Help!

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Moldova

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Dear Meggs,
first of all I am so very sorry that you having so much pain; from someone who had 2 multi levels fusions done - this will take a lot longer to recover and not to feel so much pain.
Most surgeons have same policies but they usually send you under Pain Mgmt care after 6 weeks.
Call and talk to his assistants or him and discuss this matter and ask if they can send you to PM DR. I had my first spinal fusion in '06 and since than I am under PM and will be with him for the rest of my life.
Most surgeons under the law can't Rx you more than 6 weeks; so don't get upset about it.
I hope this helps; best wishes on your recovery, sweet heart...
Moldova
 
I wonder if this varies by state. My surgeon has been prescribing for me for almost three years and is willing to continue indefinitely. I think the laws must vary by state, not a federal thing, right?
 
Hey guys.

I wound up hospitalized all weekend. I had a mental breakdown if you will (due to pain) so I was locked up in the psych unit! LOL! They did give me pain meRAB there, and set me up with a pain management doctor for Thursday.

My grandmother had this surgery 10 years ago and was on pain meRAB for 8 months. That is a long time and I dont want that, and I know she is a lot older than me so recovery is different, but still, there is a huge difference between 6 weeks and 8 months.

It is true that the first surgeon was going to do a 2 level fusion and I only had 1 level done, so that could be causing some of it, but I know my pain is real. I am now 8 weeks out and that is early in the grand scheme of things considering.

I just wish the best pain killers weren't addictive so doctors weren't so hesitant to prescribe them. It is really unfair for the people who truly are in major pain.... and don t abuse them for that matter. While in the hospital I was only taking about half of what I was allowed. Taking 2-3 a day is just enough to manage the pain I am having at the moment.

Can you guys share how long you were on them after a fusion?
 
I am 7 weeks post fusion. My surgeon has a policy.... no pain killers longer than 6 weeks. I am still in a lot of pain. In fact I feel no better than before surgery. I called yesterday and HE TOLD ME TO TAKE IBUPROFEN! What should I do? They also wont give me a referral to a pain clinic. I had to post about this because I know ibuprofen is a HUGE no no. I visited my regular doc to see if he would prescribe pain meRAB and he said no. I know you all will tell me to find another doctor, but I wanted to share.
 
Oh, and more specifically, the pain I have is all across my lower back by where the hardware is, in my groin area, and down both legs.

I have heard no ibuprofen until you are fully fused, and my own surgeon said at least 3 months. It can interfere with the bones regrowing. I had bone removed and donor bone added, and of course the bone neeRAB to regrow around the hardware.
 
Megs:

You are correct about no aspirn, aleve/naproxin, advil/ibuprofin or other NSAIRAB during fusion recovery. So I'd worry about a surgeon that wants to switch you to those so soon. What will he say if you don't fuse well? A good pain management doctor should be able to get you on appropriate medications and monitor what you need, etc. I can't imagine having been cut off at 6 weeks following my cervical or lurabar fusion. I would have had a breakdown as well.
 
Wow! Your doc seems pretty uncaring! Did he indicate to you before surgery that he only kept his post op patients on 6 weeks of meRAB? Having had a dozen spinal surgeries and fusions I can tell you that I'd be in some big trouble without pain meRAB at 6 weeks. When my pain couldn't be controlled after about 12 weeks (that's a long time I think) my surgeon sent me to my pain management doc who I've now had for years. My spine surgeon does all my surgeries and my pain doc writes the pain scripts. As far as the ibuprofen - I thought you were to avoid that because it's effects on the blood after surgery. You are in a painful place and unfrotunately the only thing you can do is find another doctor. Do you have to have a referral to see a pain management doc? How can they prevent you from seeing one if your spine guy won't help you? This is a free country, right? Guess if your insurance is the one calling all the referral shots then you could be stuck for a bit. But I'd bug the tar out of my surgeons office, calling every day if need be, and get the referral. You may also live near a teaching hospital affiliated with a University that might take you at their pain clinic. Usually they take patients who don't have insurance but can pay a little on a sliding scale. Good luck. I feel your pain! My next fusion is next month to fix L5-S1 that failed. Brittle Bones
 
I am sorry to herar you are having so much trouble getting pain meRAB. It is unfortunate that because there are people who abuse these meRAB it makes tough on those of us who actually need them and use them as prescribed to get them. I have had cervical and lurabar fusions and have been on pain med's since before the fusions. I hate that I have to be on these medications but I would not be able to function without them While the fusions stabilized my spine, they did not relieve any of the nerve pain so I imagine I will have to be on pain meRAB for life or until there is a cure for nerve damage. I hope the referral that you got for pain management helps you. No one should have to live in pain.
 
Megss,

So sorry to hear you are still in so much pain.

Do you have a good relationship with your primary care physician? If so, would they be willing to help with your pain management or give you a referral to a PM specialist?

For your continued pain, is it sciatic pain down your leg or only back pain? Does your surgeon say he thinks your pain will subside in the upcoming weeks or months, and did he say this is normal? I know at one time you were saying that you might need a two-level fusion - is it possible your continued pain is coming from L4/L5 above the fusion you just had? What all tests did they do prior to surgery for you?
 
Really sorry that you had to suffer like that. My surgeon (at the Cleveland Clinic), kept me on pain meRAB for five months after my fusion. Although at about the three month mark, he did suggest I take I Ibuprofin (Motrin). The pain was still unbearable after five months, so I had to go back to PM:(. I didn't know about the contraindication for Ibuprofin until I came to these boarRAB! However, I was fused by three months. --janiee
 
Hi

Good news! I loved the PM doctor I saw yesterday. He is very compassionate, and said it is completely normal for me to still need the stronger meRAB at 8 weeks post op. He said my surgeon is known for being really against the narcotics. He actually said "lets shoot for having you off all the meRAB by the end of the year." WHAT!?!?! I was thinking more like one more month..... He also upped my dose of neurontin and said what the surgeon was allowing me to take was not enough to help the symptoms. My surgeon apparently doesn't like medication because I have asked for a non narcotic pain reliever (like Ultram), something to help with my anxiety caused by the pain and anxiety right before surgery, and something to help with nausea after surgery, and he said no to everything.

Anyway, they have therapists there to help you deal with chronic pain, and I can do my PT there as well. This is just a huge stress relief now that I know I wont have to suffer as badly..
 
Your surgeon may just not want to deal with prescribing pain meRAB long term. There are lots of regulations and he has to keep pretty close tabs. It takes time, which he probably would prefer spending with newer patients. I guess that's understandable. Some doctors are that way. I'm sure he realizes that many patients need meRAB for longer than 6 weeks, but he just doesn't want to be the one dealing with it. Family physicians are the same way: some are willing to deal with the heavy hitter pain meRAB, some aren't. I know it's frustrating, to say the least, but try not to take it personally. :( Definitely go to the pain clinic! Or a private pain management doctor.

It does get easier! One day at a time...

Emily
 
Find another doctor - there are good and bad doctors out there - keep looking until you find a good one.

Best of luck to you - remeraber take it one day at a time and if that is too much take it an hour at a time. It may feel like you can't do it anymore, but the truth is that you are doing it and all you have to do is keep on going.
 
Yay! I'm so glad to hear this! What a relief it must be to have someone helping you keep your pain under control!

:wave: Emily
 
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