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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

qball2019 | @qball2019 | Oct 14, 2020

@wheelerma @jimhd

So sorry about that. Here is the correct link https://intractablepainsyndrome.com/

wheelerma | @wheelerma | Oct 14, 2020

Thank you!!

qball2019 | @qball2019 | Oct 14, 2020

@jimhd

How much PEA are you taking?

Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @wisco50 "Why wouldn’t a pain pump be an option for sciatica pain?" + (show)

Who said a pain pump wouldn't be a good intervention for sciatica? That is the main problem that I'm dealing with is sciatica and the pain pump has been the ultimate solution. The pain pump leaks the narcotics directly into your spinal fluid and affects every single part of your body. Pain in any location is affected by the treatment of a pain pump.

Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@jimhd Not many options for sciatica. I saw a neurosurgeon who said surgery would help but..." + (show)

Sciatica is the main reason that I have a pain pump. Someone is jerking your chain with bad information.

Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @bustrbrwn22 "@lisa7777 is having a pain pump implanted major surgery? Where is it implanted?" + (show)

I don't know if you would consider having a pain pump put in major surgery or not. It's generally a procedure that is done in the hospital and you go home the next day or as soon as you can pay after being sedated. In your sixties and seventies and eighties any surgery is Major I suppose. The pump is inserted in your abdomen and a catheter goes up your spine. I don't recall having pain at the incision site after surgery but then the pain, filled with pain in one hundred percent of your body.

Stephen | @wsh66 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @grandmar "Hi! My brother takes Gabapentin and gets some relief. I took Gabapentin and it did nothing...." + (show)

Gabapentin is a great drug, for controlling seizures. It is not a pain med. I took it and it was not effective as a pain med. It is very effective at putting money in the hands of big Pharma especially if they talk you into taking Lyrica instead of Gabapentin

wisco50 | @wisco50 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @wsh66 "Who said a pain pump wouldn't be a good intervention for sciatica? That is the main..." + (show)

I have sciatica from stenosis and I am a retired RN and I agree, it makes no sense to me!

wisco50 | @wisco50 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @wsh66 "Sciatica is the main reason that I have a pain pump. Someone is jerking your chain..." + (show)

Agree!

wisco50 | @wisco50 | Oct 14, 2020

In reply to @wsh66 "Who said a pain pump wouldn't be a good intervention for sciatica? That is the main..." + (show)

I was replying to something Jimhd/busterbrown were writing/discussing. Sometimes I get confused as to who said what and when! I agree, no idea why someone would think pain pumps might not help sciatic pain - ESP if, as person said, they have tried all? other methods of pain relief AND ESPECIALLY IMO, if said pain is making it so they don’t have a normal daily life!