Nothing I Have is Controlling My TERRIBLE Pain. What do I DO?

[snapteach]

I have fibromyalgia, degenerative disk disease, and cervical disk pain from previous cervical surgeries.  Up until 2 weeks ago, I was taking Effexor XR daily, and Zanaflex and Ultracet 37.5, as needed.  2 weeks ago my cervical disk started going haywire with pain.  I upped my Ultracet to 3 a day as prescribed and started taking the Zanaflex to the maximum dosage too.  This did not faze the pain.  One night it was so bad, that for the first time ever, I had to go to the ER and get a pain shot because I could not take the awful pain any more.  I went this past week and had an epidural injection in my neck to help with the pain and as of right now, it has not helped AT ALL.  I am in SO much pain!!  The doctor did prescribe Tramadol 50 mg instead of Ultracet but it is not helping at all.  Does anyone have any suggestions?  I have tried moist heat, TENS unit, Lidoderm patches, Tramadol, Zanaflex, and even took some leftover hydrocodone 7.5 that I had.  NOTHING is touching this TERRIBLE Pain!  

Can anyone offer any advice?  I really don't want to go back to the ER because I don't want them thinking that I just want meds, but I am in so much pain that I don't know if I can deal with this for much longer.  Does any reader have any advice to offer me or know of anything that I might could do to lessen my pain?  I plan to call my doctor on Monday to see if there is anything she can do.  Do I just go crazy in the meantime or is there something I can do?  

Please help.

[cam568]

I feel bad for you. I have been dealing with ddd and one failed BAK cage(L5S1) fusion since 97. It's so hard to find the right combo of meds, and doc's who are willing to find out what works. Just dont take no for a answer, you are the one in PAIN! Not them. I had to go to something like 7-8 doc's before I found one who cared enough to find out what works for me.Iwish you all the luck in your quest for a pain free( or reduced) life.

[Cookie122]

Try talking to your doctor about a SCS implant. I recently heard about them and they seem promising.

[sandee1818]

I am not yelling, I was in her position and your right when you are hurting  things are magnafied times ten. If she does not get on the phone then relief is even futher away. It took something of this nature to make me get relief by hiring a PM dr and some people just need a push I know I do sometimes, iT WILL not help to take over the counter stuff its a waste of time, so its best to go through whatever is needed to get the great PM dr needed.

[Ghilly]

Yelling at Snapteach isn't going to help either.  She already said that she was waiting for Monday to be able to call her doctor and was just asking if there was anything she could do in the meantime to relieve her pain.  She hasn't asked anyone else to call the doctor for her.  Forgive me if I misunderstood your post, but it just sounded a bit harsh to me.  Sometimes when we're hurting things are magnified or not taken in the spirit in which they were intended.

Ghilly

[joe504]

I find that the best medication for pain is codeine.  I know it isn't the strongest, but it well help with the pain at the proper dosage and is not as addictive as the others, such as hydrocodone or oxycodone.  Also, tramacet works well.  You just weren't on the dosage that you needed.  100 mg t.i.d. is what a person that experiences significant pain usually needs.  All the best.

[ADSF]

I am sorry you are having such a terrible time with your pain.   I would recommend talking to your doctor about Lyrica.   It was just approved for fibromyalgia.  I don't have that, but I have discogenic pain (cervical) and recently had a cervical spinal fusion.   I still had pain, and my dr. gave me a scrip for Lyrica.   I would say it has cut my pain in half, or maybe even better.   I am almost completely off the narcotics.  I too found that tramadol didn't help much, and ended up in the er for pain relief shots.   Not fun, and you are right that many doctors treat you like you are just looking for drugs.   I would also second getting an appt with a doctor specializing in pain mgmt.  

[sandee1818]

Snapteach, you are going to have to get on the phone and make appointments to the right dr and it will not get any better until you do. It does take work and perseverance but in the end youll be glad you did. I use to be like you sit back and wait for ........ what? I don't know because no one is going or can do i for you. I am not being mean or insensitive but get off your keister this morning an do whatever it takes to get an app at the clinic Mangeri/Fernanadez I told you about. You will be pain free as you possibly can they are great docs and will help you but you have to make the move and get the appt.

[Ghilly]

The meds that they have you on are really not for the control of anything more than minor pain.  If more reparative surgery is not an option, it sounds like your condition has progressed to the point where you are going to need to go to an actual pain management doctor, to get meds that most general practitioners are not comfortable prescribing.  

Ultracet is not for severe pain even though it is listed as such.  Not to mention that it is as addictive as any narcotic.  So if you are going to take Ultracet (which is tramadol and acetaminophen) and run the risk of becoming dependent on it, you'd be better off going to a pain management doc and getting something stronger (ie, an actual narcotic) that will actually work on the pain.  I don't know why he'd prescribe Tramadol 50 in lieu of Ultracet, because it's the exact same drug minus the acetaminophen.  If it didn't work as Ultracet, it's not going to work as Tramadol or as Ultram.  Hydrocodone 7.5 is stronger than the Ultracet, but it's still at the mild end of pain meds.  You might need some oxycodone or, depending on what is causing this latest bout of pain, something even stronger.  And if it's something you are going to be taking for a while (either until surgery can be scheduled or, if surgery is not an option, for long-term pain management), you want to take something that doesn't contain tylenol (acetaminophen), because over long term use it can cause liver damage.  Contact your doctor and be assertive.  Tell him that what he is prescribing is not working, and that you would like something strong to help the pain.  You may have to take a day or two off of work until you see how new meds affect you, but if they help your pain, they're worth it until you can decide how to either correct the problem or deal with it long-term.  

I feel so badly for you.  I know what it's like to live in constant pain, because I do.  There will never again be a time in my life when I do not need to take pain meds.  I'm very lucky to have found an excellent doctor who is well known in his field, who makes sure that I have adequate medication each month to control my pain.  However, I know many people who are not as lucky, and my heart goes out to them.  Nothing is more disheartening than being in constant pain.  Please post and let me know how things go for you.  :::gentle hugs:::

Ghilly