percs and antideppresants

[cheerios218]

3 years ago I had a fall and 4 weeks after the fall my doc finally sent me for x-rays. I had a 50 % frature of the T12. Because of the time lapse they said it was healed to much to try to expand it back. I have been on pain meds of all kinds and my doctor recommended a pain clinic. I filled out all the paperwork and same day started my series of injections in my spine. He also prescribed Percoset 10/325 1 every 4 to 6 hours and flexeril as needed for back spasms. I went ahead with the series of 6 shots(EXPENSIVE). No where on my paperwork did it ask if I smoked weed.   I have always been very upfront with my doctors about this. Make a long story a bit shorter they had told me that they UA'd to make sure that you were taking your meds and not selling them. Well of course they found THC in my system and dropped me. They also sent a letter to some Board of Prescriptions. Let me also add this is the second time I have broke my back(3 vertabras the first time) and am now totally disabled. I went to another doctor that I use to go to and told him all about it. He in turn gave me a script for hydrocodone 5/325 but I could only take 2 a day(might as well be taking paceblos as mach as they help). It has been 2 weeks...........full of pain, nausea, headaches, partial insomnia, freaky dreams, colon spasms, shakes and mental duress. My question is..............what the hell do I do? How do you cope with all this and there are times I would like to take the "easy way out" but can't do that to the ppl that love me yet they really don't understand what I'm going thru. I also have HS(Hydrentia supperlative) probably spelled that wrong but it's a very ugly disease. I have a high tolerance for pain but these withdrawls SUCK!! I would like to move to a state where they have medicinal maryjane( one of the only thing that helps) but cannot leave my elderly mother(she needs me). Any suggestions to get through this would be much appreciated.

[cheerios218]

my doctors told me this wasn't an option for me to because to do that would mean to re-break the vertabra before attempting to "cement" it back to hopefully what it was to begin with. How old was your fathers fracture and/or the % of compression?

[marycarmel]

Kyphoplasty is sometimes referred to as "cementing" the vertebrae.  They put in some kind of substance that sort of "cements" the fracture.  There is some controversy that it's more of a placebo affect but from what I researched, it seems like a lot of people get great relief.

We were also told that once you have one vertebral fracture, you're at risk for more, even without a fall.  Once you have one, the integrity of your spine changes, so you still have to look for signs that you may have another one.

I'm quite impressed with this.  He didn't have any trouble post-op and I actually haven't seen him look this good in six months!

Also, you may want to check out the Pain Management Forum.  It's a great place for chronic pain patients.

[cheerios218]

thank you for responding so quickly. What kind of procedure is that? I have been to many specialists and have gotten no suggestions as to any procedures.

[marycarmel]

You'll probably continue with mild to moderate withdrawal as long as you keep taking the Vicodin.  Truthfully, you'll probably be better off it totally.  I've never found it to be a very effective pain reliever.

As to the withdrawals, check out the Thomas recipe.  It does help ease the withdrawal symptoms.

My dad just fractured T12 but they found it right away.  He spent a week in the hospital on very heavy narcotics, then 2 weeks in rehab with narcotics, and then home for 6 weeks on a lower dose of oxycodone.  He just had kyphoplasty on the fracture last Friday (it worsened as time went on.)  He's gone from a pain level of about 8 to zero.  It may be something you could check out for the pain.  It's not a difficult procedure at all and the results were within 12 hours.