It's quite obvious that you are not using a doctor that is going to treat you properly for you spine problem.

You need to see a spine specialist, either an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spines or a neurosurgeon that specializes in spines.

Pain meds, even narcotics will not relieve nerve pain that you are feeling from the discs that are compressing your nerves. You need meds that help to eleviate the nerve pain.

You should never be suggesting or telling doctors what pain meds to give you. If a doctor is not listening to you, prescribing the wrong meds etc. You need to get yourself as far away from this doctor as possible.

You may find relief from ESI's but it sounds more like you need some kind of surgery to relieve the nerve compression.

Please seek out another opinion from a spinal surgeon as soon as possible.

Good luck

Fran

Thank you for taking the time to respond. I will start looking for a neurosurgeon. I appreciate the advice, and I will take heed to it. Thank you again.

You are welcome.

Good luck

Fran

just wanted to mention that it is safe to take meloxicam with acetaminaphene. it is unsafe to take with other anti-inflammatories, such as advil. i have been taking meloxicam, tylenol, tylenol#3 and codeine contin for a few years now with no adverse affects.

oh, well, should I ask to try the Vicodin then? See, I was just very worried about the seizures, and stomac bleeding. But I do believe that Vicodin is less potent then Tramadol is due to my own personal experience.

You need to be careful that you don't exceed the maximum daily dose of acetaminophen per day which is 4000mg. More than that per day can cause liver damage.

stomach bleeding can be a side affect of NSAIDS not acetaminophen.

Tramadol can lower the threshhold for seizures in those that are prone to seizures and/or have a seizure disorder.

Vidocin is considered stronger than tramadol, and is a synthetic opiate and tramadol is not an opiate.

Some people have better success with pain relief with Vicodin and others with tramadol. It is an individual response.

Fran

If your doctor is offering Vicodin, I would accept. I have not tried it myself, but I would be open to any offers of pain relief:-) Seriously, I see no harm in trying it; your doctor and pharmacist would both be aware of any drug interactions that might be harmful. One thing that I do take just to ward off stomach problems is Pariet. Just wondering, your pain seems to stem from the same area mine is, although the diagnosis may be different. Do you have that terrible pain in your legs? If so, I found that Lyrica did wonders for it.

oh, yes. I was going to mention that going to a neurosurgeon will not necessarily mean a different outcome than pain meds. I have been to two of them, and both said to "do what it takes to get through the day" because if they operated on my back now it would open up that proverbial can of worms for future problems.

Yeah, my legs go numb sometimes aswell, and I get a horrible pain in my ass. (Not caused from my fiance'. haha.) I am very scared of surgery due to the paralyzation risk, and I cannot offord the time off of work.
I have finally talked my doctor into transfering me to a different doctor, but he only chose a Rehabilitation Medicine doctor. Im not too sure what it means, but I will see what happends.
Im just honestly afraid, there are so many risks that are involved with surgery, and the pain is unbearable. I can barley walk, and I have stopped doing all of my daily activities. I shouldn't let pain be the reason why I do not go out and do things, or not spend time with my fiance'. But, the pain is HORRIBLE.
Have you seen a Rehab doctor? Im trying to figure out what to expect.
I have figured out the reason why my doctor would not give me a different medication aswell.
He had said since he is a family doctor, he has to be careful with what he prescribes and does not want to take the risk of 'addiction' Well. I do not have an addiction problem, it does not stem in my family, and I would rather be a fene, then suffer through my days in agony. He also had said there is so much they can do being a family doctor. Can you verify this or is he pulling my leg? Because I seem to often think that this doctor is, no joke, full of it.

I have the same exact problem in the same exact area. I've been taking percs which don't do anything for the pain...but make me happy
What I can tell you is I go to a pain clinic and get steroids injected into my discs...and anti inflammatories...and that aliviates most of the pain for a few weeks...in between the blocks...i get numbing shots...so check into pain clinics in ur area

I feel for you. Do you live in the States? I live in BC, Canada, where health care is universal, but for the most part sucks. The first neurosurgeon I saw (about 4 years ago) said that the surgery he would do on my back he wouldn't do on his own or his mother's back, and I should just do what I need to do to get through the day. He did suggest going to a neurosurgeon in the states and see if they have any better techniques that I might want to take a chance on, but it would be costly and probably temporary (both neurosurgeons said back surgery "begets" back surgery, and once you have one, it sets the scene for a series of them--usually every 5 years). The second neurosurgeon I saw (about 2 years ago) said that my condition had worsened, but that gave him even more reason not to do any surgery. He said that I had the back of a person in her 70's, the only problem being I was only 50. He said that they don't operate on people in their 70's, and that if I were age appropriate it would be okay, since I would only be concerned that my knitting got done. So here I am two years later, worse even still, and about to go the next round. My GP is setting me up for a new MRI and epidurals (which both, under our system, will take 6 months to a year to get. In the meantime, like you are trying to avoid, I have had to give up work and pretty much all activities (including a marriage, but that's another story...) Now, as to your GP. Yes, they are very limited in what they can do when it comes to backs. One thing they do have, though, is experience treating many many people with back problems, and being able to compare their situations to yours. Yes, many doctors are afraid to give narcotics because of addiction issues, but it has been proven that if you are actually taking them for pain, addiction is not an issue (other than physically, when you are withdrawing from them--I experienced this when going off them before my last set of epidurals, but there was no "psychological craving"). I know my GP feels helpless when it comes to me, and feels bad because of it. I don't know what a Rehab Medical Doctor is, but it sounds like a good move. Perhaps he is similar to a pain management doctor and will be able to give you the proper regime of meds and physical therapy. I don't blame you for not wanting the surgery; along with the risks you are doing something that will weaken your back, and I am told that the scar tissue you develop eventually gives you the same kind of pain. Go through the hoops and see what else is offered to you. I don't know your age or situation, you say that you cannot afford time off of work, but do you have disability insurance? You might need time to try "resting" your back. Depending on the problem, studies show that most backs "heal themselves" with time, although I am not in that category. I know how you feel, I have had to go through rounds of anti-depressants because not being able to do things really takes its toll emotionally. Anyways, long post, just want to say don't be too hard on your GP, it isn't that he doesn't care, it's just that there are so many things to be considered, and the wrong move(surgery or not?) could be costly.

Yes, I am a United States resident. To fill you in a bit more, I am ONLY 18 years old. The problems I have in my back are usually happend to people in their early to late 30's, where as I, am still a teenager (legally adult, but im still a child).
See, another concern with mine about surgery is that it is very common for these discs to re-herniate, sort of like a relapse I guess you would say. And with the cost of surgery here in the U.S. I really would not want to go back and forth on something that will never be cured fully.
No I do not have disability insurance. I can technically be placed on 'disability' and recieve money from the government, but the toll that would do on me emotionally would be devastating. Plus, that is basically the excersize I get daily because I cannot do anything else really. I have tried going to the gym and getting my 6 pack back. Nope, not happening.
I do think that time might help my situation, but yet again, I really doubt it.
Physical Therapy did help me for the first couple sessions, but I mean now (3rd and 4th session) have not been helpful. Even traction, which reduces the pressure between your verbre.

Yeah I can understand why they would be afraid to prescribe a teenager
'high potency' narcotics and all that. But it is not like I would abuse them.
I am a very responsible person, and I would take them specifically for pain relief, not to get a 'euphoric' effect, be it may cause that or whatever.
I know there are some crazy peolpe in this world that do stufflike that too.
But , I dont know how much more I can take of being in pain every single day with no relief.
I kind of feel bad for myself. Hah.
Thanks alot for being respondant to my posts and everything. I appreciate it.

PhillyBunt,

It is quite possible that your doctor is afraid of opiate addiction for you because of your age, but at the same time, that is not an excuse for forcing you to suffer in the pain that you are in.

If you are unable to function because of the pain, then you need treatment and you need it now.

As I said before, you need the proper evaluation from a spinal surgeon, not a family doctor or GP.

Spinal surgery can be very scary, but in the hands of a skilled and experienced surgeon, there isn't a problem. The risk of paralysis at the L4/L5/S1 area is very remote as a result of surgery, but the risk of permanent nerve damage from compressed nerves can be very high.
Those include permanent loss of bowel and/or bladder control, sexual function, foot drop and permanent nerve pain.

How long it would or could take to develop any or all of those problems, no doctor can tell you, but it can and does happen. In my case it took 4 months and I lost bladder control, but regained it all within 2 hours of having spinal surgery to release the nerve compression at the L4/L5/S1.

A rehabilitation doctor can be a chiropractor, a physical therapist that has a doctorate in physical therapy, and a doctor that works to rehab patients that have muscle and nerve damage.

You should google the name of the doctor that you doc gave you to see and find out what type of doctor he is and what he does.

Based on what you have posted, it sounds like your doctor is giving you the run around and really isn't sure how to treat you and what to do.

At the very least he should have referred you immediately to a spinal surgeon for proper evaluation. He is not in a position to advise you on what the proper care should be, nor does he know what it should be and his information is not correct about a herniated disc either.

Yes they can re-herniate again after surgery, and then again, then may never reherniate or ever have any problems for the rest of your life.

My brother is 54 years old. He herniated a disc his senior year in HS from an injury playing varsity ice hockey.

He had surgery to repair the disc within 2 months of the accident, recovered and was fine. Went on to play college ice hockey for 4 years in college and has never had another spine problem since his senior year in HS.

It sounds like you have a serious stenosis of your lumbar vertebrae and what isn't clear from what you have said is if the herniation of the disc is causing the stenosis or if the stenosis is from the narrowing of the foramen of the vertebrae and it is forcing the disc to herniate.

A spinal surgeon will be able to answer those questions for you and the treatment would be very different, depending on the cause.

You need to be very, very assertive with your doctor and demand a referral to a spinal surgeon for proper evaluation.
Can one or both of your parents go with you to the doctor so that they can support you to be more assertive as well as ask your doctor why he won't prescribe some pain meds for you that will help to alleviate your pain?
Your doctor should have started you on an increasing dosage of neurontin to help ease the nerve pain as well.

If your doctor refuses to refer you to a spinal surgeon then you need to find a new doctor right away that will refer you and properly treat you.

You are in dire need of evaluation and proper treatment that only a spinal surgeon can provide you.

Oh, and many times, physical therapy will help to heal a herniated disc, but it takes time, about 8 weeks to work. But it will only help if the disc is herniated and causing the stenosis in the spine. If the stenosis is causing the herniation than you will need more treatment than just PT.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Fran

Thank you Fran. You have given me hope, which I appreciate.
Want to know something funny? I posted the same question to a doctor as i did the open forum, and he said I was addicted to 'Tramadol and Vicodin.' When I have never even taken the vicodin for my pain, until today. (Still no relief.)
I see this rehabiliton doctor on the 19th, so hopefully it will all go well then. And I do believe everything you are saying about the doctor to be perfectly true. I believe he is utterly afraid that I will become addicted to opiates at my age. But still, if I cannot function daily, why not even try help me?
In my MRI it says no spinal stenosis is observed, but that does not mean that it has not deleveloped.
I really have no idea what to do much anymore. About bringing my parents to see that doctor, the doctor has not even requested an appointment with me since he had found out what was going on with me, nor has he sent a request to any specialist. He hasnt done much of anything besides prescribe low grade narcotic pain relievers that do not work, AND an anti-inflammitory. I can give him credit for the physical therapy. But I had to BEG him to see a pain specialist/neurologist. But, he only approved the pain specialist.
(he is more of a pain then what i experience. hah.)
About me being young, I perfectly understand all the risks and nonesense of that, but I personally would rather be addicted to medicine, then suffer like I do every day.

Get a new primary doctor right away and get an appt ASAP with the new primary.

Bring one or both of your parents with you to the appointment and also get your records and MRI from your prior doctor.

Good luck

Fran

hi am sorry to hear about your condition especially seen as tho your only young i agree with Fran your doc doesn't sound very professional in helping you solve your problem and helping with your pain so you should find one who will put your health first good luck and i hope you feel better soon Jenny

Will do. thank you very very much.

no problem anytime hope you sort it soon