i need to find the right pain meds

[amberdylz]

2yrs ago i broke my back and as complication of the surgery i now have drop foot on my right side. i walk with a limp and have to lift my right foot alot higher when walking so i dont trip on it but because i walk like this i now get chronic pain in my left hip and still have chronic pain all over my back ive been told this is muscle pain because my muscles havent healed from the fall?  i was on morphine fentanyl patches but they stopped being as effective wirh the pain and i was left with the horrible side effects and was still inalot of pain, i was then put on anesthetic patches which done nothing and didnt even stick on properly, im now on tramadol and they were effective but arent really working any more either the dr just keeps upping the dosage? is ther any thing else any 1 would suggest i try. ive also been having acupuntre for about 6 months that hasnt really had an effect either?

[amberdylz]

wow youve been through alot too sorry to hear that. thanx for ur advice im printin all this off to suggest to my docter lol. whats ms-contin? fentanyl patches did work for me for a while i was on them for 1yr1/2 but gradually thay stopped workin which was a bummer as i was just left with the horrible side effects did help me lose the 2stone i put on while i was in hospital tho lol :)

[happyhbmom]

If the facet joint injections didn't make a difference, the ablation is probably not an option.  Arthritis is something they find sometimes on the MRI, but they found mine on the CT scan (called Facet Arthropathy).  I got the ablation earlier though- it really helped!

I also have bursitis in my hips from my back being out of whack.  The one thing I do not have is leg symptoms :(

As for pain meds, just keep trying.  I also keep having to change meds :(  Something that's effective at first loses effectiveness and after a while.  I've been on MS-contin for a while but want to go back to the fentanyl patch.

[amberdylz]

thanks for your responses and the heads up on the arthritus ill definatly mention that nxt time im at the drs how dot if u know? ive had facet joint injections and two other types ive also got an appointment nxt month for sum more which seems pointless as none of the others have made any difference?. the most pain comes from my left hip and left lower back but the backpain spreads the worse it gets. i think it coz my left side has to compensate for my right side as thats the side i have drop foot. if you dont know what drop foot is its when you have no control over your foot i cant feel it or lift it up im always trippin over the bloody thing lol hope your surgery goes well happy mom p.s gettin older, what is an rx  

[happyhbmom]

Oh, and my old PM suggested trigger point injections right into the spasming muscles, I wanted to try that, but then we decided on surgery so I'm not spending more $$ on pain management for now!

[happyhbmom]

Hey, I am another fracture survivor, although I had no surgery at the time.  My docs say I need freqent repeats of physical therapy to keep the muscles in my back from spasming and to keep the support muscles fit.

My PCP especially recommends aquatherapy.

You probably have multiple permanent spasms in your back like I do, that need a lot of help!  Other things that helped me a lot were facet ablation and steroids.

I am about to get surgery, and a bit nervous :)  I'll find out what he puts in in place of the vertebrae next week- what do you have?  Or did you just get yours shored up and it healed OK?

[GettingOlder]

It sounds like arthritis has set in to even complicate things further. You might get some relief from an anti-inflammatory + another Rx for the pain.
Good luck!

[amberdylz]

thanks so much for gettin back to me, the thing is ive been to so many different drs and none of them really give any answers asto why im in this amount of pain still, ive had 3 lots of injections with a private hospital which had no effect, i had an appointment with a pain managment speacialist 2 wks ago and hes booked me in for another lot of injections why i dont know as they dint work before and more then likely wont work again but he couldnt suggest anything else. i just wish i could find a pain pill that works and doesnt wear off which seems to be the case evreytime. ive been on lots of diffrent medications and it seems that as soon as the side effects start to go, the medication becomes less effective until it just makes no difference at all. im 22 with a 3 yr old son and feel like our lives are on hold until a dr actualy helps me. its good to know im not the only one with such problems but i wouldnt wish this on anyone thanks again :) x

[Tuckamore]

Hello Amber,

Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am so very sorry to hear of your back surgery and continued pain. We all deal with the havoc and challenges that this journey through chronic pain (CP) brings into our lives....I am sorry that you do also.

Good Pain Management is a trail and error process. What works for one does not necessarily work for another. For those reasons and the fact it is not good practice, it's impossible to recommend a specific medication.

Tramadol is one of the weaker narcotics....and yes it is generally consider a narcotic as it works much like Morphine. It also has addictive qualities. I imagine it will soon be scheduled just as other narcotics.

Rather than one specific medication you may do best on a cocktail of several medications. You refer to a "fall" I assume that is when you fractured your spine. If that is so I hate to question your physician....but I have not heard of muscles taking years to heal. He may actually have meant that they were beginning to atrophy or spasm.  

As Sara suggested...if you are not being treated by a PMP (pain management physician) I would suggest that you request a consult to one. Obviously that depends on your states practices. In my state it is the PCP that prescribes for their CP patients. At any rate a combination of such medications like narcotics, muscle relaxers, antidepressants and similar may be beneficial. Additional therapies, including injections may also be helpful. Acupuncture was not effective for me either but there are alternatives. have you tried therapeutic massage...or been to a good Doctor of Osteopathy?  A good physician will work with you to find the best combination of treatments including medications.

My dear you should not have to suffer with untreated pain. Life is far to short and medical science has advanced enough to allow you a better quality of life. Sometimes we have to be assertive and refuse to live with uncontrolled chronic pain. If your current physician is not treating you satisfactory please find one that will. Remember you pay for his service and you have a right to expect the best.

I hope you will keep in touch with us and become active in our supportive community. I wish you the very best and will look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[Sarajmt]

Oh Amber, bless your heart.  I'm so sorry to hear of your pain.  Although the Pain Management forum doesn't have any doctors on it, we do offer advice and support based on our own experience.

I wouldn't recommend any medications as I"m not familiar with your medical history BUT what I would do is get a second opinion.  Ask your family doctor for a referral for a second opinion from another Pain Management physician.  Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can see something your other doctor missed.

Good luck to you sweetie.  I"m sure others will be along shortly with better advice than I've given you.  And welcome to the Pain Management forum.