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I thought I would make a post to see if anyone has a suggestion for me. I fell off a ladder serveral years ago and dropped 20 feet on my foot first and than on my back. I was not able to sit for a couple of months. I kept on asking for an xray while Iwas in the hospital because I felt like I had to have broke something. The only way that I could sit or lay down without crying was to sit on my side and even that was hard. I could not even be in the sitting position. I had to stay laying down. Several years to today. I again have had MRI's of my back and they show arthritis and stenosis of my back but that is it. I say that is it because I get so angry when the doctors look at the results and they say that they do not understand why I am in the pain that I describe. I know you all know what I am talking about when it comes to Doctors and narcotics. I am on Methadone, Oxycodone, Neurontin, and Ibuprofen. When I tell them I need help with this pain I know they think I am looking for more pain pills. But I right at the beginning take that out of the equation. I tell them I am not looking for more pain meds but that I am looking for relief. The best thing that has helped me has been this Tens Unit but it is just masking the pain. I just was given a shot of Toradol on two recent occasions and this particular drug really took a lot of pain away for a few days. But I heard you can not take this medicine too often. The pain I am feeling is a constant stabbing pain. What is worse is the pain starts in the low back and comes into the groin area. It makes you so angry. It feels like it just builds with pressure and if you don't get occasional relief, you are going to explode. I will pull my knee up to my chest to stretch the spaces of my spine apart more and I am not kidding but my back just keeps popping while I keep that in place for several minutes. It will pop 50 to70 plus times during a five minute period of holding in place that long. What I am asking of anyone. Is if you have had a similar situation, have you had any sucess with your doctors in this particular area. Is there something that I need to ask my doctor that this might be that maybe they have not thought of. Has any treatments been good for you. I am desperate with this situation. I have so many medical problems but if I could get this one to be more dealable, I could have a more productive life. I just don't know what to say to these doctors or who to go to. I do a lot of research. People usually come to me for these type of problems. But I am the one this time in need of suggestions. I would appreciate any idea or input that miight send off to potentially new and productive direction. Thanks for your time. |
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| | | From: Hannah. | Sent: 10/17/2008 10:01 AM |
Hello Dan, welcome to the group! This will be a short message, as I am just off to sleep. But, I wanted you to know your post was read, and reply to it. I'm sorry you are suffering like this. Have you had a nerve blcok done? Have any doctors suggested surgery for your back? I know with stenosis sometimes that is one of the things that helped. I will go and look at spineuniverse.com and see what I can dig up for you. Hannah  |
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| | | From: Hannah. | Sent: 10/17/2008 10:04 AM |
Dan, I will leave this link with you to explore, if you have not already come across it in your search for help. Bye for now Hannah |
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| | From:  CyndyK2 | Sent: 10/17/2008 6:49 PM |
Hi, Dan, and welcome to the family! You're our THIRD Dan; no potential for confusion here, hahaha! This is gonna be fun. : ) First off, it sounds like you, too, probably have CRPS, given the meds you're on with little relief. I suspect you've got a herniated disc putting pressure on your sciatic nerve, or maybe the stenosis is what's doing it. I've bumped up another post, "A strong recommendation for a spinal surgeon" from murfisto for you to see. I have no idea if you're anywhere near that area, but even if you aren't, you might be able to call his office and get a recommendation for a doctor closer to you. This doctor got Murray out of a wheelchair and walking again, Dan.
Cyndy
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| | | From: Dan | Sent: 10/18/2008 12:29 AM |
Hey, Dan. Welcome. Wow, another Dan. Great name you have there. My name is Dan. I just want to welcome you to the family. I also want to suggest that you consider keeping a pain diary, where you keep a running numerical estimate of your pain level so you can show you doc how much pain you're in. Doctors like that kind of information. It helps them justify the use of narcotics. God bless and welcome again. Dan |
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Hi Dan, I'm so sorry that you are in such pain. I can emphathize with you, I used to have bad sciatica where they would put me in the hospital in traction to give me relief. it was horrible. I had a lower back spinal fushion when I was in my 20's and a cervical spine fushion in my neck four years ago. I still have awful back and neck pain but not to the extent that you have. Wish i had a good answer for you but i don't know what you could do. I'll definitely send up a prayer for you, they never hurt and sometimes are the only answer. Hope you will find some help. lots of love gramanan |
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Hi Dan, I'm the third Dan they mentioned; welcome to the group. I know pretty much how you feel because I've been in the same boat for almost 30 years. I have doctors that still don't believe I have chronic pain and an insurance company that says the same thing. My suggestion would be to try finding a doctor that deals only with pain issues. They know who's drug searching and who's in real pain. At least my pain doctor does. I went for twenty years with people calling me a liar and denying my pain until I finally went to the Minnesota Pain Clinic and hooked up with a good pain doctor. Once the other doctors see that you're serious about being in pain and have taken the narcotic issue off the board then they might be inclined to listen to you instead of labeling you a drug searcher. Shadow-Dan |
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Welcome Dan! Sorry to read about your pain....know that sucks! I''ve had 9 lumbar and 3 cervical surgeries to date....which is more than enough. My last lumbar was over 25 years ago....so very much in the 'dark ages' of spinal surgery. My neck was done 3 times, the last one being a 3 level fusion...which, thank God, was pretty successful. Of course, I 'pop' a lot and do have limited movement in the neck....which is okay with me...as long as the pain isn't too bad. It did relieve the severe pain I had though. I've had approximately 50 surgeries to date...mostly all bone related. I've had just about every bone operated on....well, not quite...but a lot of them...lol. I've had my knees done...3 knee replacements, plus lots of arthroscopies beforehand....said I was 'too young' to have the replacements...yeah, right. I had my shoulders done, twice, each. My thumb is fused...had nerve transpositions on both arms...foot surgeries, etc., etc. Needless to say, I'm in pain every single day; but, thank God I have a great pain doc! He told me on the first visit, that there was not much he could do for me...other than to give me narcotics for the rest of my life. I take quite high doses, but have been on the same dose for about 8 years now. I don't want to go higher either....it's tough trying to get relief....especially when I had the knee surgery done....could not get ahead of the pain. Anyway, I'm sorry you have so much pain. Have they done a myleogram....or EMG to see if it is nerves that is causing some of your pain?? I know the TENS just masks the pain for you...but at least you do have a way of easing the pain, which is good. I know some people practically live with the TENS on. I wish I could give you the 'magic cure'....would be wonderful if we could all have it, wouldn't it?? But I know just finding out what the problem is would take some of the stress off of us. The 'not knowing' is the worst thing for me....and for most of us. Hope some of this helps...even just a little bit. Take care, Dan. Hugz, Dee |
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Dan, Since the TENS unit helps you so much, have you or the docs discussed or considered the implantable pain stimulator? Or the implantable pain pump? You can read more about these at www.medtronics.com . It might be something that could help you, I don't know. But something to consider though. The stimulator could be something that is implanted and is "on" all the time and would divert the pain signals constantly rather than you having to stop and take the time to put on the TENS pads and unit. (I have a TENS unit too, they're a pain to put on, IMO) I believe you can request more info from them from their web site and they still send out a video to view with info, etc. Or at least they did when I asked for info. Might be something to look into. Take care. tomcat |
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try some vitamin b12
i read jfk need a b12 shot to do stuff
he was in pain i think
take the pill at least 500 mcg 1000? whatever |
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| Hi Dan, I'm new here and my name is CJ. My husband has a chronic back issue as well. To long to go into detail here. Ask if Back Decompression Therapy is right for you, see if there is a decompression problem anywhere in your spine that's NOT showing up on the x-rays. With your MRI, ask them to turn it. With my husband, it took 3 years to notice that his back compressed inwards, towards his spine because they never turned the picture properly because it's...uncommon. Keep asking for new pictures, not only new pictures but make sure with the MRI, that they turn it in ALL directions. Find a doctor that will take you seriously and find a med that helps and stick to it with other things. Trust me, I know how a back issue can be frustrating. I've been going through it with my husband for 5 years and still going. We're still trying. Just don't give up and feel free to message me for more details. Good luck. |
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