Hey guys, I am in need of some advice regarding pain medication. I am from Australia, but decided to post in this part of the forum in order to get more responses/views.
I have had a bad lower back for about three years now. My work is very labor intensive and I end up sore and uncomfortable during the day if I do not take medication. I have been using OTC Codeine/APAP and Codeine/Ibuprofen medications myself for a very long time, and am under-pressure from my pharmacy to slow down as they record my name when I buy them.
I recently went to my doctor to get better medication and he sent me to a CT scan. My results came back and I do indeed have a “minor Disc bulge at the L5 para-central level”. I know it says minor, but the pain is very annoying and also gives me these moments of weakness where I have no strength to lift things without grimacing. Having used these OTC medications for a long time, I am scared for my kidneys and liver, also I am tolerant to the Codeine now and need a large number of tablets per day to feel some relief. I only use the medication on my work days, and don’t use any for about the other three days of the week.
Anyway, I go back to my doctor and he prescribes me Tramadol. I HATE IT. I get nervous, I get these weird shakes and I feel like I have had way too much caffeine. I feel jittery and at night I can’t sleep. I feel very wired, and I am generally a nervous/anxious person and this has made it way worse. Sometimes I am so wired, it overwhelms me and I have to sit down.
I return back to my doctor, and he tells me “badluck, there is no more medications available”. He tells me I either use the Tramadol, or go back to using my OTC pills. I know these OTC methods are killing my insides and I also need lots of pills/more packets than the pharmacy allows me to get. I tell him I am willing to get a police check up or whatever else is necessary. All I want is medication that I can use about 2 -4 times a week, and not take 8 pills for it to work. I asked him if there are other options besides Tramadol and Codeine, and he said no, there is not and badluck.
What do you guys think? Is there more medication he can prescribe without much trouble? Is there anything else besides Codeine and Tramadol that he can prescribe without him getting into trouble for some reason? Should I find another doctor? And is this worth chasing up to get better level medication? I have all my CT scans and my results to prove that I do have lower back problems and without medication, my job becomes very annoying and uncomfortable to the point I dread thinking about it. The morning after work, it is just so hard to stand up straight I am so sore and then I have to go again. I need some form of medication or I can not work, that is certain.
Thanks.
I have had a bad lower back for about three years now. My work is very labor intensive and I end up sore and uncomfortable during the day if I do not take medication. I have been using OTC Codeine/APAP and Codeine/Ibuprofen medications myself for a very long time, and am under-pressure from my pharmacy to slow down as they record my name when I buy them.
I recently went to my doctor to get better medication and he sent me to a CT scan. My results came back and I do indeed have a “minor Disc bulge at the L5 para-central level”. I know it says minor, but the pain is very annoying and also gives me these moments of weakness where I have no strength to lift things without grimacing. Having used these OTC medications for a long time, I am scared for my kidneys and liver, also I am tolerant to the Codeine now and need a large number of tablets per day to feel some relief. I only use the medication on my work days, and don’t use any for about the other three days of the week.
Anyway, I go back to my doctor and he prescribes me Tramadol. I HATE IT. I get nervous, I get these weird shakes and I feel like I have had way too much caffeine. I feel jittery and at night I can’t sleep. I feel very wired, and I am generally a nervous/anxious person and this has made it way worse. Sometimes I am so wired, it overwhelms me and I have to sit down.
I return back to my doctor, and he tells me “badluck, there is no more medications available”. He tells me I either use the Tramadol, or go back to using my OTC pills. I know these OTC methods are killing my insides and I also need lots of pills/more packets than the pharmacy allows me to get. I tell him I am willing to get a police check up or whatever else is necessary. All I want is medication that I can use about 2 -4 times a week, and not take 8 pills for it to work. I asked him if there are other options besides Tramadol and Codeine, and he said no, there is not and badluck.
What do you guys think? Is there more medication he can prescribe without much trouble? Is there anything else besides Codeine and Tramadol that he can prescribe without him getting into trouble for some reason? Should I find another doctor? And is this worth chasing up to get better level medication? I have all my CT scans and my results to prove that I do have lower back problems and without medication, my job becomes very annoying and uncomfortable to the point I dread thinking about it. The morning after work, it is just so hard to stand up straight I am so sore and then I have to go again. I need some form of medication or I can not work, that is certain.
Thanks.
