I wanted to share it with others and became a yoga instructor. I eventually opened a yoga studio, selling it later.
Several years have gone by, I've gone up and down on the amount of yoga I do, but I find even doing a few minutes each day is helpful.
I haven't been teaching for almost a year,but am going back to it because it makes ME show up for class and stay in good enough shape to teach. Gentle water exercise classes are great too. I became certified in the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic, Self-help and Exercise classes also......we need to committ to some kind of program that will get us to get out and make a start, not try to do it on our own. Stress and isolation are killers! The mental ane emotional parts of all this are so powerful.
I also take ibuprophen sometimes, but really I know it;s cause I haven't been doing enough yoga to work the yukkies out and they're causing pain.
Massage is great, but costs a lot for me to go often....I try to get my husband to work on me that way, and that helps too. And prayer and fresh air also helps. God Bless!
Has anyone tried hypnosis for pain?
I have fibromyalgia, RA and many back problems in which I had been seeing a pain mangement doctor for - you have to be very careful about the about pain meds and the amounts they give you, make sure it is not too much - I recently was in the hospital for being chronicly overdosed from pain meds and I was taking them exactly as the were prescribed to me - and actually could have take more then I did. My meds are no lowered, and I and doing much better - not living in the "drug haze", I have to deal with a little more pain but it is worth it. So to wrap this - Dr's are so quick to hand out meds to people who deal with chronic pain make sure you ask a lot of questions and know what you are taking and the amount is right for you!
Massage Therapy and Chiropratic adjustments seem the the way to go if you can afford them it adds up pretty fast if out of pocket. I am alergic to all meds but demerol which has no carry over time. And, Morophine which is somthing that is not going to be given out by Doc's. Demerol is a problem to get also. That leaves ibuprofen 800mg. Which eventually leads to ulcers. Even my spinal during knee replacement didn't work. It's not cool to be awake during the surgery to chat when you have a saw in your leg.
Anonymous says.....
I was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. Obviouly I have been involved with pain management for chronic pain for a number of years. My problems arise from the use of methadone for RSD. The original treating physician who is located in another state treats with methadone as it is the only drug that RSD responds to. Physicians in the state where I reside, are not very educated on RSD and are very reluctant to treat accordingly. What is one suppose to do when they no longer have the resources to travel to another state for treatment and the in state docs do not want to treat with the appropriate medication and the medication to which my conditon responds?
Pain Mgmt. needs to be a combination of massage, Yoga, some pain meds,chiropractic, and especially focusing your mind on some interesting activity that you enjoy, so that you are not just sitting around feeling miserable!
It doesn't necessarily cure your pain, but it sure can help to reduce it! Give it a try.
I totally agree with the person who spoke about the reluctance of doctors to write narcotic pain relievers when they are absolutely warranted. With Big Brother (The Government) issuing and monitoring the prescriptions they write, Doctors have become paranoid. It is sad because some of us need more than a Tylenol at times. I have PAD (peripheral artery disease) and I cannot walk more than 1/2 block without severe cramping and excruciating pain. I also have , as dedee implied, a lot of stress which gives me migraines and muscle cramping in my neck/shoulder. After Tylenol(the only OTC pain reliever I can take due to ulcers), Ice/heat applications and my TENS unit, I exhaust my options and take Percocet. I'm grateful I have health insurance and have a pain management doc who will give me what I need when I need it. Sadly, without a national health plan, too many people have to live their lives in chronic pain. The government should really have no say about what a doctor may or may not give their patients
[quote]Anonymous said...
I totally agree with the person who spoke about the reluctance of doctors to write narcotic pain relievers when they are absolutely warranted. With Big Brother (The Government) issuing and monitoring the prescriptions they write, Doctors have become paranoid. It is sad because some of us need more than a Tylenol at times. I have PAD (peripheral artery disease) and I cannot walk more than 1/2 block without severe cramping and excruciating pain. I also have , as dedee implied, a lot of stress which gives me migraines and muscle cramping in my neck/shoulder. After Tylenol(the only OTC pain reliever I can take due to ulcers), Ice/heat applications and my TENS unit, I exhaust my options and take Percocet. I'm grateful I have health insurance and have a pain management doc who will give me what I need when I need it. Sadly, without a national health plan, too many people have to live their lives in chronic pain. The government should really have no say about what a doctor may or may not give their patients
[/quote]
So you're saying a national health plan will remove government from the doctor patient relationship? Drop the percocet and back away from the keyboard...
I've got 9 fused vertabrae and have been through tremendous chronic (and acute) pain managment issues. At one point I took a year off of work (thank god for private sector insurance provided by an evil corporation) and it really did help. In that time I went through neurotherapy and pain managment counseling. I've read book after book on the subject matter and have a great pain managment specialist. I've tried accupuncture, massage and just about everything else under the sun...oh, I like to lay in the sun and read books when I have a chance. Even the sun has healing properties.
I'm now working full time, albeit on a flexible work schedule (again thanks to the evil corporation). I'm very lucky considering my injuries. Knowledge and attitude are key. I asked for years why I still hurt? Well 4-5 books on pain I almost understand it.
Speaking of books, I'll try not to write one here, but I recommend Pain, the Science of Suffering by Dr. Patrick Wall. It's a great read and helps put things into perspective while starting to put you the patient in charge.
I have chronic back pain and neck pain due to bulging discs and pinched nerves. I am now seeing a neurologist and a new pain management Dr. I take Percocet 10/650, Soma( 1 4 times a day) and because I have been suffering for so many years with these and other symptoms like fibromyalgia, my anxiety level has been so intense that I take 8 mgs. of Xanax a day. It took me 2 years to get from 16 mg's of Xanax down to 8. I cannot take anti-depressants. Tried every single one on the market and I have physical side effects. I was just given a prescription of Opana ER 20 mg. to try. I took myself off the kadian and the Methadone 60 mg a day and did just fine. Most Dr's could not believe I was able to handle the pain. When you suffer from severe pain 24/7, some people like myself would probably find it easier than they think. However, if this Opana ER does not work, the Dr believes methadone is the medication that will do me the best. I am scheduled to have injections( while under) for nerve pain. I have suffered so many years, I want surgery. I pray that this can be resolved since I have now taken a year off of work.
Linda,
Las Vegas
P.S
I also agree with a lot of people who really need scheduled 2 narcotics and I feel that just because some abuse them( which they can get off the streets) it makes the ones like myself who use medications as prescribed and do not abuse, look like drug seekers. I want surgery so bad, Even 50% better would be a God send!
I have many of the same issues, which cause horrible pain. I've had surgery which helped for awhile. Most recently I have seen a pain manangement Dr. and a chiropactor. I use a compination of narcontic pain meds (when needed), mood stabiliaors (also have many axiety issues and major depression my entire life) antidepressants, antianxiety meds, massage therapy, tens machine , ice and heat some light neck and shoulder exercises, and IDD. Together thank God something in this package is beginning to work. Not sure if it's the whole combo or just certain one's, hopefully I will find out. I also agree yoga is one of the best meds for many many ailments. I am frustrated with people including many Drs. who dismiss all of this and just say get rid of the stress!!!!!!!!! Duh if I could don't you think I would!!!
Sue S.
THANK YOU THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING I FELT LIKE I WAS READING ALL ABOUT MY LIFE THIS WILL BE MY 10TH ANNIV
24/7 I WAKE UP TO PAIN SLEEP WITH PAIN I HAVE TRYED ALMOST EVERYTHING. MY NEW ONE WAS RADIO FREQ WHICH WAS BURNING OF THE NERVES I NOW HAVE BOTH KNEES WITH SHARP PAIN THR NEW MED OPANA ER 20 LASTED 2 DAYS NOW OPANA 40 CRAP I NOW HAVE RINGING IN MY EARS. I WOULD LIKE TO TRY THE SPINAL STIMULATOR BUT THAT WORRIES ME CAN I TAKE THE BUZZZZ CAUSE I CAN'T TAKE THIS RINGING
WARNING TO THE ONE WHO IS GOING FOR METH REAL BAD MY SISTER TOOK YEARS TO COME OFF
I TRYED HYPNOTIST SORRY FOR SPELLING I NEVER FELT SO RESTED PAIN STILL HERE
COMA SOUNDS LIKE A DREAM COME TRUE
5DAYS OF KEDERMINE? INJECTION IN GERMANY 80,000 LATER 60 % WISHING LESS PAIN TOMORROW TO ALL
Hello All, I have suffered with pain (chronic and acute) over the last 6 years. I am a nurse now disabled due to illness. It is funny how the roles reversed. I took great care of my patients and now I am the patient. There were so many things in this post I wanted to comment on but will try to keep it some what short.
Methadone is the new drug of choice for alot of Doctors. Because it does not give you that fuzzy foggy feeling. You can still function on some level whereas on alot of others medications like oxycodone (without the tylenol) make you sing to a different drummer. One of you said you were on 100mg of Oxy a day. Try 180mg Twice a day. Bad thing was I was still in pain. Was weaned off the Oxy and that was pure hades. Placed on the Fentanyl patch 300mcgs change every three days. That is alot of narcotic. Yes I functioned very well on both of the above. As for migraines I have Topomax and it works wonderfully. I also see a pain specialist. He is a D.O. He was able to pin point exactly where the hurt was coming from. My hip hurt because of my neck. Etc etc. My tool box is very strange as I have osteomalacia, degenerative disc disease, degenerative joint disease, Napl, Lymphedema, Adrenal Insuffiency, Tertiary PTH, and more but not trying to dump it all here. Besides cold pacs, joint wraps that you heat in the microwave, heating pad,pain meds, pillows, I pray to God each and every day. Thankful that I am still alive and realizing there are people out there far worse than I am even when I feel my worst He knows I know.
Hope this helps. Methodone has done wonders for me by the way..
i just had my second nerve block and my pain doc wants to schedule me for a radio frequency to burn the nerves.the blocks have given a little temporary relief i have been in pain since 2006 and just looking for relief,i am perscibed percocet tramadol and skalaxin i hate bein in a fog but there is no avoiding it on some days. i am looking for some info on the radio frequency nerve burning i saw 1 post but i would appreciate any more info
3/16/08
I have had RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy)
for nearly 12 yrs.
I've had all sorts of sympathetic
nerve blocks for
the upper extremity RSD which provided temporary pain relief,
longest relief lasting around 72 hrs.
I have been on pharmacologic pain management for the last 12 yrs.
That just means I take pain meds for my chronic pain.
It is the combination of meds that
I take which works to reduce my pain.
Nothing takes away RSD pain & there is no cure.
The best you can hope for is
pain reduction.
But, when your pain is at
a level of 25 on a scale of
1-10, you are happy to have
any pain reduction you can get.
The meds I take are
MS Contin , Zanaflex, Topamax,
Elavil and Motrin.
I do PT 3 x a wk, to keep my
body moving. PT is the most important part of treating RSD.
Yet, many RSDers can't or won't
do PT because it causes them
more pain.
This is true, at the time you do
PT/exercise, it can cause more
pain, but, you have to work through it.
The worst thing you can do with RSD is stay immobile, letting
the muscles atrophy, the body stiffen up, sometimes
causing contractures of the hands or feet.
If you cannot tolerate PT/exercises,
then get into a warm pool and do aqua therapy, but, get
your body moving.
Another thing that helps RSD, is
deep relaxation or biofeedback.
When a person is in a severe
amount of pain (RSD is
the most painful chronic pain
disease out there - rating
at 26 on the McGill pain index), it
is a natural tendency for the body to tense up, which
only increases our pain.
Utilizing deep relaxation or
biofeedback can actually
lower pain levels down
a notch or two.
Try and keep a positive attitude.
I know how hard this is,
but you cannot allow RSD or any other
chronic pain disease to rule your life.
When you wake up each morning,
YOU decide what kind of day
you are going to allow yourself to have.
Don’t let your disease/condition
dictate how your day will be.
You will be surprised how
that will give you small
sense of control in your life.
Get support, from your
loved ones, from friends,
and a support group.
I’ve found that being in
an on-line RSD support
group has helped me
get through some of the
rough patches over the last
12 yrs.
Learn about your disease, become
and active member in your
RSD care team.
Go to American RSDHope to
learn more about RSD.
www.rsdhope.org
I too suffer from a multitude of problems that have left me in unbarable pain at times. I am under the care of pain management and on a regiment of Opana ER 40 mg twice a day Percocet 10mg 3 a day, Nuerontin 300 mg 3 a day, Requip 2 mg at bedtime, in addition to Cymbalta for depression, Ambiem CR to sleep. None of these work. The pain in my hip and down my right leg is excruiating. I have had to quitwork, and have recently applied for disability. by the way Methadone almost killed me, I had a horrible reaction to it.
i am curious about the nerve block injection. i have been suffering from nerve damage to the right side of my face mainly focused around the side of my nose due to shingles i had. my doctor has referred me to a pain management doctor for what i believe to be nerve block injections. i am aware that i will have numbness in that area but was told there would be no more pain, burning or itching. i am wondering if the nerve block injection will last from here on out or just temporary.
" Anonymous said...
i just had my second nerve block and my pain doc wants to schedule me for a radio frequency to burn the nerves.the blocks have given a little temporary relief i have been in pain since 2006 and just looking for relief,i am prescribed percocet tramadol and skalaxin i hate bein in a fog but there is no avoiding it on some days. i am looking for some info on the radio frequency nerve burning i saw 1 post but i would appreciate any more info"
I have had radio frequency done twice over the past two years. It was not a cure all to end all for me, but when I had it done each time I could hardly take a step without being in extreme pain. The radio frequency made my pain manageable and at times almost unnoticeable. After the second time I noticed something was a little different. My doctor thinks I may have some scar tissue building up. It has been about a year since my last procedure, (they usually last about 8 months to a year), and I'm not sure if I'm going to have it done again due to the scar tissue. But when I had it done the second time I debated about getting it done again around the 8 month mark. By the one year point my pain was back at an intolerable level and I'm glad I did it. It gave me another year of manageable pain. Good luck to you.
FIrst of all i would like to say pain is biotch if ya know what i mean.... i broke my c-1-2 that is your cervical spine 1 and two and i have my hip bone in the place of one of them put in place by two screws and two wires. that is pain i have trouble turning my head and looking up...anyways i also broke by back..T-4 that is throacic spine 4 and that is where most oof my pain isssss...that is crazy pain if you knew what pain is...my vertebre is gone so i have two steel rods going up my spine with two little rods going where the missing vertebre is. that is all held together with about 12 screws. and when i got in my accident i broke all my ribs and collapesed my lung and my heart was bleeding along with my pitutary gland was knocked out i have to take prednisone and synthroyd for that and an androderm patch. i also get headacks all the time from hitting my head so hard. any ways i am on alot of meds i am now parylised alltogether for pain i am on lydocain patch 40mg or oxycontin 3 times aday along with vicoden 2 every 4-6 hrs... i also take ddavp pituitary glad, oxybutinin for my bladder, baclofen for my spasms and thats what i take every day. im a pill popper ima keep poppin em give me 20 xanax im a start dropinthem aint no stoppin them when they in my system might not really miss them can u help me git them, oxy contin xanax bar percact and loratab valumes morphine patches extacy it all up fo grab as the song goes
I have Scoliosis since my teenage years, had to use a body brace and due to low blood pressure then, collapsed one day and fell down with that darn brace ... it jammed into my skull, causing me to have continous headaches ever since. I'm almost 50 now, in pain 24/7 from top to bottom of my spine, lumbar fusion L 1,2,3,4. Pain never went away because the surgeon straightened up my lower scoliosis ... that brought the rest of my spine out of balance.
Pain meds, you name 'em, I've tried 'em. Your body get's used to 'em after a while and you have to go through the hassle of finding something else that helps you somehow to make it through the day. Sometimes I ask myself: "What have I done to deserve this punishment?" This pain has taken over my life, my marriage ...ME. I'ld like to have one surgery, I do not care how long it would take, that would fix it once and for all!!! I have 2 major health insurances that would pay everything, but I don't know where to go or where to start. I'm also disappointed from my previous surgery where the success was ZERO.
And yes, I'm on antidepressants too, who in our shoes, is not?
The best thing that helps me are Trigger Point Injections. They do help me for exactly 3 months, but they have to be done under the x-ray camera to pinpoint the exact location.
I feel with so many people having so much pain to endure daily, something needs to change, doctors need to care more than just for the money or NOT get paid if an operation is unsuccessful. That way only, maybe we could get better results in the PO rooms.
I am just soooo tired of my pain!!!
I wish I could tell what date these messages were left on, I see time, but when ? I'm looking for someone who suffers like I do from SHINGLES pain after original blisters are gone. IT's been 2 and 1/2 years, I'm on percocet, nuerontin, cymbalta, something else I can't thnk of right on, VERY dependent-so-I guess I'm an addict.Shingles is horrible---ANYONE???? ANYONE???????
Victor,
To talk to others about managing pain, please visit Indie's message board.
Also, you can find more information about shingles here.
I have had fibromyalgia since i was 18 years old, I am now 46. I went to doc after doc and they thought it was all in my head. Well when you wake up feeling you have been hit by a mac truck. you want to choke the doc that thinks its all in your head... 3 years ago i found a pain doc. But after seeing him a year He prescribed me cymbalta, perocets 10 mg 2 tab 4 x a day. For once i was free of a little pain no drugs takes away all the pain but i could function and take care of my every day living activities. But the bad thing is my doc flew the coup so i am back to lookin for a pain clinic to take care of my pain. I went through all the drugs that was suppose to help me. Physcal therapy walking every day but when the next day that I took the pt and walkin i couldnt get out of bed for two days.... so i was back to where i was... I just wish doctors would relize you cant get addicted on a drug that helps u feel alive again and you can wash a dish or do activities that you havent been able to do in a long time. I just wish that doctors didnt think that not all of us are drug addicts we need pain medication to handle life and get out of bed. The sooner doctors come to realize this that more people can get back our life.
I read all these postings and realize, once again, how I am just one of perhaps millions who suffer from unremitting pain. It really does ruin your life, doesn't it? It affects everything that you do -- and maybe I should add, what you CAN'T do. I am not old quite yet, but my body is very old for its age. The arthritis was bad enough, especially as it has spread throughout my body -- like, where exactly should I place the heat patch, since it hurts almost EVERYWHERE! Add Fibromyalgia, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, High BP that's hard to control, and now Neuropathy, where my feet feel like they are being pinched by small knives! The cherry on the sundae has become the ugly swelling of my feet and ankles -- from my meds -- which will keep me in long pants all Summer long. The only thing that has helped at all are treatments with a Naprapath -- and that isn't covered by insurance. Naturally I'm on an anti-depressant, Cymbalta, which seems useless. This is the third anti-depressant that has been ineffective. I take Hydracodone for the pain, and although it takes the edge off and makes the pain just bearable, it also makes me dopey, so that all I want to do is sleep. Tried Oxycontin-- and it helped, if you consider sleeping all day a help! What a life! I cry all the time. Then I look around and see people whose lives are even harder than mine -- Bravo to all of you, everywhere, for your courage -- those who suffer each and every day in silence....
I'm just wondering if any of you are the parents of small children? Stress is a given but the drugs you all are talking about are just not an option. How can you care for someone else on most of those? I've heard horror stories about some people whos theraputic massages have actually messed other things up. How do you know what will work for you?
Hello, I am 26 years old. I have degeneritive disc disease, arthritis, stanosis of the spinal cord and life is a little difficult, but it could be worse. I take oxycontin, oxycodone(for breakthrough pain) and lexapro for depression and the cronic pain. I have a two year old daughter and she makes my life wonderful so I am very lucky. For the last 4 years the pain has been awful. When I got pregnant I was the worst. The doctor told me that the stress on my body was worse for the baby than the drugs that he wanted me to take. He started me on vicodin and I had to take it through my whole pregnacy. I was not comfertable doing it but I had to.After I had her the doctor continued me on the meds he said it was even safe for me to breastfeed. I just stopped nursing 3 months ago. Now I am able to take the meds that are acually helping me.If you use the meds properly and are careful they can be a wonderful thing. The only problems that I have had with them are my insurance wouldent cover the oxycontin until I had tried others first so my doctor put me on 120mg of morphine a day.I felt awful taking that. I had chest pain and tightness of the chest and it made me so damn dopey that I couldent remember 10 minutes before. Well that is not safe with my daughter also I dident feel right.Then my doctor tried methadone which worked great but the fact that it gave me heart palpitations again it made me uncomfertable even though the wernt life threatining. Then He told me that I should try the Fentynol patch. I wouldent do it after I read the side effects very dangerous not only for you but for other people who are in physical contact with you. Now I am able to get this medicine and I wasent even going to bother to try it because of what happened with the other stuff. Well, my husband talked me into it and it turned out to be the best thing to happen in a long time. I am not dopey, I function better and I acually sleep. I am very greatful for this medication and I think that people knock it to much. It's sad that because of drug addicts and people not keeping their meds locked up it makes it hard and gives people the wrong idea of what the medication does and how it works.I alway thought that it was a horrible dangerious drug and it has turned out to be a blessing.I wish you all the best of luck.
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