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Hi all!!
It's been a bit of time since I wrote.
For those of you who are new to the group, I also have chronic pain.
After years of shots, procedures, etc. I had surgery on my C5/6 spine.
I was getting horrible headaches every day that woke me up.
It seemed the surgery worked (done in late Feb.).
After surgery, I had only 2 mild headaches, then soon none.
At about week 10, I fell twice. Thank you lumbar! (another story)
Within days, my headaches came back, not daily, however.
At week 12, when I went back for my last cervical check-up,
My surgeon could not help but see there was something going on since I was now walking with a cane (advice from my physical therapist).
Now, the headaches are back fast and furious on a daily basis.
I now awake each and every morning (anywhere from 1am - 5am) to a violent headache that only stops when I get up into a sitting position.
It is usually gone within a 1/2 hour of getting up, sometimes sooner.
I am so upset with this!!!!
I see the surgeon a week from tomorrow.
That appointment was suppose to be about the surgery for my L3/4.
Headache or the ability to walk?????????
I was once told that headaches are not an approved reason for cervical spine surgery.
I never pursued it since the headaches were pretty much gone after surgery.
I don't know what is going to happen now?????????????????
Stay tuned for the next episode...……..
To walk, or not to walk, that is the question???????
To have headaches (and sleep) or not to have headaches, that is the 2nd question???????
Wishing you a pain free day,
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
Replies to "Hi all!! It's been a bit of time since I wrote. For those of you who..."
Grandmar, I totally understand the headache. In addition, I also fell TWICE. I have used a cane now for about year. I dont tend to use it in the house. BUT, before my last fall I passed out and then fell. (in the kitchen). I hit my head and cut my skin on the left over my left eye. The fall also affected my left eye. I had 20/20 vision prior to the fall. I could not understand why medicare would not pay for Left eye care. Anyway, finally after two months waiting, I was to go to the pain dr. I have cancelled tomorrows appt. My spine dr, does not want me to get the shots at this time. NOT ONLY THAT, the pain dr, wants to give me shots in my hip area. I have no pain in my hip area. Maybe he does it in such a way ....at the medicine goes to my spine. I know my spine dr wants to do something with blocking the pain. I refused back surgery for years. After my fall, I had crushed my 11th Vertibra. I had no choice but to allow them to use ( I believe it is concrete) to fill in area where Vertibra crushed. I would have a hard time walking IF I could if I did not get it done. It worked GREAT>
There is so much to do that we have to go through to get help for our pain. I did get one hint. My spine dr told me to take ONE Tylanol, and TWO Advil and one pain pill. Evidently, it increases the coverage of the pain pill. We are not getting strong enough pain pills. The university drs are held to Tramadol. I have to admit, I feel so much better not taking a heavy duty pill. Taking the Tramadol took a while to get used to. It is a lightweight narcodic.
You are so very sweet to offer the book. I am Jewish and I am sorry, but I don't pray to Jesus.
I hope this does not offend you!
Thanks again for the offer,
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
@no problem hope you find relief from this headaches
@oregongirl
Wow, you have certainly been through the ringer!!!!!
Actually, my neurosurgeon does not mind me going to a pain doctor as long as he knows first and the shot is not in an area he is trying to monitor. I also cannot have a shot 'x' amount of weeks before surgery.
I have a fantastic pain doc (the first in 5) who kept me pretty much pain free for 4 1/2 years.
Each shot, in my lumbar spine, lasted anywhere from 6-12 weeks!!!
My cervical spine started to act up, too, for the first time in years!
He tried several things and nothing worked.
That is why I finally opted for surgery.
I had C5/6 replaced with artificial discs.
Now, my last 2 lumbar injections have stopped working.
I am so, so sad!
I now fall when I don't use a cane to help me walk.
I am in constant pain and I get those horrible headaches.
I see the surgeon next week!!!!
We are going to decide which surgical procedure to do.
I see myself as having an addictive personality so I am VERY careful with pain meds.
I rarely take them.
I have Hydrocodone and truthfully, it really does not work very much, other than to make me a bit goofy.
I once took Tramodol for a tooth infection.
Truth......it is the only pain med that has worked!
No one will prescribe them to me even though they know I rarely take anything.
As far as adding Tylenol and Advil to pain meds, I can't.
I can't take Advil or any meds like it, including all blood thinning products.
Stay strong and feel good!!!
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
@grandmar Hello Ronnie,
I'm so very sorry to hear you are having these horrid headaches. Has any doctor tested to see if you are perhaps leaking spinal fluid? I know you write that they ease when sitting up so I wonder if it possible that you are leaking fluid while laying down. I would ask your neuro-surgeon. It couldn't hurt.
Gentle hugs to you,
Jen
@grandmar why won't anyone prescribe Tramadol ?have you seen your rheumatologist? She prescribes it for my fibromyalgia.
I was taking Tramadol 50 mg. for nearly 1.5 years for my back pain. I took it 4 times a day and it worked great for me, much better than the oxycodone I had been taking. I have withdrawn from it because my pain has improved so much, although I still take a half pill up to twice a day when in pain. I never felt the need to increase my dosage during the time I took it regularly. I had no bad side effects from it. I understand that it's one of the few "narcotics" that doctors can still prescribe. I used CBD to help me withdraw when I was ready. I had some anxiety and wasn't thinking well for a couple of weeks, but it was relatively easy. I took 3 months to withdraw.
What I'm suggesting is, ask your doctor about the possibility of Tramadol 50 mg. for your pain. Don't let him give you the Tramadol 5/350 because it got acetaminophen and isn't as effective on pain. I hope this information is helpful @grandmar.
Thank you for your suggestion @lioness!
Gailb
Volunteer Mentor
@galib
Thank you for the information.
I also found that oxy and hydro do not really help except it will take off the edge. But so did my large dose of ibuprophen (which I am no longer allowed to take).
For some reason, my pain doc was hesitant to prescribe the Tramadol.
As a matter of fact, in the 4 years I went to him, he only prescribed pain meds for me one time and that was when I had RFA (radio frequency ablation).
We were once away, in Hawaii, and I was having a terrible time with pain.
I did not have any pain pills, at all.
I called to ask him to prescribe something.
His answer was that he was not licensed to practice in Hawaii so he could not do it.
I don't know if he was avoiding giving me pain meds or he was really not aware he could prescribe in Hawaii.
Really spoiled things for me on that trip!!!
Anyway, I think I will ask my neurosurgeon for the Tramadol.
Thanks for the advice.
Have a great and pain free day....
Ronnie (GRANDMAr)
@lionessI
I do not know why my pain doc wouldn't prescribe Tramadol?
Like I said, he only prescribed me oxy or hydro.
I am no longer going to see him since the shots and procedures are no longer working.
At this point I am going to stay with the neurosurgeon.
I do not see a rheumatologist.
When I did, I did not find her of any help.
I really think the fibro is under control and this is all stemming from my cervical and lumbar spines.
I'll have to see what the neurosurgeon says when I see him.
Ronnie
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@grandmar I'm so sorry you are having all those horrible headaches prayers for you . Do you have a book called Jesus calling by Sarah Young it is a very comforting book daily words .I get daily emails if you want to look at one let me know