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Chronic Pain MEGA Thread

While I'm not a diagnosed CP sufferer, I do understand chronically having pain. I'm 23 and am currently at the halfway mark healing from an L4/L5 discectomy in February. I injured myself at work in Dec. 2011 and continued to work on it and re-injure myself twice more until Nov.2012. Aside from the obvious pain of 3 protruding discs going inwards towards my spinal cord, I was also dealing with the pinched sciatic nerve. I decided to seek help after several months of my leg becoming more numb than the month before.

My emotions are mixed about my results post surgery. I can definitely say its an improvement, maybe 40-50% in pain and about 30-40% in numbness. But, the pain is still there. The surgeon said it can be about a year until I'm at my "healed" point, but after viewing my post-surgery MRI results, he stated that my L5/S1 disc would inevitably be removed along with a fusion "in my life-time". This devastates me. I'd hate to sound like a whiner, but I just do not want to deal with how I felt after surgery again. It was some of the worst pain I've been in my life all without using Rx drugs. I have an extremely sensitive stomach and after not being able to hold food down almost a week after surgery and what seemed to be a small overdose (ended up getting sick and passing out on the bathroom floor after upping my dosage 2x for relief) I decided to forgo meds and rode the rest of that bitch out the following 2 months.

This all took me from my dream school, it's completely changed my personality, and my family can't stand to be around me anymore because of the way I've become. I just wish I was normal. My old work (they fired me while I was recovering from surgery and yes I have a lawyer) takes no responsibility for this and workers comp denies me because of this. I'm so completely miserable and fed up with all of it. I hate my body for betraying me like this. :(
 
I am so sorry you are going through this. I had two back surgeries in 2011, and still have some back pain. I have been told that if I injure it again, I will need to have it fused. Living with the fear of that happening is horrible.
If you need to have surgery again, I have some advice. I was throwing up also. First I was put on zofran. That did not help. Then I was switched to Promethazine. That stopped the vomiting. Also, before my second surgery I asked for one of those anti nausea patches that you put behind your ear. You should be able to find some sort of anti nausea med that works for you. I can't even imagine recovering from back surgery without pain management.
Best of luck. :)
 
Coming out of surgery is the worst. The pain and stomache issues were soo bad wanted to die. You guys are getting real meds. Here in nyc they give you a perc 5 for 3 gun shot wounds, and shattered femur/hip. Ya he let off 3 right on my thigh. This city sucks, healthcare is horrible. I bring my own meds for next 2 surgeries. Was on 500mg oxy per day and still in pain so I quit that expensive hobby. Subs saved me from blowing my brains out but did nothing for pain. The pain management team came to see me, made some promises and nothing. Then insurance was canceled and I forced off subs so completely opiate free for first time in many years. Its not soo bad but some days I cant function. The system fucked me over so they can have my massive bill, 130k and shuve it up their ass. I never paying a dime and might sue them.
 
Wow, am I feeling blessed! I was treated exceptionally well while in the hospital. The nurses even planned it so that I could have one last infusion of dilaudid right before checking out of the hospital, knowing that the move home would be really painful, and that my meds for at home would not be nearly as strong.
 
Thats what I talking about, patients get such diff treatment depending on hospital or state your in. I was scripted dilaudid plus ox 10mg and some nurses would not give it to me. I telling them look the surgeon himself script that and its on my chart. I think they took my dose and pocket it, then tell me thats too dangerous lol. This after I been on the treatment for 3 weeks. Some nurses were great, others look like they wanted to kill you. Going home dose of dilaudid would have been good but they not soo helpful here. When I left it was like jail break, get me out of here. Couldn't believe how long I was in, and have hospital anxiety way before going in. Now they have to shoot me again to get me back to hospital. Won't go there for anything. Need to find a better healthcare system/state/city whatever. Nyc play by its own rules.
 
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Ocean,
So glad this thread exsist, I'm new at this and posted about being an ex addict I got clean in 1993, and again in 1997 until 2004, had problems in between because I needed something for Chonic Pain, thats why I only mainly use patches, and now for over 10years I have suffered with chonic pain issues. Pain where you literlly rather not be alive kind of pain. Im on the Fent Patch which has decreased my pain considerably. Thank God!
Also I take oxys for breakthru, I hated that I did this but started snorting them a few weeks ago, reached out on the wrong thread and man judgment from lots of people, except few who really new the battle ex addicts have. So now I just take it orally if needed, and have hubby hold them who has been clean since 1996, not so much as an asprin if he absolutly needs it. So greatful I am indeed that there are many people that have gone thru and are going through the same thing.

So Thank You sooooooooo Much!
 
I came across a great resource for non opioid therapies for pain it covers all these topics and provides a mass of information and quality links that explore these therapies.

>here<


General Pain Relief - Nondrug, Complementary, Alternative
Acupuncture
Adjuvant Drugs
Biofeedback
Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX) Injections
Cold or Heat Therapy
Electroanalgesia (incl. CES, PENS, SCS, TENS, & Others)
Exercise Therapy
Headache - Drug & Non-Drug Therapies
Herbal Medicines & Dietary Supplements
Interventional Pain Management
NSAIDs & OTC Analgesics
Nuclear Medicine
Physical Therapies (plus Massage & Shockwave Therapy)
Psychological Interventions (plus Hypnosis & Music)
Topical Analgesia
See more... Also see the following sections for additional documents of interest:

Non-Opioid/Alternative Therapies Clinical Guidelines:
Non-Opioid/Alternative Therapies Systematic Reviews:
Non-Opioid Therapies Position/Policy Statements:
 
Stoned,
I so can relate about our bodies betrayal, I use to work hard as a dude, and did all kinds of things, So I know, I have the same stuff just about but I just dont want to have surgery, Im alot older than you so you will recover nicly honey, its just hard when your in it. I cant do not even two things in one day, like hit the grocery store, then go do some lite water streches, which helps me alot. I have alot well 4 bulging disc up and down my spine and more wont even mention. I just have to except my limitations, And it took along time. But like I said your way younger the body heals and you will feel so much better. You have the benifit of youth your side. Start taking and researching suppliments for bone strength and natural herbs for speeding up your healing process. Blessings and Prayers your way.
 
Zyggy,
Methadone was the best for my pain to, I was almost pain free all day, but for me it is the worst drug in the world to come off of. Omg im just scared of methadone. I am glad it works for you, I am on the Fentenayl patch and it is working well, I have Hep C so I try to stay away form pills my Doc say's even know Fent is strong it is fairly safe for the liver. Glad to hear positive good news!
 
tricomb said:
Other pain clinics I've been a part of are SO much more conservative, and you can feel the DEA looming over your shoulder. The discussion of opiates at pain clinics being shunned makes NO sense to me.

At my clinic, they seem to accept and embrace opiates. They don't throw them at you, not by a long shot, but this is by far the most compassionate team of doctors, pharmacists, and psychologist I have ever seen.

I just got off the phone with my pain psychologist, he called and asked me how I was doing. I just broke down and cried. Never before had a doctor who knew about my pain took the time out of their day to check on me.

I had lost all hope in healthcare before this pain clinic, and for the first time in my life seriously contemplated suicide.
Click to expand...

Here here I feel ya been thru all that to. Im now in the best clinic I have ever been in very understanding and kind too!
 
I guess I'm looking for a little feedback or comments about your own experiences, esp. if you are in a similar situation. I am sober of alcohol and benzos a couple months shy of 2 years. In the past 1 1/2 years I have been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, arthritis and spinal stenosis. All are slowly worsening and becoming more and more uncomfortable/painful. The world I moved around in has become incredibly small..........going to the grocery store is the major outing of the week. Other than that, I may leave the house to take out the trash or take the dogs to the yard. It is much too painful to stand or walk for longer than 5-10 minutes.

I have tried multiple NSAIDs, Lyrica and Tramadol and have had steroid injections into spinal nerves and radio frequency ablation. There was zero relief from any of these. Currently, I take gabapentin a total of 2700 mgm spread out through the day, amitryptiline and Effexor.........which provides enough relief to do the little that I do.

Was referred to a spinal rehab clinic, which I went to today. Unlike many of my previous M.D. appointments, I felt pretty good about the doc. In all likelihood, this will lead to a surgical consultation to see if I am a candidate for surgery to "give those nerves in your spine more room".

I realize I need to go through with the various appts to find out all of the info, but I am feeling more and more like this is sort of the end of the line.............e.g. if I am not a candidate for surgery or should decide the surgery sounds much too radical for the chances of any measureable success, what then? I seem to have exhausted most or all other options.
 
I just wanted to say all of you guys are my heroes. Seriously when I get the 'poor mes' and 'life would be so much better on a pill' I look to you guys and its humbling. You are all very brave courageous people to go through what you go through<3
 
Also the healthcare in America needs to go completely public. I know a lot of people get scared at the prospect of that but I live in a country where the healthcare is public - 5 dollars to get a 3 month script, no insurance companies on your back and most healthcare services have high standards. Its is a basic human right for you to have good healthcare...as Mr Roosevelt has said.
 
hi gerry. hey.. . congratulations on this amazing approach of two years you are coming in on!! really nice work. i think it is great that you are at the point of working with a specific spinal rehab center. this is going to give you the best information and course of actions in forming a plan that will hopefully be very effective in creating some progression. seems like you have one really important aspect down, that being patience.

i have degeneration of multiple disc at different stages and scoliosis in the lumbar, along extensive damage of the ulnar and median nerve through out my right arm and hand. so i definitely have experience with nerve compression and muscular skeleton pain which of course goes through different levels but always lingers at "moderate". i too am an addict, hi. earlier this year i decided to come off of my opiate and benzo medications along with lyrica and flexeril. getting a grasp again on my addiction, doing a "reset" of sorts for better medication management and realigned thoughts. along with this i was totally ready for a new direction with things as i was finding myself in a hamster wheel just spinning and spinning covered with pills. i started with a new gp leading to the current ortho doc where i made a great connection with both, pm doc at the back. from there lead to a occupational therapist, physical therapist and really solid clinical therapist, varied support that i been missing. i wanted to set up a plan that really looked at and concentrated on physically doing what i could to build up and strengthen areas through pt and ot, looking at surgery last. i had to spend 3 weeks in the hospital earlier this year but did not go through surgery but intensive rehab/pt with water therapy and was able to reach stable enough ground to start working on this new plan. during this time and dealing with withdrawal and paws it was very painful process but was slow and patient in rebuilding up medications. i for sure started to notice around 6 months in that my pain registration was naturally improving significantly. i did have to end up going through a surgery in spring for nerve decompression, worked out very well. currently i am continuing on this plan and getting things checked regularly and have been holding ground... progressing in a good direction.

in regards to your medications you are finding the gabapentin to be working for you better then lyrica? have you ever tried soma (carisoprodol)? it can work nicely along side either gabapentin or lyrica. have you talked to your doc about the possibility of maybe using methadone if you reach a true breaking point with your pain? that is my back up.. i am not antsy after finally, really breaking from all opiate/opioids.

what are the next steps and or moves in dealing with the spinal rehab clinic?? that is wonderful you made a good connection with the MD their, that really makes a big, big difference. trusting and building a relationship with you doctors have a clear solid line of communication and understanding, huge. ... . right? gerry i think you are having some great realizations and making some progressive proactive steps in addressing your health, wanting to really improve things.. it is inspiring my friend!! <3
 
After my last post in my thread and searching opiates and pregabalin, I believe I belong here! I think the OP has already offered me great advice thank you!

As a reslult of my CP I've been an opiate addict for many years now, from codeine to heroin and everything inbetween. I'm also badly addicted to benzos.

I'm trying bupe patches again to see if they help any and luckily or maybe not luckily?! I can apparently still use opiates ontop as the bupe strength is so low.

Has anyone had much luck with Accupuncture.?

The new yoga rollers with nobbly bits on I deffo reccomend! They massage my back, legs etc and after my back/posture is pretty much normal for awhile anyway! They're also great for rehab! Some cost £100's but others that are exactlty the same are below £20! I can stand on mine and weigh 14 stone so they're deffo dood quality.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIGGER-P...tness_Accessories_ET&var=&hash=item1e7e8eda21

Don't know if allowed to post that? Just wanted to show they type of roller I ment.

'helping to prolong the effects of massage and myofascial release and enabling clients to manage and eradicate excessively tight muscles.'
 
Im in Russia.... Im prescribed oxycodone 15 mg 3 times daily for sciatica, been out for three days. I saw it coming and tapered for a week. <snip> On top of withdrawals, I can barely move. Miserable in Moscow.
 
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The more I have researched pain medications the more convinced I am that I will never take any. I have extremely painful arthritis in my joints, including a left arm and shoulder that now have a very limited range of motion. I will continue to use physical therapy, swimming and acupuncture to try to mitigate what I can and just accept the rest.I value the other aspects of my life a lot. Living with some amount of pain looks like it is going to be a reality for me. OK. I guess physical pain is something I can tolerate more than psychological pain from the broad consequences of having to depend on higher and higher dosages of medications.
 
Sadly i can't function very long or nearly as well without a opiate such as morphine. Not only does my trigeminal neuralgia pain come back with interest but my IBS get's much worse when i stop taking opiates as well. I have not had to increase my dose of morphine in almost 2 years now and even though i have been on morphine or some other strong opiate like oxycodone, hydromorphone or fentanyl for about 7 years now i am still only on 150mg's of morphine sustained release a day. So my tolerance to the analgesic effects of opiates is not too bad right now i guess.
 
Not entirely sure if this is the right thread to start with, so if anyone recommends to post elsewhere let me know. I've been referencing bluelight for ages now but this seems like the best time to actually get involved for others opinions. Going on 2 years or so of an unknown condition which they're just calling Fibromyalgia for now. Been through everything from Orthopedic Specialists, a 3-4 month PT set, MRI and finally a monthly visit to pain management. Only 21 and I've had experience with numerous drugs legal or otherwise so addiction is something I can easily recognize. Getting to the point though, PM had me complete a standard drug test prior to any narcotic prescriptions (hooray Virginia) and I had no problem passing to get prescribed relatively weak 5/325 norco for two months, then neurontin and meloxicam (neither of which worked). Unfortunately its gotten to the point where gradually increasing doses of hydrocodone slightly takes away pain for 4-6 hours at the most, and I know PM will only lower or stop prescribing it. So what I'm wondering is if I should just quit taking it altogether. Addiction is a mild concern since quitting most drugs has been fairly easy, the bigger issue is being treated as a druggie because "I'm too young to really have chronic pain". Even though the pain is almost daily and varies from moderate to intense, maybe its just better to deal with it? Any opinions or insight would really be appreciated.
 
^Amongst arthritic/bone conditions I too have had the fibro tag for several years as my health care team are at a loss as to explain the pain & neurological symptoms I suffer extensively from daily. I've had plenty of imaging from nuclear scans to MRIs,- and with each scan showing differing levels if damage/uptake/changes I can't take the label of Fibro too seriously. My gp relies tremendously on my pain mgt doc, mainly to provide reassurance that I do need the doseage of opiates that I say I require. Without these meds I'd definitely be housebound and have no quality of life. Which is actually kinda the way things are going at the moment!! I've spoken extensively in other threads about my pain docs love of ketamine infusions to dampen down the NMDA receptors involved in central sensitisation, & that I've also undergone many unnecessary procedures such as medial branch blocks, nerve ablation, SI joint injections & trigger pt injections. It's come to the point where he actually agrees that he's at a loss as what to do next, if there is anything left to do in his repertoire. He's agreed that a second opinion would be wise, which has left me incredibly distraught. Firstly because some time ago he assured me that where we are located is "cutting edge" in pain mgt,- secondly because of the need to travel much further afield to see a new specialist and start over after over two years with my current one. It's been many years since I faced any real psychological demons in regard to my chronic pain, but suddenly I'm almost sucidal at the thought that nothing more can be done. I'd appreciate any thoughts/ideas/friendships as I'm really trying not to go into meltdown right now.
 
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