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New members can introduce themselves here....
We welcome new members here everyday and alot of times new members will sit back and observe and read awhile before posting. By introducing yourself it helps us members get to know you and also welcome you to our wonderful community we have.
We not only support each other with pain issues but with everyday life and how the pain effects it. We have all had days when just need to vent and express out feelings toward dealing with pain and how it effects every single aspect of out lives. So feel free to do this.
I know all of our wonderful members will make you the new members feel welcome and at home here. I myself consider my friends here my MedHelp family.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask. We have many different features here including a pain tracker http://www.medhelp.org/user_trackers/gallery/pain that will help you keep track of your pain levels on a daily basis and you can even print it out to take to your Doctor's appointments to help them treat your pain.
We have health pages that will give you more information on pain and your medical treatments and so much more.
Med Help also has many more communities also - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/list
We all here look forward to getting to know you:)
Sandee1818 & Tuckamore
Your Community Leaders
We not only support each other with pain issues but with everyday life and how the pain effects it. We have all had days when just need to vent and express out feelings toward dealing with pain and how it effects every single aspect of out lives. So feel free to do this.
I know all of our wonderful members will make you the new members feel welcome and at home here. I myself consider my friends here my MedHelp family.
If you have any questions please feel free to ask. We have many different features here including a pain tracker http://www.medhelp.org/user_trackers/gallery/pain that will help you keep track of your pain levels on a daily basis and you can even print it out to take to your Doctor's appointments to help them treat your pain.
We have health pages that will give you more information on pain and your medical treatments and so much more.
Med Help also has many more communities also - http://www.medhelp.org/forums/list
We all here look forward to getting to know you:)
Sandee1818 & Tuckamore
Your Community Leaders
Hello All,
My name is Tracie and I'm 45. I came across this site and have been hopeful about what I have read. It feels as though the members are honest, helpful, and empathetic. Perhaps I can find some alternatives, definitely some inspiration!
I suffer with chronic pain as well. Injury in 2001, took the Navy a year to do MRI which showed rupture at L5, anterior bulge pressing on nerve root at L4. Anway, they wanted to medically discharge me, but I worked with and for a great group of folks that supported me and I was able to fully retire in 2004 after 20 years, thank God!
I am blessed with two daughters, 13 and 16, and a pretty good hubby of 23 years. I had a spinal fusion from L4-S1 in 2005, then was in a bad car wreck 5 months later which resulted in pretty bad setback :( So I had a spinal cord stimulator put in in 2006 to try to wean off some of the pain meds, with limited success. I also have major depression since before injuries (I'm sure the CP doesn't help).
I have been on everything from MS-Contin to Oxycontin to Methadone and many more in between. Limited succes and definite drawbacks. Unfortunately I need pain and pscych meds or I cannot function. I now take Fentanyl 50 mcg, soma, xanaflex, ultram, trazadone, cymbalta, and abilify. WOW! That's a lot, but much less debilitating than previous oral opoids were.
This sure ended up being lengthy! Thank you for creating this forum and letting me rattle on. Good luck to all of you in your puruit of pain control.
My name is Tracie and I'm 45. I came across this site and have been hopeful about what I have read. It feels as though the members are honest, helpful, and empathetic. Perhaps I can find some alternatives, definitely some inspiration!
I suffer with chronic pain as well. Injury in 2001, took the Navy a year to do MRI which showed rupture at L5, anterior bulge pressing on nerve root at L4. Anway, they wanted to medically discharge me, but I worked with and for a great group of folks that supported me and I was able to fully retire in 2004 after 20 years, thank God!
I am blessed with two daughters, 13 and 16, and a pretty good hubby of 23 years. I had a spinal fusion from L4-S1 in 2005, then was in a bad car wreck 5 months later which resulted in pretty bad setback :( So I had a spinal cord stimulator put in in 2006 to try to wean off some of the pain meds, with limited success. I also have major depression since before injuries (I'm sure the CP doesn't help).
I have been on everything from MS-Contin to Oxycontin to Methadone and many more in between. Limited succes and definite drawbacks. Unfortunately I need pain and pscych meds or I cannot function. I now take Fentanyl 50 mcg, soma, xanaflex, ultram, trazadone, cymbalta, and abilify. WOW! That's a lot, but much less debilitating than previous oral opoids were.
This sure ended up being lengthy! Thank you for creating this forum and letting me rattle on. Good luck to all of you in your puruit of pain control.
Hi Everyone,
I am honored to join your forum and hope for lively exchanges of advice, experiences and encouragement. My name is Sunny, early 30's, happily married, no children. I work full-time. I suffer from severe, chronic pain due to a vehicle accident a few years ago. DDD, buldging disks, mod-sever arthritis, stenosis, migraines, etc. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Unsuccsessful Treatments to Date: trigger point injections, acupuncture, PT, meds, heat & ice, massage, muscle release. Successful Treatments: N/A.
Hope everyone is having a good, healthy day!
Sunny
I am honored to join your forum and hope for lively exchanges of advice, experiences and encouragement. My name is Sunny, early 30's, happily married, no children. I work full-time. I suffer from severe, chronic pain due to a vehicle accident a few years ago. DDD, buldging disks, mod-sever arthritis, stenosis, migraines, etc. I also have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Unsuccsessful Treatments to Date: trigger point injections, acupuncture, PT, meds, heat & ice, massage, muscle release. Successful Treatments: N/A.
Hope everyone is having a good, healthy day!
Sunny
Hello all,
I am very new to this. So guess I'll start from the beginning.
I was 27 with two beautiful children. My daughter who was three and my son who was a month old at time. Not to mention my loving and supportive wife. I was lifting some heavy equipment at work when I injured my L4/L5 disc Jan.2008. The doctor I was referred to placed me on norco10/325 6 per day and recommended P/T, and some cortisone shots but nothing was helping. Soon after I was transferred to a different w/c doctor who had a few X-ray's, a MRI, and a discogram done on me. A disc bulge with annular tear was found and I was told that surgery was the only way to relieve my back pain. I got three opinions all with the same result. Too young for fusion but just right for ADR (artificial disc replacement). My disc was replaced May2009. After the surgery the pain in my back was ten times worse than before. No longer able to walk without assistance. My surgeon had me on oxycodone10/325 6 per day and it wouldn't touch the pain. I was switched back to the norco10/326 6 per day and was able to function a little. He had a CT scan done on me and said "the placement of the disc was not ideal but should be doing its job" so he recommended P/T. I went to P/T for a couple sessions with no success. According to my surgeon I would no longer be able to work in the plumbing industry anymore and that the only other options I had at this point were fusion or a pain management program. W/C wanted the P/M program. I started the 3 week P/M program Aug.2010. The program consisted of 2hrs of physical therapy, 2hrs occupational therapy, 1hr bio-feedback, 1hr relaxation, and 1hr of vocational therapy or meeting with a pain doctor.(all while tapering pain medications) The program was by far the hardest thing I've ever accomplished in my short lifetime. I was tapered down to 3 10/325 norcos a day by the time I finished the program and once again my function went back down to nothing, even with all the techniques I learned in the program. I met with my surgeon one last time a few weeks after the program and he was now saying it might be my facet joints that are causing my debilitating pain. My surgeon than transferred me to another pain doctor who would not only try facet joint blocker but would also try to manage my pain with long lasting medications. I had a facet joint injection Dec.2010. No change in pain level or function. Jan.2011 my new doctor put me on MS contin15mg 3 per day with the norco as a b/t. Still no change in pain/function. As of two weeks ago he put me on fentanly patch25mcg with norco as a b/t. As of right now my pain is somewhat manageable. I'm having problems with them staying on and still need assistance just to walk, but I feel like I'm now heading down the right path. I've come to accept the fact that I will never function or feel the way I did before my injury. I'm just so thankful I have a awesome family who has stood by my side.
I know my experience is nothing compared to others on this site and I wish everyone the best. Thanks for your time.........
I am very new to this. So guess I'll start from the beginning.
I was 27 with two beautiful children. My daughter who was three and my son who was a month old at time. Not to mention my loving and supportive wife. I was lifting some heavy equipment at work when I injured my L4/L5 disc Jan.2008. The doctor I was referred to placed me on norco10/325 6 per day and recommended P/T, and some cortisone shots but nothing was helping. Soon after I was transferred to a different w/c doctor who had a few X-ray's, a MRI, and a discogram done on me. A disc bulge with annular tear was found and I was told that surgery was the only way to relieve my back pain. I got three opinions all with the same result. Too young for fusion but just right for ADR (artificial disc replacement). My disc was replaced May2009. After the surgery the pain in my back was ten times worse than before. No longer able to walk without assistance. My surgeon had me on oxycodone10/325 6 per day and it wouldn't touch the pain. I was switched back to the norco10/326 6 per day and was able to function a little. He had a CT scan done on me and said "the placement of the disc was not ideal but should be doing its job" so he recommended P/T. I went to P/T for a couple sessions with no success. According to my surgeon I would no longer be able to work in the plumbing industry anymore and that the only other options I had at this point were fusion or a pain management program. W/C wanted the P/M program. I started the 3 week P/M program Aug.2010. The program consisted of 2hrs of physical therapy, 2hrs occupational therapy, 1hr bio-feedback, 1hr relaxation, and 1hr of vocational therapy or meeting with a pain doctor.(all while tapering pain medications) The program was by far the hardest thing I've ever accomplished in my short lifetime. I was tapered down to 3 10/325 norcos a day by the time I finished the program and once again my function went back down to nothing, even with all the techniques I learned in the program. I met with my surgeon one last time a few weeks after the program and he was now saying it might be my facet joints that are causing my debilitating pain. My surgeon than transferred me to another pain doctor who would not only try facet joint blocker but would also try to manage my pain with long lasting medications. I had a facet joint injection Dec.2010. No change in pain level or function. Jan.2011 my new doctor put me on MS contin15mg 3 per day with the norco as a b/t. Still no change in pain/function. As of two weeks ago he put me on fentanly patch25mcg with norco as a b/t. As of right now my pain is somewhat manageable. I'm having problems with them staying on and still need assistance just to walk, but I feel like I'm now heading down the right path. I've come to accept the fact that I will never function or feel the way I did before my injury. I'm just so thankful I have a awesome family who has stood by my side.
I know my experience is nothing compared to others on this site and I wish everyone the best. Thanks for your time.........
hey melissa, just want to say how great it is to see ppl like you out there trying to help others. I wish i had found this site long ago. You are such a sweetheart and i thank God for putting ppl like you in the world who cares. God bless
I was dx'd with chronic pain in 2000 & was put on muscle relaxers & opiod pain meds. Then about 7 yrs ago I went to a Fibro & Fatigue Clinic in Dallas & was dx'd with Fibromyalgia along with CFS, not to mention the high cholesterol, controlled high blood pressure & many other small things going on with me.
My meds are: Morphine Sulfate, Trazadone, Zanaflex, Valium, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Vitamin D3, low dose Bayer, Bystolic, Quinapril & Simvastatin. These are the meds I use as needed: Aleve, Mirilax, stool softener & Prevacid.
What I would really like to find out is what will all these meds do to me now, much less in the next 10 yrs. I am 55 y/o & have been on SSDI since 12/07 which isn't much after paying for all the medicare & insurance you don't dare do without.
My 58 y/o hubby is waiting on his 3rd brain surgery as he has Cerebral AV-Dural Fistulas. Basically they are vessels leaking blood into his brain. In June 10 he was in ICU for 19 days & 1300 ml was drained from his brain. This should be his last surgery since he has one more fistula that is repairable & the other one is in the brain stem so deep they don't think it's worth the risk to fix it.
We lost his mother in Sept. 10 to cancer & my mom had cancer surgery in Sept. but so far is doing okay.
How much can we really stand?
My meds are: Morphine Sulfate, Trazadone, Zanaflex, Valium, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Vitamin D3, low dose Bayer, Bystolic, Quinapril & Simvastatin. These are the meds I use as needed: Aleve, Mirilax, stool softener & Prevacid.
What I would really like to find out is what will all these meds do to me now, much less in the next 10 yrs. I am 55 y/o & have been on SSDI since 12/07 which isn't much after paying for all the medicare & insurance you don't dare do without.
My 58 y/o hubby is waiting on his 3rd brain surgery as he has Cerebral AV-Dural Fistulas. Basically they are vessels leaking blood into his brain. In June 10 he was in ICU for 19 days & 1300 ml was drained from his brain. This should be his last surgery since he has one more fistula that is repairable & the other one is in the brain stem so deep they don't think it's worth the risk to fix it.
We lost his mother in Sept. 10 to cancer & my mom had cancer surgery in Sept. but so far is doing okay.
How much can we really stand?
I been lurking since Nov-2010. Thanks to all who have posted on the subjects of Morphine & Norco Withdrawals! Your information is both helpful and inspirational. <3
I have been weaning since Nov from Morphine & Norcos used to manage Lymphoma pain. It took 6 months to get a diagnosis of Anabalastic Large T Cell Lymphoma (if I spelled that right). During that time I went from Norco to Morphine CR 90 mg/days & Dilaudid IVs in the hospital. I was so swollen I looked 5 month pregnant.
In Nov I received a clean PET scan & began weaning off the Morphine and then the Norco's. It's been an exhaustive process taking 3 months. During the whole time I've been having goosebumps and fluctuating temperatures, fatigue, muscle tension,insomnia,racing heart,anxiety,chest/back pain.
I am taking 5htp, SAMe, VitC, glutamine,Xanax, hot baths, stretching/yoga. My newest tool is guided imagery to give me positive feedback. Check out Belleruth Naparstek on healthjourneys.com. They have an mp3 for everything from cancer to 12-step support.
I could walk four miles most days on chemo/but had to stop walking & running on withdrawals due to joint pain in the hips and overall fatigue. My brain feels fried too.
I am 48 hours clean now - I am so frustrated with the weaning process that I've gone cold turkey on my final descent & took today off work. Currently I am having the runs, stomach cramps, neck pain, restlessness, lack of concentration, poor appetite. A quiet weekend is the best for this.
I am so excited that Freedom is within my reach. God bless all of you with pain issues, you are in my prayers.
I have been weaning since Nov from Morphine & Norcos used to manage Lymphoma pain. It took 6 months to get a diagnosis of Anabalastic Large T Cell Lymphoma (if I spelled that right). During that time I went from Norco to Morphine CR 90 mg/days & Dilaudid IVs in the hospital. I was so swollen I looked 5 month pregnant.
In Nov I received a clean PET scan & began weaning off the Morphine and then the Norco's. It's been an exhaustive process taking 3 months. During the whole time I've been having goosebumps and fluctuating temperatures, fatigue, muscle tension,insomnia,racing heart,anxiety,chest/back pain.
I am taking 5htp, SAMe, VitC, glutamine,Xanax, hot baths, stretching/yoga. My newest tool is guided imagery to give me positive feedback. Check out Belleruth Naparstek on healthjourneys.com. They have an mp3 for everything from cancer to 12-step support.
I could walk four miles most days on chemo/but had to stop walking & running on withdrawals due to joint pain in the hips and overall fatigue. My brain feels fried too.
I am 48 hours clean now - I am so frustrated with the weaning process that I've gone cold turkey on my final descent & took today off work. Currently I am having the runs, stomach cramps, neck pain, restlessness, lack of concentration, poor appetite. A quiet weekend is the best for this.
I am so excited that Freedom is within my reach. God bless all of you with pain issues, you are in my prayers.
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