Chronic pain in from osteoarthritis & stenosis

Hi txblueeyedlady,

I really can imagine what you are going through, I've got sciatica, foraminal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis. It really only hurts when I move, lol. Clearly I am not at the pain stage that you are at now since I still walk and play golf at age 82. I'm on duloxetine 60 mg daily, oxycocet 3 tablets daily, 1 low dose ibuprofen gel daily (w/12 oz water). I know the oxycocet tablets would relieve pain for you, it's really really good for lower back pain (with no side effects for me), and if I may say so, your doc seems heartless at best. In my know-nothing layman's opinion you should be on a 24 hour fentanyl patch or similar. My doc (here in Ontario, Canada) prescribes them for the elderly who are dealing with long periods of pain, Yes, there may be some addiction involved, but at your age it simply doesn't matter. Just stay on them until they give you something stronger or better. You will at least have continuous relief from the relentless pain which makes your life feel like torture. And in my opinion, it IS torture. In my case, I've been on the oxycocet tablets for more than a dozen years, and it has changed my life for the better, much much better. Because I can walk the golf course, smell the flowers, and get through 18 holes without a lot of continuous pain. There are still some aches and pains as I walk the five miles or so during the game, but I wouldn't play the game, even from a golf cart, without my meds. I say a little thanks for my kind and enlightened doctor every time I play.

As for advice other than the above, I suggest you try the TENS device since you are likely sitting or lying down most of the day. I leased a TENS (expensive to buy back then, today about $250 to buy at Amazon) when I was younger, to help alleviate a lengthy sciatica attack, and it worked for me. I was pretty much immobile, and at times in wicked pain, and running the TENS device helped considerably. It may work for you. It's small, can be used on a bed, couch, chair, wherever, just needs a plug-in unless battery operated.
All the best to you, Texas Blue-Eyed Lady.

I know exactly how you feel. I had l 4 and l 5 surgery in Feb. 2025 and now looking at a hip replacement next month. I’ve been on a walker the last 2.5 years and only go out for doctor appointments. Depression with pain and no outside interactions is real. Hopefully I can get rid of the walker and get on with life.

That's too many surgeries too close together, and now with a third coming up, that will slow you down again, plus a lot of pain with your hip. They made me walk the same day I had my hip surgery, and of course, I fell while trying to climb the stairs. I think they had me trying to walk too soon. I wish you good luck with your hip; once it's done and healed, you will feel like a new person. Good luck and God bless you.

Find a pain management clinic or dr. Most major hospitals have one. Just need a referral from your dr

My deceased wife had chronic bladder pain which urologists from UCSD to UCLA could not find any organic cause. Even bladder Botox didn't work. Was was hitting the upper level of opioids so her pain management doc recommended a pain pump. He was an excellent doc who managed the monthly refills. The pain pump delivers a micro dose of the opioid directly to the spinal cord. So there is less detrimental effects on the overall body. After about a year of getting the dose right, it helped. I'm so sorry you have chronic pain. It's a terrible burden to bear. The Buddhist were right when they say life is:birth, suffering,pain and death. Good luck.

For pain, I take one 500mg of Tylenol and one 200mg Ibuprofen, every 4 hours as needed, approval comes from my doctor and here is some information as to why it works for pain. Hope this information helps. I am 76 and too have chronic pain in my back and joints.
"It is generally safe to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) together or in an alternating schedule for short-term pain or fever relief. This combination is often more effective than using either medication alone because they work in different ways."
"Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a pain reliever and fever reducer that primarily works in the brain and spinal cord. It is processed by the liver and does not cause stomach irritation.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces pain, fever, and inflammation at the source of injury by blocking prostaglandins. It is primarily processed by the kidneys.
Because they are cleared by different organs and have different mechanisms of action, the medications generally don't interact with each other in a harmful way when used correctly."

@cosmofed, Interesting, another thought-provoking statement, Ecclesiastes 7:1 notes, "the day of death is better than the day of one's birth," My dad as his health become progressively worse, use to say that a lot. 😢

Profound! Thank you.

@cosmofed

@sue4
FYI—Journavx is not for chronic pain and will do little or nothing to help chronic pain, it is for acute pain only. I know, I tried it. The literature on Jounavx says that chronic pain involves sensitization of the central nervous system and Journavz does not do anything for that. Acute pain involves different nervous system pathways, and, as I understand it, Jounavx acts on them.