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What kind of treatment are you on?

Wow, what a painful year it has been.. Actually,, the last allmost 5 years has been. I have all kinds of things wrong with me. DDD, Hernaited disc L4-L5, Tarlov and Arachnoid cysts in S1-S2, Endometriosis, Recurrent cysts in ovaries, (currently I have multiple in both for 3 months now), and more recently, diagnoised with Fibro and Rhuemotoid arthrits..Whoosh. My kind family doctor has been a blessing, refering me here and there. I am on alot of medications. Iron for anemia, viatamins, Soma, Celebrex Lyrica,Planuenil, than for the pain we have tried the short term meds and I tried oxys but they didnt last long. I either have a high tolerance to pain meds or am meatabolising them to quickly. So my Dr. put me on the patch, I am currently on the 100 mcg  patch with Norco for breakthrough. I have had problems with the last batch, ( left them in the car, got heat damaged), so I cant say whether they are working or not. However, my new patch is the Mylan brand, and I am really hoping that it works for my pain relief. I know about the rules and regs of the patch, read all kinds of info on the net. I really need it to work though. I am exhausted with all of the pain I am tired of all the ups and downs all the routine changes. I dont want to be in pain anymore.  I feel like a kid when I say this, ITS NOT FAIIR! My family has suffered from my not being able to keep routine, or not being able to go anywhere cause I hurt, etc. I even stopped taking my medicine so I could try to deal with my pain.. I went through the withdrawels, had a week with mild-moderate pain, then got hit with severe pain that caused me to hit the doctors again. I am in acceptance that I have my pains for life now whether I have to take meds or not. This week I have a scuedule of drs visits everyday to further test what is going on.
I am wondering what kind of treatments have worked for you? Does anyone else have a problem metabolising medicine? What vitamins or etc.  help to keep the patch absorbing equally for a whole 48 hours? I am trying to not have 'breakthrough pain' but still need to function, and clean my house play with my kids, go to the store and stand for longer than 15 mins. sit for longer than 30 mins, do my bead work etc.
Any input regarding that will help. Thank you
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547368 tn?1440541785
Hi Again,

It sounds like you are doing all the right things. I am so glad that your family is supportive, that is important. It is healthy to accept the diagnosis's and learn how to treat, live and deal with your pain. It will take some time but I think you are on the right road and you should be proud that you are so courageous.

As far as the cysts, Tarlov's are not treatable. I have been told than trying to do surgery on them is like trying to accurately cut wet Kleenex. I have seen to neurosurgeons and they will not surgically remove them...and they return quickly. There has been active debate about how to treat arachnoid cysts.  The need for treatment depends mostly upon the location and size of the cyst.  If the cyst is small, not disturbing surrounding tissue, and not causing symptoms, some doctors will refrain from treatment.  In the past, doctors placed shunts in the cyst to drain its fluid.  Now with microneurosurgical techniques and endoscopic tools that allow for minimally invasive surgery, more doctors are opting to surgically remove the membranes of the cyst or open the cyst so its fluid can drain into the cerebrospinal fluid and be absorbed.    

My PCP is also my PMP and she is wonderful. She has referred me to every  "specialist" that  she thought may be able to help me. So if you are comfortable with your PCP and she is treating your pain and medical issues successfully that is very important. Although PMP are generally wonderful much depends on the state you live in, how well you relate to the PMP and how comfortable you are with him/her.

I have a lot of "bum" pain. I must change positions frequently, can't stand or walk very long, etc...I understand your pain. I have multiple cysts and a very bad sacroiliac joint, they too are not "fixable." So I hear you and understand your pain. Please fell free to send me a PM and just chat whenever you feel the need. We are all here for you. Take care and let us know how you are doing. Tuck


Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I apoligize for not separating my answers, its only 9pm but Im sooo tired after today that its easier for me to do this post like this tonight..However........
Thank you for commenting quickly.I appreciate that!! Funny thing is, I had a PM dr. he was my dr. before during, and alittle after my last pregnancy. He was a great dr until he decided to move to a better bigger office with his stuck up assistant and with that all caring, listening and prety much doctering went out the door. He could never really understand why my pain was getting worse especially after several physical therapy appts. and facet joint injections, thats when  I saw his nurse practioner, she set me on the road to the Rhuematoligist. I had a 'family problem' there and then discharged myself and soon lost my insurance..I didnt have insurance for about 6 mons so visits to the er and urgent care was all I had. One other pain dr, and three family drs and I found my current dr. He has been very understanding and he works with me. He has referred me to every dr he and I think is needed, talked about water therapy but currently started physical therapy again. He seems to want to find out whats wrong with me more than me sometimes...lol
I am scared to try another PM dr because of all the problems Ive had. with the past drs and my family dr is my PM right now. He did have me on Cymbalta due to a loss of our baby last year but finally after some time I have taken myself off with his permission and feel good and stronger mentally. Although while pregnant with my son, I was very sad and depressed because my body hurt so bad and I took medicine throughout, and I was always so worried it would hurt him. I remember going to my PM dr with a list of questions in hand at 7 mons and barely being able to mumble 'Will I be in pain like this my whole life?'' As soon as he shock his head yes I lost it and couldnt ask anymore questions I couldnt believe that my life consisted of pain and medication and more pain and etc etc etc. My family dr told mme one time that it is easier to accept it and do whats possible to mantain pain control to be able to fubction somewhat normal.
We just started therapy, another plus. I write in my journal or online when I feel like I need to vent or just have something to say. I am a pretty positive person as long as my pain is at bay.
I do however want to look into spinal decompression? (I think that is what it is called anyways? Maybe even accupuncture, maasage, and a chiroprator but I gotta wait for some of my bills to get caught up. haha being sick has cost us money..can u believe that??
I am going back to the dr. that gave me epidurals to see if he can give me the last one and then some for my neck.
My husband finally understands and that helps so much. He has been great support. My kids understand too..although it does make me sad because my 12 yr old used me for his ''special person' report and wrote 'moms always sick' for the disadvantages. It mmade me sad and I do feel guilty. But honestly, as strong as my mind is, I have accepted my body is not as strong and now I hav limits. Besides them wanting me healthy and strong and fun, I want to be that too and I know that it will come and go so I need to make the best of every day.,
I earned about the heat thingy, they werent on me at the time though. they were in my car while I had to run errands and they basically melted, towhere the glue was covering the resovoirs for a week I couldnt figure out why I was still in so much pain. The patches would fall off in the shower and one day I noticed the glue covering the med part, I called the company and they made a report. After day 2 of the mylan brand, I can safely say I fell better than before. and because I am of small statuer, these small 'bandaids' are perfect. So long as they work..
Anyways, I am pretty much game to anything  Although I think I am afraid of surgery, can the cysts be drained or removed?? that wold sure help my back pains.  
PS- I also take a bunch of vitamins and juice plus too and am trying to eat at least 3 meals a day again. (I coulnt eat when I was sick\\
PPS- I will look into the medications too, thanx..man its a pain to sit and literally have ur bums hurt. guess I gotta switch positions again..lol
talk to u guys tomorrow
Helpful - 0
356518 tn?1322263642
Jaybay has asked the important question. What you look to get out of pain management is important.
If you want to go the non medication route then the options for you are considerably different than if your willing to go on medications.
Pain management is much more than meds though, there are many options available to you that you should seriously consider.
Your Dr will know what options may help and steer you in the right direction but you have to decide if they are right for you.
Has your Dr offered any other options top you besides meds?
Have you tried talking with a pain psychologist? When you have children I think it is important as you feel guilt for being in pain and you get depressed because you feel like your failing your kids. Having someone who understands these things helps tremendously.Of course there are many other things the PP will help you with but in my case this was important. Understanding that your not failing your family and feeling you are are two different things. This is an area where my seeing a pain phycoligist helped me the most.
Helpful - 0
547368 tn?1440541785
Hello Herefortheinfo,

I am sorry for your pain. You have been through a lot. There is more to come. You have a life long condition. Many of us here understand what you are experiencing. I too have Tarlov's cysts about 20 of them on the nerve roots of my spine and I have one of another kind that comes and goes plus multiple other reasons for CP. I have learned much from being here and from searching the web. Jaybay has done a good job answering your question and providing information on the Patch.

Life is not fair. I have always said the pain won't kill me, it just makes me wish I were dead. I say that "tongue in cheek."  And we need to come to terms with our pain and the changes it makes in our lives. It is a process. Have you been to a Pain Management Therapist?  Often they can help us deal with the changes that accompany CP. It is a grieving process and they can teach ways to deal with flares and the everyday pain the invades our lives.

My system is very fussy about what meds I put in it. It reacts to drugs that make no sense to react to and than respond well to something I would think my system would reject. We are all different, what works for me may not work for you. But the happiest day in my CP life was when I accepted the pain and made up my mind instead of "fighting" it, I would learn to deal with it. I took back my life. Now the pain rarely wins. It rarely controls my life, I control it. That does not mean that there are not things I can no longer due or have difficultly doing. I accepted the fact I will never be on the first base of a softball diamond again, that I will never runs the halls of a hospital to care for patients. And that is what you need to do, accept that these are the cards that life has dealt you. How best do you play your hand?

Unless there is a miracle cure for Fibro you will always have pain. It's how you live with the pain that will make the difference for you. I encourage you to get into a good pain management clinic or see a good PMP. They will help you determine what will work best for you. You can bounce ideas off from us.

We are here for you. It looks like you have been on MedHelp for awhile so you know that we do our best to offer support and suggestions. Hang in there and please let us know how you are doing. I will be watching for your next post. Take care, Tuck

Helpful - 0
82861 tn?1333453911
You might find that the Mylan patch will work better for you.  I had the same problem with the gel patches not lasted the full 72 hours.  No problem at all with the Mylans.  One thing that can make either of the patches dispense too quickly is heat.  If you like to relax in a hot tub, you might consider changing to showers, or at least wearing the patch on a arm that you can keep out of the hot water.  Even running a fever or having a hot flash can cause the patch to dispense faster, so keep an eye on your body temp.  Some people have a worse time of it than others - just something to be aware of.  

What are your expectations of pain management?  That is probably the most important question you can ask yourself.  I'll withhold comment until I hear your thoughts on that one.  :-)
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