severe chronic back pain L4-5

[den207]

I am a 33 year old man and was in a very bad car accident.  I had 5 surgeries within a 18 month period all on the L4-5 reigon.  I ended up having a fusion done.  I have been in nothing but pain ever since.  I have been on so many opiates I have become dependent on them.  My docs won't even prescribe for me anymore.  They say I have to deal with the pain.  I admit I have abused the drugs because I have built up such a tollerance to them.  My question is would you recomend a baclofen pump for someone like myself?  This way I would have no controll over the medication the pump would do it for me.  I am so trired of being looked at like a durg addict.  I know I have to take some responsibility for this but it is so hard having to deal with all of this pain.  I just want to escape sometimes so I take more than is prescribed and I find myself running out and going to beg for more.  I going to see a counselor to help me with the emotioal part of this.  My primary care doc said she would write a referal for me but I think she is doing so just to get me out of her office.  She says she has to worry about her DEA license.  I understand that.  But once we are hooked on the oyxcodine, vicodine, morphine, scribs the docs write, it seems there is no one there to help you go to the next level to get off them or suggest a baclofen pump.  I am miffed.  I just don't know what to do.  I would appreciate your responce.  What is your take on all of these meds.  It seems to me the docs know people with chronic pain such as myself what the end result is going to be once the opied beast is let loose.
den207

[den207]

Thank you for the encouragement.  I have been to pain management and I have had the injections.  They did not work.  It is unfortunate I live in a state (Maine) where they are not very aggressive with paine management.  As a matter of fact, I would have to be referred to Massachuetts to even consider having a pump put in.  There are not pain management clinics that even do epi pain management.  It's said we are so far behind in the times.  I have hear there is a clinic that does do botox injections, but of course insurance will not cover anything like this.  I have done most of my research on the webbecause the docs say if YOU can find a clinic that will do it I will write you a referal.  It seems to me as much money as these people get paid they should be able to help out with this info to at least to help get your foot in the door.  I hope through this site, I will get alot of very valuable info so I can go forward with the treatment I need.

den207

[sandee1818]

The pump may work well for you. I would talk to your doctor about it and also look at the risk involved.
I would advise you seeing a pain management doctor also. Just because you have become dependent is NO reason to cut you off! Anyone who takes these kinds of medications for chronic pain eventually becomes dependant but that is totally different than being addicted.
Get a referral to a PM doctor and find out what options they provide you with before you decide on the pump.