Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

My brother-in-law (who refuses to have surgery and has back issues) swears by SalonPas! I still have some prescription lydocane (I am bad speller) patches which help me. I have spinal stenosis and three bulging discs (among other things).

Thank you for jumping in @leh09 and helping name the K medication.

@19lin, you can read more about Ketamine in this discussion:
- Ketamine, http://mayocl.in/2mb1xXA

This is @sutherlin, so frustrated. Have had a CT scan back in March of 2016 that showed I have significant degenerative disc disease (DDD) in L2-L3 and moderate DDD in L4-L5. My harrington rod from scoliosis surgery in 1977 ends at the L1. I just had a SPECT CT scan and they said the facet joints didn't look inflammed but the two spots I mentioned were, so they insisted I get an MRI and I was told that the rod does cause some distortion but I made it thru the MRI and was told by the tech that they weren't optimal but would do. So the PA from the pain center I've been going to calls and tells me that because of the rod ending L1 that they couldn't see what is going on in the L2-L3 but there is some compression of the nerve in L4-L5, really, like the MRI did no good and I fought not having it because of the distortion and the fact I'm claustraphobic but made it thru without drugs. There is nothing wrong with the discs in the fusion of the rod, but they keep pushing me off about the pain, like I'm imagining it or something. I'm like everyone else with DDD, had the shots, physical therapy, chiropractic, nothing works, so now they are sending me to the neurosurgeon and I'm hoping that this gentleman can assess and do something to relieve my pain. There are other options and I know it's surgery but let's do something. I'm even going to suggest if he seems to be hesitant to contact a neurosurgeon at the Mayo Clinic where my surgery was performed to see if maybe they can't brainstorm.

I just joined the pain group. I have a herniated disc and the pain is severe in my right leg. I've been in PT for 4 months. I was almost pain free after the 3rd month. Then it came back with a painful vengeance. Lidocaine prescribed pad helps me slee but daytime pain is intense. No help yet from acupuncture. Would chiropractor help? Suggestion? 89 years old

Your best bet is to find a doctor to determine what your pain is caused from. Sounds,as if you may have a pinched nerve. Follow up with any doctors advise, and maybe find a pain management doctor. It took me years to find out what your type of pain I was experiencing.
It is a shame it takes so long to find out what the root cause is. I wish you well .

Hello @pedaboo, welcome to Connect. Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself with the other members of the Chronic Pain group.

A lot of members have talked about herniated discs, but no discussion has been started about this issue specifically. It would be a great idea, and help to the community, if you would take the honor of doing so. Here is what I suggest:

1. Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles group here, http://mayocl.in/2cpjGMC
2. Click on the grey START A DISCUSSION box
3. Type a brief and descriptive title, such as: Herniated Disc & Pain. What helps?
4. Type a description of your issue and post!

@pedaboo, if you do this, I could help bring members who have discussed herniated discs all across Mayo Clinic Connect to one specific discussion. If you have questions, feel free to send me a personal message. Here is how you can do that:

1. Click the member's @username.
2. Click the envelope icon in their profile.
3. Write a subject and your message.
4. Click Send Message.

I have had ketamine infusion treatments for the past year to help with the nerve pain due to having Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. My pain doctor first started me on ketamine troches (losenge), but it did not relieve my pain so then he put me on infusions (intravenous). If you think that this is a possible road for you, it is important to find a doctor that creates the right environment for receiving this medication as it is pretty intense. Not many places have it as an option as insurance companies and workers' comp don't normally want to pay for it. Let me know if you want more info.

Thank you Justin. I don't see a  grey START A DISCUSSION box in the bones, joints & muscles group. I must be doing something wrong! If you can help me find it, I'd be glad to carry out your suggestion. Again, thank you so very much. @pedaboo

@pedaboo Do you take any pain meds? I'm hoping to get a spinal cord stimulator, which helps with back pain. Your doctor could refer you to a person who works with these.

jim

@janetdh Janetdh thank you for the information on Ketamine, I hope this is the medication I read about. My first injury was the loss of my leg in Vietnam and a lot of phantom pain, which no one really understands very well. Of course my back was injured at the same time, but no one paid any attention to that and only a few years later did they recognize the spine problems. I have sciatic pain which I originally confused with phantom pain. When I talked to a back specialists about surgery he said I had a 50% chance of coming out worst than I went in and I did not like those odds.
From what I can remember reading about the medication, which maybe Ketamine, it was suppose to work on neurological issues, including phantom pain. I will try to find more information on Ketamine, but I would need insurance support to to try it.
Of course I have many additional problems now, as the loss of my leg was 49 years ago. But I was born with a form of dyslexia and that keeps me from spelling the rest of them right now. Thanks again Janetdh. 19lin