Alternitive To Narcotics For Pain Management?

[challenger605]

I have only been dealing with cronic back pain, which has been diagnosed by a well respected spine surgeon here in St. Louis. I have early signs of arthritis in my thorasic spine as well as degenerative disc disease. It ***** because I'm so young and it is getting worse fast. I'm in horrible pain everyday unless I'm on pain killers. My pain management Dr. had me on Norco 10/325 for a while until I got sick of being "doped up" all the time. I cut myself off a week ago and spent the first three days going through killer withdrawl symptoms. I don't want to experience that again. I actually feel like myself again, but the pain is keeping me up at night or waking me up super early. I can hardley stand it any more. If this is only the early stages what will the advanced stages be like? I have tried non narcotics like Ultram, but they are a joke. They don't even slightly reduce the pain. My TENS unit does nothing. Physical Therapy was just as useless. It made it hurt worse if you ask me. Inversion tables also made me hurt worse. I'm wondering if it is just the part of my spine that is affected that makes it difficult to releive or could it be something else. I will not consider surgery as an option. I have never heard anything good about back surgery. I'm a novice aircraft mechanic and I want to become an expert, but my pain may interrupt my dream. I'm always angry and exhausted due to the pain. The Norco I was taking did give me full pain relief about 40% of the time I was taking it, but it is narcotic. Is there anything else out there? For my families sake too?

[opus88]

I am so sorry to read boyh your storis, I know first hand how hard it is to function while in pain.....I too have tried every thing before going to opiate therapy, if you can find a good doctor( preferably a PMP(pain management Physician) that would do you alot of good, there aren't many alternatives left....steroid injections/nerve blocks/surgery/narcotics all are options.
a PMP will manage your pain with better meds than percocet(I assume thats what you were taking)?
and he will manage the medications that if you follow his rules on usage, there will come a time when you will become dependent but thats different than addicted!
and if there should come a time when you want OFF these meds, he will instruct you how to do so, than the withdrawals are controlled and much easier to deal with....
You both need to post on another forum
the PAIN MANAGEMENT community can give you alot more experienced people and advice.,,,with all sorts of alternatives and outcomes.
best of luck

[gkh80]

Hey darlin I know how it feels with the pain keeping you up at night.. I am doing the same I cant say if your pain is worse or anything i just know im all messed up to.. I have had back surgery and it made it worse for me but i had a bad dr who did mine.. I live off my narcos they do not relieve all pain but they help to where i can function half normal but they dont medicate me I take up to 10 a day to try to help with my pain. I dont know how it is with WD because I have never been there.  I know without my meds I can not function at all so its something I have to live with and it ***** to be young and have to deal with pain like ours. but you have to be strong. I cant tell you another option other than the pain meds cause if i knew one i would do it in a heart beat. but know there are people out there that understands your pain and if you need a friend to talk to im always awake ... I hope you feel better and try and get some sleep....Gloria