In Despair! Need Help - Pain Management Message Board

makinit · 12-22-2006, 12:13 PM

Dear good people,
I am 41 years old. I started using prescription narcotics when I was about 25. I did not have a known medical condition to warrant the drugs I was using at that time which were usually loritab and soma. After years of abuse and out of control I finially enter a methodone clinic with neglect and regret. I stayed on methodone for 8 years (85 mgs.daily) Then I developed stomach problems that I can only describe as very painful and would not heal no matter what I did. My daily intake of methodone only felt like pouring fuel to a fire inside of me. I had to get off of the methodone at once! I could not wait or do a long taper plan as the clinic recommended. I went through a dangerous rapid detox under anthesia. Then after some time off of opiates I discovered that I developed 2 herniated disc in my back from heavy work. I did not know this but the methodone was hiding the injury and pain. The MRI photos show 2 dics pertrudding over 3 centimeters and are herinated. I have severe pain in my lower back which shoots down my legs and into my feet. This pain does not let up it is constant. I don't have any medical insurance and am resorting to chartiy, in my state. I am lost and confused and I dont know what to do. My condition, at the moment, is that Im in severe pain but still have the stomach problem that just wont heal and do not know what to do. It takes several months just to get a appointment with a Dr. here, because of a hurricane disaster. I fill like I have no options. Does anyone have any advice? Any input, on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

DAVE

22buddy · 12-22-2006, 12:26 PM

If and when you are seen by doctors your alternative to oral drugs will have to be a pain pump to bypass the drugs going into your stomach. It sounds like you have developed ulcers.
The fact that you became addicted and abused the drugs will make getting them for a real problem extremely difficult I would assume.
This sounds like a real heartbreaker. I will be praying for you.
This really shows how every decision we make today affects our tomorrows.

I am not sure what avenue to take are you seeing a doctor now for your back now?How do you know about the disc injury and how is it being treated?

Lisa

makinit · 12-22-2006, 06:25 PM

Lisa,

Thanks for replying. After I went through rapid detox and came home I began feeling better after a while, except that I started haven pains in my back and it started to get worse, going through my legs into my feet. I did see a acupuncure, but that didnt help. Then I went to my local charity emergency room and I got lucky with a ER resident that ordered a MRI. They did refer me to big charity(approx.45 miles away) It took months just to get that done. I did get to see a ortho their but she was against any drugs before she even looked at me or the MRI. She said that my condition was operable, but told me that a spine specialist had to see me for this. I now am waiting in pain until my next appointment, which is on april 25, 2006. I must do something before then it is really effecting my life. Are these pain pumps just as addicting as the oral and can they control the dose that is pumped instead of me. I guess what Im asking is how do they work?

thanks, David

Fabrashamx · 12-22-2006, 06:58 PM

Hi Dave,
Any narcotic no matter what the delivery system is addicting and can cause you problems given your history, If I were you, I would ask for some non narcotic help such as toredol for the inflammation and possibly tramadol, although tramadol must be closely monitored for addictive potential as well. Maybe they could put you on a patch so as not to aggrivate your stomach trouble, but again, that is a narcotic and like all narcotics can be abused. I would make an appointment with an addiction specialist asap and see if he or she can help you, thats their job, to help people in exactly your situation, Best of luck to you and please let us know how it works out, we care!
~Fabby

zach016 · 12-22-2006, 07:57 PM

Hi David,

Sorry you are in the situation that you are!! If you have to wait until the end of April just to see the specialist, you will probably face a much longer wait for surgery - assuming that is what the Dr. will reccomend.

Having addiction problems in the past does not preclude you from using opioid medication in the future. There are many people out there that are in that boat. It will probably be harder for you to find a good PM Dr. to treat you and when you do you will probably be subject to much more scrutiny than someone with no addiction problems in the past. If you go in and look up articles by PM Dr.'s (internet posted) talking about addiction and pain management, you will find that they address this issue often.

With your stomach problems it sounds like you will need something that can be absorbed thru your skin as in the Fentanyl patches, something that will disolve under your tongue or something by injection. Injection is most certainly eliminated but the first two will bypass your stomach.

Pain meds. are only one way to deal with back problems. Have you been told that the only option you have is surgery? I'd get a couple of opinions before I'd let anyone operate on my back. Too many horror stories!!

I'm assuming that you have seen a Physiotherapist yes? What about a Chiropractor? Get many recc. from friends and family before going to a Chiro. because IMO, you need a GOOD Chiro, not just an average one. I swear by Chiropractors but there is no way I would see a poor one more than once!!

I'd think that a pain pump would be a long way off for you. It requires surgery to implant it and I believe that they do an awful lot of testing and trying other things before they go that route.

I would try to see how I reacted to electric stimuli and see how that worked. Here at least, you can rent a personal unit and have it hooked up to your back. It doesn't work for everyone but for those that it does work well for they swear by it.

Good luck!!

Zach016