Lower Back

[101 Dalmatians]

Hi Everyone!

I am just needing a little advice so any messages are welcome!  I was diagnosed with a L-5, S-1 herniated disc on my left side.  I am seeing a pain mangement doctor and he said the only way I will have relief from pain, besides having a spinal fusion surgery, is to have epidural injections.  I am scared, very scared of needles!!!  Ever since I had 2 brain aneurysms, one July 11th, 1998 and the other on December 1st, 1999, I have been so scared of everything that is medical related.  I don't want to have a spinal fusion!  I have heard so many horror stories about that surgery!  Have any of you had epidural injections?  Did they help you with the pain and did they hurt?  My doctor told me the disc in my low back is so herniated that it's causing my bones to basically rub against each other, the bones around the disc.  I first started taking Oxycodone/Acetaminophen, 5/325mg last year in Decemeber and now I have been in legitimate severe pain for the last couple of months.  I guess I deserve the pain I'm going through though.  I was so stupid for getting on Oxycodone in the first place just because I have a very, very terrible marriage.  My husband told me he wanted a divorce last year in October and I needed something to make me feel a little happy!  My husband hasn't filed for divorce yet but everyday he verbally abuses me!  I can't handle him doing that.  Anyway, will any of you please give me some advice on what I should do about my back problem?  Thank you very much!!!  All of you are so wonderful!  Oh, does anyone know what happened to Dutchess Golden and MisTake, I miss reading their posts!  Bye for now!  

[GA Guy]

I've had epidural shots, and if done properly, they do not hurt at all. Make sure they're done under sedation, laying down, and that your doc uses x-ray machines to do the shots. My first epidural procedure was done by an anesthesiologist, sitting up, and it nearly killed me. The others were done by a pain mgmt. doctor and were painless.

[nirvanabrat]

well, I know we can all get alittle relief in knowing that we are not special (forgive the spelling)
anyways, there has got to be ,well last I read there were 20 million booze and beer addicts,. and 10 million drug addicts.
so, we can't feel special....there are thousands of people who awoke and realized that pain pills were more painful to stay on than the pain itself, well then there is the matter of always running out and getting flu sick fever ect...you all know what I mean.
I can't say my back is as bad as (tiredofpills) or (dalmations), but it hurts, it is worn and nerves are compressed, my doctor gave me 90- 15mg morphines and 90- norco's = 10mg of vicoden each month, the strongest form of vic's.
that is 180 pills, and I am only 31 years old.
here is the answer to the question,,,,it is really not about the pain..... Hearts are ment to be broken, bodys are ment to fall apart, no mater if it is the body or the heart or the mind, (((STOP RUNNING))) sit with each burn sting butterfly, fear, bored thought, what ever the feeling is, mental or bodily, sit with it...It may not go away, but to surrender to what is will open up a new landscape of strength to get through the next moment and day..
life hurts, nobody said it was going to feel good, I hurt, I feel all these feelings inside me because they are who I am, so why should I use adversion to excape from a part of me..
like a sick child tend to your tottered body, like a dying cancer patient, speak calmly and kindly to your mind and don't fight, the more you fight the pain, the more the pain grows, it is true, but is it true for you?

[tiredofpills]

I had epidural injections and they didnt work for me. They where not that pain full for me. They might help you everybody is diffrent i know i regret getting the surgery im worst of now than beforei was told i have failed back spinal surgery syndrome. I have chronic pain but i have to get off these pills they will distroy me and ny family im on day 2 and hanging in there. Good luck