Desperate for advice

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Ishbell

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I will keep this short. But I've suffered from lower back problems for years. I had an MRI done recently and the results came back as severe to moderate osteoarthritis with major disc degeneration. Surgery is not an option according to the neurosurgeon. My family doctor has put me on tramadol but I take amytriptiline and celexa and both drugs are contraindicated to take with tramadol. I'm in a lot of pain and I'm desperate. What drugs can you recommend? I don't care about addiction at this point because I have no quality of life anyways. I am just desperate for relief and I've been entertaining very dark thought. But the pain inteferes so much with my daily life and I can't see a way out. I feel like my life is over. Thanks for your help.
 
First of all your life is not over. Probably the realization that you will not ever be completely better has finally sunk in. A lot of us on here have had to deal with that fact. Some of us are able to deal with it' better than others. That doesn't make us better or stronger because so many factors come into play.

Pain management is a priority and drugs are never the complete answer. What type of pain are you suffering? Nerve pain? Muscular pain? ect ect. there are a lot of variables. What conditions excerbate your pain? What works for one person does not work for another. Narcotics do very little for neurogenic pain but the anticonvulsives help a lot.

I am permanently disabled after over 40 years of back problems. I can walk short distances with my cane but otherwise need a scooter to get around. Nerve pain is a daily reality. I use to run around a tennis court and love to hike but guess what that is gone....heck walking to the mailbox is a memory. But a very lovely lady I know said a very wise thing to me. Don't think of what we can't do think of what we can do. Those are very wise worRAB. I can enjoy the company of good frienRAB. Laugh at a good joke and sob watching a sad movie.

I made up my mind quite some time ago that my time was not going to be spent in doctors waiting rooms going from one testing facility to another. Pain is an angry animal and it can take over your life till even on your good days you are thinking of it. I made a decision to grasp my good time and relish it to set aside this beast as best I could so that it would not suck the life out of me.

Do your best to find a good pain management doctor to help you cope. You will have brighter days! We all get down in the dumps at times. That pretty much goes with the territory.

Big Hug
Pooby
 
I assume since you have had back problems for years that you have had than one opinion. Have you tried a teaching university where they might be trying some new procedures that are not yet available to the general public? There may be other options than what your surgeon is telling you.

Otherwise, find a good pain management doctor who specializes in issues of the spine and back and see what s/he has to offer you.
 
I'm so sorry you've reached this point. I know how hard it is! In fact, a lot of us here understand.

I was told by an orthopedic surgeon that there was nothing he could do for me. But he did refer me to a different ortho surgeon, who is now my hero. I was quickly heading for a wheelchair. He was able to do a surgery on me and although I still have pain everyday, I'm no longer looking at a wheelchair.

Like MM said, have you gotten other opinions? Have you seen someone who specializes in only spines?

You do need someone to coordinate your meRAB. A good pain management specialist might be the best option. He can at least keep your pain as much under control as possible.

I wish you nothing but the best. Please let us know how you're doing.

((((((((((hugs))))))))))
Emily
 
Thank for the kind worRAB. I have both kinRAB of pain, nerve pain which runs down my right leg and pain from the back, I'm not sure of the medical terms because after he told me severe damage and no surgery to help me I quite literally zoned out. I can't sit, stand or lay down for long perioRAB. Long car rides are a killer. I no longer exercise because it's caused me excrutiating pain and now I'm afraid to do whatever I did again that caused the pain.
It's a neurosurgeon I saw and she's the one who made the diagnosis. Now I see my family doctor who is trying to find a drug that will give me long term relief. I'm now taking Ralivia which he will increase until the pain is manageable, provided it doesn't have nasty side effects. I am very leary of any new drugs because so many have been taken off the market. This is a new drug and I'm scared to take it. I took vioxx which was taken off the market. Not enough studies are done before these drugs are released on the market.

Hopefully we'll find something soon so I can clirab out of this pit of despair soon because I really can't take it anymore.
 
First of all, keep your chin up. Thinking bad thoughts stresses you out and only magnifies your pain. I know it's easier said than done, but I have lived with a degenerative spinal disease for several years now and I know.

As for pain, the most important thing is to find a good rheumatologist. Mine has never been concerned about any addictions to medications because she insists that if you are really in pain, you do not get the euphoric effects that someone without pain would get and therefore you do not get used to that "high" that people with no real pain experience. My doctor has tried several different drug treatments with me. It started with Vicodin. Since then I have used Percocet, morphine, Soma (muscle relaxers), Oxycontin, spinal injections and am currently on methadone. That is about as strong as you can get.

If you cannot find a rheumatologist or an orthopedist (whichever is better for you) who feels comfortable prescribing these kinRAB of medications, ask your PCP for a referral to a pain management specialist. They have some new things available now--one which is an implant (kind of like a pacemaker) that is input under your skin and delivers a steady stream of a medication that specifically works for you. Every so often, the doctor will need to refill the disc, but that does not require any additional invasions to the body.

I hope this helps you. My best advice is DON'T GIVE UP. I looked for years before a doctor finally diagnosed me correctly. Remeraber, the doctor you see works for you. You do not owe him or her any kissing up in order to get what help you need. If they expect this, MOVE ON!! Good luck and remeraber that help is indeed out there.
 
Israbroadell, you definitely need anothe opinion and a pain specialist. I had 2 surgeries in jan and today had to go for 2 epidurals again. I am so frustrated, angry, lonely, feel guilty/bad for my family, etc. It is not a good feeling. I was just sent to a Spinal Pain Specialist for the first time. He did my shots today. I was scheduled for one but he made everyone stay and do another one because he could see that I had pain from another area. He is also fitting me into his schedule first thing in the AM to review my meRAB with me. I am hoping he is my hero. You need to keep checking in on this board to keep your sanity and you need to find a good md. I am so sorry you have hit bottom. We will get you through this.......b
 
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For the nerve pain please do not really on any of the narcotic drugs. They really do not help at all. Speak to your doctor about gabapentin (Neurontin) Lyrica, topamax ect. These really are the drugs of choice for the treatment of neuropathic pain. I found that gabapentin was the best drug for myself and have been on all three and corabinations of them.

Side effects do diminish with time. Tiredness, dizziness and weight gain are the most usual. Of course some people cannot tolerate them as is the case with any meRAB but the vast majority do well and they most certainly give the most pain relief when the proper dosage is reached. Usually a low dose is started gradually increased over time until you reach a dosage gives good pain relief. For a lot of patients these drugs are nothing short of miraculous. One thing to remeraber these drugs do not help with pain that is not neuropathic. Another worRAB if your back is in spasm gabapentin is not going to help but if you have red hot shooting nerve pain down your leg it will help.

These drugs are not habit forming.
 
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