Low back pain & neuropathy issues

Posted by timmckinney @timmckinney, Feb 6, 2018

68 years old and lower back+neuropathy issues make staying active hell. Used to be avid jogger and now cannot be on my feet for more than 10-15 minutes. No meds help. Very depressing.

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@timmckinney You are not alone. Realize this does not help your physical issues. "Used to" I have noticed was the beginning of nearly all I said. Solution was to cease speaking. It is depressing and discouraging. Validation has it's place.

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@timmckinney

Parus is right. You're not alone. I had compression fractures in my lower back when I fell several years ago, and have peripheral neuropathy pain in my feet. I had a spinal cord stimulator implant in June last year, and the pain in my feet has been reduced significantly, though certainly not completely. It's frustrating not to be able to walk like I used to. I take morphine sulfate contin and I'm trying Gabapentin again. I'm hoping that one of the medications for neuropathy will work, now that I have the stimulator. None of them did anything before.

Going to a pain specialist was one of the best things I've done. He took a sincere interest in helping me. I had been through all the neuropathy meds with the neurologist, with no success.

What doctors have you seen about the neuropathy? Keep pressing them to try everything they can. Don't let them give up.

Jim

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I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic pain. My lumbar and cervical spines are in real trouble! At one point I stopped walking for over 2 years because of the pain. I also had severe, I want to die pain in my left arm to fingers that came from my cervical spine. I went to a pain doc who gave me a shot. The shot was the answer and thankfully it worked for years!
As for my lower issues, I saw 4 docs. They all tried lots of things that didn't work. Three years ago I moved and went to one doc who was good for nothing. I searched and searched and finally found a pain doc who is about 1-2 hours away (because of traffic, it can be longer). He has worked MAGIC on my lumbar spine!. He uses a fluoroscope to find the sweet spot, based on my MRIs and what I tell him. His shots usually last 8-12 weeks if I behave.
I agree with Jim. You are too young to be homebound. Do some research in your area for a good pain doc. Read reviews by patients and other docs.

A couple of sites you can use:
vitals.com
Zocdoc.com
nationalpeerreview.com
WebMD.com
ratemds.com

Hope this helps.
Ronnie

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@grandmar

I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic pain. My lumbar and cervical spines are in real trouble! At one point I stopped walking for over 2 years because of the pain. I also had severe, I want to die pain in my left arm to fingers that came from my cervical spine. I went to a pain doc who gave me a shot. The shot was the answer and thankfully it worked for years!
As for my lower issues, I saw 4 docs. They all tried lots of things that didn't work. Three years ago I moved and went to one doc who was good for nothing. I searched and searched and finally found a pain doc who is about 1-2 hours away (because of traffic, it can be longer). He has worked MAGIC on my lumbar spine!. He uses a fluoroscope to find the sweet spot, based on my MRIs and what I tell him. His shots usually last 8-12 weeks if I behave.
I agree with Jim. You are too young to be homebound. Do some research in your area for a good pain doc. Read reviews by patients and other docs.

A couple of sites you can use:
vitals.com
Zocdoc.com
nationalpeerreview.com
WebMD.com
ratemds.com

Hope this helps.
Ronnie

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Either you have lots of money or superior insurance. I cannot get an MRI or anything else due to my age and having depression. Yup, my pain is caused by depression. No history of this. Things went high tech and "no history".

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I am sorry about your pain and insurance issues. I NEVER heard of being rejected for insurance due to age, depression and pain. Have you tried to get Medicare or Medicaid? I am 63, have chronic pain and I suffer from anxiety. No problem here.
ronnie

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@grandmar

I feel your pain...literally! I am 63 (in a month) and I also suffer from chronic pain. My lumbar and cervical spines are in real trouble! At one point I stopped walking for over 2 years because of the pain. I also had severe, I want to die pain in my left arm to fingers that came from my cervical spine. I went to a pain doc who gave me a shot. The shot was the answer and thankfully it worked for years!
As for my lower issues, I saw 4 docs. They all tried lots of things that didn't work. Three years ago I moved and went to one doc who was good for nothing. I searched and searched and finally found a pain doc who is about 1-2 hours away (because of traffic, it can be longer). He has worked MAGIC on my lumbar spine!. He uses a fluoroscope to find the sweet spot, based on my MRIs and what I tell him. His shots usually last 8-12 weeks if I behave.
I agree with Jim. You are too young to be homebound. Do some research in your area for a good pain doc. Read reviews by patients and other docs.

A couple of sites you can use:
vitals.com
Zocdoc.com
nationalpeerreview.com
WebMD.com
ratemds.com

Hope this helps.
Ronnie

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In my opinion your in the hands of the medical industrial complex which runs on money from patients. The sicker you are the more money they can get out of you or your insurance. Ancient philosophers centuries ago recognized that every thing is connected including physical health and emotional health, but none of that means you have a certain condition such as depression. They often treated my pain with anti-depressants which ended up doing nothing helpful and somethings harmful for me although they may help others if they really need them.
If you are rejected for insurance try going for social security disability (Medicare) otherwise go to public health (Medicaid) for care, your taxes paid for all that so now is the time to use it. Depending on your state you probably have an agency that deals with rehabilitation so contact them for assistance they can pay some medical bills and help you get what you need with the goal of going back to work.
My point is, if there is one, you need to be a partner in your treatment. If they will not let you do that then you need to find a new medical provider if possible. If not possible then try to get the ones you have on your side. Of course you may run into those medical people, I have, who are only in it for the money, in which case you need to try to find someone else. Good luck and may God be with you. 19lin

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Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info now.

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@powerl2017

Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info now.

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I have read all above just today a man ran out of a med so he contacted his old Dr.from last year and he wouldn't renew it since he isnt,his patient anymore ,Can you believe this? But one thing I have done for years is TAPPING its like acupuncture without the needles.You tap on your meridian points and say words at the same time If interested go to Tapping.com Nick Ortner is the host It might help you with your problems ,depression being one of them

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@powerl2017

Same hear I have three procedures no help . I am looking to stem cell info now.

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Totally understand. My pain management /rehab doctor is retiring and I use behavioral--mediation---tapping, i.e., chiropractic, botox for cervical dystonia, TENS, Voltaren gels, Teracin pain patch 0ne a day, daily exercises from PT and chiropractor, then Topamax an anti-seizure, as needed Prednisone for anti-inflammation, Valium for muscle spasms low dosage, and Morphine that I use 1-3/day depending upon how/what I am doing/feeling. There basically no doctors here anymore only to do procedures of which I have been through the gammat with nothing but more pain and getting hospitalized for a week due to injecting near my spinal cord, nicking my cord leaking spinal fluid. No more will I get those procedures that did nothing but hurt and NO pumps or stimulators. I have arachnoiditis already. My cervical and lumbar fusions have enough problems going on and the myofascial pain syndrome plus fibromyalgia. The doctors don't like narcotics even though it helps but they'll push high dosage anti-seizure meds like neurontin of which I have seen so many side effects and people feeling horrible on. Three times I had to get off on when my dosage increased so NO MORE! Has has many as morphine but no reversal agent that I know of.I have met and corresponded to many like me and who you read about, we are the ones suffering due to abusers. We have been responsible, never asked for out meds early, never needed an increase and use all the modalities listed above! Doesn't matter we are all grouped in and try to make us feel even worse than we already do.

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I just wiped out post so here goes again.Sounds like your on top of holistic treatments ,good for you Jennifer.Fibromyalgia Dr Priden? Or Innovative concept.com says this is caused by Herpes virus ,Epstein Barr virus also be claims Celebrex@Famvir are solutions .I have a fractured back so can't do alot is exercise that is recommended for fibromyalgia I have learned to pace myself.It is a shame that the Dr,s @drug companies only thing I of profits at our expense.Sorry to hear of your problems.Does the hot weather bother you?It does me ,fi bro seems worse then.If my body is hot I have to take a cool shower.

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