• The Dark Side 💕 Welcome Guest 💕
    Posting Rules Bluelight Rules
    Notable Threads Urgent Hotlines
    Bereavement Mindfulness
    Suicide Support Anger Management
  • TDS Moderators: AlphaMethylPhenyl | paranoid android

Car accident left me in constant neck/spine pain.

O

OctoberRust12

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 4, 2011
Messages
111
Location
New York
Hello all,

Recently I was in a motor vehicle accident which was not my fault. I was at a complete stop waiting to take a left turn onto a street when a car came up from behind me hitting me at 50mph. This collision send me flying acrosse the road into a hill where after I collided with the hill I blacked out and woke up to my girlfriend banging on my window (I was going to pick her up.) I had alot of pain in my back along with already suffering from a broken rib. I was taken out of the car on a stretcher which was hell because I had a low sports car (Subaru WRX) with sport seats so they had to lift me out which brought instant pain in my neck/back. My airbags did not diploy leaving me to smash my head/neck on my stearing wheel and also jerk me around since my neck it really hurting.

I was rushed to the hospital where I was evaluated and IV'd hydromorphone which did nothing for pain for the first dose. They then put another dose in me 30 minutes later which numb the pain for a little bit. I went through the CAT scan where they found nothing wrong with my neck so they took the brace off.

My problem is that I already had a little opiate tolerance by being able to do a 40mg OPANA and feel good. But I did not do it everyday. Maybe 1 time a week but not latly. They put me on 5/500 hydrocodone every 4 hours and it is not helping for pain one bit. They also have me on a muscle relaxer which I dont really feel to well. Has anyone ever experience the same problems? Or even that same thing with being put on hydrocodone and it's not helping?
 
I was in an accident. Have crps, various mental health problems resulting from it and I snap my back ligament frequently due to using crutches to walk.

I am in pain every day for the rest of my life. I still have not found a suitable mixture of medication and have been on a lot. I am currently in the worst pain relapse ever yet. This happened 28 months ago.

What is your prognosis? I can help a little more then.
 
Right now, I have lower neck pain. If I lay a certain way I get this pinch in my neck that shoots down my spine and makes me go numb for a little bit. I am up all night in pain just trying to get comfertable so I can sleep. My chest at the moment does not hurt as bad as my neck/head. Just this medication is not helping at all.
 
I'd say maybe look into either Lyrica or Neurontin on top of the Vicodin, or a higher dose of opiates for analgesia. What muscle relaxant are you on? Anything but Soma or Milltown, and I wouldn't be surprised it isn't helping. You can also try naproxen sodium (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) on top of what you are taking.
 
Alex is right, try them, your nerves are being pinched. Did they give you a recovery time?
 
They said 2 months I will be okay. But this pinched nerve is killing me. Shoots a pain right down my back if i lean/lay a certain way.
 
I can't believe the airbags didn't deploy. :( I am so sorry to hear about this tragedy.

Many other people have lived through similar things - so you are never alone.

When I was given hydrocodone for extreme pain, it was a total joke. Just explain what you feel (or don't feel) from the medications to your doctors, this is all you can really do in your situation, without merely just going to a different doctor (who may or may not be better than the first one).

Best of luck, and I hope your pain starts decreasing one day.
 
I was given cocodamol for 18 months...which is like taking baby aspirin. I do hope it eases up soon, I have had 2 hours sleep since Friday night.

Try something like gabapentin or amitriptyline first, along with naproxen or diclofenac and omeprazole to protect your stomach. If that doesn't help, try something a little stronger. Be as descriptive with your pain as you can, and also keep a pain diary to show your dr. This way they can get a good idea of how you are coping.

I wish you a speedy recovery and send gentle hugs to you.

Let us know how you get on will you?
 
Thanks guys for the support! Help'd being my spirits up a little. I just got out of the doctors and yet again I got screwed over. He told me to stop taking my hydrocodone and put me on 750mg Ralfen. Wtf? I'm in so much pain and he gives me asprin pretty much! I gotta go back to him in a week, but this is bullshit. I only have like 12 hydro's left not that they even do anything, and a few muscle relaxers. I'm in such pain and cant sleep at night. My doctor dosn't want me to get hooked on painkillers I'm thinking.
 
^ none of them do, lawsuits. Do you have a smartphone? There's some ace apps for keeping pain diaries on. That way, show it the dr, use the most descriptive language you can think of.

I hope you get some relief soon, I'm still screwed, the govt has now booted a load of meds off the nhs so I can get nothing what so ever!!!! I am fuming.

I hate this country.
 
I didn't get any pain relief with my spine/nerve injuries from Iraq, until I got pregabalin & baclofen.

Before those, nearly every variety of opiate & muscle-relaxant within the VA's cornucopia of available pharmaceuticals had been tried on me..... and to little positive effect.
 
Thanks for the responses guys! Thats why I love coming to this site. Everyone here is mature and always looking out for one another and thats how everyone and every site should be!

With that said, I go back to the doctor's in 10 days (Dec 19) I am currently taking 2-3 Hydrocodone a day along with 3 10mg muscle relaxers. I am taking my medicine as said in order not to run out, and to prove to my doctor that I was following his regular schedual. My thing is that if I am still hurting by my next appointment and I tell my doctor I'm still in pain, I dont think he will take me seriously because I'm only 21 and still young. If I'm still in pain and my doctor does not help me get releaf should I maybe go to another doctor? Also, is anyone here atleast from ages 21-24 on pain meds for chronic pain? If so what did they start you out on and what is your ending resluts for pain relief? I don't want my doctor to think I'm just trying to get opiates off him just for shits and giggles, If I'm still in my chronic pain area I just wish for an understanding doctor and someone to reach out and help me. I am going to do what Doom2pain said and right a mini-journal to show my doctor my status.
 
OctoberRust12 said:
Thanks for the responses guys! Thats why I love coming to this site. Everyone here is mature and always looking out for one another and thats how everyone and every site should be!
Click to expand...

How did you find Bluelight and why did you post to this forum?

Your doctor isn't trying to deny you medications. He doesn't want to turn you into a junkie. Also, why were you using Opana before your accident?
Was it prescribed to you or were you using it illicitly?
 
My battle has been going on 28 months now, I am 25. Was on 8x 30mg codeine with max dose APAP for 18 months while trying various other treatments that I mentioned, all the anti epileptics, trycilics, etc etc etc. The opiate dose at the very beginning was like taking nothing at all, I've been treated with opiates for pneumonia years ago anyway, so I knew my tolerance when in pain, it does nothing.

I am still not getting adequate relief and I've been on fentanyl and all kinds of business. It is a long process. I always take as prescribed, even now when I going a week on 2 hours sleep, I am THAT used to being in pain. This is definitely the worst one though and we aren't even snowed in yet, but very, very cold and icy, damp etc.

You're dr is looking out for you, that's all. And the fact that a lot of people do blag drs when they don't need the meds. Try all the other options, I have been unlucky with side effects, body couldn't tolerate a lot of meds.
 
Missykins said:
How did you find Bluelight and why did you post to this forum?

Your doctor isn't trying to deny you medications. He doesn't want to turn you into a junkie. Also, why were you using Opana before your accident?
Was it prescribed to you or were you using it illicitly?
Click to expand...

I was always lurking on this website when I first started using X but I have not touched ectesey in 2 years due to being bunk'd 1 too many times. And I'm not trying to fight with my doctor. I was just wondering why he is only allowing me 2 hydro's 5's a day when I'm in such pain where 1 hydro won't even touch me let alone take away alot of the pain. I understand I'm not going to be handed everything I want that's why I'm not fighting with my doctor about my meds. I take what he gives me and don't bitch about it. I think he's looking at me as a young male trying to find a fix when in reality I am not! Also, I used Opana for a while to help with my lower back pain due to having muscle spasms. But I detoxed myself from Opana about 2 months ago, and been clean since and dealing with my lower back pain. But since I got into this accident, my back pain has been in such chronic pain I can't handle it with these low dose'd opiates.

Doomed - I'm very sorry you also are experiencing chronic pain along with me and others. I am going to wait this out and see where this takes me after my next appointment if I'm not feeling any better. Whats scearing me is this pain I'm getting. I get this pain in my L5 - L6 area that shoot down my right side of my spine and then it feels like my right side of my back goes numb for a little. I'm pretty sure I have a damaged nerve and also having muscle spasms.
 
That is a trapped nerve definitely. As I use crutches, and my posture is deteriorating I reinsure me back with the slightest wrong move, but as I can't walk properly and now can only use one crutch, I am all off balance, severe pressure on my back. Seriously try the anti seizure meds, gabapentin is relatively cheap and you can go up to 3600mg in total. They started me on 300mg for 3 nights, then upped and upped that way but I suffered immensely from severe side effects, my sympathetic nervous system is that messed up, things that wouldn't normally have made me react like that do now. My whole body is out of whack.

Do they have you doing any kind of physiotherapy? Very very gentle stretching repititions? I do my physio ever day at home when I am not like this, I do my own mirror therapy, desensitisation (which makes it worse) and gentle weight baring exercises, movement exercises with my shoulder, arm, hand. I swear I can never get anything done when I am not flat out coz I do that much physio and meditation exercises.

Have you tried meditating? It's very tricky but if I didn't do it, I would be stuck in bed the rest of my life and speeding up the deterioration of my muscles and bones.

Don't do anything that hurts too much and if you're not seeing someone for physio I suggest you ask your dr.
 
Last edited:
How bad can a trapped nerve get? Right now it sometimes is unbearable to stand.I've been reading around and alot of people where in a accident just like me, who's CAT scans and X-Rays showed up fine but have massive nerve damage. Alot also say they still suffer from it and must take opiates to get on with their day. Hypotheticaly say that my pain never goes away. What should I expect in the long run as of body wise. If I go back to my doctor and tell him I feel no relief from his past meds or let him guide me through this ordeal his way. I am completely honest with my doctor, but I don't want him thinking i'm looking to score still. Can they test for nerve damage and find out whats wrong, or are they just going to most likly mask it with all sorts of pain meds. I'm also having back muscle spasms as well which are very uncomfertable.

My father was in an accident 7 years ago as too falling off of the second story building. The rail gave out when he was leaning on it, and he fell right on his back on a concrete floor. He has the same symptoms I do but yet he denies to take pain killer what-so-ever and he keeps telling me to suck it up. I'm trying my best but I'm still young. I still got a work force to look forward too. I don't want to feel like he does. But if I am in chronic pain in the future I would want something to mask my pain and let me get on with my day except for dealing with the pain. It's just that I'm only 21 years old, and have things to do. I need to be out and socialize and work for a living and thats why I'm trying to make my doctor understand my position. If I have to be on pain medicine for a long time, then so be it, I just can't stay cooped up all day wanting to do something but realizing I have a bad back now and can't do what I used to do.
 
Yeah, Neurontin (gabapentin) or Lyrica (pregabalin) sound like they would be good ideas, and you definitely need more than 2 hydro 5's a day, that is absurd. Does he expect a hydro to last 12 hrs? Ridiculous in my opinion. If he doesn't want to put you on schedule 2 drug, he should at least up your hydro dose so you have at the very least 4 doses a day even if they are a measly 5 mg each, it would be better than your current rx. But yeah, the Neurontin or Lyrica would definitely help in combo with the opiate.
 
It seems that my doctor does not want me on anything. I was on Xanax for my depression/anxiety and I wasn't on for 2 months and he took me off it saying he did not want me to get addicted when they were acually helping me. If my next appoinment turns out to be a bust, should I try a different doctor?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top