new to group-question about pain meds

[Guest guest]

Casey,

You will prob get a lot of responses to this question. A lot of ppl on this list

are long-term scoliosis patients w/extensive pain (I am one of them). While it

might seem to you that your sister is on many meds ( & to an average healthy

person on no meds whatsoever), the list you provide is rather light and typical.

True, she is taking more than she has in the past, & as her pain increases

she'll probably add a few others to the list. It is possible to function rather

normally in spite of being on multiple medications. The important thing is that

each doctor is aware of the meds and moreover that the pharmacist is consulted

for any questions/concerns. The key is to have all scripts filled at the same

pharmacy and to inform the pharmacist of over-the-counter meds and

vitamins/herbs, etc. Many ppl mistakenly leave out OTCs & herbals when listing

what they take, but they can have implications on the way the body processes

other meds on board.

I won't go into the drug cocktail pain clinic patients are likely to receive,

because she doesn't seem to be at that 'place.' However, if you have

questions regarding them, just ask.  

It seems that she will be having surgery in the future. My surgery was in 1977

when I was 11 years of age, so things have greatly changed for the better since

then. The surgery itself is still a major surgery, but the techniques have

improved as well as the aftercare. 30 years ago a patient had to remain flat in

bed for 30 days until a cast was put on. Then you got to go home & wear the cast

for a year. Now, you're up & back home within a week and there's nothing outside

of your body that is distracting visually. There will be pain, of course...but

it's conquerable. Intense when you first wake up, but it decreases as each day

goes by. She'll likely be on an opioid like vicodin when she is released. It

will be discontinued within a few weeks. Activity is encouraged, and the spine

will be stably fused one year later.  

I'm curious about her degree of curvature, how long has it been diagnosed & what

treatment modalities she has received. Is pain the reason she's considering

surgery at this point? Was it suggested previously or only recently? Is there

anything in particular that has increased the pain (i.e. an injury or stressful

event). Medications for anxiety can be given to pain patients to help with the

pain whether or not they are experiencing any form of anxiety related to their

condition. The 'change' that you notice in her could be a result of her having

to deal with pain on a daily basis. It's really a full-time job & can be quite

exhausting. Many ppl try to maintain an appearance of normalcy even though the

body is not in a normal state. That can tire one out, as well. Medications can

affect moods but are not necessarily the cause of whatever you are noticing. If

this is particularly distressing for either of you, perhaps talking to

a counselor or clergy

member would be of benefit. Groups like this are also an excellent forum for

exchanging ideas & just plain ol' venting.

I had wonderful success with my surgery. It freed me from my brace and reduced

my curve as much as possible. After my year in a cast, I was released to

participate in almost any activity I desired. I led a 'normal' life with only

occasional pain until a car accident changed that in 1997. I personally know

several girls (4) I went to school with who had bracing, surgery and are now in

their 40s with perfectly normal lives and children. The view from the scoliosis

forums might be a little skewed due to the fact that ppl who have wonderful

outcomes are 'out there living their lives' instead of having any reason to

discuss their scoliosis, so I encourage you to keep the positives in mind as you

research surgery.   ~Moonbeam

Milwaukee brace 4 yrs

Fusion T3-L2 w/Harrington rod Age 11 

Cobb angle reduced from 84* to 52*