Vicodin

[MelMel123]

Okay - here's my question.  I'm a 31 year old female with a herniated disc L4/5.  Nothing out of the ordinary but I'm in pain most of the time.  I've seen a pain management specialist for epidural injections and get some relief.  However, most days I need 1 or 2 vicodin to get thru the pain.  I've been on them for 2 years now, give or take.  I never take more than directed by my dr and it still works for me, suggesting that I have not built up a tolerance.  My dr has recently told me that he doesn't want me taking them anymore, due to my age.  Before I starting seeing him I was taking 10-15 ibuprofen per day, with less relief.  Which is better?  I don't feel that I'm addicted, I just need them for pain control.  Suggestions?

[MelMel123]

That sounds awful.  I don't have any experience with the rib/back pain.  I'm sure it could be a referred pain though.  If you don't have insurance there may be no way around getting some assistance.  Are you able to work at all?  There is nothing worse than to need medical care and not be able to afford it.  In my situation I pay almost 650 a month for insurance so I know how expensive it could be.  I could have a sweet car for that kind of money!  Of course I still have a high deductible and all the other **** that comes with insurance policies.  If you are truely disabled then apply for the medicaid and get the help you need.  Being in constant pain is no way to live!

[kiki4922]

I have had surgery on my left shoulder 4 yrs ago . I fell down my basement stairs 3 mos ago. Anyway I broke two ribs on my back side and now I have constent pain on my lower back whenever I do anything. I do not have insurance and my dr wants me to apply for medicaid so we can do testing because he thinks it is referred pain from somewhere else in my body. Any thoughts?

[MelMel123]

Good luck with your tests next week.  Hopefully you get the results you are hoping for and surgery will be the answer for you.  I may have to face that myself if things dont get better for me.  My dr doesnt want me to have surgery but doesn't want me taking meds either.  It's frustrating because I think he just wants me to get the epidurals, which I know are lucrative for him (cost wise).  A friend of mine had the same disc problem and had surgery a few months back.  He twisted wrong and now has a buldge in the disc directly above the one they fixed.  He is scheduled for a 2nd surgery this Friday.  I can't help but think 1 surgery leads to another and on and on.  Hope everyone can stay strong and get thru this.  

[TAN777]

I totally understand what you are saying, and your not the first person that has told me about a doctor that really is concerned about NOT being in pain. Where is your doctor?  Mel, I have ovarians cysts and a mass, they are going to do surgery, but I am heavy and have to lose some weight, plus i have asthma, and my asthma has to be under control, which it is much better I think.  So the vicoden is working so I am not in pain every minute.  But it is getting worse as I have pain from my lower back down my left leg now, and I have to go for the vaginal ultra sound and CA125 blood test next Tuesday. they think maybe the cyst or mass is growing and putting pressure  on something causing the pain down my leg now.  SO I guess i wait until next week, see what happens. Thanks.

[feedup13]

To TAN777, search for a doctor that will not keep telling you that they are addictive. Good Lord,  I can see if you were taking more and more, but 2-3 day is nothing.  I am surprised that 2-3 work for your pain.  With many narcotics you do build a tolerance for them, that is why alot of doctors do not recommend them for long term pain management also because they are looked at by the medical board and if they are giving out to many narcotics they can get into trouble (I guess.....).  My doctor has chronic pain and so he is more sensitive to the issues around pain and quality of life.  I believe that NO ONE should have to suffer with pain every single day especially when there are so many different medications out there that can literally save someone's life or at least the quality of there life.  This is the way I look at it;   If a person has alot of pain then they can not move around and so they don't.  They isolate themselves, they become depressed, and because they are stationary they become under-conditioned physically which causes more pain and weakness which begins the cycle all over again.  My doctor understands this.  If I am able to exercise to some degree and keep myself strong then I am able to move around a lot better, this combats the depression which in turn helps me to get out into the public more.  Does anybody else see what I am talking about.  Why is it that doctors trained in medical fields do not understand this simple understanding.  Thank God, mine does.     T

[MelMel123]

Thanks for your kind words.  What is/are your medical issue/s?

[TAN777]

I am so glad to read these messages, I have been taking Vicodin for a couple years now 2-3 a day, and he really helps my pain.  My doctor keeps saying it can be addictive if I take more. But the 2-3 a day works fine and doesn't make me sleepy at all.  So I am glad to see others have the same concern, and the fact that doctors aren't the one's in pain so they really don't know.  It helps that I'm not the only one that thinks that way.  Thank you.

[TAN777]

I am so glad to read these messages, I have been taking Vicodin for a couple years now 2-3 a day, and he really helps my pain.  My doctor keeps saying it can be addictive if I take more. But the 2-3 a day works fine and doesn't make me sleepy at all.  So I am glad to see others have the same concern, and the fact that doctors aren't the one's in pain so they really don't know.  It helps that I'm not the only one that thinks that way.  Thank you.

[MelMel123]

Thanks for the support.  Sometimes my dr makes me feel crazy.  I know that I use the pain medicine the way it was designed to be used... I just wish they would understand that.  I know that drs are under great scrutinty and want to make sure that patients don't get addicted.  

[Kathi50]

I agree with the last poster.  And I am just like you...I take one to two Vicodin a day.  I also have an excellent SPINAL pain management doctor.  And he laughs at me!  Why?  Because he said I was "Vicodin Avoidance" LOL!  No, really, what he said was I basically taking such a low dose and that I would have to eat something like 24 a day before it affected my liver or caused addiction.  I have been off and on either Vicodin or Norco for various surgeries and not once did I have any problem coming off of either one.  I also take Klonopin...but .5 once a day which helps with some neuro pain...supposedly have Central Pain Syndrome.  Anyway, back to the ESI's.  I have had one of those and quite frankly it didn't do much.  But mine is a complicated case since I also have pelvic floor dysfunction.  You might want to ask about taking a longer acting med...such as Ultram ER or something similar or more powerful like MS Contin.  I also totally agree with HighNoon too.  It is the SPINE docs that know the most about this.

[feedup13]

I don't have much advice just to say that many doctors do not understand chronic pain.  Find another doctor who does.  They are out there.  2 vicoden a day should not be viewed as suggestive of addiction.  Pain medication works differently in chronic pain patients and doctors don't understand this.  Next time you see this "doctor" ask him how he would cope if he had to experience pain 24 hours a day and if he gives some BS, like the nurse did, give him his walking paper.  I am surprised that a pain management clinic would have such a narrow view on pain medicaiton.  Good Luck

[MelMel123]

I have had several lumbar steroid injections.  The injection is in the center of my back.  When my problem began the pain and numberness was on the left side.  My toes on my left foot are still numb, however the pain has subsided.  I now have pain on my right side, without numbness.  I'm assuming the epidurals are helping somewhat d/t the lack of numbness.  

[MelMel123]

I have had several lumbar steroid injections.  The injection is in the center of my back.  When my problem began the pain and numberness was on the left side.  My toes on my left foot are still numb, however the pain has subsided.  I now have pain on my right side, without numbness.  I'm assuming the epidurals are helping somewhat d/t the lack of numbness.  

[MelMel123]

I have had several lumbar steroid injections.  The injection is in the center of my back.  When my problem began the pain and numberness was on the left side.  My toes on my left foot are still numb, however the pain has subsided.  I now have pain on my right side, without numbness.  I'm assuming the epidurals are helping somewhat d/t the lack of numbness.  

[tds07]

What type of Epidural did you have?  Did they go in the center of your back or on the affected side?  Do you have numbness/weakness on one side more than the other?

[High Noon]

I doubt it is hereditary.
I would recommend you going to see another doctor and ditch the nurse.

Find a reputable spinal/back surgeon in your area. Go and see he or she and make sure you bring your MRI films- they read them much better than the radiologist at the lab. There are different types of injections, different medicines. Tell your NEW doc what has worked for you, where your pain is and go from there.

Good Luck

[MelMel123]

Thanks for your input.  I too am having a hard time understanding what difference my age makes.  The nurse said I need to learn to cope with my pain b/c I'm too young to be on meds.  My dr said there is impingement on the nerve and the degeneration in my disc is more in line with someone in their 60's.  My father has had the same problem since he was in his 20's so I'm assuming it is hereditary.  
I know my dr wants me to have more epidural injections but they are expensive and painful.  My last one did not work well and now I dread having it done ever again.  
I have a friend that just had surgery a few months ago for the same problem... he reinjured himself 2 weeks ago and has to have a second surgery at the end of the month.  Long story short, I don't want to go that route but I don't want to be in pain for the rest of my life either.  Especially without the option of taking a pain pill when needed.

[High Noon]

First, I do not understand what your age has to do with anything.
10-15 ibuprofen a day is not good. That amount will cause liver and kidney problems.
What strength of vicodin are you taking? 1-2 pills per day is not a heavy dosage and if they still work, I wonder what the Dr. has as an alternative?

L4-5 disc herniations are very , very common for anyone over the age of 25. You note in an answer to a question posed by an other that you have leg and sciatic pain. Did your MRI show a severe impingement of the nerves? The reason I ask is that disc herniations are often misdiagnosed as the reasons for pain.
Finally, vicodin does not have anti-inflammatory characteristics., which are almost universally recommended for nerve inflammation.

Maybe the Dr will put you on indicin or mobic.

Good Luck