Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

I see a pain doctor at St. Judes in Southern California, for my lumbar pain. I had used marijuana for my lumbar pain, previous to my diagnosis of disc issues that need surgery, so i told him. He told me that he could not treat my pain legally if i ever use marijuana again. Medical marijuana is legal in California, however since marijuana is illegal at the Federal level, doctors are precluded from prescribing pain drugs to patients who use illegal drugs. Of course I have not used marijuana since then. He said he will drug test me periodically and if marijuana use is detected, I will have violated the contract the clinic has with me, and he won't treat my pain. I only want pain relief so i am following his instructions.

Hi Gail, im glad you joined, it helps to talk to others having similar problems. I joined a month ago abd the support abd caring members has made a great imoact on me feeling better.

I had a fusion in 2001 on my L5-S1 abd a neck fusion in 2014. It takes time to heal and the physical therapy is worth it.

Sending my best wishes you arent in too much pain,
Julie

Welcome to Connect @gailb I'm glad you reached out on this forum. I have had chronic neck pain for more nearly 25 years. My doctors say fusion on C3-C4 will mean a year or so of possible relief but then I would need C2 and C5 done also. Odds are 50/50 that it would help the pain, so I'm waiting a bit longer. Have you had relief from the surgery?

Hi @gailb, thank you for jumping right in to conversations and sharing more about your struggles and management of back pain with other members on Connect. You may find the following discussion regarding pain medications vs. medical marijuana of interest. In this group, you will meet other members who are experiencing the same issues regarding a pain clinic contract and the use of medical marijuana.

- Chronic Pain and Medical Marijuana, http://mayocl.in/2c2i9Hx
- Dosage for medical marijuana vs. hydrocodone, http://mayocl.in/2kp0ZJx

Actually, I'm new here and I'm not sure I signed up correctly. I also didn't give a very complete description of all the issues I'm dealing with. The MRI they did showed a compression fracture at the C7 in my neck, a herniated disc at my L4, pressing on my right side sciatic nerve, the L5-S1 pressing on my sciatic nerve affecting my left side with acute pain several times over the years.

On December 22, 2016, I had outpatient surgery for the L5-S1 problem and have had immediate relief. I will start on Physical Therapy in February. I am very happy with the results of the surgery. However, I have had chronic pain from my sciatic nerve on the right side since March, 2016. It awakens me every night 1 to 3 times. Sometimes i want to cry or scream the pain is so bad. I can't walk far or stand for any length of time, go up steps, etc. due to the pain. My doctor's only been treating the pain, until the MRI was done for my left side acute episode. Now they said they need to do a major surgery to insert rods and pins to fix the problem on my L4, which is out of alignment 7.3 mm. Im good with this because the outpatient surgery was so successful. At my last appointment I saw a new PA in my surgeon's office (My usual PA is on maternity leave.) who wants to give me steroids first and see how I do. I have had a year of constant pain, and I really don't want to go through the shots in my spine. My regular PA had recommended the surgery. Both my older brothers have had the same problems--it's a genetic issue--and they ended up with the surgery. Is it reasonable for me to ask them to just do the surgery that is inevitable? And, how long after my current surgery should I wait? How long does recovery from the major surgery take?

Last, I am very concerned that the new administration will cut Medicare coverage, without which I will be unable to pay for this surgery. Thanks for any information you can give me.

I agree, wouldnt want shots or steroids either. An okd dr of mine gave me way to much prednisone now have adrenal problems. I gave small hernitions at T8 and 12 which im just leavibg alone. Ive had too many issues and now a cavitary lung lesion. I felt rhe sane instant relief from neck surgery ans wearing the vest heloed reduced recovery time. I also have psoriatic arthritis, lupus fibro so totally understand yoyr need to cry it out. Venting here helos too.
Julie

Thanks so much for your replies Julie. I don't have as many issues as you,  but diabetes is something I do have,  and I know steroids are not good for that. <br>More later  ... Gail <br>

My wife has had bursitis in her hip, which has caused debilitating pain over the past several years. She has had quarterly cortisone shots that last around 2 months. Surgery has been presented as an option, but she'd rather avoid it if she can. She finally decided to use the prescription for pt, and after 6 weeks, she is down from 7-8 to 2 on pain. It's given back her life, and joy.

Jim

@jimhd, I am so glad that PT has helped your wife so tremendously! I suffer from daily migraine, and after 15 years, I was finally sent to a PT an hour away. A long drive, but I have not been disappointed. She is so skilled at what she does, and since I began seeing her twice per week starting in October, we have been able to identify 3 causes of my agony: arthritis, muscle, and disc issues in my jaw; arthritis, disc issues, and nerve problems in my neck; and migraines. She helps with the first 2 causes. She taught me to distinguish between the 3 types of similar, pounding pain, which I had not noticed before. I am now seeking additional treatment for my jaw, and I had a nerve ablation in my neck. (The nerve was burned away with radiofrequency.) Her colleague is also treating my facial muscles with dry needling and E-Stim. I have had PT before, for a torn meniscus and tendinitis, but this PT professional is special. People must try to find PTs who are experts in their disease or area of the body, just as they would any other medical professional. Since beginning PT, I went 3 months without needing to go to the ER, which used used to be a 1-2 times per month occurrence. (Although my respite ended when I went twice this week alone.) My PT has given me 1-2 days per week of pain at about a level 5, as opposed to my usual 8+. It has enormously changed the quality of my life. I highly recommend PT for any chronic pain patient. Try several until you find one who can help you. My neuro purposefully avoided sending me to a chiropractor because he could tell by looking at me that my neck was somehow involved. My pain clinic Dr's, on the other hand, never believed that my jaw or neck was involved; they believe me now! I am so happy for you and your wife. I hope her pain reduction becomes permanent and that only good days lie ahead for both of you. I hope everyone in chronic pain gives PT a chance at some point in their treatment. Thank you @jimhd for sharing your story. It gave me a chance to relay some positive aspects about my own treatment.

Gail @gailb , In my opinion, a sign of a good doctor is one who doesn't want to jump right into surgery, but attempt alternative therapies first. I cannot take oral steroids because I had gastric bypass almost 10 years ago. A few years back, my pain management doctor suggested epidural steroid injections. I thought about it and decided to go for it. Although I was terrified at the thought of someone putting a needle near my spine, my doc talked me through it and it was not bad at all especially since the only needle was the local numbing medicine so he could insert the catheter to deliver the steroid. After the first epidural injection I had much less pain. I had a series of 3 and then didn't need another for 3 years.
Maybe right now you should focus on healing from this recent surgery and going through PT. I get a sense that you are frustrated and tired of hurting. I understand that completely!
Jen