Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

My name is Sara,
I have been experiencing chronic pain x 30 yrs.

Hello, my name is Eliana and I've been dealing with pain for many years. For about 15 years I had some help from Oxycontin but for the last 6-7 years or more, no doctor wants to prescribe that. Because of the abuse of this product, those of us who used it ethically can no longer benefit from it. I've felt that was unfair to all of us who found relief from Oxycontin and used it as carefully and honestly as we could. I consistently took the least amout I could, followed my pain specialist's directions, and took care my prescription did not fall into the wrong hands.
What could we do to separate ethical, responsible use from greedy misuse by others? This is the only prescription that ever helped me over the years. I wish I did not have to suffer discomfort and limited activity because of the misuse of others!

Hy name is Duke Borchardt. I live in Rome, GA. Although I live with chronic pain, I am surrounded by a host of wonderful doctors, as well as their stafs. I wore the U.s. Army for 37 years, I am now thankfully retired .

Hello, my name Teresa From Wray, Colorado. I’ve been struggling with chronic pain for over 20 years from a nursing injury.

Hello @doglover4986, @dukeborchardt and @tlallen, Welcome to Connect. You are not alone with your struggle with chronic pain. The Chronic Pain Support Group has over 10,000 members here on Connect. You may find it helpful to scan through the list of discussions in the support group to learn what others have shared. Here is a link to the list of discussions - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/pain/.

My name is Don, IchBinDCK, from Wake Forest, NC. I am an 81 yo retired Chemical Engineer and Microbiologist. I have Spinal Stenosis and mild disc bulge throughout my spine via numerous MRIs. I have struggled with serious back pain for 3 years with little help. I have tried every nonopioid pain killer known to man but they all have serious side effects for me. Currently using Gabapentin 300 mg at night. Don't know what to do.

Hi Don @ichbindck, I think we all have moments of not knowing what to do and Connect, as I'm sure you already know, is a great place to learn from the experience of others. I'm not sure if you have heard about Myofascial Release Therapy but there is a discussion on the topic that you might find interesting if not helpful as a treatment.

-- Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) for treating compression and pain:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/myofascial-release-therapy-mfr-for-treating-compression-and-pain/

Thank you

@ichbindck so why haven’t you tried any opiates for pain? I’m 72 and was on Tylenol w/Codine #3 & #4 for many years. In 2005 switched to morphine time release caps and now using buprenorphine patch for pain. It works the best of all my prior meds and provides 24/7 pain relief.

I am new, my name is Tom Rice from Uniontown, Ohio. I have chronic pain since February, 2023. On September 10, I will have a Nerve Ablation procedure done by a Pain Management doctor. This will be at sensory nerves on both sides of Lumbar at L3-L5. The low back pain radiates down both legs and feet. I can't have surgeries because my scoliosis rotates the spine in a S curve to the right like a snake which blocks my my vertebrates where they need to operate. This procedure is my last resort I would have prefer to have this procedure done at three months. The surgeons had me go through extra pain, then this procedure. Pain Management should be over the spine surgeons. I think the hospitals and surgeons want to make more money with expensive surgeries. Delays, delays and more delays to see at least 20 surgeons for different specialties. This could be done by one review. During this time I could not walk at all and went to Emergency 5 times at 4 different hospitals. I also went to rehab at 3 different skilled nursing fascitlities. This was just under 100 days, which is Medicare limit. Good thing I have supplemental insurance. According to
Spine Surgery books this is classified as a emergency. I think all management should have Chronic Pain certiification This is a mental issue too,which could lead to suicide and depression.