Ya'll...

I am so down today. I know complaining about being in pain is not exactly right...I mean it's not cancer...I am alive and kicking...although kicking slowly. I am just in so much pain. I am up to three Lortab 7.5 a day and sometimes four. At times I have to take 1 1/2 (doc said ok) and even then it does not knock out the pain. I don't know if it is this generic brand I am on or what.

What should I do? I have been wondering if it is time for back surgery, then I read on here how all your back surgeries made you worse...and I am scared to death. I am so young...in my low 30's...I just want it to go away. I don't want to take any stronger medicine...I don't want to be dependant on anything. But taking 3 a day, it is going to happen. Just a few months ago I was taking one or two a day....and even skipping days. I just don't know what is the next step to take...but I know I can't continue to hurt like this.

I guess I just needed to whine and complain...thank you for letting me :)

Let it out -- this is what this board is for. We are a support board and group of individuals who can relate to one another because we live it daily.

I can't remember the specifics of your case. But are you seeing a pain management doctor? I just recently began seeing one and have started on pain meds 24/7. I definitely don't want to be on them but I think sometimes it doesn't become a matter of wanting to take them you NEED them to survive and exist somewhat in life. I think our job as a Chronic Pain patient is to try other alternatives to relieve pain whether it be biofeedback, massages, water therapy, spa treatments, heat, ice, accupunture, epidural injections, etc. Some of that may or may not include surgery - sometimes you have to take a chance and realize that those who have had successful surgery do not visit the boards they are out there enjoying life making up for all the days and events that they missed due to high level of pains in the past.

Hope this makes sense and helped you some.

Hi Happy Flower - I would just like to mention a few things about possible surgery. First of all, you have to realize that the main reason you are hearing about "all the surgeries that left everyone worse off than before" is because the folks who got better with surgery aren't suffering chronic pain and posting on this board! So think about the source before you conclude that most surgery doesn't help an individual's pain. I have had over 10 spinal and hip surgeries and everyone (without exception) helped the acute pain that I was in at the time. My pain was coming from broken vertabrae and each operation solved the problem. It was unfortunate for me that because of a severe case of osteoporosis my vertabrae continued to break in a domino effect until almost all of them were effected. The pain that I am currently feeling is from arthritis, pinched nerves, adhesions, and hardware that has moved out of place. But...my main point is that the surgeries did help me tremendously. I would encourage you to keep an open mind about what surgery can do for you. The other point is that the amount of medication that you are currently taking is not "big guns" on the drug scale. Perhaps you need to talk to your doctor about switching to something stronger or a drug that is longer acting. I do wish you all the best though and hope you will continue to use this forum to vent! That's what the healthboards' community is here for. Take care - Memere (K'Mac)

HappyFlower,
you had some great responses from mermer and dietdrpeper. Please in no way think all back surgery's are failures. We all bring different things to the table and where as nerves can be josteled much longer then most surgeons care to admit and most surgeons are honest saying it may not completely address the pain for some these surgies can and do work.
While i agree with with drpep do your home work learn alternative therapies take time to invest in yourself . It is not a failure on our part we are in pain.
I would encourage you as well to try some alternative techniques to include meditation, light therapy, as well as vivid imagining. It is amazing what our minds can do for ourselves.Look at your local colleges for inexpensive methods of biofeedback and relaxation techniques as well. Your local college as well as medical schools in your area might have some wonderful programs that can assist you in finding ways to deal with your pain
Oh here is a great place to vent on our bad days because folks here understand what you are going through as well

Hi Happy Flower - I would just like to mention a few things about possible surgery. First of all, you have to realize that the main reason you are hearing about "all the surgeries that left everyone worse off than before" is because the folks who got better with surgery aren't suffering chronic pain and posting on this board! So think about the source before you conclude that most surgery doesn't help an individual's pain. I have had over 10 spinal and hip surgeries and everyone (without exception) helped the acute pain that I was in at the time. My pain was coming from broken vertabrae and each operation solved the problem. It was unfortunate for me that because of a severe case of osteoporosis my vertabrae continued to break in a domino effect until almost all of them were effected. The pain that I am currently feeling is from arthritis, pinched nerves, adhesions, and hardware that has moved out of place. But...my main point is that the surgeries did help me tremendously. I would encourage you to keep an open mind about what surgery can do for you. The other point is that the amount of medication that you are currently taking is not "big guns" on the drug scale. Perhaps you need to talk to your doctor about switching to something stronger or a drug that is longer acting. I do wish you all the best though and hope you will continue to use this forum to vent! That's what the healthboards' community is here for. Take care - Memere (K'Mac)

for your arthritis pain i suggest you to take herbal treatment i saw many people getting relief and get info about this from many herbal site.

Happy Flower

I am sorry you are having pain and your meds aren't helping that much. I recommend you talk to your doctor about your pain. My doctor has prescibed several different pain meds over the past few years. I have cp 24/7 and the only medication that has helped me is Percocet.

Take care.Nadine:)