Guest guest Posted May 25, 2006 Report Share Posted May 25, 2006 , I had 2 epidural injections (lumbar) 2 years ago, when I was going through a period where I could bearly stand. In addition to progressing flatback, I had been rear ended. The injections helped significantly, providing almost immediate relief. I felt stronger and could stand straighter than I was able to in years. However, they don't work for everyone and, if they do, the medicine does wear off. I was told to use the time that the shots provided relief to build up my core stabilizer muscles - to improve my condition as much as posible while the big anti-inflamatory effect was at work. The thing that concerns me about your post is that its not clear to me that your pain dr understands the nature of your condition. If you are not comfortable that he does, there may be some other doctor that your insurance could send you to that does injections. In my area, they are usually done by psysiatrists (rehab medicine) and some by orthos. If you can't find one on your plan, maybe you could go back and push the pain doctor to spend more time evaluating your case by explaining why he's planning to do the type of injections and where based on your condition, pointing out to you the spots on your scans and xrays. Its important to understand where the pain is coming from to inject in the right spot. Also, there are a number of different type of injections (facet joint, trigger point, epidural, etc) and medicines that they inject (numbing, cortisone, etc). A doctor that really understands your condition would give you the best chance of a good result. Either way, in making your decision, the shots are alot less invasive and tramatic than a revision. Good luck with your decision. Jane > > > > Hello! I think that pain management physicians use a variety of > techniques, > > but injections seem to be a big part of their treatment > repertoire. They > > seem to do a variety of types of injections: trigger points, > epidurals, facet > > joints, medial branch blocks. They also do radiofrequency > ablations. My > > experience is that they prescribe medications; however, on one or > two occasions, > > they seemed to want me to get particular ones from my PCP. In > fact, I even > > had the same experience with an orthopedic surgeon a while back. > He claimed > > that it was because he did not see me all that often. > > > > I am not clear as to the cause of your PCP's anger with the pain > management > > doctor. Was it because the latter was passing the buck in terms > of > > prescribing medications? > > > > In a message dated 5/24/06 1:46:10 AM, mrstrem@ writes: > > > > > > > I have a question about pain management docs. Are there some who > only > > > treat with injections? > > > Is this a standard practice? When I was referred, all the > paperwork I > > > was sent about the care they give, gave me the impression there > were > > > different treatments available, which were injections and > different > > > meds. When I had my appt., his assistant told me point blank he > > > treated with injections only. While we talked and I asked about > the > > > pain meds I am taking, he told me he would send a note to my PCP > > > saying it was ok for him to continue giving the meds he was. > > > > > > I was finally able last Friday to get in to see my PCP and he came > > > unglued when I told him this. He was so mad he made sure he had > the > > > pain mgmt. docs name so he could turn him into Tricare, that he > was > > > only doing injections because that is where the money is. He also > > > said if I was his wife he would be more than angry I had to be > put in > > > the middle like that. Was I surprised! > > > > > > The pain mgmt. doc told me my problems were muscular, thus the > > > trigger point injections. But in the next breath he said he > wanted to > > > do the facet joint injections. Lets see, the paper I was given > > > says " Medial Branch Neurotomy " . I have already delayed making the > > > appt. for this, and am about 90% sure I am not making that appt. > It > > > seems so invasive for one thing, and now I am also wondering, is > it > > > necessary, or another expensive proceedure. As for me, I am doing > ok, > > > my pain problem these days is my neck which is not the area he > wants > > > to stick the needles. > > > Anybody ever had anything at all like this happen? > > > Lordy I am confused... > > > > > > (hope I made that clear, this is all just spinning in my > > > head) > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 I'm very slowly getting up and around after getting home yesterday after my lumbar surgery but in reading your message I wanted to share that I had been given a RS Medical R4i stimulator a little over a year ago to use and I really love it! I can't say it's a miracle device or that it takes the pain away, but with repeated use, the stimulation becomes very relaxing and it helps allot in taking some of the edge off the pain especially at bed time so that I can rest better. Electrical stimulation may seem a little uncomfortable at first but I found that by starting out at low settings and then slowly increasing the signal strength as tolerated, each session became easier and my feelings about having to use it have changed dramatically. Now it's something I look forwards to each time I use it. The key is to not overdo it and to take it slow. I found at first that trying to get each of the four individual pads placed in their proper positions over the lower back muscles can be very difficult to do by one's self but there is a wide Velcro belt that comes with the pads fixed in place that is very easy to use and takes away most of the hassle of pad placement. I am hoping that when the time comes for me to start PT post-op that they will start me out as soon as possible doing pool exercises. I guess I may always have back pain but it's a god-send to find things in addition to medications that I can use as part of my treatment that brings relaxation and comfort. I really hope the you may find the stimulator as helpful as I have. Very best wishes, Calvin Pain management Hi Everyone, I've been reading the posts and notice that some of my experiences have been different than other people in some areas. I had low back and leg pain for a long time before surgery. I tried everything. The steroid shots in my back didn't help. That seems to be a common result. Acupuncture didn't help. It actually made the pain worse. I went several times, thinking maybe I needed to give it a chance. I wound up in excruciating pain while on the table with the needles in me. The pain seemed to concentrate into a ball in my back. It happened twice. It was horrible. I'm wondering why that happened. The acupuncturist told me she'd never had that happen to any of her clients in 26 years of practice. About 6 weeks after surgery (L3-L4 fusion, PEEK rod to straighten lumbar spine), I went for a therapeutic massage. It felt good at the time, but made my pain worse for at least a week afterward. It felt like the pressure irritated my nerves and made the sciatic pain much worse. Now I'm 8 weeks post-op and still have a lot of pain. My doc says it's due to swelling, and that inflammation response is necessary for the bones to heal. He says I can't take anything to reduce the inflammation because that would be counter-productive. He prescribed water aerobics, an electrical stimulator (he says similar to a TENS unit but better), and told me I could up my MS Contin from 30 mg. twice a day to 30 mg. three times a day,. Has anyone had experience with water exercises and/or an electrical stimulator? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 7, 2009 Report Share Posted March 7, 2009 Calvin, Thanks for the information on the stimulator. It's reassuring to hear from someone who really likes it. I'll take your advice and start out slowly. And the same goes for your recovery from lumbar fusion - take it slow! Don't try to do too much too soon. I'm looking forward to the pool exercise, too. Everyone who has tried it says it really helps. Like you, I want to find non-drug approaches to pain relief. May you heal quickly and well. I pray every day for all of us who suffer from chronic pain. Roseanne > > I'm very slowly getting up and around after getting home yesterday after my lumbar surgery but in reading your message I wanted to share that I had been given a RS Medical R4i stimulator a little over a year ago to use and I really love it! I can't say it's a miracle device or that it takes the pain away, but with repeated use, the stimulation becomes very relaxing and it helps allot in taking some of the edge off the pain especially at bed time so that I can rest better. Electrical stimulation may seem a little uncomfortable at first but I found that by starting out at low settings and then slowly increasing the signal strength as tolerated, each session became easier and my feelings about having to use it have changed dramatically. Now it's something I look forwards to each time I use it. The key is to not overdo it and to take it slow. > I found at first that trying to get each of the four individual pads placed in their proper positions over the lower back muscles can be very difficult to do by one's self but there is a wide Velcro belt that comes with the pads fixed in place that is very easy to use and takes away most of the hassle of pad placement. > I am hoping that when the time comes for me to start PT post-op that they will start me out as soon as possible doing pool exercises. I guess I may always have back pain but it's a god-send to find things in addition to medications that I can use as part of my treatment that brings relaxation and comfort. I really hope the you may find the stimulator as helpful as I have. > > Very best wishes, > Calvin > > Pain management > > > Hi Everyone, > > I've been reading the posts and notice that some of my experiences have been different than other people in some areas. I had low back and leg pain for a long time before surgery. I tried everything. The steroid shots in my back didn't help. That seems to be a common result. Acupuncture didn't help. It actually made the pain worse. I went several times, thinking maybe I needed to give it a chance. I wound up in excruciating pain while on the table with the needles in me. The pain seemed to concentrate into a ball in my back. It happened twice. It was horrible. I'm wondering why that happened. The acupuncturist told me she'd never had that happen to any of her clients in 26 years of practice. > > About 6 weeks after surgery (L3-L4 fusion, PEEK rod to straighten lumbar spine), I went for a therapeutic massage. It felt good at the time, but made my pain worse for at least a week afterward. It felt like the pressure irritated my nerves and made the sciatic pain much worse. > > Now I'm 8 weeks post-op and still have a lot of pain. My doc says it's due to swelling, and that inflammation response is necessary for the bones to heal. He says I can't take anything to reduce the inflammation because that would be counter-productive. He prescribed water aerobics, an electrical stimulator (he says similar to a TENS unit but better), and told me I could up my MS Contin from 30 mg. twice a day to 30 mg. three times a day,. Has anyone had experience with water exercises and/or an electrical stimulator? > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 11, 2009 Report Share Posted May 11, 2009 I'm sorry you are having pain. I'm sure we'd like to help you if we can, or at least give you some options. Could you tell us where your pain is located? When does it occur, am, during day, eve? Is your pain on both sides of your body or only one? When do you feel the best? When do you feel the worst? Is your pain in your torso, where? Is your pain in your arms and legs, where? What makes the pain better? What makes the pain worse? Pain sometimes can tell us a story about itself, so this information might help up to help you. Roni <>Just because something isn't seen doesn't mean it's not there<> From: yallerguarddog <yallerguarddog@...> Subject: Pain Management hypothyroidism Date: Saturday, May 9, 2009, 8:47 PM I'm brand new here so I hope this is an appropriate question. How does everyone else with hypothyroidism manage the pain? Are other people just mentally tougher than me, or is there a certain trick to it? Some days it isn't so bad but some days it feels pretty unmanageable. I've talked to some people who say, " Oh yeah, I have that, " like it's no big deal to them, doesn't affect them at all. It affects my life considerably. I used to be a hard worker; now I pay dearly in pain if I try to work like I did before. Can other people with hypothyroidism manage their lives well and keep on top of things? Because I don't feel like I'm being very successful at that, which bothers me a lot. Especially since I will need to increase my activity level in the upcoming months due to additional things I need to do. I walk 4 miles a day six days a week, wearing 7 lbs. of weights, but some days that's all I can manage to do. I don't like feeling incapacitated! I want to accomplish more, like a normal person. Any advice? Do other people deal with this too, or is it just me? ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 I'm sorry to hear of your difficulties and unfortunately I can't really offer any helpful advice. It hurts me to be in that position, but I just don't know how to help. The only thing I can suggest is to try to find a doctor that will listen to you and try to work with you. You might also consider pain management if you don't already have it. I can tell you that for certain a lot of us aren't " tougher " than you; we just don't have the problems. In my case as far as I can tell my life is completely normal, and I have no symptoms or pain that cannot be attributed to something else [my age of 68, for example]. We _can_ become accustomed to at least some pain. Many years ago I had an arthritis type pain in my elbow; it would burn like fire down my arm at times. Really extreme, and off an on it went on for a long time. Then one day I had a headache; not really bad but I was considering if I wanted to take aspirin for it or not. Then it dawned upon me that my arm was burning like it was on fire, and it didn't bother me. I mean not at all. The pain was _much_ more intense than the headache, but I was giving it no conscious thought whatsoever; and even when I did it was not a bother. I know that doesn't really make any sense; it doesn't even to me and I experienced it. Normally I have no control over pain whatsoever, and if it's there I suffer. Best of luck, .. .. > > Posted by: " yallerguarddog " yallerguarddog@... > <mailto:yallerguarddog@...?Subject=%20Re%3APain%20Management> > yallerguarddog <yallerguarddog> > > > Mon May 11, 2009 6:59 am (PDT) > > > > I'm brand new here so I hope this is an appropriate question. How does > everyone else with hypothyroidism manage the pain? Are other people > just mentally tougher than me, or is there a certain trick to it? Some > days it isn't so bad but some days it feels pretty unmanageable. > > I've talked to some people who say, " Oh yeah, I have that, " like it's > no big deal to them, doesn't affect them at all. It affects my life > considerably. I used to be a hard worker; now I pay dearly in pain if > I try to work like I did before. > > Can other people with hypothyroidism manage their lives well and keep > on top of things? Because I don't feel like I'm being very successful > at that, which bothers me a lot. Especially since I will need to > increase my activity level in the upcoming months due to additional > things I need to do. > > I walk 4 miles a day six days a week, wearing 7 lbs. of weights, but > some days that's all I can manage to do. I don't like feeling > incapacitated! I want to accomplish more, like a normal person. Any > advice? Do other people deal with this too, or is it just me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 13, 2009 Report Share Posted May 13, 2009 I have lots of pain because I have a condition called Fibromyalgia. I'm now waiting to hear if I also have developed something caLled Polymyalgi Rheumatica, which I never heard of before. I had never heard of the Fibromyalgia before I came down with it and was diagnosed. What kind of pain do you have? Sharp, dull, aching, all of the above? Where, specifically is your pain? back, head, neck, shoulders, arm, legs, chest, stomach, hips, knees, ankles, feet? other? I'll try to come up with some ideas if you can give us more information? By the way, how long have you been hypothyroid, and could you give us your thyroid test results, for each test, and the range of normal for each test as it appears on the test form? Roni > > > > > > I'm brand new here so I hope this is an appropriate question. How does > everyone else with hypothyroidism manage the pain? Are other people > just mentally tougher than me, or is there a certain trick to it? Some > days it isn't so bad but some days it feels pretty unmanageable. > > I've talked to some people who say, " Oh yeah, I have that, " like it's > no big deal to them, doesn't affect them at all. It affects my life > considerably. I used to be a hard worker; now I pay dearly in pain if > I try to work like I did before. > > Can other people with hypothyroidism manage their lives well and keep > on top of things? Because I don't feel like I'm being very successful > at that, which bothers me a lot. Especially since I will need to > increase my activity level in the upcoming months due to additional > things I need to do. > > I walk 4 miles a day six days a week, wearing 7 lbs. of weights, but > some days that's all I can manage to do. I don't like feeling > incapacitated! I want to accomplish more, like a normal person. Any > advice? Do other people deal with this too, or is it just me? ------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 Dear group, I was just wondering if you have any thoughts or suggestions for pain management. I have had scleroderma for 10 years, and with LDN and ALA and a variety of other things I do feel like I am (finally) getting the upper hand against this disease. However, a lot of damage has been done, a lot of scar tissue created, and in general I have inflammation. What has worked for you? Thank you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 If you do not have high blood pressure you can try 3x500 mg D-Phenylalnine on empty stomach. It keeps the endorphines during the day and helps with pain http://www.iherb.com/doctor-s-best-best-d-phenylalanine-500-mg-60-veggie-caps/8607?at=0 if you decide to buy at iherb you can get 5 dollars off your First order with this code ZAH179 I am using the Free version of SPAMfighter.SPAMfighter has removed 1986 of my spam emails to date.Do you have a slow PC? Try free scan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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