pain 2 yrs after herniated disc back surgery Posted: 02-20-04 09:46am
I have been suffering from back pain on
and off for 7 years. I am 27 years old
and had back surgery to remove part of a
herniated disc in 1999. The pain went
away after the surgery until 2 years ago.
Since then I have been in constant pain.
Sometimes it is extremely bad to the point
where I can't even breathe (that has only
happened once since I started taking meds
and it was last saturday). Other times it
is a lot less intense. Generally it is
tolerable with pain medication. I did
three months of pt last summer which made
the pain worse.
I had an mri done in november of 2003 that
revealed a budging disc, a ruptured disc
and degenerative disc disease. I had been
seeing a neuro/spinal surgeon at the time
the mri was done and after he got the
results he sent me to pain management. I
have been taking 8 percocet 5/325 (2 four
times/day), 900 mg of neuronton (300mg
three times/day), and two oxycontin 20mg
twice a day. I am always in some pain but
it is usually controlled fairly well by
the medication.
Last weekend I was on a short vacation and
was doing a lot of walking. Halfway
through the day on saturday my back went
out completely. I couldn't move or
breathe. I was finally able to get back
to the hotel and after lying in bed for
several hours the pain was a lot less
intense. It was still bad but at least I
could breathe easily again. After the
pain was under control I got out of bed
and tried to walk. I was having severe
pain shooting down my leg. I haven't had
that sensation since before I had the back
surgery in 1999. The leg pain gradually
got a little better over the next two days
but it hasn't improved since then and I am
still in pain. I have also had a severe
aching pain in both of my sides since the
incident on saturday. The medication
isn't helping very much.
When I got home on monday I called the
pain management center and told them about
what happened. They wanted me to come in
to see someone on thursday (yesterday).
When I got there they had me see a
pharmacist instead of my regular doctor.
Is that a normal thing? I have never seen
a pharmacist before. Anyway, I told him
about what had happened and that the meds
weren't working at all. I said that I
think the situation in my back had changed
and maybe I should get another mri. He
said that it wasn't necessary. After I
told him that the pain medication wasn't
cutting it he told me that I was taking
too much already and I needed to cut down
on the percocet (from 8/day to 6/day) and
completely stop taking the oxycontin. I
asked him what the hell I should do for
the pain then and he prescribed some patch
thing that has a local anesthetic in it.
You're supposed to stick in on your back
for 12 hours a day. I've got it on right
now and it isn't doing a thing. So here I
am in severe pain and the doctor lowers my
pain medicine doses. I don't get it. I
honestly don't care if I get hooked on
anything as long as it helps me. If i'm
taking it everyday anyway I can't see that
it would matter if i'm hooked on it. I
just want something to help my pain. I
hate living like this!
Has anyone had a similar experience where
you were in worse pain than normal and the
doctor lowers the dose of you meds? I am
so angry right now. Any advice would be
appreciated.
Thank you!
Hugh
|
Crystal Chanda Leir
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 51 Location: Australia
Posted: 03-16-04 06:52am
Hi hugh,
that is a shitful situation you are in.
Actually my husband is experiencing a
similar situation to yours. He has
ruptured discs in his back aswell as disc
degeneration. He is 34 years old and has
been suffering for about 6 years. We have
now managed to get an appointment to see a
neuro but if he can have surgery, he will
probably be on a 1 - 2 year waiting list.
His doctor has prescribed him with
panadene forte for his pain, which does
absolutely nothing. He also has shooting
pain down his left leg, which is a result
of sciatica. Where the bulging discs are
pressing on the nerves in the back, and
the pain radiates most of the way down the
leg. You sound as though you have already
had a micro discectomy or something of the
sort. I think my husband will be needing
that proceedure as soon as possible.
|
purple333
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Dec 2003 Posts: 1420 Location: Sydney
Posted: 03-17-04 14:30pm
Hugh,
i have had back, neck, hip & knee
problems starting from birth. At birth my
neck was twisted (scoliosis) & stuck -
it took 2 years of painful(so i'm told)
physio to correct this but it left me with
long term neck & spinal pain, my knees
started disclocating at age 10 & the
knee caps were finally removed (after 2
failed surgeries) at 19, but they caused
furthre back plus hip problems & i'm
told my lower spine is disintegrating.
I am unable to take the "right" meds for
all this but have found mersyndol (not
mersyndol forte as it's no better) 4-10 a
day, vioxx, once a day & glucosamine
with chondriotin (750 & 600grams
combined tablet, twice daily) have helped
alot.
As to saying that you don't care if you
get hooked, you already are & what's
more you are your own worst enemy, what
the hell do you think you're playing at,
do you want to be in a wheelchair for the
rest of your life????
Going walking, hasn't anyone told you the
basics of dealing with pain, especially
back pain - you should not be walking
especially alot of it - you get what you
ask for when it comes to pain - you be
stupid & you pay the price, you be
smart & it's alot easier.
That said, I can't understand why you were
sent to the pharmacist you should have
seen a dr & had an mri - but you do
need to cut back on the meds & anyway
what's the point of taking them if you're
going to go out & do things that cause
not only pain but aggravate the problem as
well.
The meds I mentioned are under those names
here, check on a search engine for what
they're known as in the us. Although the
glucosamine & choindroitin should be
sold there too as they're basically health
supplements - but come to me recommended
by a Dr.
|
lINDAp815
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 6 Location: atlanta
I Was Put On Avinza For Pain And It Helped Posted: 03-28-04 14:55pm
It helped more than the percocet and other
stuff.
But nothing beats finding a doctor who
knows what they are doing/saying.
Lots of people with back, butt, leg
problems are being misdiagnosed.
Check out www. Kalindra.Com
for some info and lots of links.
Good luck
|
scotti2000
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 49
Posted: 05-02-04 16:46pm
Purple,
i think this is a dangerous game you are
playing with peoples lives. While I
realize your intensions are well, I don't
think you realize that some of the things
you are offering will not work with
everyone, and some could perhaps cause
more serious problems. Hugh, when you
are standing the weight of your upper body
is being supported by your sacroilliac
joints, they are stable so you feel no
pain. When you sit the weight is shifted
to your sacrum and compresses the spine.
You have a disc problem. I know you know
this and if you have read my other post,
and post of others here you will find that
drugs (pain killer, anti-inflams, and
muscle relaxents) are not the solution.
They only serve to destroy your liver and
kidneys, creating other oportunities for
the doctor. Please find a chiropractor
who will find the problem, relieve the
pressure, and the pain will subside.
Your quality of life is very diminished in
that it has effected you ability to
breath, this is what I have referred to in
my other posts as function.. Not only is
it causing pain, by the muscles it serves
are affected, and possibly the lungs...
I really think that you owe it to yourself
to find a different means of dealing with
this then the way you have. What I hear
you saying is that traditional medicine
has failed you, give chiropractic a try...
