Lower Back Pain

[dharner]

I have been in severe back pain for 3 years.  Have had 2 surgeries and now have been diagnosed with failed back.  After all the treatments/tests, the doctor believes my main nerve is damaged and my pain is coming from there (have had my nerves "fried" earlier this year.   I am taking alot of oxycondin/roxycondin to control the pain which does make me functional.

Do you have any other ideas or are there any new treatments under investigation.  I have explored possibly an implant "tens unit" and pain pump but not real thrilled with those ideas.  

[Tuckamore]

Hello and welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. I am glad that you have found us but sorry that you have failed back surgical issues.

There is research going on daily to find alternative treatments for pain management and different procedures and treatments for specific pain issues. We all hold on to the hope that someday medical science will find a better way.  

I am not impressed with the SPS. When it works it is wonderful, but too often I hear of complications. My physician and I have decided it is not a risk I should take.

There is the pain pump implant also but again I think it is an invasive procedure and have not seriously considered it. We are all different and what is effect for one may not be effective for another. It has to be an individualized educated decision.

I assume you have tried the external TENS Unit. I wish I could offer you better suggestions. I know this may not be what you want to here but at least you have found a narcotic that helps control your pain and a physician that is willing to prescribe it for you. Hang in there and keep hoping as most of us do that someday there may be better alternatives.

Please consider staying with us and becoming an active member of our community. We have many supportive and informational members. Many new options are discussed in this forum. I also hope you will keep us posted on your progress.

Take Care,
Tuck

[RunningMom]

I'm in the same boat as you, but with my neck.  I've heard a lot of people who really like the spinal cord stimulator.  They will do a 7 day trial before implanting the permanent one.  Right now I'm willing to try it, even it's only has a 50-70% success rate.  I'm assuming if the SCS fails, they will go ahead with the pain pump trial.