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]

I forgot to mention Soma..They just make me tired..

[lifesaride]

hey lisa, sorry to say but i think your gonna have to get cracked, not so bad though kinda like goin to the dentist, i know your in pain cuz even though i havent responded i have been following your drama/delema, just hang in there get through the mri, and then get straightened out with a good crackin. your tough enough.Teddy

[avisg]

zanaflex and mobic work very well

[sadinmichigan]

Hey teddy, How are you my friend?? I haven't been on as much because of this frickin' pain..It's hard to sit here for any length of time. I go from kneeling to sitting all weird and then getting up..actually walking around is the only time it isn't just killing me..I am definately afraid to have any one touching me..This pain is shooting down my leg to my knee..I am hanging in there but dang!!  (glad you haven't been missing the drama) LOL

[lifesaride]

back pain sucks,all pain actually.i do know alot of pain is amplified by stress, problably why walking helps. keep thinkin softer ride!

[sadinmichigan]

thankyou..what are these drugs for..guess i can look them up..I just want to be armed with something to ask for instead of my dr. giving me narcotics..and unfortunately I feel like they stick to certain things and I want to know from the people that take different things..thanks again..enjoy your coffee..lol

[CadillacJack]

Go see your MD, or DO, which ever your regular Dr. is. I agree completely about no chiropractor until you know what the problem is. You've got a very good head. Do what you have to for the pain. I hate to think of you hurting so bad. I hope the Dr. is able to give you some relief.

cj

[LIZZIE LOU]

good morning :)

i have a couple of questions.  

have the epidural injections ever been discussed?  i used to suffer from horrible back pain too...and nothing seemed to work UNTIL i had the injections.  it has been around 4 years since my last one and i have not had one minute of pain.  of course...i have had that "overdoingit" pain...but not the pain that was caused from my injury.

i know that when someone is in pain...exercising is that last thing that anyone even wants to think about...lol...but at some point it needs to be a consideration.  it has been proven that strengthening our back and ab muscles will help tremendously with all back pain...even pain caused from bulging discs.  we are sent to physical therapy for a reason...but most of us never continue the exercises that they start us on.  i know i didnt!  i always stopped because, hell...i hurt worse after i left than i did before i went in.  

hope things get better soon for you :)

kim

[VicUser]

are you covered to go to physical therapy? If so, ask your Dr about traction. About a two and a half years ago I started having disk problems in my neck and this bought me time. Be real honest, from my experiance, if you are having disk problems drugs won't help much, you need to do something to physically get the pressure off of the nerve.

[sadinmichigan]

has anyone tried acupuncture? Just curious..

Cadillac- thankyou..I will do whatever I need to, but even pain meds aren't going to help this pain..I can't even take a deep breath .I have had this back pain before, almost this bad, But never for this long and intense. It is really messing my with my brain..I can't get long enough sleep to really rest, so I am so tired all day.I'm hoping right now that my dr. can get me an emergency MRI so i can find out if the discs I have had trouble with actually have gone to the next level..It sure feels like it. my husband had back surgery so that scares the hell out of me..

[worried878]

Get your xrays and mri...see what your doctor says..of course i love chiropractic...I have been to umpteen doctors and still need my pain mgt doc for steroid injections.....people will get their spine cut open, on a table naked in front of a bunch of people they do not know, whilst getting injected with all kinds of medications that hang around for months in the system, go under for surgeries and knowing anesthesia is a risk...take pills from doctors that are prescribed and become addicts...but they are scared to go to a chiropractor...which is one of the most natural medicines practiced ...i find it a bit strange

[sadinmichigan]

Kim- Hi there...I was just thinking about the injection thing..My mom told me they helped her but it hurt like a b1tch.. But the way I'm looking at it is it can't make me hurt more than I do right now..I am getting to the crying point..I am pretty active and exercise quite a bit..mostly yoga and pilates..I haven't gone to physical therapy for this because it only happens every once in awhile..I know last time I did get an MRI which did show moderate to severe bulging of L4-5 and my S-1 is deteriorating..I don't even know where the hell is S-1..I am feeling it though.I can actually feel the bones cracking alittle bit depending on how I move..This is really getting to me..I will ask about the shots..I can't wait until 12:30..can't come fast enough.

Vic- You are right..No pain meds are going to help this pain..I know that for a fact..I can feel the nerves being pinched..traction could be an option..I have pretty good insurance.

[nursegirl6572]

Hey {{{{{sad}}}}}

I'm so sorry you are going through this, sweetie.

You KNOW the pain is a direct result of an injury....and unfortunately these things takes time.  :0(  I couldn't agree more with the idea of no chiro till you have been thoroughly diagnosed, ok?

How much Motrin have you been taking?  You can take 800mg up to 4 times a day, and Tylenol in between.  Sometimes taking the alternating doses of those two meds around the clock (not just AS needed) will bring you some relief.  

Does your doc that you are seeing know about your substance abuse history?  If not, tell him, and specifically request that you do not want any narcotic pain meds.  That will simply cover all the bases.  You don't need to go in there with a laundry list of which meds you should try...leave that up to him.  Just cover yourself with the request that you do not want any narcs.

There are many different NSAIDS and muscle relaxant meds out there that have helped a lot of people...hopefully the doc will find the right combo.

Hang in there...I'm thinking of you.  And, just remember, unfortunately with pain this severe, even narcs are barely going to touch it, so that just isn't worth it.  If it DID help you...and you could take them as prescribed...that would be something different...but even just the high tolerance you have built up..."as prescribed" aint going to do **** for you, unfortunately.

But, you have to do something....you can't continue to suffer like this.  I'm feeling for you, hon.

Big hugs to you Lisa.

[kittykat58]

I swear by dicofenac. it's an anti-inflammatory (an NSAID, like motrin, but a bit different), non-narcotic, and is VERY effective. I've been on it for 6 month along with my narcs (for severe hip pain), and last week I had to stop it b/c I'm having surgery on monday (NSAIDs affect clotting). I have been in SO MUCH PAIN since I stopped, not even increasing my narcs touches it. so this tells me that the diclofenac was doing a LOT to control my pain.

diclofenac is the drug name. the brand names are voltaren & cataflam. you can get it OTC in australia, new zealand etc in 25 mg instant release -- works great, 3X a day. I was taking 50mgs (prescribed here in the states) 3X/day. don't get the extended release -- it didn't work as well and tore up my stomach.

injections also are a good idea, too. and you can take a tapered steroid over 1 week period while you are waiting for a date to get an injection (if you opt for an injection). the oral steroid (caled medrol dosepak) is the same medicine as the injection but taken by mouth -- it is like a nuclear anti-inflammatory.

so if you are suffering disc pain, a big component of that pain is inflammation (the disc swells into a place where it is no supposed to be and presses on nerves, causing inflammation, irritation, pain, etc. cutting the inflammation down should cut the pain down, significantly.

I am shocked to find out how much benefit I was getting from my diclofenac but it gives me great confidence in its pain-relieving properties.

try hot baths, too. and I think acupuncture is a very interesting idea, too, although I have never tried it. but understanding the mechanism now (small pricks of pain release endorphins = natural pain relief) makes sense to me, and I'd like to explore acupuncture for any future pain I may have to deal with (as I continue to break down over the years...)  :)

good luck, and God bless -
kittykat58

[newgirl2708]

I vote for the pt deal...It won't help today...maybe one of those dreaded shots and some 3x a week pt...keep us posted.
Good Luck, I will be thinking of you today...
NG

[10356]

Epidural injections really helped my back an uncomfterable procedure to say the least but fantastic for pain and long lasting. I don't know what is wrong with your back but L1 tru L5 I have degenerative disc and L5 and L4 are compressed with just the right amount of arthritis sprinkled in..What ever you settle on my only hope is that it works for you, let us know what the Dr. says maybe it can help one of us fellow sufferers.. Big hug ouch ouch ok hugging leg!!

[nursegirl6572]

S1 is in the sacral area of your spine...which explains the pain into your leg.  If the disc is pressing on a nerve...you are having sciatica symptoms.  Other than repairing the disc, sometimes a med like Neurontin will help with the nerve pain.

How awful.

[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..

[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.

[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!

[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"

[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.

[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..

[sadinmichigan]

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