1. < Chronic Pain

Uncommon side effects?

Posted by motorcarrier @motorcarrier, Dec 11, 2021

I'm having trouble finding a pain medication that works for me. I suffer from several lower back issues as well as peripheral neuropathy and I've tried a variety of solutions over the years and I have difficulty with the usual medications such as opiods and synthetics and antidepressants and anti siezure medications used for pain. Rather than making me drowsy, they do just the opposite: make me jittery and unable to sleep at night. Is this common and is there an alternative?

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Dec 13, 2021
In reply to @budo7 "I am all in with pain management! I apparently was one of the lucky few that..." + (show)
@budo7

I am all in with pain management! I apparently was one of the lucky few that found a awsome Doctor to start with.
Good news is you don't need a great Doctor in order to get started, if you can find one great!
Everything starts in the mind, for me chronic pain can lead to depression and anxiety. So he sent me to a psychologist from there I went to a place that taught meditation. Of course while doing these other things he was working on the chemical side of things. I also was sent to PT who them sent me to learn yoga lol after 20 years I am still a beginner.
When I moved I did not wait to see if my new pain management Doc had all this set up I started setting it up on my own.

My point is while I may have days I don't want to get out of bed and deal with my pain I do have all the tools to do so after a long road of trial and error. So please don't get down or give up.

Jump to this post

What a great description of "being your own best advocate" which we often suggest to people here.

When you say "My point is while I may have days I don't want to get out of bed and deal with my pain I do have all the tools to do so after a long road of trial and error" it resonates with all of us who live with a chronic condition. You are a hero to me!
Sue

REPLY
motorcarrier | @motorcarrier | Dec 13, 2021
In reply to @jenatsky "See a pain specialists. Do you have a diagnosis?" + (show)
@jenatsky

See a pain specialists. Do you have a diagnosis?

Jump to this post

I've been to the pain specialist several times for nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and steroid injections. They always get me into appointments with PAs and the only time I see a doctor is during the procedure. They keep tryin g to convince me to get a spinal cord stimulator. Besides, before they'll even talk to you and prior to each appointment they demand a urine specimen, even when they don't prescribe meds and I feel like a criminal. I gave up on the pain clinic.

REPLY
2 replies
jenatsky | @jenatsky | Dec 13, 2021
In reply to @motorcarrier "I've been to the pain specialist several times for nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and steroid injections...." + (show)
@motorcarrier

I've been to the pain specialist several times for nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and steroid injections. They always get me into appointments with PAs and the only time I see a doctor is during the procedure. They keep tryin g to convince me to get a spinal cord stimulator. Besides, before they'll even talk to you and prior to each appointment they demand a urine specimen, even when they don't prescribe meds and I feel like a criminal. I gave up on the pain clinic.

Jump to this post

You’ve damaged your back from injury and further damaged it by repeated
steroid injections. What is your diagnosed ilness(s) causing you grief? You
need to begin to think outside the box for relief since traditional
medicine has failed you.

REPLY
1 reply
motorcarrier | @motorcarrier | Dec 13, 2021
In reply to @jenatsky "You’ve damaged your back from injury and further damaged it by repeated steroid injections. What is..." + (show)
@jenatsky

You’ve damaged your back from injury and further damaged it by repeated
steroid injections. What is your diagnosed ilness(s) causing you grief? You
need to begin to think outside the box for relief since traditional
medicine has failed you.

Jump to this post

Initially a failed lamenectomy in 1988 but the most recent MRI taken a year or so ago shows disc bulges from L3 to S1, inclusive, and nerve impingement at L5. I feel the primary source of pain stems from the diagnosed chronic arachnoinitis (clumping of nerve roots) L2 through L4.

REPLY
jenatsky | @jenatsky | Dec 14, 2021

You didn't say how old you were and I wonder depending on your age how much more you wish to cause trauma to your body with procedures? Where is your geographical location?

REPLY
1 reply
kenc | @kenc | Dec 14, 2021
In reply to @budo7 "I am all in with pain management! I apparently was one of the lucky few that..." + (show)
@budo7

I am all in with pain management! I apparently was one of the lucky few that found a awsome Doctor to start with.
Good news is you don't need a great Doctor in order to get started, if you can find one great!
Everything starts in the mind, for me chronic pain can lead to depression and anxiety. So he sent me to a psychologist from there I went to a place that taught meditation. Of course while doing these other things he was working on the chemical side of things. I also was sent to PT who them sent me to learn yoga lol after 20 years I am still a beginner.
When I moved I did not wait to see if my new pain management Doc had all this set up I started setting it up on my own.

My point is while I may have days I don't want to get out of bed and deal with my pain I do have all the tools to do so after a long road of trial and error. So please don't get down or give up.

Jump to this post

Wish you well and great that you found a path to follow.

REPLY
jetsetter | @jetsetter | Dec 14, 2021
In reply to @motorcarrier "I've been to the pain specialist several times for nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and steroid injections...." + (show)
@motorcarrier

I've been to the pain specialist several times for nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and steroid injections. They always get me into appointments with PAs and the only time I see a doctor is during the procedure. They keep tryin g to convince me to get a spinal cord stimulator. Besides, before they'll even talk to you and prior to each appointment they demand a urine specimen, even when they don't prescribe meds and I feel like a criminal. I gave up on the pain clinic.

Jump to this post

I felt that way too - “here, give us a urine specimen”. It cost $945.00, I had to pay over $500! I was not on Medicare at the time and had not met my deductible. Wow. They didn’t even tell me they were doing this complete drug scan. At least then I could have chosen to walk out then

I went back and they gave me 100 mg Gabapentin 3xs daily, said I needed 3 nerve blocks in my right side cervical spine and back.

I kept doing PT and the neck pain went away after a year.

Now I have neck pain on the left side so headed to a different doctor next week.

Don’t really want to do injections, but I can’t drive very far and the constant pain is a real pain in the neck. Now I have headaches and head pain daily. Got off Gabapentin, taking anti-inflammatory (Celebrex generic) Tylenol and an occasional muscle relaxer which helps.

REPLY
2 replies
jetsetter | @jetsetter | Dec 14, 2021
In reply to @jetsetter "I felt that way too - “here, give us a urine specimen”. It cost $945.00, I..." + (show)
@jetsetter

I felt that way too - “here, give us a urine specimen”. It cost $945.00, I had to pay over $500! I was not on Medicare at the time and had not met my deductible. Wow. They didn’t even tell me they were doing this complete drug scan. At least then I could have chosen to walk out then

I went back and they gave me 100 mg Gabapentin 3xs daily, said I needed 3 nerve blocks in my right side cervical spine and back.

I kept doing PT and the neck pain went away after a year.

Now I have neck pain on the left side so headed to a different doctor next week.

Don’t really want to do injections, but I can’t drive very far and the constant pain is a real pain in the neck. Now I have headaches and head pain daily. Got off Gabapentin, taking anti-inflammatory (Celebrex generic) Tylenol and an occasional muscle relaxer which helps.

Jump to this post

By the way, I never went back and did not have the injections. That was 2 years ago.

REPLY
motorcarrier | @motorcarrier | Dec 14, 2021
In reply to @jenatsky "You didn't say how old you were and I wonder depending on your age how much..." + (show)
@jenatsky

You didn't say how old you were and I wonder depending on your age how much more you wish to cause trauma to your body with procedures? Where is your geographical location?

Jump to this post

I'm 6 months shy of 70 and, no, I don't want any more invasive procedures. I live in Central Texas and I have a Plan G supplement so I can afford to get 2nd (and 3rd) opinions. I may be wishing for a pipe dream but I just want something that dulls the pain, doesn't have too many side effects, and doesn't alter my ability to think and act clearly.

REPLY
2 replies
jack57 | @jack57 | Dec 14, 2021
In reply to @jetsetter "I felt that way too - “here, give us a urine specimen”. It cost $945.00, I..." + (show)
@jetsetter

I felt that way too - “here, give us a urine specimen”. It cost $945.00, I had to pay over $500! I was not on Medicare at the time and had not met my deductible. Wow. They didn’t even tell me they were doing this complete drug scan. At least then I could have chosen to walk out then

I went back and they gave me 100 mg Gabapentin 3xs daily, said I needed 3 nerve blocks in my right side cervical spine and back.

I kept doing PT and the neck pain went away after a year.

Now I have neck pain on the left side so headed to a different doctor next week.

Don’t really want to do injections, but I can’t drive very far and the constant pain is a real pain in the neck. Now I have headaches and head pain daily. Got off Gabapentin, taking anti-inflammatory (Celebrex generic) Tylenol and an occasional muscle relaxer which helps.

Jump to this post

Can you do some traction with PT?

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