RE: Re: New to Group - lower back pain

November 30, 2008

Lynn

I started with back pain and a herniated disc in early 1990's after a car

accident...I have received probably in the ballpark of 6 epidurals a year

since 1990 and enabled me to go 15 years before my first back surgery. I

believe one of the most important things in looking for a doc to do

injections is that they use a machine called FLOUROSCOPY. (which is

basically an xray) in real time so that when the doc injects he know exactly

where he is putting the medicine. My pain doc will do one a week or every

two depending on how much pain the patient is in.

If two shots dont work they dont continue. If you get great relief from a

shot but it is not long lasting that gives the doctor information as well. I

think they do at least two to see if they do not work because they assume

they were not in the correct spot the first time. I have also had 2 radio

frequency ablations that I would do again in a heartbeat (got 1.5 years

painfree with no back pain whatsoever).

I hope you get some pain relief...you might want to ask your primary if your

insurance necessitates for a consult to pain management..as most of the PM

docs will get you in for an injection with in a day or two with your doc or

another in the practice rather then having to wait a long time. Also, let

the docs know that the meds they have you on are not cutting the pain....and

that you need to be able to function.

Deb

From: spinal problems

[mailto:spinal problems ] On Behalf Of

Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2008 9:41 AM

spinal problems

Subject: Re: New to Group - lower back pain

Hi Lynn,

Yes, like Tery said, chronic pain is a very lonely place to be.

People can't see your pain from the outside (except when I'm hunched

over like I'm 90 yrs old when I'm only 35) and only you can feel it...

people who do not have chronic pain do not understand. That's why I

joined this group. When I tell people I have degenerative disc

disease with 4 bad levels and have been in pain for 10 yrs, they say

" oh, I have low back pain sometimes but I just take an Aleve and do

some stretches and I feel better - have you tried that? " - I'm like,

you have NO idea. And they don't. I wish that I could just take an

Aleve and feel better - if I could, I would. I hate the way pain has

changed my personality - I am not as fun loving as I could be, or in a

good mood like I could be, or a mover and a shaker like I could be...

I wish I could take my 3 yr old and 9 month old to the park every day

or play with them on the floor... but it is what it is. I deal with it

the best way I can - take my meds, see my docs, limit my activities to

what I know I can do, and hope for the best. We all understand what

you're going through, and I'm so sorry you are in such pain. It's just

not fair.

The epidurals have not worked for me (or the facet blocks, or nerve

blocks, etc) but I know MANY people who have gotten relief from them.

My father had one years ago and has been in minimal pain since. I know

they seem scary but give them a try - I have tried every single thing

under the sun, both medical and nontraditional - I think it's worth it

to try anything because you never know what might give you some

relief. Believe me, I know that the more things you try that don't

work makes you feel like " why am I even trying?! " but please don't

give up. : )

Jenn

> Hi group,

>

> This is my first writing. I was diagnosed with a bulging disc at l5-

> s1 back in August. I woke up one morning and couldn't bend over. I

> was having terrible muscle spasms. I went to my orthopedic surgeon

> who diagnosed me with a bulging disc and some arthritis in the sacro

> area. He prescribed the epidural steroid shot, which I shyed away

> from at first. I went to the chiropractor who was able to minimize

> the pain and since then it has been painful but manageable. This

> past weekend I had a Saturday with hardly no pain, then on Saturday

> night I was lying on the couch and I felt something move. My back

> tightened up and the pain that was on the right side returned. I am

> taking flexeril and tramadol for the pain but it just doesn't seem to

> be working anymore. I am at my wits end. I have to work but it

> seems the only comfort I get is lying down on a semi-hard service.

>

> So I called my orthopedic dr this morning to schedule the shots (you

> get 3 shots over the course of 6 weeks, each shot 2 weeks apart). I

> called the dr.s office and that good-for-nothing receptionist he has

> (who I have complained to about many times) told me the next

> scheduled shot date is next Thurday. I told her that would take the

> protocol into the holidays and will shots then be given. I don't

> want to go on about her -- I'll just call back when someone else is

> there that can help. I am too tired, at this point, to seek out

> another dr.

>

> I live alone and believe it or not one of my dogs has disc disease

> and I have to crate her for 8 weeks and carry her out to the yard to

> take care of her business. I'm sure carrying her (even though she's

> only 15 lbs.) has not helped.

>

> I am so upset that all this is bringing me to tears. I get very

> little support at work. My boss left me a pile of files (on my

> floor) to send off site but first I have to catalog them. So now I

> have to get people to help me lift the files off the floor. So

> incensitive.

>

> I would go out on disability until this is resolved but I can't

> afford to do that with me being my sole support and having to manage

> my bills and my mortgage.

>

> Thanks for listening. If anyone has any advice, please let me know.

>

> Lynn

December 1, 2008

Hi Deb

have you or anyone in the group had problems with your SI joint?

I wonder if anyone in the group has had a CT scan and found that they have a

fused SI joint.

The Orthopedic doctor said it sometimes happens spontaneously in groups of

people who do heavy lifting...

aka Nurses...

I just would like to hear if anyone in our group has and how they maybe dealing

with it.

My Physiatrist MD wants to do Radiofrequency. He said fixation should be last

option.....

thanks

RN

Re: New to Group - lower back pain