pain mgt - Pain Management Message Board

jojobill · 05-12-2003, 10:06 AM

I have posted here from time to time and wanted to see if I could get some opinions on this:

I have 3 herniated discs in my neck, one is pressing against spinal chord..or causing something to alter spinal chord...something along those lines. I also have spinal stenosis and disc spurring and degenerative disc disease. I dont know what any of this stuff is, so I hope I am making sense.

Anyway, my primary doc referred me to a neurosurgeon and she really doesnt want to operate due to the position of spinal chord?? I have done physical therapy, steroids...all kinds of stuff. She thinks I should also go to pain management....I had an honest and frank discussion with my doctor about pain mgt and he said to give it a shot. (no pun intended) What do they usually do there? I'd like a patients view too, not just a doctor's. :-)

By the way...I should mention that I am on Loratab 10/650 I take anywhere between 2 and 4 per day. The doctor said that his views of this medicine are that I can remain on this for as long as I need to and that he is a strong supporter of this particular med. he also wrote a script for Oxycontin, of which I quit taking as it made me highly drowsy and sick to my stomach.

So this pain mgt, are they going to do anything more than just tell me to keep doing what I am doing? Especially since I am functioning day to day.
Thanks for any thoughts!

HERMIT · 05-12-2003, 10:44 AM

Sounds like your doc will wok with you--which is rare. Try the methods the clinic recommends but also work with your doc to find a tolerable med. Maybe your dose is too strong. Tolerance builds up fast and these symptoms may go away.

emc · 05-12-2003, 06:39 PM

HI jojobill,

I'm sorry that your neurosurgeon cannot offer you any constructive help. I have been involved with a pain management clinic for 5 years now (just switched to a new one at a large teaching hospital). My PM doctor has tried procedures that have worked as well as some that have not worked. I also have all my diagnostic tests done there. Some of the modalities that he has tried are steroid injections, trigger point injections, PT, OT, aqua therapy, botox, and a spinal cord stimulator implant. He is also willing to prescribe medications to help me deal with the pain. I do believe that most of this is trial by error, not because he isn't knowledgeable, but rather what helps one person won't necessarily help another. I would say it is worth a try. You only need to continue going as long as you are comfortable with the treatment you are receiving. Good luck.

Susan