1. < Spine Health

Chronic Back Pain for Years

Posted by jlfisher56 @jlfisher56, May 2, 2017

6 back surgeries (extensive cervical and lumbar fusions) with neurological complications. Left with chronic pain. Accident happened in Nursing career 1992 and worked with first fusions until 1999 (failed fusions). At my age, and as a former nurse educator, I never wanted to had to rely on medication/s for the severe pain. Having thoroughly exhausted exploring sites using non-pharmaceutical methods, using psychological methods, biofeedback, trying to accept my limitations, i.e., I still believe somewhere...out there...is hope. The strong medicine has caused gastroparesis, further complicating my health problems. They are too numerous to write and I will not focus on them. I am looking for "help" and guidance. If I can be of assistance to anyone throughout their trials, (perhaps similar to some of what I have gone through), I will.

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Oct 11, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@bustrbrwn22 My doctors have to follow the protocols set up by the Oregon physicians committee, which..." + (show)
@jimhd

@bustrbrwn22

My doctors have to follow the protocols set up by the Oregon physicians committee, which limits how much opioid they can prescribe. Even though opioids have been treating pain for centuries, because of the current opioid climate, a new perception of them has been adopted. It's irrelevant that many thousands of people have been/are now being effectively treated by opioids for chronic pain that no other medication has been of any help. It defies logic and reason that a medication suddenly becomes ineffective in the opinions of medical bureaucracy. And that so many doctors buy into the rhetoric. It's insulting to be told that it's all in my head., when it's actually all in my legs and feet.

Jim

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@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr and the one I saw Friday said my sciatica pain was probably largely due to my “behavioral health”’issues. Once I get my mental state better my pain will go away. Now, where is that darned pill?

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3 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Oct 11, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr and the one I saw Friday said my sciatica pain was probably largely due to my “behavioral health”’issues. Once I get my mental state better my pain will go away. Now, where is that darned pill?

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Hi!
When I was seeing a pain doctor, he also suggested I see a therapist. But he wanted me to learn how to not only deal with my 24/7 pain but how to do relaxation exercises to help when pain was at my worse. It did not help my back, but I must admit it helped with all the stressful things I went through.
Ronnie

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1 reply
Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 11, 2020
In reply to @grandmar "Hi! When I was seeing a pain doctor, he also suggested I see a therapist. But..." + (show)
@grandmar

Hi!
When I was seeing a pain doctor, he also suggested I see a therapist. But he wanted me to learn how to not only deal with my 24/7 pain but how to do relaxation exercises to help when pain was at my worse. It did not help my back, but I must admit it helped with all the stressful things I went through.
Ronnie

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Maybe look into Qigong and/or Tai Chi. Balance, stress relief, general well being. Note: Qigong can be done seated or even just visualized in the mind.

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1 reply
Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 11, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr and the one I saw Friday said my sciatica pain was probably largely due to my “behavioral health”’issues. Once I get my mental state better my pain will go away. Now, where is that darned pill?

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It won't go away but it may be more manageable. Controlling depression and stress are essential to pain management. How much pain we have is a physical metric. How we experience that pain is a psychological metric.

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Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jimhd so interesting you should mention this. I am trying to find a pain mgt dr and the one I saw Friday said my sciatica pain was probably largely due to my “behavioral health”’issues. Once I get my mental state better my pain will go away. Now, where is that darned pill?

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@bustrbrwn22

Do you know what the options are for treating sciatica?

Jim

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2 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @wsh66 "It won't go away but it may be more manageable. Controlling depression and stress are essential..." + (show)
@wsh66

It won't go away but it may be more manageable. Controlling depression and stress are essential to pain management. How much pain we have is a physical metric. How we experience that pain is a psychological metric.

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So true! When suffering from pain for so long, it does get to you! That is why my pain doc sent me to a therapist.
Ronnie

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bustrbrwn22 | @bustrbrwn22 | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @jimhd "@bustrbrwn22 Do you know what the options are for treating sciatica? Jim" + (show)
@jimhd

@bustrbrwn22

Do you know what the options are for treating sciatica?

Jim

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@jimhd i am currently trying PEA and myofascial therapy. I wanted to be treated as well as my vet treats my dog. If he is in pain, he receives pain pills, no questions asked.

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2 replies
grandmaR | @grandmar | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd i am currently trying PEA and myofascial therapy. I wanted to be treated as well..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jimhd i am currently trying PEA and myofascial therapy. I wanted to be treated as well as my vet treats my dog. If he is in pain, he receives pain pills, no questions asked.

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Sadly, with many people abusing pain meds, we all have to suffer. My docs will NOT prescribe pain meds UNLESS I have undergone a procedure. Then, only enough to get through the painful part as decided by the doc. My docs know I don't ask for anything I don't need and then I only ask for a few. Still, they don't budge.

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Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @wsh66 "Maybe look into Qigong and/or Tai Chi. Balance, stress relief, general well being. Note: Qigong can..." + (show)
@wsh66

Maybe look into Qigong and/or Tai Chi. Balance, stress relief, general well being. Note: Qigong can be done seated or even just visualized in the mind.

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@wsh66 Stephen, my Tai Chi Chuan master always taught us to be seated if we could not stand the entire 40 minute routine. I have visualized Tai Chi routines while undergoing medical procedures, which has done wonders for keeping calm! Always have been curious of there would be a way to watch my brainwaves while doing that in a medical setting.

"Controlling depression and stress are essential to pain management. How much pain we have is a physical metric. How we experience that pain is a psychological metric." Well said, Stephen
Ginger

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1 reply
Mentor
Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Oct 12, 2020
In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd i am currently trying PEA and myofascial therapy. I wanted to be treated as well..." + (show)
@bustrbrwn22

@jimhd i am currently trying PEA and myofascial therapy. I wanted to be treated as well as my vet treats my dog. If he is in pain, he receives pain pills, no questions asked.

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@bustrbrwn22
My vet doesn't have to deal with OD or drug abuse when she treats my dogs. I'm sure, though, that there are people who take medications prescribed for their pet. I've thought in the past that the vet should treat me - they charge a fraction of what orthopedists charge for a broken bone. And vets seem to be pretty caring and compassionate about their patients, more than some people doctors.

Jim

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