Chronic pain in from osteoarthritis & stenosis

Posted by borwin98 @borwin98, Dec 25, 2025

I'm 96.5 years old and in constant extreme pain. I have chronic pain in my lower back with osteoarthritis, stenosis, and degenerative disc disease. The only thing my Doctor says is to take Tylenol, which has no effect. I've asked for something stronger, but he doesn't believe in pain pills. I have been trying to find another Doctor, but so far no luck. It would be nice to be pain-free for my few final days. Any suggestions?

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

@borwin98 what “maid?”
Thank you for your empathy, but we all have something and I’m very lucky that I can control my pain and still be extremely productive and do what I want and have purpose!

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@loriesco MAID stands for Medical Assistance in Dying. Yes, I understand we all have something, but it would be nice to be able to get through the day relatively pain-free. The law in Canada was recently changed this year to allow for advance decision-making for MAID in cases of severe stroke. My Mother was bedridden for over four years with no control over her bodily functions. She would never have wanted this.

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Profile picture for loriesco @loriesco

@gypsyblue I’m so glad you’re finding relief! Never give up and keep it going. The gout and the insulin resistance came as quite a shock because I controlled them so well the doctors did not continue to focus on them. For example, sugar is considered inflammatory. I did not have an inflammatory reaction (even though I cut sugar out of my diet for the most part, if not all of my diet at times.) . It was the same with the gout. I never saw Atlantic farmed salmon as an inflammatory problem. The doctors of course did not point it out. I would only read about it. Eventually, as I started to get a handle on things after 30 years all of a sudden, I could see an inflammatory reaction from eating sugar and eating farmed salmon. It’s because the rest of me was getting so lean, honed, and minimal that finally I could feel the effects of what was causing the inflammation! It only took 30 years, but now I am 30 years younger on the gout medication and the insulin resistant medication. There is pain that will never go away with my table bone and my piriformis disorder so basically a place that’s a non-surgical and muscles that stay in spasm. But I can deal with that as long as I have my life back from control of debilitating inflammation. Because it didn’t fit into the nice neat box of a rheumatology disorder. They just would shrug their shoulders and say it’s not rheumatoid. And then let me go downhill with no concern. I don’t have an answer except for there is an answer and you just have to keep advocating for yourself Until that answer becomes apparent.!

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@loriesco absolutely! Food is medicine! I stay away from all farm raised fish and seafood. Same goes with purchasing OTC Omega products. Only use of made from fresh Icelandic waters. Much cleaner and pure. Sure, it does cost more. However, farm raised can do more damage. Prime example of you get what you pay for.

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Profile picture for megroberts @megroberts

@gypsyblue Thank you so much! I have just gotten an MRI after months of being put through PT that did not help, and being offered injections or surgery. I am going to be discussing which red light/far infrared device I should get with my primary care physician, IF I can get her attention. Appointments are now being scheduled out weeks and months in advance around here. Meanwhile, I am sure this condition only progresses, and I am living with constant pain, as I try to continue with my life. I just turned 70 and retired from an intense academic position this past year. I have been very active all my life as a professional theatre maker. I had planned to go back to pursuing professional work in "retirement," but this pain is exhausting me, and trying to find the right treatment among doctors who simply do not listen to my concerns has been equally if not more exhausting. I am hoping with the MRI results, I can finally choose the right pain management/pain relief path. Your response is very helpful!

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@megroberts that’s sad! We used it in orthopedics all the time for neuropathy pain. If you spent all that time in therapy and they have no knowledge of the benefits, that’s scary. It is hard to find good therapy as well. You need hands on manual therapy. Not just ride the bike and squeeze your butt cheeks! Sure it’s all a part of strengthening but you can do that at home.

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Profile picture for gypsyblue @gypsyblue

@loriesco absolutely! Food is medicine! I stay away from all farm raised fish and seafood. Same goes with purchasing OTC Omega products. Only use of made from fresh Icelandic waters. Much cleaner and pure. Sure, it does cost more. However, farm raised can do more damage. Prime example of you get what you pay for.

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@gypsyblue yep, you are so right! My experience too!

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Profile picture for borwin98 @borwin98

@loriesco MAID stands for Medical Assistance in Dying. Yes, I understand we all have something, but it would be nice to be able to get through the day relatively pain-free. The law in Canada was recently changed this year to allow for advance decision-making for MAID in cases of severe stroke. My Mother was bedridden for over four years with no control over her bodily functions. She would never have wanted this.

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@borwin98 I wrote a huge message and it didn't go through. Frustrating! The short version is - that if you still have something to leave us - like a legacy piece of work - than please do that! My friend Lou is 98.5 and she wrote an awesome book I finally received for Christmas. I am SO ABSORBED reading her story about life before the 1929 crash, her education in England, the interruption because of WW2, how she met her husband (my first boss!) and their privileged lifestyle in America. Not to mention her being denied an abortion in 1959 and her son's overdose in 1979. (he was my age). Her husband came from German Jewish roots and their family's escape during the Holocaust and so much more. I can't tell you how I not only treasure my 50 year friendship with her but I am learning so much about culture and life. I bet YOU have a story to tell as well!

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Profile picture for gypsyblue @gypsyblue

@loriesco absolutely! Food is medicine! I stay away from all farm raised fish and seafood. Same goes with purchasing OTC Omega products. Only use of made from fresh Icelandic waters. Much cleaner and pure. Sure, it does cost more. However, farm raised can do more damage. Prime example of you get what you pay for.

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@gypsyblue. point well made, though access/expense of the more pure foods is not happening for everyone…so we do the best we can. …Variety is also important to keep us healthy.

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Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

@gypsyblue. point well made, though access/expense of the more pure foods is not happening for everyone…so we do the best we can. …Variety is also important to keep us healthy.

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@nycmusic completely agreed! It doesn’t help that the healthier option is always more expensive. I certainly understand though. I’ve followed a great deal of research over the years regarding this topic. Majority rule was we are better off not taking the farm raised at all. They are loaded with pollutants, chemicals, and very poor quality. Many people became sick and developed other illnesses due to the farm raised. We would be better served to just avoid the product if the purest forms are not obtainable. With the cost of everything else, we have to choose our priorities. Sad but true.

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I'm so tired of always being in pain. I'm on heavy duty meds and it's still unbearable too often.

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Anyone have any ideas as to what could work other than meds?

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