Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

Hi Kelsey,
Have had 2 disc removed L5-S1 in 1979 & L4-L5 in 1988. I am 78 & am currently on pain meds to help with daily chronic pain. Take Lyrica 100 mg 3 times a day & Amitriptyline 30 mg at night. From 2000 to 2016 I took Oxycodone to manage severe neuropathic pain episodes. Caused nausea, limited what I could eat & sleepiness which interfered with my ability to work & travel. In 2017 tried a new drug, Nucynta IR. It is amazing for severe neuropathic pain episodes. I have average downtime of 4 - 8 hours before the pain lets go but am able to eat & read after the event. On occasion these pain episodes are so severe that it takes 2 to 4 days before it lets go.
Question? Am wondering if there is a new daily pill I could take so that I can drop Amitriptyline. Am experiencing small loss of control moments on average 10 times a day. When I walk (4 km daily) my wonderful husband takes my hand after an incident to support me for the rest of the walk. When it happens inside our home I have something to run into, a wall, the kitchen counter, etc.

As one in 80s, I do have some pains such as in the soles of my feet and so I feel walking barefoot at home is soothing and probably good for foot health -- or fewer tight clothes, the better for the body, I believe.

Most importantly, I think much health problems are Not simply biological but also very much a result of our mental -- cognitive, emotional, spiritual and social parts for an healthy state. While it's easy to see a physical symptom, such as poor flexibility, strength, shape and excess weight, often we are unaware how deeply our poor mental health impacts our physical well-being.

Perhaps it is this approach that has helped me so far from serious limitations in health. What's good for the brain, however, is good for the body too. After all, pound for pound, our 3 lbs brain uses 20 Times the calories than how the rest of the body does. We need to know WHICH way to run to avoid danger and death!

@gypsyblue
What do you do about the constipation?
I tried Miralax powder & ended up with cramping & diahrea. K

@kayraymat
As a long term pain med user, my best advice is to eat 2 or 3 prunes per day, keeps me regular!

@frodo777 I saw you also have taken pain meds for a long time. I wonder if anybody is having a problem like mine. I do not know for sure but reading up on my problem makes me think is because I have taken OxyContin for over 30 years. I get HOT HOT when no one else does. I get teased about going thru the change but I am 87. In research I read that OxyContin can mess up your hormones and thyroid. Just wonder if anyone shares this problem. I have been afraid to talk to
My Doctor about it because they will think I am crazy.

@frodo777
I will try that. I do eat prunes & drink prune juice but not on a regular basis.
Time to do it on a "REGULAR" basis= regular, get it.... 🙂
Thank you. K

@linda86
Hi Linda,
I am 78 & have had 2 discs removed L5-S1 in 1979 & L4-L5 in 1988.
I take 100 mg of Lyrica 3 times a day (6 or 7 am, 11:30am & 4:30 pm. I also take 30 mg of Amitriptyline at 9:30 pm to get 6 - 7 hrs of sleep. P.S. I use my cellphone to alert me when it is time to take drugs, except when I wake up. Really effective.
However, when I suffer from occasional severe neuropathic pain episodes of 4 - 8 hrs or sometimes 2 - 4 days, I take Nucynta IR since it was introduced in Canada in 2017. It is amazing because it allows me to eat anything & after the episode I can read, watch TV, & enjoy life. Before Nucynta IR, I took Oxycodone from 2000 - 2016 to manage severe neuropathic pain episodes & had issues with nausea & sleepiness which interfered with my ability to work or travel.
Good luck

@linda86
Hi Linda

Absolutely I have challenges with body temp. ! The only thing I have found is to make dang sure I take my meds on time everyday, even when my pain is lower. I'm 71 and just hate the hot flashes.

I would love to hear thoughts from others !!

In May 2018 I had posterior cervical fusion from C3,4,5,6.
I’m upset now bc I had No symptoms before surgery. No Pain, weakness, numbness, nothing except my MRI showed normal age related stenosis, I was 61 years at that time. I trusted the orthopedic spine surgeon. Big mistake. He did a good job scaring me to do the surgery.
Jan 2021 chronic pain started. Each year it got worse, tried all the injections available with no results.
June 2024 tried Abbott spinal cord stimulator trial with no good results. Nov. 2025 tried Nevro high frequency SCS that made me feel horrible.
I’m on daily Morphine 15mg tabs 2x daily with very little help; I built up a tolerance.
Neck pain is 20 hours a day; I suffer eating in excruciating pain at dining table each meal, sitting on toilet is painful; walking is painful. By dinner time I’m so depressed. I have to pray so I’ll be able ok to floss and brush my teeth every day.
Full shower Bath is in very high Pain; I have to bathe in morning bc I can tolerate the pain and have to listen to oldies music to help Refocus my mind and to keep telling myself bathing is good exercise. Also have to constantly Distract myself by imagining my good times with family.
I have to take Valium 5mg tab to help me sleep every night.
I’m in pain as soon as I open my eyes in morning at 3:00 am.
I don’t know what to do.
I see via Chronic Pain Psychologist via Zoom every two weeks.
Thanks for listening!

@kayraymat
Have you tried a prescription med. LINZESS for constipation?
Talk to your gastroenterologist about LINZESS capsule.

It’s easy on my stomach and I supplement that with Prunes and Mandarin oranges 🍊
I have to take it bc of daily Morphine which causes constipation.
Good luck