This is my very first post ever, and first "group" message board I've ever joined so please bear with me if this is a bit longer than a typical post (unclear to the unwritten rules). Sorry, so I recently turned 40, have been on long term SSDI since '07, and am 3 mos. post-op from my 13th spine surgery. Since '04 it was about one a year, then from '08 on occasionally 2X a year. I'm fused both anterior and posterior cervically from 3-T1, with a bunch of lami's and disc's at T7-9, but also fused front ant back from L3-S1. I'm exhausted researching alternative modes of relief, like has anyone tried the following: INTRATHECAL PAIN PUMP, (I'm on my 2nd spinal cord stimulator, for those considering, save your time, money, and the rise in your expectations), COLD LASER THERAPY, PLATELET (or Plasma) REPLACEMENT THERAPY? I dont mean to complain, because I know they're are far more people out there in more pain than myself. I'm just looking for alternatives to see what might help, besides popping a pill every 6 hours, because I would really love to get back to work. My apologies if my soapbox was a bit on the big side.
I've had over 35 epidural and facet injections all to no avail, and I'm not<br />
eligible to try nerve root blocks because of all the hardware. Thanks for<br />
your response.<br />
<br />
This is my very first post ever, and first "group" message board I've ever joined so please bear with me if this is a bit longer than a typical post (unclear to the unwritten rules). Sorry, so I recently turned 40, have been on long term SSDI since '07, and am 3 mos. post-op from my 13th spine surgery. Since '04 it was about one a year, then from '08 on occasionally 2X a year. I'm fused both anterior and posterior cervically from 3-T1, with a bunch of lami's and disc's at T7-9, but also fused front ant back from L3-S1. I'm exhausted researching alternative modes of relief, like has anyone tried the following: INTRATHECAL PAIN PUMP, (I'm on my 2nd spinal cord stimulator, for those considering, save your time, money, and the rise in your expectations), COLD LASER THERAPY, PLATELET (or Plasma) REPLACEMENT THERAPY? I dont mean to complain, because I know they're are far more people out there in more pain than myself. I'm just looking for alternatives to see what might help, besides popping a pill every 6 hours, because I would really love to get back to work. My apologies if my soapbox was a bit on the big side.
I know this is a difficult question to answer because each case is based on<br />
the individual, but do you think they'd do anything differently than my<br />
current Pain Mgmt. Dr. ?<br />
I currently take 15mg MS Contin ER 1 2X a day, 5mg oxycontin IR 1 every 4<br />
hours, and Gabapentin 800 mg 3X. Plus I've had over 35 epidural and facet<br />
injections, and am unable to try the nerve root block shots because the<br />
Doc's cant get the needle to where it needs to be due to all the hardware<br />
that takes up 80% of my spine.<br />
I look forward to your response. Thanks<br />
I live in the Adirondack mountains and I don't have a community pool or physical therapy near I don't drive. And my son and wife have four kids so it's to much to go.
I think if you go to a pain clinic and sign their papers making an agreement to follow their rules. If your in sever chronic pain and you can't function you will be given the appropriate pain relief narconic or not. Has anyone tried epidurals
With epidurals, I think, it's just luck, hopefully hitting the right area. I've had fusions and epidurals. Fusions made it worse and the epidurals did nothing (I guess that's good--they could have done what the surgery did). I went to mayo and they are suggesting nervous spinal stimulator, which sounds like a good option.
I live in the Adirondack mountains and I don't have a community pool or physical therapy near I don't drive. And my son and wife have four kids so it's to much to go.
I think if you go to a pain clinic and sign their papers making an agreement to follow their rules. If your in sever chronic pain and you can't function you will be given the appropriate pain relief narconic or not. Has anyone tried epidurals
I have had epidurals for years Not steadily They help with my<br />
medacations for a while. This is what both pain clinics have for me I used<br />
to go to one in Syracuse then I moved to Adirondacks and I'm very happy<br />
with the one I'm in now. I am not very functional but my goal is less<br />
pain and more function. I think maybe skill of the Dr doing the epidural<br />
might be a factor. In Syracuse that is what he did epidurals. He did them<br />
right in his office. The one I see now does everything he's a very good Dr<br />
he does it in hospital across the street. He's great. I really like him<br />
and trust him. I never had any problems.<br />
I have had several spinals, but they were very painful and I was unsure how helpful they were, I needed them mostly for sciatic pain and I could not get in fast enough when the sciatic pain was bad. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
I have had several spinals, but they were very painful and I was unsure how helpful they were, I needed them mostly for sciatic pain and I could not get in fast enough when the sciatic pain was bad. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
I wonder why they were painful. I have never had a painful epidural. Is a<br />
spinal and a epidural the same thing I guess not. Were they really worth<br />
it. You said you wanted them when in pain right. Did they work for a while.<br />
I live in the Adirondack mountains and I don't have a community pool or physical therapy near I don't drive. And my son and wife have four kids so it's to much to go.
I think if you go to a pain clinic and sign their papers making an agreement to follow their rules. If your in sever chronic pain and you can't function you will be given the appropriate pain relief narconic or not. Has anyone tried epidurals
The spinal did not help me enough to off set the pain of the shot. I did get shock treatment for phantom pain and it did stop the pain for awhile, but since I had to keep getting the ECT and it only lasted a few months to a year plus the side effects were pretty strong and I did not like them so I stopped taking the ECT. It was sort of experimental at Mayo’s, but I am glad I tried, I really think you have to try all the alternative methods you can to fight the pain. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
I have had several spinals, but they were very painful and I was unsure how helpful they were, I needed them mostly for sciatic pain and I could not get in fast enough when the sciatic pain was bad. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
The shot in the spine did hurt me, for some time one doctor gave his patients a sedative that sort of knocked you out for a few minutes while you get the injection so I tried it longer then. It was hard to say how much it helped since I was not able to get in for the injection at the same time as I was having the pain. It may have helped delay the pain more than I realized. The shots I got were for sciatic pain and my sciatic pain is intermittent. If I had it on a regular basis such as daily I do not think I would still be here as it is extremely painful to me. Then a neurologist I was seeing for another condition, reviewed my MRIs of my spine and said to use muscle relaxants, and I did and it helped. I know my back or spine is bad with bulging disks and other problems, but everyone I have talked to about back surgery has said that it can be risky as far as improving the pain so I have avoided it.<br />
<br />
I have not tried a spine stimulator, but I did use a TEMs unit on my back and it did not help me that much. Still I think it is good to try everything you can to see what might help. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
Have you tried going to pain management. That's were I go. That's<br />
probably why my epidurals don't hurt. I love my Dr. I recommend seeing a<br />
pain specialist in a pain clinic. Usually they are I'm totally drawing a<br />
blank on what kind of Dr he is its on the tip of my tongue. Have ever<br />
thought of going I saw a neurologists once he was rude and insulting and<br />
didn't make since to me. Do you need a new MRI? We have the right to not<br />
live in pain. Although there will always be some pain. There are a lot<br />
of organizations like the American Pain Association you can find on the<br />
Internet it's great. I recommend that too. What do you think. How long<br />
have you been struggling with this?<br />
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Hi @seanbeck. Welcome to Connect! We're excited to have you. No soapboxes here... your post was fantastic. Thanks for joining in on the conversation!
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2 ReactionsI've had over 35 epidural and facet injections all to no avail, and I'm not<br />
eligible to try nerve root blocks because of all the hardware. Thanks for<br />
your response.<br />
<br />
I know this is a difficult question to answer because each case is based on<br />
the individual, but do you think they'd do anything differently than my<br />
current Pain Mgmt. Dr. ?<br />
I currently take 15mg MS Contin ER 1 2X a day, 5mg oxycontin IR 1 every 4<br />
hours, and Gabapentin 800 mg 3X. Plus I've had over 35 epidural and facet<br />
injections, and am unable to try the nerve root block shots because the<br />
Doc's cant get the needle to where it needs to be due to all the hardware<br />
that takes up 80% of my spine.<br />
I look forward to your response. Thanks<br />
With epidurals, I think, it's just luck, hopefully hitting the right area. I've had fusions and epidurals. Fusions made it worse and the epidurals did nothing (I guess that's good--they could have done what the surgery did). I went to mayo and they are suggesting nervous spinal stimulator, which sounds like a good option.
I have had epidurals for years Not steadily They help with my<br />
medacations for a while. This is what both pain clinics have for me I used<br />
to go to one in Syracuse then I moved to Adirondacks and I'm very happy<br />
with the one I'm in now. I am not very functional but my goal is less<br />
pain and more function. I think maybe skill of the Dr doing the epidural<br />
might be a factor. In Syracuse that is what he did epidurals. He did them<br />
right in his office. The one I see now does everything he's a very good Dr<br />
he does it in hospital across the street. He's great. I really like him<br />
and trust him. I never had any problems.<br />
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI have had several spinals, but they were very painful and I was unsure how helpful they were, I needed them mostly for sciatic pain and I could not get in fast enough when the sciatic pain was bad. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
I wonder why they were painful. I have never had a painful epidural. Is a<br />
spinal and a epidural the same thing I guess not. Were they really worth<br />
it. You said you wanted them when in pain right. Did they work for a while.<br />
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThe spinal did not help me enough to off set the pain of the shot. I did get shock treatment for phantom pain and it did stop the pain for awhile, but since I had to keep getting the ECT and it only lasted a few months to a year plus the side effects were pretty strong and I did not like them so I stopped taking the ECT. It was sort of experimental at Mayo’s, but I am glad I tried, I really think you have to try all the alternative methods you can to fight the pain. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
The shot in the spine did hurt me, for some time one doctor gave his patients a sedative that sort of knocked you out for a few minutes while you get the injection so I tried it longer then. It was hard to say how much it helped since I was not able to get in for the injection at the same time as I was having the pain. It may have helped delay the pain more than I realized. The shots I got were for sciatic pain and my sciatic pain is intermittent. If I had it on a regular basis such as daily I do not think I would still be here as it is extremely painful to me. Then a neurologist I was seeing for another condition, reviewed my MRIs of my spine and said to use muscle relaxants, and I did and it helped. I know my back or spine is bad with bulging disks and other problems, but everyone I have talked to about back surgery has said that it can be risky as far as improving the pain so I have avoided it.<br />
<br />
I have not tried a spine stimulator, but I did use a TEMs unit on my back and it did not help me that much. Still I think it is good to try everything you can to see what might help. 19lin<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sent from Windows Mail
Have you tried going to pain management. That's were I go. That's<br />
probably why my epidurals don't hurt. I love my Dr. I recommend seeing a<br />
pain specialist in a pain clinic. Usually they are I'm totally drawing a<br />
blank on what kind of Dr he is its on the tip of my tongue. Have ever<br />
thought of going I saw a neurologists once he was rude and insulting and<br />
didn't make since to me. Do you need a new MRI? We have the right to not<br />
live in pain. Although there will always be some pain. There are a lot<br />
of organizations like the American Pain Association you can find on the<br />
Internet it's great. I recommend that too. What do you think. How long<br />
have you been struggling with this?<br />