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[Guest guest]

,

I am with ya! I am in pain since December from a car hitting me in the

crosswalk, when I was walking home from my sons school. I am on a lot of pain

meds, and nothing works. I had three nerve blocks (almost like an Epidural

procedure, just done under an x-ray machine to get it in an exact position) and

I had to stay awake, as I have mild sleep apnea, and had to deal with the

pain, during the three procedures!

I see the Orthopedic Surgeon, again, next Thursday! I have been in ER's, and

they can only give you shots. I can't stand up as my disc goes in and out,

the DOCS THINK! My back goes into spasm, and I am unable to provide for my

son. It is very hard, and aggravating!!!!!!

I am with you, as I have no idea what is next, as I have the herniated disc

at L5, S1, and Radiculopathy from the Sciatica Nerve. I am in so much pain,

that I can drive myself crazy. I don't know what is worse, physical or

mental pain, as I deal with both, as I lost my parents and brother in less than

six months, two years ago. I would have to say the physical pain is worse, as

if you are in pain, there is so much you can do. If mental, at least you can

talk to someone and there is mild meds to help you out. Understand?

You are not alone, as I am noticing, here! I am going to go into my

Surgeons office and demand to be helped and not as a number but as a person.

It has

been over 7 months, and I just can't take it anymore!!!!!!! They are

working for me, not for those darn insurance companies, even though it seems

that

way! As, I have to go through my insurance company, and I have to sue the

lady that hit me, though I wasn't in my car, it is under my car insurance! So,

the lawsuit, just began, and now we shall see what happens, as the bills are

piling up, my percentage, and I feel I shouldn't have to pay, as I was

clearly in the right, walking in the crosswalk, when she turned on her green

light

and she stated, in the police report, she couldn't see, as the sun was in her

eyes! Nothing happened to her, as of yet, but I hope to get my bills paid,

but first I WANT MY PAIN GONE!!!!!!!!

Hang in there! Let us know how everything goes!

BIG HUGS~

DAWN

Hugs,

Dawn

"

[Guest guest]

Hey, !

You're not alone. Not by a long shot. I'm astonished at the number of

people who are dealing with a variant of what we're dealing with!

About those meds... all of the research I've read (and it's a bunch) is

saying that you do NOT get dependent on pain meds as long you take them only

because of your pain. That is, you take enough to get rid of the pain, and

you take enough to stay rid of the pain. (It's much easier, they tell me,

to make it stay away than to make it go away. If I ever manage to make it

go away, I'll let you know my opinion.) So do not live in pain out of fear

of dependence, unless you've already got some known addiction issues.

Pain, all by itself, is BAD for you! It's bad for your immune system. It

makes it harder to sleep, and bad sleep makes you tired, and stupid, and

grumpy. Pain is bad for your blood pressure. It can be the sole cause of

major depression. So take the meds, and be grateful that you have doctors

who are willing to be compassionate enough to treat you correctly.

On 7/26/06, Maddy <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

>

> hi everyone, I work at Disneyland and I got hurt while on the job in

> November of last year. They put me into physical therapy for a

> massive lumbar strain, only to have the therapy make my condition

> worse. I was diagnosed with Siatica in February and was put through 3

> painful lumbar cortisone epidurals and to have none of them work. My

> condition only got worse from the on. I've been off of work since

> February and nothing is helping my pain and now my doctors are telling

> me that I might have to get a discography done, among getting tested

> for rhumatoid arthritis. I need someone to talk to, my doctors can't

> seem to find hat is wrong with me and I'm getting so tired of

> fighting. I'm only 19 years old and I'm taking pain meds like I'm

> 60. I'm afraid to take my pain meds because I'm afraid that I'm going

> to get dependant on them. So I'm suffering through all of the pain

> without pain meds. Please, I'm looking for someone to talk to and who

> can reassure me that I'm not alone.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

You don't even begin to know how good it makes me feel to have someone who is

in my situation, and to have someone who can give me advice on the meds. that

id one of the main things that scares me so much. Espicially since I have to

take valium and ambian. I know valium is highly addictive and when my doctor

told me I need to take it, I was petrified to take it because I was afraid that

I was going to get instantly addicted to it. The sleep med ambian is just as

bad. I just started to see a shrink and he is worried because of my sleep

habits, and how I have no appitite. I haven't eaten a full meal in I don't know

how long. I've lost 15 pounds in the last 3 months...I went from 130 to 115.

And now my hair is falling out. Everytime I take a shower and I wash my hair,

hand fulls of hair come out. It's really starting to scare me. My mom is

telling me not to stress out over it but it's bringing me to tears because I'm

so scared. It's just nice to know that've

found people who are going throught the same thing as me. I really appriciate

you taking the time to write me, it really means a lot.

<laughsinglive@...> wrote:

Hey, !

You're not alone. Not by a long shot. I'm astonished at the number of

people who are dealing with a variant of what we're dealing with!

About those meds... all of the research I've read (and it's a bunch) is

saying that you do NOT get dependent on pain meds as long you take them only

because of your pain. That is, you take enough to get rid of the pain, and

you take enough to stay rid of the pain. (It's much easier, they tell me,

to make it stay away than to make it go away. If I ever manage to make it

go away, I'll let you know my opinion.) So do not live in pain out of fear

of dependence, unless you've already got some known addiction issues.

Pain, all by itself, is BAD for you! It's bad for your immune system. It

makes it harder to sleep, and bad sleep makes you tired, and stupid, and

grumpy. Pain is bad for your blood pressure. It can be the sole cause of

major depression. So take the meds, and be grateful that you have doctors

who are willing to be compassionate enough to treat you correctly.

On 7/26/06, Maddy <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

>

> hi everyone, I work at Disneyland and I got hurt while on the job in

> November of last year. They put me into physical therapy for a

> massive lumbar strain, only to have the therapy make my condition

> worse. I was diagnosed with Siatica in February and was put through 3

> painful lumbar cortisone epidurals and to have none of them work. My

> condition only got worse from the on. I've been off of work since

> February and nothing is helping my pain and now my doctors are telling

> me that I might have to get a discography done, among getting tested

> for rhumatoid arthritis. I need someone to talk to, my doctors can't

> seem to find hat is wrong with me and I'm getting so tired of

> fighting. I'm only 19 years old and I'm taking pain meds like I'm

> 60. I'm afraid to take my pain meds because I'm afraid that I'm going

> to get dependant on them. So I'm suffering through all of the pain

> without pain meds. Please, I'm looking for someone to talk to and who

> can reassure me that I'm not alone.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well, my whole issue started with me picking up a 10 pound bucket of ice. I had

picked up things heavier and it just so happened the one day I must have picked

up that bucket and my back said enough. I've been off of work since February

and everyday just seems to suck more and more. I don't know how it is to deal

with insurance companies, mine is workers comp. I've had 3 lumbar epidurals and

each one had cortisone so I've got my limit of cortisone I can have until furter

notice...thank God, that cortisone is miserable to deal with. I've had my

nerver tests done back in May and I only know the results of the EMG but the

nerve velocity test I never found out the results to that one. They think I may

have some kind of nerve damage because I had such a bad disc buldge that it may

have caused nerve damage, and when I started to get worse they wanted to test me

for lupus and rhumatoid arthritis among other things. Now they're talking about

me having a discography to see if

I have a torn disc. It seems like you're in a worse situation than me, but

it's nice to have someone who can sympathize with what I'm going through. I

thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my post, it really means a

lot to me.

Mom2TMT@... wrote:

,

I am with ya! I am in pain since December from a car hitting me in the

crosswalk, when I was walking home from my sons school. I am on a lot of pain

meds, and nothing works. I had three nerve blocks (almost like an Epidural

procedure, just done under an x-ray machine to get it in an exact position) and

I had to stay awake, as I have mild sleep apnea, and had to deal with the

pain, during the three procedures!

I see the Orthopedic Surgeon, again, next Thursday! I have been in ER's, and

they can only give you shots. I can't stand up as my disc goes in and out,

the DOCS THINK! My back goes into spasm, and I am unable to provide for my

son. It is very hard, and aggravating!!!!!!

I am with you, as I have no idea what is next, as I have the herniated disc

at L5, S1, and Radiculopathy from the Sciatica Nerve. I am in so much pain,

that I can drive myself crazy. I don't know what is worse, physical or

mental pain, as I deal with both, as I lost my parents and brother in less than

six months, two years ago. I would have to say the physical pain is worse, as

if you are in pain, there is so much you can do. If mental, at least you can

talk to someone and there is mild meds to help you out. Understand?

You are not alone, as I am noticing, here! I am going to go into my

Surgeons office and demand to be helped and not as a number but as a person. It

has

been over 7 months, and I just can't take it anymore!!!!!!! They are

working for me, not for those darn insurance companies, even though it seems

that

way! As, I have to go through my insurance company, and I have to sue the

lady that hit me, though I wasn't in my car, it is under my car insurance! So,

the lawsuit, just began, and now we shall see what happens, as the bills are

piling up, my percentage, and I feel I shouldn't have to pay, as I was

clearly in the right, walking in the crosswalk, when she turned on her green

light

and she stated, in the police report, she couldn't see, as the sun was in her

eyes! Nothing happened to her, as of yet, but I hope to get my bills paid,

but first I WANT MY PAIN GONE!!!!!!!!

Hang in there! Let us know how everything goes!

BIG HUGS~

DAWN

Hugs,

Dawn

"

[Guest guest]

Oh, sweetie, I'm thinking your appetite, sleep, and hair problems are more

likely from stress than anything else! Of course, pain causes stress, too,

so more reason to get out of pain.

Valium can be addictive. No question. But when you're using it in a proper

manner, prescribed by a qualified doctor, to treat anxiety (or whatever

diagnosis the qualified doctor gave), you're most likely not in danger

unless you've got a serious family history of addiction. (Some studies have

indicated a genetic predisposition to addiction, but even that is no

guarantee -- I've got alcoholism on both sides of my family tree, and have

never had an addiction problem with anything except cigarettes, and was able

to give that up with nothing more than self-hypnosis.)

Ambien can also be addictive, so most doctors won't prescribe that for

extended periods, unless they're quite certain that you're not at risk. If

they feel there's a risk, they'll go with Lunesta, which has a much lower

risk of addiction, or Rozerem, which has almost none.

Addiction is very real, and you're a smart cookie to be on the watch for

it. If you find yourself wanting to increase the dosage, and your doctor

thinks it's a bad idea, that's the time to go from " on the watch " to

" concerned " . Unless that happens, there's nothing to be afraid of.

And wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself a big hug for going to

a shrink! That's another very smart thing to do. We're not taught how to

deal with pain, emotionally, and it just doesn't come naturally to most of

us. Psychiatrists are of course able to prescribe meds, and psychologists

and social workers and other mental health professionals tend to be quite

educated about meds, so you can also ask them about your concerns about

addiction. If two medical professionals agree that you're not currently at

risk, that's another good sign that there's nothing to worry about.

And... you know what? It's okay to cry. Seriously. You might not want to

overdo it, 'cuz if you're like me, that'll give you a headache and puffy

eyes and a runny nose (only use Puffs Plus with lotion for that!) and maybe

even the hiccups, but seriously, feel what you feel. And then, let it go.

Watch a funny movie, or go to a pet store and cuddle a kitten, sing a song

(something like " Who I Am " , or " Let the River Run " does it for me), do what

you need to do to feel good again.

And give your mom a hug . She probably doesn't really understand what

you're going through, but it's pretty clear that she loves you.

On 7/26/06, Stanton <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

>

> ,

> You don't even begin to know how good it makes me feel to have someone

> who is in my situation, and to have someone who can give me advice on the

> meds. that id one of the main things that scares me so much. Espicially

> since I have to take valium and ambian. I know valium is highly addictive

> and when my doctor told me I need to take it, I was petrified to take it

> because I was afraid that I was going to get instantly addicted to it. The

> sleep med ambian is just as bad. I just started to see a shrink and he is

> worried because of my sleep habits, and how I have no appitite. I haven't

> eaten a full meal in I don't know how long. I've lost 15 pounds in the last

> 3 months...I went from 130 to 115. And now my hair is falling

> out. Everytime I take a shower and I wash my hair, hand fulls of hair come

> out. It's really starting to scare me. My mom is telling me not to stress

> out over it but it's bringing me to tears because I'm so scared. It's just

> nice to know that've

> found people who are going throught the same thing as me. I really

> appriciate you taking the time to write me, it really means a lot.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/27/2006 2:13:15 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

skor_strikes_once@... writes:

valium and ambian

,

A better medication, than Valium, is Klonopin, as it stays in your body

longer (6-8 hours) as Valium is only about 4 hours. I have been off and on

Klonopin (Clonazepam~Generic) for over 12 years! I also take it for a Panic

Disorder, as Valium is used anxiety, panic, and same as most meds in this type

of

medication (Benzo's) help with muscle relaxing. Ambien, as you take for

sleep, doesn't have anything for muscle relaxing, but does help you sleep, for

anxiety. They will soon be approving a generic form, which is strange as I

have been on and off Ambien for about 8 years! A Great sleeping med, and I

take

it on a, as needed basis!

Are you on any other Muscle Relaxers? They usually,try the Flexril, first,

than Skelaxin, and other ones in the same category, but I was on them all,

and nothing. But, I am now on Zanaflex, which is strong, but works!!!

Glad you are learning, as I am too! We are not alone!

Hugs,

Dawn

" A friend should be mathematical. They should multiply the joy, divide the

sorrow, subtract the past, and add to tomorrow ..... calculate the need, deep

in your heart, and always be bigger than the sum of their parts. "

" Hear the Music in your Heart, and Follow it! " ~ Dawn

[Guest guest]

,

I'm praying that my sleep, appitite and hair issues are from stress. I'm

under a lot right now and no one seems to understand how much stress I'm really

under, everyone says I'm over reacting and being a drama queen. I've never

asked to increase my dosage on any of my meds except for ibuprofin because 600mg

wasn't working and I had taken my mom's 800mg motrin and it worked great, but my

doctor didn't increase the dosage insted he gave me naprosyn because I told him

I had taken that before when I had knee surgery, so he gave me that insted of

upping my dose of ibuprofin. To my knowledge there is no addiction in my family

other than being alcoholics. When I started to complian about my not being able

to sleep, my doctor first put me on Sonata but it didn't work for anything, it

actually kept me awake. So then he gave me the ambian. He said to take it

every night, but I would only take it maybe once a week. Well, I knew I needed

to see a shrink...I've needed to for a

long time. I've had a lot of things in my past that I need to deal with and I

need to learn how to deal with all of the things I am going through now. I'm

just having a really hard time dealing with everything. My mom has been a huge

support system in all of this...she went with me when I had to get all of my

epidurals and was with me when i have to get my triggerpoint injections and my

two demoral shots, she even sat through holding my hand when I had to get that

God aweful EMG test done....that was one of the worst experiences of my life.

And my boyfriend has been a big help with me too. Granted he hasn't gone to the

doctor or anything, but when I come home and I've gotten a shot or had a test

done, he spends his nights taking care of me. I've got two great people in my

life who are helping me, but I though that joining a support group with a bunch

of people that are going through the same thing as me might help me out even

more. And I can tell you right now, you

and one other person have made me feel so much better by sending me these

e-mails of encouragement.

always,

<laughsinglive@...> wrote:

Oh, sweetie, I'm thinking your appetite, sleep, and hair problems are

more

likely from stress than anything else! Of course, pain causes stress, too,

so more reason to get out of pain.

Valium can be addictive. No question. But when you're using it in a proper

manner, prescribed by a qualified doctor, to treat anxiety (or whatever

diagnosis the qualified doctor gave), you're most likely not in danger

unless you've got a serious family history of addiction. (Some studies have

indicated a genetic predisposition to addiction, but even that is no

guarantee -- I've got alcoholism on both sides of my family tree, and have

never had an addiction problem with anything except cigarettes, and was able

to give that up with nothing more than self-hypnosis.)

Ambien can also be addictive, so most doctors won't prescribe that for

extended periods, unless they're quite certain that you're not at risk. If

they feel there's a risk, they'll go with Lunesta, which has a much lower

risk of addiction, or Rozerem, which has almost none.

Addiction is very real, and you're a smart cookie to be on the watch for

it. If you find yourself wanting to increase the dosage, and your doctor

thinks it's a bad idea, that's the time to go from " on the watch " to

" concerned " . Unless that happens, there's nothing to be afraid of.

And wrap your arms around yourself and give yourself a big hug for going to

a shrink! That's another very smart thing to do. We're not taught how to

deal with pain, emotionally, and it just doesn't come naturally to most of

us. Psychiatrists are of course able to prescribe meds, and psychologists

and social workers and other mental health professionals tend to be quite

educated about meds, so you can also ask them about your concerns about

addiction. If two medical professionals agree that you're not currently at

risk, that's another good sign that there's nothing to worry about.

And... you know what? It's okay to cry. Seriously. You might not want to

overdo it, 'cuz if you're like me, that'll give you a headache and puffy

eyes and a runny nose (only use Puffs Plus with lotion for that!) and maybe

even the hiccups, but seriously, feel what you feel. And then, let it go.

Watch a funny movie, or go to a pet store and cuddle a kitten, sing a song

(something like " Who I Am " , or " Let the River Run " does it for me), do what

you need to do to feel good again.

And give your mom a hug . She probably doesn't really understand what

you're going through, but it's pretty clear that she loves you.

On 7/26/06, Stanton <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

>

> ,

> You don't even begin to know how good it makes me feel to have someone

> who is in my situation, and to have someone who can give me advice on the

> meds. that id one of the main things that scares me so much. Espicially

> since I have to take valium and ambian. I know valium is highly addictive

> and when my doctor told me I need to take it, I was petrified to take it

> because I was afraid that I was going to get instantly addicted to it. The

> sleep med ambian is just as bad. I just started to see a shrink and he is

> worried because of my sleep habits, and how I have no appitite. I haven't

> eaten a full meal in I don't know how long. I've lost 15 pounds in the last

> 3 months...I went from 130 to 115. And now my hair is falling

> out. Everytime I take a shower and I wash my hair, hand fulls of hair come

> out. It's really starting to scare me. My mom is telling me not to stress

> out over it but it's bringing me to tears because I'm so scared. It's just

> nice to know that've

> found people who are going throught the same thing as me. I really

> appriciate you taking the time to write me, it really means a lot.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

How did you get hurt specifically? I am much older than you, being 50, but the

idea of taking as many meds as I do still makes me sick.

Maddy <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

hi everyone, I work at Disneyland and I got hurt while on the job in

November of last year. They put me into physical therapy for a

massive lumbar strain, only to have the therapy make my condition

worse. I was diagnosed with Siatica in February and was put through 3

painful lumbar cortisone epidurals and to have none of them work. My

condition only got worse from the on. I've been off of work since

February and nothing is helping my pain and now my doctors are telling

me that I might have to get a discography done, among getting tested

for rhumatoid arthritis. I need someone to talk to, my doctors can't

seem to find hat is wrong with me and I'm getting so tired of

fighting. I'm only 19 years old and I'm taking pain meds like I'm

60. I'm afraid to take my pain meds because I'm afraid that I'm going

to get dependant on them. So I'm suffering through all of the pain

without pain meds. Please, I'm looking for someone to talk to and who

can reassure me that I'm not alone.

[Guest guest]

i was at work opening the resturant that i work at, and i was filling up the

soda machienes with ice. i picked up a bucket of ice that weighed about 10-15

pounds, i felt a pull but no pain until about 8 hours later when i was getting

off of my shift. i went to our on call doctor the next day and things just went

down hill from that.

<wilsent@...> wrote:

How did you get hurt specifically? I am much older than you, being 50,

but the idea of taking as many meds as I do still makes me sick.

Maddy <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

hi everyone, I work at Disneyland and I got hurt while on the job in

November of last year. They put me into physical therapy for a

massive lumbar strain, only to have the therapy make my condition

worse. I was diagnosed with Siatica in February and was put through 3

painful lumbar cortisone epidurals and to have none of them work. My

condition only got worse from the on. I've been off of work since

February and nothing is helping my pain and now my doctors are telling

me that I might have to get a discography done, among getting tested

for rhumatoid arthritis. I need someone to talk to, my doctors can't

seem to find hat is wrong with me and I'm getting so tired of

fighting. I'm only 19 years old and I'm taking pain meds like I'm

60. I'm afraid to take my pain meds because I'm afraid that I'm going

to get dependant on them. So I'm suffering through all of the pain

without pain meds. Please, I'm looking for someone to talk to and who

can reassure me that I'm not alone.

[Guest guest]

Oh, I know where you're coming from!

The people who say you are " over reacting " don't know what they're talking

about. They don't understand, they *can't*. To be fair, it's not their

fault, what we go through *is* hard to imagine. So just nod, smile, and

change the subject. Then come here and vent.

On 7/27/06, Stanton <skor_strikes_once@...> wrote:

>

> ,

> I'm praying that my sleep, appitite and hair issues are from

> stress. I'm under a lot right now and no one seems to understand how much

> stress I'm really under, everyone says I'm over reacting and being a drama

> queen. I've never asked to increase my dosage on any of my meds except for

> ibuprofin because 600mg wasn't working and I had taken my mom's 800mg motrin

> and it worked great, but my doctor didn't increase the dosage insted he gave

> me naprosyn because I told him I had taken that before when I had knee

> surgery, so he gave me that insted of upping my dose of ibuprofin. To my

> knowledge there is no addiction in my family other than being

> alcoholics. When I started to complian about my not being able to sleep, my

> doctor first put me on Sonata but it didn't work for anything, it actually

> kept me awake. So then he gave me the ambian. He said to take it every

> night, but I would only take it maybe once a week. Well, I knew I needed to

> see a shrink...I've needed to for a

> long time. I've had a lot of things in my past that I need to deal with

> and I need to learn how to deal with all of the things I am going through

> now. I'm just having a really hard time dealing with everything. My mom

> has been a huge support system in all of this...she went with me when I had

> to get all of my epidurals and was with me when i have to get my

> triggerpoint injections and my two demoral shots, she even sat through

> holding my hand when I had to get that God aweful EMG test done....that was

> one of the worst experiences of my life. And my boyfriend has been a big

> help with me too. Granted he hasn't gone to the doctor or anything, but

> when I come home and I've gotten a shot or had a test done, he spends his

> nights taking care of me. I've got two great people in my life who are

> helping me, but I though that joining a support group with a bunch of people

> that are going through the same thing as me might help me out even

> more. And I can tell you right now, you

> and one other person have made me feel so much better by sending me these

> e-mails of encouragement.

>

> always,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Well the best way I've learned to deal with all this shit is just keep

smiling so they don't know how much pain your really in.

Mark from Boston

last surgery was 17 weeks ago spent 12 weeks in a halo had c0,c1,c2,c3,c4

and c5 fused plated and rods installed take a buzz by my journal if you get a

chance!! _http://journals.aol.com/immort1/PAININTHENECK/_

(http://journals.aol.com/immort1/PAININTHENECK/)

[Guest guest]

http://www.thyroid-info.com/news/index.htm

Roni

---------------------------------

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