Physical Therapy

June 9, 2009

Wow, that's too bad . I do see in the office that when people have an

adverse effect to the Ultram, it is usually stomach upset.

You should talk to your doc about using Toradol for occasional break-through

pain. Unless you have stomach problems. It is a powerful NSAID that works as

well as the best narcotics out there. If used to often it can lead to peptic

ulcer, so one must be careful withit's use. But when only used for breakthrough

pain...it is a wonder drug. Even my WORST pain imaginable...a 10 out of 10...the

Toradol has killed it. It comes in 30mg for IM injection or 10 mg pills. Many

docs are not used to prescribing it, so you need to research it and present the

idea, just to give it a try. But it is a wonder drug. It's what we give in the

OR before a patient wakes up from surgery. It is the most powerful knock-out

drug for pain ever!!!!

--- in RI

From: Jim & <_JM@...>

Subject: Re: Physical Therapy

spinal problems

Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 5:31 PM

Hey Tracey,

I tried the ultram er and it made me sick as a dog. I mean like a stomach virus,

had my guts hurting and very sick. I had taken the ultram before but just not

the er and it was okay. I've had problems with other er drugs like the diabetes

medicine glucophage er. So I must have a problem with whatever it is that makes

it extended release. Go figure. I'll not ever take that stuff again tho. I even

tried it a second time cause I thought I might have actually gotten a stomach

virus but it did the same thing again. I wish I knew of a drug besides these

lortabs that would help long term that I could tolerate.

June 9, 2009

Bravo, living like a normal person is the goal. Im my case, I usually wake up

around 5:30 in the morning and take a couple of Ultram and hae a cup of tea and

a light breakfast. This " getting going " period lasts about an hour. I stopped

trying a long time ago to get the license plate of the truck that hits me when I

first get out of bed. Anyway, by the time I hit work, I'm OK for 2-4 hours.

Afternoons get rough with sharp stsabbing pain and I have an option to take a

half or whole norco 10mg. If I actually need to do some human being activities

like pulling weeds or emptying the dishwasher later, I usually go with a whole

pill. This is significantly less medicine than I used to take. As an engineer, I

need to stay sharp because I am challenged on some subject matter all day long.

I have found the pain kills concentration way more than the pain pills. I wish

I could get a surgical approach I could believe in. The last surgery was major

and didn't do a thing and what I need to get over now is the dissapointment of

that. Oh well, as bad as it gets, there is always someone within shouting

distance with worse pain so I try to turn complaints around into a daily prayer

for all who have pain. Nice to correspond with you, , my regards, Dave.

spinal problems

From: tpowell1977@...

Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 06:55:01 -0700

Subject: RE: Physical Therapy

Absolutely . it is because of my judicial use of narcotics that I can get

relief from the Ultram now. I didn't get any relief when I was taking Percocet

on a regular basis. It wasn't until I droppped the narcs with the exception of

break-though pain that I got relief. I am now able to get relief of

break-through pain with Tylenol #4...which is amazing!

When i do need some, I start with only a half tab...my goal is necver to take

the pain away...although that would be lovely...but it's to make it manageable.

I have to rely on these meds to work for me for a lifetime...so I'm extra

careful. Also, when you do that, you increase your pain tolerance a lot. When

you take narcs often, you get used to that level of pain control, so levels of

pain which were acceptable before...become difficult to bear. Narcs can be

difficult to manage and lead you on a ride if you aren't careful.

I know some people scoff when I say Ultram can work on the pain and they have to

cut back and or stop the narcs for that to happen...but it's true. They will

adjust to the pain levels and the narcs will become more effective. The

motivating thought for me was that if I kept going, I was soon going to run out

of anything that will work if I didn't stop the process. So, I stopped it before

it got to that point.People here say that their pain is just too high that the

Ultram doesn't work...and it's NOT that. Believe me, I have had six surgeries

and have continued to work, many times in agonizing pain. I worked in so much

pain that I developed a heart condition. But now it's better, and the Ultram ER

has changed my life. It never wears off! I don't have to stop and take meds all

day! So I'm able to forget about my chronic pain and live my life. I feel like a

normal person!

---

> > >>

> > >> From: Jane Tatum <janetatumcharter (DOT)

> net>

> > >> Subject: Physical

> > Therapy

> > >> spinedisorderssuppo rtgroup@gro

> ups.com

> > >> Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 10:40 AM

> > >>

> > >> I am coming out of total lurkdom here to say

> that

> > the best physical

> > >> therapist I have ever met had a BS degree

> from

> > Texas State Women's

> > >> College.

> > >> I think his expertise is why I have been able

> to

> > walk again after my

> > >> laminectormy and posterior lumbar fusion on

> > December 29, 2008. I know

> > >> that

> > >> I have a lot of time yet to go to get

> recovered

> > from my surgery and

> > >> that the

> > >> pain I deal with daily is just something that

> is

> > part of life. I just

> > >> wanted to make the point that talent and

> > professionalism can come

> > >> with a

> > >> lesser amount of training. Genuine concern

> for

> > doing a good job is a

> > >> major

> > >> factor as well.

> > >>

> > >> I enjoy being a part of this group and

> certainly

> > read the posts every

> > >> day.

> > >> All of us who are in the situation of dealing

> with

> > spinal issues have

> > >> a very

> > >> special bond, and the ability to support

> each

> > other through difficult

> > >> times

> > >> is a major factor in all of our lives.

> > >>

> > >> Jane Tatum

> > >> Tennessee

> > >>

> > >> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> > >>

> > >> ------------ --------- --------- ------

> > >>

June 9, 2009

Thanks for the info on the Toradol, I will ask my pain management doc

about it. I do have a bad stomach tho too. I had to quit taking Celebrex due to

a ulcer. They thought I had a pyloric mass and now 4 endoscopies later (2 with

ultrasound) they don't know where it went. They had pics of it and everything.

So I have to take it easy with my stomach. I also have a lap band that has given

me nothing but problems ever since having it put in and my stomach doc says I

should have it taken out. Oh well, if it's not one thing, it's your mother. hehe

June 9, 2009

Dave,

I hear you loud and clear...the pain DOES wipe out your concentration way more

than the pain meds do. I worked in the OR before I gave up the job to take care

of my back. I was in such misery standing at the OR table and not being able to

move...I couldn't focus at all. But with the pain meds...I was good. Mornings

were always tough for me too until I started the Ultram ER. Now I wake up

feeling great! AND I sleep all night too. Which of course help cope with

everything else. I I have to weed or do yard work I take a Tylenol #4 or a

Toradol. It KILLS me..but I refuse to give it up. I took a laid back job working

2 days a week and started rigorous PT...and now after 9 mos, I m feeling ready

to go back to full time. But I don't think I can do the OR again.

Like you said...there's always someone nearby who's worse off...that's always

helped keep me in check and grateful. Surgery is overrated. There's almost no

surgery that doesn't leave you with something...nerve damage...spine changes due

to the anatomical changes the surgery created..I could go on and on. If you ccan

find a way to function and work, even if you have to decrease hours or change

jobs, I would avaoid surgery until I was incapacitated.

Keep your chin up, stay positive and laugh every day...

--tracy

> > > >>

> > > >> From: Jane Tatum <janetatumcharter (DOT)

> > net>

> > > >> Subject:

> Physical

> > > Therapy

> > > >> spinedisorderssuppo

> rtgroup@gro

> > ups.com

> > > >> Date: Saturday, June 6, 2009, 10:40 AM

> > > >>

> > > >> I am coming out of total lurkdom here to

> say

> > that

> > > the best physical

> > > >> therapist I have ever met had a BS

> degree

> > from

> > > Texas State Women's

> > > >> College.

> > > >> I think his expertise is why I have been

> able

> > to

> > > walk again after my

> > > >> laminectormy and posterior lumbar fusion

> on

> > > December 29, 2008. I know

> > > >> that

> > > >> I have a lot of time yet to go to get

> > recovered

> > > from my surgery and

> > > >> that the

> > > >> pain I deal with daily is just something

> that

> > is

> > > part of life. I just

> > > >> wanted to make the point that talent

> and

> > > professionalism can come

> > > >> with a

> > > >> lesser amount of training. Genuine

> concern

> > for

> > > doing a good job is a

> > > >> major

> > > >> factor as well.

> > > >>

> > > >> I enjoy being a part of this group and

> > certainly

> > > read the posts every

> > > >> day.

> > > >> All of us who are in the situation of

> dealing

> > with

> > > spinal issues have

> > > >> a very

> > > >> special bond, and the ability to

> support

> > each

> > > other through difficult

> > > >> times

> > > >> is a major factor in all of our lives.

> > > >>

> > > >> Jane Tatum

> > > >> Tennessee

> > > >>

> > > >> [Non-text portions of this message have

> been

> > > removed]

> > > >>

> > > >> ------------ --------- --------- ------

> > > >>

June 9, 2009

Ultram ER that is a prescription drug right? Did you have your PCP or the

surgeon prescribe it? I am wondering why the surgeon don't tell you that

surgery will just cause more surgeries and pain in the neck or spine.. Had I

known this 6 years ago I might have thought before just doing the surgery. I had

it again in Feb this year and I am in so much pain it is unbelievable I am sure

you all can relate but now they are talking about doing surgery again for

herniated disc's and stenosis. I might ask about the Ultram ER as I sit a

computer for 9 hours a day and I am in lots of pain even after 2 hours of

working..

I appreciate this group so much. You all are so knowledgeable.

Thanks again

spinal problems

From: tpowell1977@...

Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:49:33 -0700