Re: Chronic Back Pain

Posted By CCF Neurosurgery MD/gm on May 22, 1998 at 00:42:54:

In Reply to: Chronic Back Pain posted by Nancy on May 21, 1998 at 13:37:28:






My husband has been suffering from extreme back pain for 1 1/2 years now.  The doctors have done MRIs on his hip, pelvic area, and spine and everything comes out normal.  Nerve conduction studies have also shown nothing significant.  The pain keeps him from being able to do anything.  Dilaudid controls the pain most of the time at home but occassionally spasms occur that can only be controlled with IV morphine.  The spasms travel from the low back up into the shoulders and cause pain in his right leg and inside the right knee.  His has ulcers again after surgery 2 years ago and his last few times on IV morphine he has thrown up yellow bile.  No one seems to have any answers as to why he has the constant low back pain with occassional spasms.  The big problem is the spasms are getting more frequent causing him to have to take more and more strong pain med. and morphine.  Any ideas, please?
Thanks, Nancy
Dear Nancy:
Your husband's entire history is somewhat unclear to me. What concerns me
is the fact that he has severe pain without radiographic evidence of a
problem. Due to this I would recommend you seek the professional opinion
of a chronic pain specialist. These doctors are very good at handling these
sorts of problems.
Good Luck!