New To Pain Management - Pain Management Message Board

mom2threekids · 03-02-2009, 10:01 AM

Hi all. I am new here. I just started going to a pain doctor and have a few questions. I have a some herniated discs in my neck c 6-7 and c 5-6. I also have something called degenerative disc disease and pretty bad stenosis. I have severe weakness in both my arms and very little range of movement in my neck. The good thing is I am not in horrible pain every day of my life.

When I went to the pain doctor for the first time last week they asked me all kinds of questions and did an overall exam of my neck and arms. She asked about my pain levels and I was very honest. I told them my pain was managable most of the time-my primary doctor gave me loratabs and soma and I have been taking them and they work GREAT. But that I am getting worried because I am not getting better. I fell down our stairs at home Jan of this year and pretty much have hurt bad or very bad everyday since. I know it's only been a few months but shouldn't I start to feel at least a little better? I am taking these pills and I feel fine for a few hours then the pain gets bad again. I know the pills dont 'fix' my neck but shouldn't time help?

The pain doctor gave me refills on the medication and set me up for epidural injections and they are giving me a tens unit. She said I am not a good candidate for physical therapy due to the spinal cord being so compressed. She said it may do more harm. She didn't feel like I must have surgery right away. She thinks because I am young and fit that she can give me significant relief with the injections and the tens unit. I just dont' want to have to take pills anymore. I have pretty much taken pills almost once a day every day since I got hurt. Sometimes I have to take it twice in a day. I dont like taking it during the day at ll since I have 3 little ones and the meds are still making my tired a loopy. So I try to just take them at night so I can try and lay down to get some sleep. My youngest is 5 months and she wants to be held all the time and I think that is what is keeping my neck mucsels from healing or relaxing. But I can;t tell her mommy cant hold you right now ya know.

What are some things I can do own my own to help heal this up? I am tired of hurting. I am tired of the medicine. I dont want surgery. I was very active before all of this and now I am just no able to do as much. I feel like my husband is getting tired of my being 'lazy'. I can't do as much as I used to. Like I said I know its only been a few months but can this get better? When will it get better? What can I do to help it along?

Thank you so much for reading this-I know its long. I just dont know what to do! Going to a pain doctor freaks me out in itself. I thought that pain doctors were for people who were dying or had cancer of were in terrible car accidents and can't move at all. I just want to get better and not need doctors anymore. It's very time consuming and very incovient, not to mention expensive. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Amy

Toonces1 · 03-02-2009, 04:40 PM

Honestly, if I were in your shoes, I would very very seriously consider surgery. Just my non-medical opinion, but I don't think that epidurals are going to cause severe weakness in your arms to go away. I have read that the weakness you describe can become permanent if the compression is not relieved in a timely manner. It's great that you are not experiencing too much pain, but it sounds like your function is seriously impacted. Pain medication and a TENS unit are not going to help your problem go away. I'm sorry to sound like such a downer, and I know you said you didn't want surgery, but I would guess that you also do not want permanent nerve damage, either. If I were you, I would get a second opinion and weigh your options.

Surgery certainly has it's risks, and you would want to go over those very carefully with your doctor. It would put you out of commission for a time, but could actually help improve your issue rather than just tolerate it (as with meds).

I am concerned for you...

Jema X · 03-02-2009, 06:42 PM

I am concerned too but for slightly different reasons. I too have c5/6 issues with weakness & no pain and the surgeon was happy to wait 12 months to see f the discs retract but no longer. However, weakness is very serious & I don't believe a pain dr is qualified to be doing epidurals etc without consulting a neurosurgeon - I know that I can't have epidurals. Whatever you do, recovery is the most important thing and to do that you need the best advice. Try to see a neurosurgeon, they ae qualified to treat spines, pain drs are qualified to treat pain.
I wish you luck and a quick recovery (ps: don't be too down 3 months is not that long when we're talking discs, they can retract over 2 yrs).

SpineAZ · 03-02-2009, 09:25 PM

The severe spinal cord impingement you've been told you have won't heal on it's own. And the damage can become permanent if not addressed very soon. My one finger is still slightly numb because I waited too long to have the ACDF. Thus the nerve never fully healed.

mom2threekids · 03-03-2009, 06:22 AM

Thank you all for your replies. Do I need to ask my pain doctor to send me to surgery consult? I signed a contract saying that I wouldn't allow any other doctor to treat me while I was at the pain management clinic. I am sure if they referred me out then that wouldn't violate the contract. Or so I would hope...They told me if I voilated the contract no doctor would see me or I couldn't get pharmacies to fill any prescriptions including non-narcotic ones.

I don't want to do anything too rash. I am under the impression that as long as I am not in terrible pain surgery can wait. The pain doctor told me the epidural injections could reduce the inflammation to the point that I would have 0 pain for a few months. If they can do that and help with inflammation and pain why can't they relieve the pressure on the spinal cord? Aren't the discs inflammed? Or will they never go back where they are supposed to without surgery? I didn't get time to ask these questions at my appointment since my 3 yr old and 5 month old were both crying and hungry and tired.

My mom had spinal fusion back in 1996. She looks horrible now. She can't do anything without 15 pills. I mean it's scary. Her neck doesn't move anymore. She has this HUGE hump from her neck down to her shoulders. She's in pain every single day of her life. I mean she carries a safe full of drugs with her where ever she goes. And she said its all because she had surgery. That her neck hurt really bad and the surgery helped for a while but it cause her lower back to have disc problems and now she has nerve damage and nerve pain in her butt and leg. I'm telling you she's only 47 and she is crippled. I don't want to be that way. I can handle the pain I'm in now but not without medication. Which is the thing I hate about her situation. I just don't want things to get worse. I have heard alot of people say that neck and back surgery just made things worse. But then again just taking the meds aren't gonna even have a chance of helping so maybe surgery is a good option for me.

Thank you again for your replies. I go in on March 9th for my first injection and if I get a chance to talk to the doctor about my concerns I will then. Otherwise I will wait until my next regular appointment. This is all so overwhelming! I am so glad I found this website. Thank you all so very much!
Amy