Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@jesfactsmon I did spend 2 weeks at Mayo in July. They are the ones who found the pinched nerve in my neck and one in my lower back. The neck, result of a rear end collision, is getting worse and I may be to the point of taking action since the meds that are supposed to work don't. Surgery does scare me, I have read of so many adverse results of that action. I in fact have just ordered and am figuring out my dosage of kratom. I took 4 before going to school today and it did seem to give me some relief. I have ordered more kratom and the nighttime blend also. In defense of my husband's attitude he is facing some health issues of his own, I remind myself of that daily. The positives in my day are the the children I teach. They definitely tell things the way they see it and when they ask their teacher not to go home it tugs at my heart. They can be the best pain relievers or the worse!

@suzanne2
Forgive me for missing that you had already been to Mayo in July, I must have missed that info the first go round.

Yes, I agree about going very slow before proceeding with surgery of any kind. Know the risks up front and the actual success rate, then know that you trust your surgeon implicitly! If you have any questions or any lack of confidence, wait before you proceed.

If you need advice with taking kratom, @lorirenee1 is very well versed in its use and has excellent advice for new users. She has been helpful to my wife, who had a better day the other day. She took the pure compressed pills, first 10, then 8, then 3 just before bedtime and it got her through the night in a much better way.

OK, I am reading back further into your post history and I see you mention that medical marijuana is legal in Mich. but you say "marijuana is medically and recreational legal but still feel like I would be breaking the law". Not sure I understand. If you can do it legally, there should be no reason (other than cost, THAT I do understand) to go for it. You need all the help available to you NO HOLDS BARRED. MM could be a godsend for you. Please overcome anything standing in your way from trying it if you can afford it.

I know you've had fibro a long time (as has my wife Linda). Do you do hot baths with epsom salts? Fibro can feel much better with this treatment. All muscle pain should be improved as long as you can tolerate the hot water.

I see you use Penetrex. Linda swears by it an uses the rollon to apply to her feet every night before bed. It cuts her pain by 30% usually. A big help. Good on you for finding it!

Suzanne, my heart is with you totally. What a road you have had to travel. You seem like you have a good spirit and I hope you have a spiritual center, I am guessing you do. I am also so glad you have your kids to help get you through. I think you may have mentioned taking an anti depressant? If you need advice on that @jimhd is a good resource, and he may be able to provide advice on that, he has taken ALL of them and is now on something that works for him called Wellbutrin. In case you are not aware of it, you can send a private message to anyone on Connect by clicking the little envelope symbol at the top of this (or any) page. Let me know if you need any help doing that.

One more thing, if a drug is not helping you, try to get off of it as soon as possible (always tapering as per your Dr.'s direction). Drugs are, ultimately, toxic, and if they are not helping they are hurting you. Just my feeling. Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way, hope to hear better things about you as time goes by Best, Hank

Your description of chronic 24/7 pain is right on. I took Oxycontin for 5 or 6 ye

Sorry, accidentally hit Reply button. I took Oxycontin for 5 or 6 years when my 1st low back surgery in 1997 failed. My 2nd back surgery in Dec., 1999,left me in a total upper body cast for 4 months on a higher dose of Oxycontin. My doc recommended I hire a personal trainer at a gym instead of doing regular P.T. After 18 months, of gym work, I'd lost 130 lbs & felt great. One of the best days ever for me was when I was able to stop taking meds..I never was addicted to Oxycontin & didn't suffer any withdrawal. I always took it as prescribed. That all ended in 2004 when I fell off a short ladder leading to a 3rd disastrous surgery in 2007.By then Oxycontin was pretty much banned & the nightmare of finding a pain med that worked a little began.

@bustrbrwn22 , I'm sorry but I don't remember what I said & can't find my post. Could you please tell me what I said that prompted you to ask "does that really help? "

Hank, thank you!

@cb772 I think you mentioned telling the doctor that they really need to listen to you. I’ve had some that treated me like an idiot or a drug seeker. I am in pain and can barely get out of bed. I dream of exercising again.

@cb772 I am so sorry to hear this. Did you find something that helped a little?

@suzanne Absolutely get off the Gabapentin if it is not helping pain, and you are losing your balance!!! Wean off safely. Don't take a med that does not help. Keep working on your Kratom dose that best helps take your pain away. It will! My best to you. Lori

I understand that. I was told that opioids can’t be helping my pain since it was “only” nerve pain. I needed to take cymbalta or lyrica. I stared at the “doctor” for a solid minute then asked him where he went to school and if he’d bothered to read my chart before he’d walked through the door.