I am going to the Dr. today..and need some advice

[sadinmichigan]

Hi to all...I am going to my regular Dr. today in hopes of doing something about this pain I am in. My back is hurting so bad that I can hardly stand it. I have a pretty high tolerance to pain but this is getting ridiculous..My question is..What are some non-narcotic drugs I can possibly try? I have been taking valium to help relax my muscles, which it does...But it does nothing for the pain that is constant.I have been taking motrin ,aleve,advil.but feel no relief at all. I have not taken anymore pain medicine since I took those Norco earlier this week. I do not want to ruin my progress but I am in pain and need to do something..I have an MRI scheduled for next week to see if the discs that were already bad in my back are worse..It sure feels like something has happened. I am not going to a chiropractor until I know what is going on in there..Any advice as to what meds to try would be much appreciated..Thankyou

[sadinmichigan]

Thankyou for giving me that info..I have heard some horror stories about how bad they hurt..But maybe they can put me out if thats what I end up trying. Hopefully I will know a little more about what going on "back" there tomarrow from my MRI..praying that it/they  still just bulging and not wasted..

Just want to tell all of you here- YOU ROCK..and I sure feel loved..Thanks..

Hey...where's Mikey..lol

[kittykat58]

epidural shots are usually a combination of cortisone (steroid) and lidocaine (local anesthetic, like novacaine).

kittykat

[sadinmichigan]

Sub- Hi..how are you doing? thankyou for responding..LOL. I am definatley noticing back hurting more in general from sitting here for so many months..LOL but it is mostly in the shoulders and between my shoulder blades..I do try and watch how I am sitting, keeping my lower back straightend etc..This problem with my lower back has been going off and on for several years. I really appreciate yout concern , thankyou so much.

Lisa- hi girl! of course you can call..I will be up for a few more hours..I have alot on my mind..I am so sorry your a/c is out...that stinks!! I love my a/c too. I went to visit my mom in Tennessee in Aug last year and OMG..it was 110 everyday and I thought i was gonna die!! I'll never go again in August..LOL anyway..I'm up if you'd like to chat..I saw your mood said you were ready for bed..so I'll talk to you later or tomarrow..xoxo

[Rose703]

I'm so relieved to hear that you made it to the doctor and that he did the MRI. I was worried about you, but it sounds like your doctor gave you a couple of good RX's for your back. The soma will make you tired, but it really does help relax those muscles. As for the Lyrica it's a good med but one that I wasn't able to take. It made me have vertigo, dizziness, and it knocked me on my butt basically! Now as you know every med affects everyone differently so I'm praying that it does it's job for you. Are you okay for me to give you a call? Let me know sweetie because I know you've had a long day and I don't want to disturb you if you've got the chance to rest.

[suboxoneaddict]

Hey I just saw this thread and wanted to chime in. Anyway, thanks for the support you gave me the other day I am down to 1.5mgs of suboxone and not doing to badly. Anyway what occured to me was that just from seeing your interaction with everybody else on this forum that you must be on the keyboard a lot. Do you realize that your posture when writing emails might have a lot to do with your pain. What position do you sit in when you type. Does it support your back etc? My back hurts some times after typing and I don't even have a bad back so its something to consider. I really hope that you find a solution to your pain.

[sadinmichigan]

Hey girl...congrats on day 5..Yes I tried all the heat and ice in the world..I have some awesome heating pads for the microwave with the whole aromatherapy thing going on too..LOL they rock..but it only feels good while I it's warm  u know?  hey are you gonna be home tonight?

xo Lisa

[coconuts27]

Hi Lisa,  I wish you were feeling better. That Lyrica is pretty good stuff. My ex takes it for pain, and I've taken it before too. It's also used as an antideppressant. Be careful with it though, it always made me sleepy when I took it. I guess that goes away over time though. Have you tried one of those heating pads that tie around your back? The kind with rice inside that you microwave. That always helped with my pain. Well, I hope you feel better soon. Hang in there.
LaDonna

[CadillacJack]

Glad you're back, and had the MRI. I hope it turns out to be an easy fix (I've heard of those, but never actually witnessed one).

[joann1975]

Lisa, I am so glad he got you in so quick! That is great...Please keep us posted on the results. JoAnn

[GoingToMakeIt]

Always good to hear from you. Hope these things work.

[LONESOME]

Cheers girlie!!

[sadinmichigan]

Hi all...I JUST got home..but my Dr. got me in for an emergency MRI..So I waited and waited but finally got that over with, I am just waiting for him to call me now with the report. They were supposed to read it stat..but I couldn't wait around, kids comming home from school and all, anyway..I got another rx of soma and a rx called Lyrica..I don't have it filled yet but I guess we will give it a try..and then go from there. So, I am still in pain but will hopefully be able to figure out what to next when I get my MRI results..My dr..pretty much agreed that the kind of pain I am in and the amount of it would only be mildly relieved from pain meds if at all..so we shall see..thanks everyone..and i decided to get some wine too..it's not vodka at least but maybe it will just make me relax..

[LONESOME]

Hi there friend sorry about your back pain let me tell you the doctor I work for gave me some samples of DURABAC FORTE and it works relly good for my pain is not a narcotic and is with prescription you may want to ask about it ok good luck girlie

[worried878]

Cortisone is a steroid...good luck!

[sadinmichigan]

I am heading out in a few..waiting for a friend to drive..thankgod..anyway..I am going to seek all alternatives first..I appreciate all the advice and will explore it all..Whenever I get back i'll let you know how it goes...xo

[desperate1111]

no advice on back pain, i know nothing about it. i do hope you find relief soon. i'm glad you have good ins. i have had several cortisone shots in the past and they have helped me.

[franco1470]

I think its kind of the same thing. Cortisone is a steroid. Sometimes they inject a mixture of cortisone with something else.

[sadinmichigan]

quick question- whats the difference in the steroid shot and the cortisone ones..(my husband had the cortisone injections..

[sadinmichigan]

thankyou all..

Yes my dr is very aware of all my history. I have been very honest with hm and am thankful that I can be..He is very proud of me for what I have accomplished. I called him a long while ago about getting off the pills..I will be asking about the shots etc..
As far as the disc thing these are stemming from a horse falling off accident and a skiing accident as wel as having 6 children.(thats where the hip problem are comming in). I have to go get ready (my dr. is 40 min away) I will let you all know what happens..

GTMI- i have been on xanax for a # of years but only take 1mg a day. I do not abuse them. But my dr. is the one who told me that valium helps with muscle spasms better than things like skelaxin and flexoril..it does seem to help and I haven't been taking my xanax while I am taking the valium..

I am just in so much pain that I have to do something here..Most of it is all on the left side..lower back and left hip..a very constant dull pain with the occasional sharp shooting pains..

thanks again everyone i appreciate all your advice and am going to write some of this down to discuss with my Dr..wish me luck..

[franco1470]

I am sorry you are suffering so.  My back problems are in the same vertebrae and my nerve gets pinched so I know how HORRIBLE it feels.
A med that works for me sometimes is indomethicin, its an anti-inflammatory brand name Indocin.  I take it at times for problems other than my back but sometimes it helps
get the nerve calmed down.  Also prednisone has worked for me, but only if I haven't taken it for a year or so. Epidural injections only give me relief for a week or so and that is also if I haven't had it in over a year.
I have tried acupuncture. I like it and it has helped me with other problems but for my back was ineffective, but everybody's different its worth a try.
Good luck to you, you're one of the most helpful people on the forum and I really hope you feel better soon.

[malenurse57]

No good advice for the pain, as I am still trying to find relief from RA and other physical problems that cause pain. However I will keep you in my prayers.
"T"

[worried878]

I have had epidurals as well....i get my shots every 4 months into the "trigger points" or knots in the muscle and it helps me more than the epidural did...not as dangerous either...epidurals are usually not super risky but i do have a patient right now who is paralyzed from one...this is rare but whenever they mess with your spinal cord and all those nerves..it is a risk...i know some who had a round of epidurals and remained pain free for years...everyone is different....I have bulging discs and degenerative disc disease, a fusion, scoliosis, a cruddy spine!  sometimes we just have to do the best we can...most people past the age of 40 have some amount of degeneration and most have a bulging disc or 2....some do not have pain from it and some do....ur doctor will do what is best for u and u will be hurting less very soon!

[GoingToMakeIt]

• Valium (diazepam) is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Valium (diazepam) affects chemicals in the brain that may become unbalanced and cause anxiety, seizures, and muscle spasms.
• Valium (diazepam) is used to relieve anxiety, nervousness, and tension associated with anxiety disorders. It is also used to treat certain types of seizure disorders and muscle spasms.
• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are depressed or have suicidal thoughts.

Benzos are addicting. I like to use flexeril to relax muscles. It targets the muscles and is non addictive. some people have been helped by Neurontin too.

I have done the injections and they did help after the 3rd shot. You are only allowed 3 shots though.

Make sure your Dr knows that you do not want opiates.

[sadinmichigan]

I appreciate all your advice..I'll be right back..gotta lay down for a sec.

Worried- I agree about chiro- have been many times for my neck..it isn't a good idea to go with a ruptered disc..thats what my chiro said..which is why I am waiting for another mri..