Back/leg pain

[Bitty]

I've had ongoing problems with my back for a while now.  I had surgery (microdistecomy) two years ago.  The orthopaedic surgeon had me on all kinds of meds but hydrocodone seems to be the only thing that helped.  I had a cortisone injection in November and
they also said they tried to move scar tissue that was pressing on the nerve away from it.  It didn't help at all....in fact, I think it made it worst.  The pain management doctor that I'm seeing suggested physical therapy but at $20 a visit and twice a week after insurance I couldn't afford to keep going.  He now wants to take me off of the hydrocodone.  I'm pretty much still in a lot of pain and I have spasms in my back and leg all day now.  It use to be off and on.  I was taking one 750 mg. pill every six hours.  I took my last one this morning and I doubt that he'll give me any more.  Other than pain what other symptoms can I expect.  I've read that you should not stop all at once.

[CCF Neuro[P]-M.D.-RPS]

Dear Bitty:

Sorry that your having back and leg problems.  One becomes sensitized to the medication and going "cold turkey" can be difficult but do-able.  The addictive properties are the reason that it helps with pain.  Your symptoms will likely get worse for a time, how long without rehab and good ongoing therapy is difficult to tell you.  One of the problems is that the pain will cause you to change your walking gait and movement which will be added stress to your back.  It may be better in the long run to shell out the extra money for awhile.

I wish there was some magic treatment or surgery that will make things better, but without knowing your case it is difficult to give advice.  Usually, there is no one best thing to do for the problem.  Unfortunately, pain is the enemy that you will have to put up with for awhile.  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Tedily]

Bitty: I'm sorry to hear about your back pain and while I'm writing this I know you haven't been answered by Neuro yet.I had the same pain two years ago.I had an MRI of lumbar area and two epidural blocks at L4,L5.I got better with each injection for 6 weeks and pain came back.I could sit down and lay down but not stand when drug wore off.I got in my car and drove to a large medical center.The Neurosurgeon said i had an incomplete MRI report.(Hmmmmm)I had SPINAL STENOSIS.This is what you have to have ruled out first in your case knowing that you have disk problems and leg pain.I went to a Board Certified Spinal Surgeon and had some lamina removed in spinal canal/Vertebral foramen to make normal amount of room for nerves.No pressure,no pain.The surgeon did not touch my disks.Remember Bitty,no two spines are alike.I didn't understand if you meant that while getting injection they were trying to remove scar tissue from disk at same time.That needle is blunt on the end to push a nerve aside if in the way of needle.Good Luck!Tedily

[BradleyJ]

Why do these forums say they've reached the limit of new posts for the day when there aren't any new posts today?

Are the people who answer the questions too lazy to answer more than one per day?  How pathetic.

I recommend going to a site where they actually care to help the people who come to them for help.  Makes sense eh?

[Croz]

Could be the people who got the posts are still working on them and haven't submitted them yet.  Or, perhaps technical difficulty.  It's pretty harsh to criticize people for being lazy when they're offering a free service that many people find very useful, pal.

[Bitty]

Yes they were trying to move the scar tissue at the same time they were doing the epidural.  I'll try to find one of those
spinal surgeons in my area.  No one has told me exactly what I have or don't have.  The surgeon did tell me he severed a nerve during the surgery and since I was "okay" at my follow-up check up he guess it was a nerve I didn't need.  Can you believe that!  Again thanks for your help.  

[Lydia B.]

Hi!  I just wanted to add, I've just gotten out of my 3rd back surgery.  This time they had to fuse my lower spin from L2 through L5.  I have to admit, as far as waking up, this surgery wasn't near as painful as the cage fushion.  Other than moving that is.  You are really sore and can't move.  But when they did the cage fushion on the L4-5 disc 2 years ago, I woke up in terrible pain, and I got worse from then on.  I couldn't stand or sit for very long, and had pain in my right leg.  I finally went to Louisville Ky to a spine institute, that after 2 years of these people down here where I live had been telling me that the fushion had taken and they could not find any problems, and the popping sounds I'd hear is normal, I found out that my fushion hadn't taken, and that my discs up above the fushion was cutting off 2 nerves, especailly while standing.  I am only 6 weeks out of surgery, but so far there is no regrets.  I do get irritated at things, like when I drop something, I can't bend, and going to the bathroom and trying to wipe is a problem.  You can't reach.  ha! ha!  But with alot of prayer on my side, and good surgeons, I beleive I will get better, if I put forth the effort on my side, and do the walking and water aerobics.  So I do know what your going through, but if they do a milo-gram 3D veiw, they will probally find your problem.  That is how my problem was found.  I had 3 milo-grams, but the 4th was done in Louisville, and they did the 3D and did it with me standing, and although they are painful, they found my problem.  \

Good luck and God bless you all, and if anyone would like to talk, You can reach me at ***@****.

Lydia

[Bitty]

I went back to the Pain Mgmt doctor for my appt on last Monday and he wants to conduct what he called a "study" on me and other patients.  He's going to do bloodwork and then I'm to come in twice a week to get medication.  He said they'd have Oxycodone, a placebo, and he mentioned something called "nu-morphin".  I'm not sure of the spelling because I've never heard of it.  It's a new drug and he said they'd be conducting this study for about a year.  He said they'd have to adjust the medication back and forth until my pain is gone or whatever.  He also mentioned being paid.  It sounds like some kind of experimentation to me and I don't think I'm going to go for this.  Has anyone else ever heard of these so-called studies and has anyone ever hear of this drug "nu-morphin".  I tried different spellings trying to find it on the internet but couldn't find anything.

[zomac]

I've never done anything like this before...but I feel compelled to say something to Bitty in hope that it will be reassuring to you.....I have had 4 lower back surgeries...3 disc repairs and 1 fussion....I do interior painting and hang wall paper....and no, it's not easy but find the movements similar to Yoga in that it helps me to stay stretched out, limber and less soreness in general.  What I wanted to tell you was that I had been on a steady "diet" of hydrocodone also....for 3 years, taking them like tic tacs to be able to continue working.....after the last surgery, although I limited myself to only 1 a day...to get through my 8 hours of work only.....my doctor wanted me to stay off them for 1 week....and explained that you develope a
"resistance", that you tend to need more to get any relief....and after that week, if I still need them, they will be more effective.  He also said that he had no way of determining if I was "addicted" to the hydrocodone but for legal purposes, my health and the better effectiveness of the medicine, I needed to do this.  And I did...what I found was, that for the past 6 years, I have taken the hydrocodone maybe 10 times....on days that I had overdone things at work....and I also have problems with strains in my sides and torn cartilage in my knees I had used it for.....I did need less....and when I do take it, it does work better.....and I'm not saying that you are addicted...not at all....I'm only sharing my experience with hydrocodone as it was all that releived me also and I know your fear of not having it again.  I am wondering, after your doctor has given you time to cleanse your system, he won't let you have it again?  They seem to know when someone is abusing medication and when they sincerely need it.  I'm hoping that like me, you too will find that you need less of it....now I can take 2 Aleve and have just as much relief as the hydrocodone.  And I will admit that I do carry several Lorcet Plus just in case.....terrible to live your life in fear of being in that pain again at any given moment....I wish you well .....Zomac

[007mia]

I have had repeated pain in the base of the neck, back pain between the shoulder blades, lower back and down the left leg since a headon car accident a year and a half ago. None of these occur all at once anymore. But the neck, back and leg seem to occur at the same times or I notice them together. The medical doctors were more concern with broken bones and since I had no major bones broken, they seem to feel that there was no need to be concerned.  I constantly suffer from pains and swelling in the right foot and behind the ankle also and they just shrug and say it will eventually go away.  My orthopedic doctor finally said he could not help me and said maybe a Chiropractor might.  The Chiropractor has helped.  I have more range of motion which I had lost.  I was barely able to turn my head or upper torso when I drove, and now I can drive and turn my head.  The lower back pains get worse when I get adjusted but clear up within a day or two.  Now I am going a month between adjustments and the pains have returned.  Reading the comments here, I am wondering if a Milo gram may help me.  I am not a candidate for MRI because I have "hardware on the upper right quadrant" whatever that means.  The Chiropractor believes it may be a staple from a gall bladder operation years ago.