Chronic pain

I had surgery in 2000 and 2004 on L-4 and L-5 disk. In 2006 I had severe pain and numbness in my neck and down my right arm. My ortho doc told me he didn't think surgery was nessesary. He told me the disk was bulging and that I would just have to put up with the pain.
I have been taking darvasets 100-650 for the past 2 years on and off and recently more on. My primary doc perscribes me 90 pills, 3pills a day. I have been taking up to 8 and I run out in 2 weeks.
I'm having a hard time controling the meds and it was suggested to me to see a pain managment doc, and also to get a second opinion.
My question is; are there other alternatives to pain relief that can be controled? (Like a patch, or other meds.) I'm scared. I know I have a problem, but I need something.
Please help.

[Kwan Yin Chong, MD]

you may want to see your neuro/spine/pain specialist with regards to your complaints. A pain specialist can give a local anesthetic+ steroid injection to the neck for diagnostic or even therapeutic treatment of your neck and arm pain. This might be repeated a few times for maximum relief. Traction and physical therapy can be used concurrently. If this fails, surgery may be a consideration.

[Kwan Yin Chong, MD]

you may want to see your neuro/spine/pain specialist with regards to your complaints. A pain specialist can give a local anesthetic+ steroid injection to the neck for diagnostic or even therapeutic treatment of your neck and arm pain. This might be repeated a few times for maximum relief. Traction and physical therapy can be used concurrently. If this fails, surgery may be a consideration.

[scorpio121]

A related discussion, hi was started.