rlcowboy - Pain Management Message Board

DocsGirl · 10-27-2003, 09:59 AM

Hi;

Just wanted to know what your doing for your pain. I have 2 herniated disc in my neck and DDD. Very painful. Was going to physical therapy 3 x's a week for about 3 months. It didn't do anything. I had the trigger point injections and the epidural blocks. Is there anything else?

Thanks

rlcowboy · 10-28-2003, 02:32 AM

Hey, I had just had a spinal fusion surgery with rods and screws put in my lower back. 4 months after my surgery I was still hurting so they did more extensive tests and found that I have 3 degenerative discs with one having a radial tear. I know surgery hurts while recovering and you've had your share. I now go to pain managment but I had to go back on my pain meds, atleast untill after the next surgery to fix the torn disc, but you should find out if some injections would help you, they are very helpful to lots of folks with ddd. It helped me but just didnt last that long, only days.Also there is an electrical device you can wear which sends some kind of volts or something to the bones or disc, dont know too much on that one.Wow, with all the pain you are going through, do you think you can actually deal with it without the percocet, I take percocet also but thats with oxycontin 40mg, both twice daily and I am still in pretty bad pain alot of the time! Are you being treated for your DDD right now, and is that doctor the one that has you on the percocet 10mg? If so what does he say about treating it besides the meds? Hey, if all else fails you deserve to live a pain free life and you just might have to be on some kind of pain med for the rest of your life, I might have to face the same thing cause even after this next surgery I will still have DDD also, so I dont know at this point? I know exactly how you feel about being dependant on the pain meds but if you are taking them for pain then stop worrying yourself about getting adicted.When its time to stop MOST doctors will work with you on a SLOW tapper plan, also its been proven, folks that take pain med for legit pain dont have as much trouble getting off as do folks that abuse it. Please tell me what your doctor is saying right now?

Mo7609 · 10-28-2003, 07:31 AM

I am going through the same thing myself. I have DDD in lower lumbar, disc bulge, disc protrusion,bilateral neural forminal narrowing (by the way any idea what the heck that is?) and central canal stenosis. I have had PT a few times, trigger point injections, ESI, cortizone injection and so on. None of which helped. I too wonder what can they o now? What options are there now? I go see a boen specialist this week and it should be interesting what he says should be done. Any clues? Good luck to you both and if you have anything to add I would apreciate it.Mo

DocsGirl · 10-28-2003, 07:37 AM

Hi rlcowboy;

Today we are going to start trigger point injections again. I have an appointment at 2:00pm. He will do them once a week for 3 weeks. We stopped the physical therapy because 1. it wasn't working and 2. my insurance doesn't want to cover it anymore..they only allow 30 sessions per calander year. My doctor really isn't saying too much right now, just that we will try the trigger point injections and if that doesn't work we will move on to the epidural blocks, but don't forget I had both of these procedures done in the beginning of the year. epidural blocks in feb/march of 2003, it helped for about 3 months. I'm am only 32 and can't stand the thought of doing this for the rest of my life. I almost feel cheated. What about you?

DocsGirl · 10-28-2003, 07:41 AM

Mo;
What is a boen specialist? How long have you had back trouble? What kind of med's are you on? I agree nothing really works when our backs/necks are so messed up. I wrote in my last post that I have an appointment today for trigger point injections to start..the first of 3 one round of injections per week for 3 weeks but I had them done in the beginning of the year and they didn't work.. The epidural block worked for about three months. What are they doing for you now?