what to do???

[sadinmichigan]

Well...not sure what I need but i do know i am in alot of pain and I decided to take some of my husbands Norco..I only have taken 4 in the last 2 days but i feel so frickin guilty..I am truly in pain..I mean really intense pain..I just was able to stand long enough to take a shower since Sunday..(no joke)..Anyway..I don't have a rx and i don't want one. But i need a little bit of relief from this..My other alternative is having a few drinks, which at this point I don't think is such a good idea because I am really angry at my "dead limb". (husband) . I know how much pain I am in..so do I need to suffer through it? or can I take a few to try and get a little relief.? I did go to the e.r. and got a few shots the other day..but I can't just keep going there..what the hell do I do..I can't handle much more of this..I have been laying on heating pads,ice,frozen veggies..I have taken motrin,skelaxin,flexoril,advil,nuproxin..nothing is helping..I had an MRI @ 6mo.ago so i know what the problem is..usually though it gets better after 3-4 days...what to do???

[duckandcover]

It sure sounds like what I had.  I would NOT go to a chiro at this point.  They tend to overpromise what they can do for you and at the level of pain you're in ould possibly make it worse.  The MRI won't miss a bulging disk.  I actually got to look at mine an it was really obvious.  There are surgical options that can provide relief.  Everything from just shaving off the part of the disk that is bulging  (which they can now do arthriscopicly and won't take too long to recover from) to actually fusing together 2 disks that have lost their "cushion" and are now making contact.  Don't despair.  It sounds like you have some real options for relief.  If you do get back on the meds during surgery and/or recovery make sure someone you trust in in control of them.

Keep us posted on how you're doing!  Good Luck!

[sadinmichigan]

hi sweetheart..thankyou..(got your pm,thanks) I can lay down with a pillow or something under my knees..Thats how i lay down at night..Moving is the problem..LOL (off the bed) Even sitting in my computer chair here is tolerable until i try to get up..I guess the tests will show..This pain is making me miserable and cranky..LOL because it is relentless. I definately will not go to a chiro right now until I do know what is going on..I can feel the nerves being pinched off...and it still just feels like when I am standing that my lower back is going to collapse in 1/2..thats the best way i can describe it. I had to drive today and yesterday and just moving my foot from the gas to the break brings that extra special feeling...UGHHHH

[joann1975]

Lisa...I am sure you have had MRI's before but you realize you will have to lay on your back totally still through the duration of the test...are you able to do that with your pain? I know you don't want to take pain meds but could you consider a muscle relaxer for the test? My friend recently had the micro-discectomy (sp?) and they spent the night in the hospital then in bed for a good week or 2 no bending over couldn't pick up their toddler ... what i am saying is the recovery is a few weeks but worth it if it works. But they will want/need to keep your pain under control during that time. Also, I strongly advise against going to a chiro right now since you don't know what is going on in there.

[sadinmichigan]

How much down time and pain is involved with this diskotomy? I have an MRI scheduled for next week because they want to see if the disc has completey ruptured now or what. I have never been in this amount of pain for this long and my Dr is advising against seeing a chiropractor until they know if this disc..whichever one..is no longer bulging but gone..The pain is very sever in my left hip..which is where my s-1 is deteriorating..I am going to the dr at 12:30 tomarrow but not sure what to ask for to take for the pain..I can't handle much more of it and thats that..I do not want to be back on pain meds..but would rather take care of the problem if possible..HELP...My Dr. knows that I have gotten off the pain meds..but I know he'll have that frickin pad out...

[duckandcover]

A diskotomy is where they go in and shave the part of the disk "cushion" that is bulging out and putting pressure on your sciatic nerve.  That's where the pain comes from.  It's actually a very common procedure for an orthopedic surgeon to perform.

[sadinmichigan]

You just crack me up!!! Thankyou...xo Lisa

[CadillacJack]

We used to say in a place far away & long ago: Kill 'em all, and let God sort 'em out. But I shall recant my comment about the dog...Save it for later.

[sadinmichigan]

what in the world is a diskectomy?  and thankyou..How are you feeling by the way??

[duckandcover]

Oh and if had come to it I would have gotten the diskectomy.  I'd suggest you think about it.  They do provide relief.

[duckandcover]

I confess I haven't read through the whole thread so I might have missed something along these lines.   I myself have an L5 S1 bulging disk pain.  It's what started me on Lortabs.  It's going to sound stupid but I lost the pain when i moved from my second story apartment to m house.  You see we had 15 steps up that apartment and I must have gone up and down over 100 times in 2 days.  I guess my back strengthened up and the worst of the pain left me.  I'm NOT suggesting that you climb 100 flights of stairs.  but it is apparent to me that physical therapy can have a positive effect.

For what it's worth, I have felt your pain and it's no joke.  I hope you feel better soon.  Stay strong.

[sadinmichigan]

Thankyou everyone for all your support as always..You never let me down..You are all the greatest!!! I am actually able to get up from my dang bed a little easier and the pain is not as intense as it was but still there and it is uncomfortable..It has never lasted this long before, so I am going to figure out what i need to do. It is definately pinching nerves. I set up an MRI today for next week just to make sure I didn't completely blow the disc..I then will decide what needs to happen. i have not taken any more pain medicine since the time I have posted. I am continuing with ice and heat, and taking soma. That has been helping just to relax the muscles..I have been super tense just from the way I have to sit and walk so it's putting alot of strain on my other muscles in my back..I also just bought a product calles osteo Bi-flex..my mom sweras by it si i am going to give it a shot..I'll let you all know if it helps..Thankyou again..xo

CadillacJack- I can not kill my dog! LOL I have another list of things i need to kill first..lol Just kidding..

[CadillacJack]

It's just me.. But I would shoot the dog to start with.

[kimmieb]

i am sorry to hear of all  your pain...truly

i, for one, absolutely, with a doubt, SWEAR by my chiropractor....honest to God, without him, i'd be in big trouble....i always joke that if we ever move, we're gonna have to put out the $$ to move him along with us!

it is sometimes a pain (no pun intended) to go to him, but there are weeks i go to him every day his office is opened (4 days/week) AND he also comes to the house on Friday, Saturday, and/or Sunday if i have a flare up and need him....he is truly a Godsend

also, i SWEAR by regular massages....honestly, if this whole world would get into the habit of chiropractic, REGULAR massage (i mean regular, not once in a blue moon,the affects of massage are cumulative, just like chiropractic, you can't just go once or twice and expect that you'll feel wonderful every after), accupuncture, physical therapy, and natural supplements, we'd all be in a much better place....insurance companies are way too ready to cover 150 hydros a month (i only had a $10 copay every month for those).....our whole system needs to change.....chiropractic, massage, all those things need to be covered just like pain pills....anyway, another topic entirely

just wanted to reinforce the importance and benefits of REGULAR chiropractic adjustments and massage

also, my internist swears by Lovaza (prescription Omega 3's)....have to be careful of Omega 3's because so many OTC ones have WAY too  much mercury.....these that i take don't.....they're prescribed to me by my internist....she has terribly debilitating back problems herself (or did, i should say)....she takes 4 of these omega 3's, 2 in he morning and 2 at night....started many years ago....swears by them for her back pain....again, it's a cumulative thing....so you can't expect to take them for a day or a week and get 100% immediate back pain relief....but this doctor knows her stuff....and has personal experience with pain (could barely stand up due to her back problems), so she's knows of what she preaches.....ok, so maybe check out the Lovaza (that used to be the old name of these prescription Omega 3's, name has changed, can't remember the new name now)

Lisa, i just wanted to let you know i feel for you and you're in my prayers....i'm not on the forum much anymore and don't post much....just read, sometimes not even for months at a time....but wanted to put my two cents worth in to reiterate the potential benefits of these natural things over traditional pain pills, muscle relaxers, benzos, etc. -- all that nasty stuff that's so easy to prescribe and take but in the long run, doesn't solve anything, only creates more problems

my prayers are with you.....keep the faith, girl!

love & blessings to you,
kim

[desperate1111]

hey sad i hope your back is better today. what about physical therapy instead of a chiro?
i do know about "real pain". take it easy on the pills. pain management clinics seem to be popping up all around here.

[troubleinohio]

hey hon I just now saw this post. I am sorry you are hurting so much. I have the same exact problem as you in the same spot! my L5-S1 is JUNK! mine are bulged there also and have DDD/arthritis in them (my entire spine does actually).  But anyhow, I know how bad that pain is and since its right at the bottom of your back/top of your butt, it radiates the pain all the way up your back and sometimes down into your legs too. it sucks bad. And youre right when the pain is really bad, no pain killer you can take will help it. That was my experience as well. When my back is totally blown out, i could take as many vicodin or percocets as my stomach would allow without puking from them and still wouldnt even touch the pain.  Teh only thing that helped my pain when i was that bad was a shot of Nubain at the hospital.
I sure hope you get some relief soon. I know how miserable it is!
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

[sadinmichigan]

I am going to be looking into chiopractic today..This pain is pretty intense still but is now only in my left hip/lower back..I had an MRI that showed L-4&5 discs were bulging and my S-1 joint? is deteriorating, should I wait and get another MRI ? And I ma afraid because I am in so much pain to be manipulated by a chiro..what do you think? I definately have been helped by chiro's when I had whiplash..That was the only thing that worked. I am willing to try anything that doesn't include pain meds..Thanks for writing..I hope you had a great Mothers Day too..

[worried878]

Muscle relaxers relieve my back pain more so than narcotics...they just make me soooooo tired...but they do help...chiropractic has saved my life tho...without it i would not be able to function like i do....it is a life long thing for me i am sure but it is worth it...i will never be "fixed" but i actually go days without hurting after i see her...she is great!

[sadinmichigan]

I am doing ok..thanks for writing. i haven't taken anymore pain meds at all. I don't want to. I am still in a great deal of pain and that is actually why I am not taking anything. It does not help at all. I am taking some valium throughout the day but I am not even taking tylenol,(especially after a dear friend here had a liver transplant specifically due to tylenol) She is a sweetheart and that is more than enough to convince me. All of it is bad. I one day will be able to wean off xanax again too. However, I do not abuse that at all. (been there and done that ) anyway, my day has been good with the little ones. They made me a picture slideshow..awwww sooo cute. Except I couldn't help but cry when I saw my 2 beautiful daughters who I know I will not talk to today..snif  snif  

[Sajonna]

I hope you are better today sweetie.  I just read VicUsers post above and that sounds logical to me.  

All of my silicone sisters told me (way back) to steer clear of Soma & Ultram meds.  Maybe someone here has direct experience and can comment more on dangers on those 2 meds.  

One thing that goes through my mind now that I am thinking clearer (I am on day 2 od no pills)- is these narcotics just mask our pain symptoms but they do nothing to heal us.  Other meds like anti-inflammatorys actually reduce the swelling that causes the pain.  The whole idea of treatment is to get us functioning at a tolerable level without drug usuage.  I am sure you know that and I don't want to stress you out or accuse you of anything because on you know your real situation.  

I just prayed to God to help you find the strenght you need and good doctors that care to help you.  Peace be with you today and all days.  SJ

[sadinmichigan]

Hi everyone..i just managed to gimp off of my bed. i have pretty much been there all day. This SUCKS.. I have not taken anything today except the valium and I am getting the somas filled.
Mike- I am taking the one and only friend i trust with me to the dr..just for that very reason. Dr.s seem to throe meds at me and thats not what i want. But I do want to fix whatever is going on. This is almost a week now. It has never lasted this long. How are you today my friend?
Rose- i'm going to call you in just a minute
cadillacJack- how are you today.? I don't feel guilty anymore because i won't take them. I have worked my a$$ off to get where I am so I am going to grin and bear it as best I can. hopefully the somas will help. thankyou.

[CadillacJack]

Lisa;

Don't feel guilty over taking something to relieve you pain, when you truly need it. After all is said and done, the drugs are not evil. They have legitimate medicinal value. It's the abuse that is the demon here. You are strong enough to do what's necessary for your own well being. You don't need anybody to tell you to be careful with the meds. You know better than most to use care. Just do what you have to do, and maintain. Your not to me last night meant much, by the way.

[Mikeinthesouth]

Oh yeah put the dog in a your basement...... LOL

[Mikeinthesouth]

The Neuro doctor can prescribe you some other alternatives rather than just pain Meds. I can say however that he will be ready with his script pad and you will have to reject that if you choose unless you have someone to hold them tight for you and give them to you as prescribed. I hope you feel better fast and hope he can send you to pt as that might help a bit and I hope it does not end in surgery although some are not that evasive as in the surgery they use the micro cams to do it with. If the disc is out for good he might have to trim it off the spinal cord that is not alot to deal with for some and I know you will still be kicking and fighting this addiction as you are a strong woman. Michael

[Rose703]

♥♥♥Lisa♥♥♥

I hope you have a much better day today!! Listen hon the soma's do work in a different way than Valiums do and they can be taken together. I'm precribed both of those for different muscle groups and they honestly work. If you want more info on them just let me know or better yet, give me a call.