Well here is an interesting update. I have a severe back problem too, and am usually in a lot of pain. My doctor put me on a 9 day course of a steroid to reduce inflammation and lesson paid. 3x daily for 3 days, 2x daily for 3 days, 1x daily for 3 days. The first day took away ALL pain. After about 2 days I noticed I WAS NOT COUGHING ANYMORE. I did not cough for the rest of the treatment! Day 10 and I'm through with the medication and STILL NOT COUGHING. Even if this is a short respite from the cough, why in God's name, after SIX YEARS OF COUGHING, did not ONE SINGLE DOCTOR ever try this? I begged for 6 years for something, ANYTHING, to stop the cough, even if for a day or less, a night, so I could sleep. Not one doctor ever mentioned it. The steroid was prednisone, 20 mg. Not great side effects, but you feel fantastic for the first 4 or 5 days. Coming down is 'shakey.' Oh, and you're hungry...really hungry. Have celery, nuts, seeds, fruit on hand. Not oreos.