pain management

[Guest guest]

elsapski,

It sounds like you have run the gammut of " self-help " and might want

to consider seeking the council of an experienced revision surgeon.

I am up in New England but had a second opinion at the Hospital for

Special Surgery in NYC with Dr Boachie-Adjej. I loved him and his

staff (I ultimatley stuck closer to home in Boston...if that is a

consideration I would also strongly recommend Rand at New

England Baptist Hospital). I amsure others will chime in with some

great names.

If you have other questions...feel free to ask...also...if you go

back through the past messages or use the search function you can

easily look up differnt doctors and topics.

It is a scary place to be...in pain and searching for solutions.

Good luck, Cam

>

> I am 22+ years post op Harrington Rod (discovered broken in '92).

I

> am suffering from Flatback (lower back pain/ache). Can anyone

> recommend a pain management clinic/Dr. in the NY Metro area. I

have

> been through some treatments (accupunture/meds/trigger point

> injections) to no avail.

>

> Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I am not sure if this has been asked and answered but here goes:

I am desensitized to aspirin. I have been taking 1300 mg a day in 2 doses of 650mg since February. I want to cut back to 650 a day. Does this need to be in 2 doses of 325mg each or can it be one 650mg dose a day? Does it matter?

Thanks Marcus

[Guest guest]

If you did desensitization, then you could take ASA.

And, you'd be managing the Samters better.

--

Ken West

Check the library . . .

samters/links

> From: " jessafeiler3 " <jessafeiler@...>

> Reply-samters

> Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2005 11:38:40 -0000

> samters

> Subject: Pain Management

>

> Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything that IS

> successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>

> I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain. I'm

> not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is very weird

> and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any NSAIDs or

> Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>

> Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I tried

> asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama queen and

> deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. " Which we

> all know is BS.

>

> I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I take celebrex for pain. I realize it has complications but I have to take

something and because it is only once or twice a month I feel comfortable

with this. When I am really desperate I take a codeine and go to bed!

Pain Management

> Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything that IS

> successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>

> I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain. I'm

> not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is very weird

> and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any NSAIDs or

> Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>

> Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I tried

> asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama queen and

> deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. " Which we

> all know is BS.

>

> I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Probably. Unfortunately, I waffled when it was still an option for

me.

And now, I've got so many damn complications that I don't want to go

there. I've got unrelated bleeding issues, reflux in spite of over a

year of daily Nexium, polyps that I'd need pre-desens surgery

provided they didn't begin regrowing immediately, asthma that

refuses to be controlled by prednisone (we're talking in the realm

of 8-12 rescue inhaler uses a day, when it even works), and five

days of annual sick leave.

In a word? Grrr. I'm doing my best to accept life as it is. Just

could do with a bit less unrelated pain.

> If you did desensitization, then you could take ASA.

> And, you'd be managing the Samters better.

> --

> Ken West

> Check the library . . .

> samters/link

[Guest guest]

Did you need to do any kind of in-office challenge with the celebrex

or could you just take it?

For that matter, has anyone here had an aspirin-esque reaction from

a COX-1 inhibitor (I think it's 1, maybe it's 2...whichever one

Celebrex and Vioxx are).

> I take celebrex for pain. I realize it has complications but I

have to take

> something and because it is only once or twice a month I feel

comfortable

> with this. When I am really desperate I take a codeine and go to

bed!

>

> Pain Management

>

>

> > Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything

that IS

> > successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

> >

> > I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain.

I'm

> > not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is

very weird

> > and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any

NSAIDs or

> > Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

> >

> > Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I

tried

> > asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama

queen and

> > deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. "

Which we

> > all know is BS.

> >

> > I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

> >

> > Any suggestions?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I have taken Celebrex, Viox and Mobic without any problems. I have not

heard of any Samterite who has had problems with this class of medication.

Re: Pain Management

Did you need to do any kind of in-office challenge with the celebrex or

could you just take it?

For that matter, has anyone here had an aspirin-esque reaction from a COX-1

inhibitor (I think it's 1, maybe it's 2...whichever one Celebrex and Vioxx

are).

> I take celebrex for pain. I realize it has complications but I

have to take

> something and because it is only once or twice a month I feel

comfortable

> with this. When I am really desperate I take a codeine and go to

bed!

>

> Pain Management

>

>

> > Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything

that IS

> > successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

> >

> > I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain.

I'm

> > not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is

very weird

> > and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any

NSAIDs or

> > Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

> >

> > Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I

tried

> > asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama

queen and

> > deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. "

Which we

> > all know is BS.

> >

> > I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

> >

> > Any suggestions?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

This is a really tough situation. Usually Tylenol is the answer but some

people do react to Tylenol in higher doses. There is one med that could be

tried but you would have to talk to your doctor about it. I used it before I

was desensitized. It is called Disalcid. It is a non acetylated asprin (

don't gasp in horror) It doesn't seem to react the same way. For people that

are really touchy- I suppose even that could set you off. Otherwise on the

non opiote category but still a prescription there is Ultram- non completely

un mind altering but less than some. All of these are RX.There is also

Darvon ( rx) which is sort of a lousy med really although some people still

use it. (btw Disalcid is an RX)

Pain Management

> Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything that IS

> successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>

> I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain. I'm

> not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is very weird

> and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any NSAIDs or

> Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>

> Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I tried

> asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama queen and

> deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. " Which we

> all know is BS.

>

> I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I did do an office challenge with celebrex.

Pain Management

>>

>>

>> > Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything

> that IS

>> > successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>> >

>> > I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain.

> I'm

>> > not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is

> very weird

>> > and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any

> NSAIDs or

>> > Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>> >

>> > Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I

> tried

>> > asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama

> queen and

>> > deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. "

> Which we

>> > all know is BS.

>> >

>> > I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>> >

>> > Any suggestions?

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

>> >

[Guest guest]

Jessa,

Hey there -- I don't have much too add, just wanted to say that I'm

sorry you are still suffering so much. Had been thinking about you

and wondering how things were.

Love,

Lori

> Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything

that IS

> successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>

> I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain.

I'm

> not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is very

weird

> and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any

NSAIDs or

> Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>

> Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I

tried

> asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama

queen and

> deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. "

Which we

> all know is BS.

>

> I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>

> Any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I am trying to catch up with the posts as I just joined the group

and yours caught my eye.

I am allergic to both aspirin and ibuprofen both of which cause

asthma (probably very common in this group). I can't take tylenol

because I have a chronic liver disease and it destroys even more of

my liver than my body is already trying to do.

I have osteoarthritis and had a terrible flareup earlier this year

in both hands and was desparate for something for the pain. My two

best friends live in chronic pain for various illnesses and they

suggested I try ULTRAM.

I started taking it sporadically and found at first it was sort of

mood altering ( it made me happy, happy ) but now I take it on a

regular basis : two in the AM , two with lunch and 1 with dinner.

Results: No more pain in my hands! I have no more side effects from

it unless I take the last dose too close to bedtime. As with any

pain med, it can keep you awake at night.

It is not addictive and it works for me....Talk to your doctor about

it. Maybe he can give you a trial to see how it works for you.

Best of luck

Crystal

> Figured this warranted a second post. Has anyone found anything

that IS

> successful against pain that is not mind-altering?

>

> I'm spending one night a month completely incapacitated by pain.

I'm

> not good with narcotics and opiates - my reaction to them is very

weird

> and they sometimes make it hard to breathe. I can't take any

NSAIDs or

> Tylenol or Aleve or just about anything else OTC.

>

> Wondered if there was anything else I could ask a doctor for. I

tried

> asking about a year ago, and got a lot of " stop being a drama

queen and

> deal... and BTW, tylenol shouldn't be causing you a problem. "

Which we

> all know is BS.

>

> I'm so done with doctors. So completely and totally done.

>

> Any suggestions?

[Guest guest]

I am currently doing a pain management rotation. I just began it this week. Much of what the doctor does is epidural injections or transforaminal injections of steroids and lidocaine. Years ago I have to admit this held me somewhat in awe. I had a patient and another chiropractor who had severe back pain with radiculopathy, upon whom chiropractic care failed - both of whom went and had the epidural injections done and who had immediate miraculous relief. For years I had thought "Wow. That is so amazing".

It is typically done in a series of 3 injections scheduled over 6 months. it is quite expensive. Some doctors simply jab the needle in your back and inject after estimating where the joints are - just try to feel when they hit the vertebrae. I am very impressed with his exactness - using x ray he makes sure he is in the foramen or the epidural space with a series of films. He then injects a small amount of radiopaque dye to make sure the injection will go into the proper area. After radiographically placing the needle, and making sure the medication will cover the appropriate area; he finally injects the medication. I have to admit I am impressed with his exactness, instead of just jamming a needle in and injecting. It is however quite expensive.

I watch this guy do this all day every day. He is supposed to be very good. He has done a surgical residency, an anethesiology residency and a pain management fellowship. He comes highly recommended and a great many doctors refer to him. But the results of the injections is a mixed bag. I have seen only one patient obtain complete relief. Many obtain relief - for a day or two. A good number will have relief of the radicular symptoms but still retain the low back pain. Some remain unchanged. I have seen a couple get worse.

In all honesty I know I could obtain equal results with less cost using chiropractic. I have owned several offices in the 15+ years I did chiropractic. The last one was 90% medicare based. Mostly old people with chronic pain and frequent exacerbations. My typical case/visit average was 7. These old people would show up with a flare up of low back pain and radicular symptoms. I usually used distraction and elextrical stimulation but also often used acupuncture or laser therapy. I often applied a combination of Rockland DMSO pain gel and a Chinese liniment called Zheng guo Shui ( the Rockland pain gel rarely irritates the skin). It was rare that they did not have complete relief of their sciatica and at least 50% relief of their back pain with roughly a handful of treatments. I just took it for granted. I never took 6 months to get them better. My rule of thumb for most of my professional years has been if they do not have significant improvement (pain and function) within 2 weeks, I do one of three things : change treatment, refer or release. I have to admit that I find it surprising that people are willing to suffer through marked low back pain and sciatica for 6 months while trying 3 injections - with risk of infection, bleeding and nerve damage from the invasion.

Chiropractic really works quite well.

Anglen

[Guest guest]

,

What a great perspective to share with the listserve. Thanks very much.

Freeman

I am currently doing a pain management rotation. I just began it this week. Much of what the doctor does is epidural injections or transforaminal injections of steroids and lidocaine. Years ago I have to admit this held me somewhat in awe. I had a patient and another chiropractor who had severe back pain with radiculopathy, upon whom chiropractic care failed - both of whom went and had the epidural injections done and who had immediate miraculous relief. For years I had thought "Wow. That is so amazing".It is typically done in a series of 3 injections scheduled over 6 months. it is quite expensive. Some doctors simply jab the needle in your back and inject after estimating where the joints are - just try to feel when they hit the vertebrae. I am very impressed with his exactness - using x ray he makes sure he is in the foramen or the epidural space with a series of films. He then injects a small amount of radiopaque dye to make sure the injection will go into the proper area. After radiographically placing the needle, and making sure the medication will cover the appropriate area; he finally injects the medication. I have to admit I am impressed with his exactness, instead of just jamming a needle in and injecting. It is however quite expensive.I watch this guy do this all day every day. He is supposed to be very good. He has done a surgical residency, an anethesiology residency and a pain management fellowship. He comes highly recommended and a great many doctors refer to him. But the results of the injections is a mixed bag. I have seen only one patient obtain complete relief. Many obtain relief - for a day or two. A good number will have relief of the radicular symptoms but still retain the low back pain. Some remain unchanged. I have seen a couple get worse. In all honesty I know I could obtain equal results with less cost using chiropractic. I have owned several offices in the 15+ years I did chiropractic. The last one was 90% medicare based. Mostly old people with chronic pain and frequent exacerbations. My typical case/visit average was 7. These old people would show up with a flare up of low back pain and radicular symptoms. I usually used distraction and elextrical stimulation but also often used acupuncture or laser therapy. I often applied a combination of Rockland DMSO pain gel and a Chinese liniment called Zheng guo Shui ( the Rockland pain gel rarely irritates the skin). It was rare that they did not have complete relief of their sciatica and at least 50% relief of their back pain with roughly a handful of treatments. I just took it for granted. I never took 6 months to get them better. My rule of thumb for most of my professional years has been if they do not have significant improvement (pain and function) within 2 weeks, I do one of three things : change treatment, refer or release. I have to admit that I find it surprising that people are willing to suffer through marked low back pain and sciatica for 6 months while trying 3 injections - with risk of infection, bleeding and nerve damage from the invasion.Chiropractic really works quite well. Anglen

[Guest guest]

:

I followed Dr. Mark Greenburg in Ashland, OR

for a day, and his technique is quite accurate. He utilizes video fluoroscopy

to visually locate the needles, and passes electrodes into the needles to

stimulate the multifidi muscles (via retrograde stimulation of the medial

branch of the dorsal ramus). If the lower extremity twitches under electrical

stimulation, then you know that you are on the ventral ramus of the dorsal root,

which is not where you want to be. If the multifidi twitches, then you are on

the medial branch, which also carries nociception. Also, he is able to tell

where his needles are located by the amount of electrical resistance in his

circuit when performing radiofrequency neurotomy. He also does facet joint

injections, facet nerve blocks, selective nerve root blocks, epidural

injections, intra-articular injections, intramuscular stimulation (dry needling

for spasm and chronic myofascial pain), and prolotherapy to ligaments. I refer

patients with severe chronic pain syndromes that do not respond to conservative

therapy (by me, and referral to other DC’s, etc.). He notes that his “cure

rate” runs in the high 65-ish percentile for these severe cases. His

intramuscular stimulation is highly effective for severe chronic spasm of the

cervical paraspinals. I have found it quite beneficial to send such patients to

him, and back to me for adjusting.

I think we all know that for the vast

majority of back pain, Chiropractic Rules! - am I supposed to add Dude to

the end of that statement?

Glenn

Glenn F. Gumaer, B.S., D.C.

Chiropractic Physician

Northside Chiropractic Clinic

1240 N. Riverside Avenue

Medford, OR 97501-4619

541-770-1330 ofc

541-770-7090 fax

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf

Of ang320@...

Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006

10:46 PM

Subject: Re: Pain

management

I am

currently doing a pain management rotation. I just began it this week. Much of

what the doctor does is epidural injections or transforaminal injections of

steroids and lidocaine. Years ago I have to admit this held me somewhat in awe.

I had a patient and another chiropractor who had severe back pain with

radiculopathy, upon whom chiropractic care failed - both of whom went and had

the epidural injections done and who had immediate miraculous relief. For years

I had thought " Wow. That is so amazing " .

It is typically done in a series of 3 injections scheduled over 6 months. it is

quite expensive. Some doctors simply jab the needle in your back and inject

after estimating where the joints are - just try to feel when they hit the

vertebrae. I am very impressed with his exactness - using x ray he makes sure

he is in the foramen or the epidural space with a series of films. He then

injects a small amount of radiopaque dye to make sure the injection will go

into the proper area. After radiographically placing the needle, and making

sure the medication will cover the appropriate area; he finally injects the

medication. I have to admit I am impressed with his exactness, instead of just

jamming a needle in and injecting. It is however quite expensive.

I watch this guy do this all day every day. He is supposed to be very good. He

has done a surgical residency, an anethesiology residency and a pain management

fellowship. He comes highly recommended and a great many doctors refer to him.

But the results of the injections is a mixed bag. I have seen only one patient

obtain complete relief. Many obtain relief - for a day or two. A good number

will have relief of the radicular symptoms but still retain the low back pain.

Some remain unchanged. I have seen a couple get worse.

In all honesty I know I could obtain equal results with less cost using

chiropractic. I have owned several offices in the 15+ years I did chiropractic.

The last one was 90% medicare based. Mostly old people with chronic pain and

frequent exacerbations. My typical case/visit average was 7. These old

people would show up with a flare up of low back pain and radicular symptoms. I

usually used distraction and elextrical stimulation but also often used

acupuncture or laser therapy. I often applied a combination of Rockland DMSO

pain gel and a Chinese liniment called Zheng guo Shui ( the Rockland pain gel rarely irritates the

skin). It was rare that they did not have complete relief of their

sciatica and at least 50% relief of their back pain with roughly a handful of

treatments. I just took it for granted. I never took 6 months to get them

better. My rule of thumb for most of my professional years has been if they do

not have significant improvement (pain and function) within 2 weeks, I do one

of three things : change treatment, refer or release. I have to admit that I

find it surprising that people are willing to suffer through marked low back

pain and sciatica for 6 months while trying 3 injections - with risk of

infection, bleeding and nerve damage from the invasion.

Chiropractic really works quite well.

Anglen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/6/2006 4:18:35 PM US Mountain Standard Time, gfgdc@... writes:

Also, he is able to tell where his needles are located by the amount of electrical resistance in his circuit when performing radiofrequency neurotomy.

I have only watched him do one radiofrequency neurotomy so I am not sure what I think of that. but I have watched many patients on their first , second and third injection.

He notes that his “cure rate†runs in the high 65-ish percentile for these severe cases

I wonder how he defines "cure-rate" - absolutely no pain? I doubt that. I know in some medical research, "success" is defined as "at least 10% improvement". I would not call that a cure I would call that a failure.

Anglen

[Guest guest]

:

I believe he suggested that his cure rate

was defined as at least an 80 percent, long-term reduction in pain. One patient

I sent to him with unremitting LBP of several years duration was quite happy

with the 80 percent he achieved. After providing palliative care, I referred this

patient to many specialists – Dr. Jeffrie Louie (conservative neurosurgeon),

Dr. Karasek (more talk than action) in Eugene,

The Pacific Spine and Pain Center in Ashland

(self-referral there), and none were able to provide him any significant

relief. Dr. Louie could not find any lesion to “repair,” Dr.

Karasek started the patient over from scratch, and was a great disappointment,

as the patient drove 2+ hours up to Eugene to visit him. The Pacific Spine and Pain Center

doctors suggested more aggressive measures promising less than a 50/50 outcome.

This Dr. Greenberg is the real deal, and we are very fortunate to have him in

our area. I have invited him to join this list for more info. “from the

horse’s mouth.” Again, I wish to point out that in my 14+ years of

practice, I have come across only a handful of such LBP patients that I was

unable to provide significant relief. This small segment of LBP patients suffer

from neuralgias that adjustments do not alleviate, so it is nice to have a

less-invasive approach (than surgery, or neurosurgery) to offer them that Dr.

Greenberg provides.

Thank you for your many fine posts.

Glenn

Glenn F. Gumaer, B.S., D.C.

Chiropractic Physician

Northside Chiropractic Clinic

1240 N. Riverside Avenue

Medford, OR 97501-4619

541-770-1330 ofc

541-770-7090 fax

From: ANG320@...

[mailto:ANG320@...]

Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006

9:39 PM

gfgdc@...

Cc: Oregondcs

Subject: Re: Pain

management

In a message dated

1/6/2006 4:18:35 PM US Mountain Standard Time, gfgdc@...

writes:

Also, he is able to tell where his needles are located by the

amount of electrical resistance in his circuit when performing radiofrequency

neurotomy.

I have only watched him do

one radiofrequency neurotomy so I am not sure what I think of that. but I have

watched many patients on their first , second and third injection.

He notes that his “cure rate” runs in the high 65-ish percentile

for these severe cases

I wonder how he defines

" cure-rate " - absolutely no pain? I doubt that. I know in some

medical research, " success " is defined as " at least 10%

improvement " . I would not call that a cure I would call that a

failure.

Anglen

[Guest guest]

Vicki, are you going to a pain specialist? My Orthopedic didn't really give

me anything to help but the pain specialist surely did. I know how you feel

though. I haven't been back to a pain specialist in over a year, actually I

couldn't live with the pain meds he was giving because they knocked me out

all the time and that was not living to me, so here I am today putting up with

it. Gosh I would give anything to do things like I use too. Hope you get

something soon.

Joy

[Guest guest]

Vicki, I tried Doan's backache pain pills, and they seem to help, there is

a small dose of muscle re laxer in them also.

If your pain gets to bad, don't have a panic attack, get to the ER, and ask

for help.

When your regular Dr. see's you went to the ER for help, he may take it as a

sign that you are hurting.

I went for years hurting after having back surgery, and one day I got so bad

I went to the ER, the Dr gave me pills, and sent me to a neurosurgeon who

order a myalgram which found no spinal fluid from L4 down.

Ask to see a pain management Dr. and keep after the Doc. if one don't help,

see another.

I saw three of the best neurosurgeons in NY, and they all said the same

thing, anymore surgery, and I will be in a wheelchair for life. But we will help

with the pain control, which the one I work with has.

As of now, I did in L2, L3 this summer, and now I'm facing surgery. I know

what they have said, but right now the pain medication aren't doing nothing.

And I am willing to try anything for relief.

Hang in there you are not alone, and there is a Dr. out there who will work

with you, the trick is finding him or her.

Look on the inter net for pain management clinic in your area, and ask

questions to them and from other patients. Check them out to be safe for

yourself.

One day at a time, and tomorrow will be better.

Hoolihanma

[Guest guest]

Vicki, you poor thing! Can your DH take you to the nearest ER for some

temporary relief? You may be able to get enough of something stronger to

hold you over until your doctor sees your MRI results.

I hope you get some help with your pain soon.

Never worry about venting. I think I speak for everyone here when I say we

all understand and sympathize with you.

At 08:42 PM 2/4/2006, you wrote:

>Any suggestions on pain management since my Dr. is a moron and

>wouldn't prescribe anything until after he sees my MRI. I've been

>in pain for a month. My regular Dr gave me 800mg motrin that does

>nothing. I finally get to see Dr on Monday so he can see MRI. I'm

>getting very stressed cause I can't sleep I can't lay down I can't

>sit here very long and Tylenol PMs aren't working anymore either.

>I just want my life back. I want to be able to go to the store I

>wnat to be able to cook. I actually told my husband to shoot me

>today because it would make me feel better. I'm sorry I'm venting

>but the pain is getting to me.

>

>Thanks for listening Vicki

[Guest guest]

THANKS I never thought of that. Maybe he will when he gets home

from work. I hope he sends me to pain mgmnt like last time. Those

people were fabulous. Thanks again Vicki

> >Any suggestions on pain management since my Dr. is a moron and

> >wouldn't prescribe anything until after he sees my MRI. I've

been

> >in pain for a month. My regular Dr gave me 800mg motrin that

does

> >nothing. I finally get to see Dr on Monday so he can see MRI.

I'm

> >getting very stressed cause I can't sleep I can't lay down I

can't

> >sit here very long and Tylenol PMs aren't working anymore

either.

> >I just want my life back. I want to be able to go to the store I

> >wnat to be able to cook. I actually told my husband to shoot me

> >today because it would make me feel better. I'm sorry I'm

venting

> >but the pain is getting to me.

> >

> >Thanks for listening Vicki

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki, I feel your pain...literally!! I have been taking small doses of

hydrocodone (vicodin) off and on for 3 years, my pain management doctor is now

trying to take me off of it. I have a positive MRI dehydrated, buldging disk at

L4 and L5, still the doc keeps pushing non-narcotic drugs that don't help at

all! Doctors don't prescribe narcotics like they used to, and alot of people

are suffering because of it, it seems inhumane to me, when will you know the

results of the MRI? good luck,

Vicki <flickmyvic@...> wrote: Any suggestions on pain management since

my Dr. is a moron and

wouldn't prescribe anything until after he sees my MRI. I've been

in pain for a month. My regular Dr gave me 800mg motrin that does

nothing. I finally get to see Dr on Monday so he can see MRI. I'm

getting very stressed cause I can't sleep I can't lay down I can't

sit here very long and Tylenol PMs aren't working anymore either.

I just want my life back. I want to be able to go to the store I

wnat to be able to cook. I actually told my husband to shoot me

today because it would make me feel better. I'm sorry I'm venting

but the pain is getting to me.

Thanks for listening Vicki

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicki,

Pain Management! Now that is a real bag of snakes.

You have done 'jhob one' and started on the road to a Dx, that will

get the pros on your 'team'. They provide access to Rx drugs,

therapies, and whatever other things you need a licensed person for.

Job two is mostly in YOUR hands. You would do well to start a pain

journal. This will document the location/severity of pain, frequency,

duration, and other things you notice about the pain(s). It will note

things that make pain worse or ease it. It will help identify things

you can no longer do, or need help with. It will help identify the

drugs and therapies that are working, and those that are not.

You need to get an ally or 'advocate'- a person who will put forth the

effort to collect/file all your papers related to your pain and pain

care. They will 'get in the face' of your docs (in the nicest

possible way) when they are not paying attention to you, or their

treatments aren't working. They will escort you to doc/hosp/clinics

to ensure safe travel, AND all the info you are given is remembered

(us folks in pain tend to forget what we are told at these places).

This journal, and the documents your advocate (and observations) keeps

will come in handy when you get to applying for SSD. Like it or not,

you may wind up at that point.

Lastly (?), you need to do and follow-up on the things the pros tell

you to do. Take your meds as prescribed (your advocate may need to

monitor this for you), do your PT exercises, get the rest you need.

A little 'hint' on how to cope with it all: get a hobby/interest that

you can do, and learn some meditation techniques. Yoiu see, this PM

is like building a house. You have lots of help for the various tasks,

but at the end of the day you are on your own. If you don't have

something to occupy yourself with you will wory and fret, the pain wil

magnify itself, and you life will be pure misery.

You are YOU, don't let the pain take your place!

OK, this is getting long. You asked a big question. Like Jack Benny

used to say: " You asked. I said. "

GBY

>

> Any suggestions on pain management >

> Thanks for listening Vicki

>

[Guest guest]

What on earth is a TENS Unit??

[Guest guest]

Here is the story;

TENS UNIT

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, more commonly referred to

as a TENS unit and pronounced tens, is an electronic device that

produces electrical signals used to stimulate nerves through unbroken

skin. It is usually applied to the skin using two or more electrodes.

A typical battery-operated TENS unit consists of a pulse generator,

small transformer, frequency and intensity controls, and a set of

electrode lead wires.

Uses

TENS is considered a method of pain management , and has a wide

following for use in obstetric care particularly labor. Nevertheless,

there is little data on its actual efficacy, and many obstetricians

maintain that it is ineffective.

In palliative care and pain medicine, TENS is occasionally attempted

for neuropathic pain (pain due to nerve compression). Although

results are modest, some patients benefit from this approach. To

generate more conductivity from the electrode to the skin a cream

should be used. The position of the electrodes on your skin can alter

which muscle is stimulated.

There is a secondary market for TENS units in the BDSM community,

where the units are used for erotic play involving electrical

stimulation.

Safety

Electrodes should never be placed near or on the eyes, neck, or on an

open wound or cut. If placed on an open wound, the veins in your body

will serve as wires sending a mircoshock directly to your heart,

sending you into ventricular fibrillation. Also a TENS unit should

not be used if you have a pacemaker in you, as it will interfere with

the electrical structures on the pacemaker.

>

> What on earth is a TENS Unit??

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just had the procedure three weeks ago. Have you gotten approval for

the procedure yet?

Carolyn

>

> I too suffer from Spinal Stenosis. I have been able to get relief from

> pain by visiting chiropractor. I tried physical therapy and pain meds.

> But the relief I get from my visits, does afford me the opportunity

> not to be under the influence of the drugs while driving. It is not

> cure by no means, but is good to be able to get along with minimum

> drug use. If others have not tried.. you have nothing to loose but

> the pain. At least in my case it has helped. I am awaiting approval to

> have the new X stop procedure, wish me luck... Good luck to everyone

here.

>