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nerve pain from spinal cord, or nerve damage and how to deal with it

hey everyone. i had a question about neuralgia or nerve pain. i was involved in a motor vehicle accident in 2002 and basically shattered my spine at c6-c7, nicked my spinal cord and had a blood clot at c5 wich put pressure on the spinal cord. along with 28 other fractures. the doctor fused my c6-c7 vertebrae and by some miracle i was'nt paralyzed. but sice then, i have had a pain down both of my arms that feels like someone cut all the skin off my arms, rubed salt all over them, stabed thousands of needles in them and set them on fire, thats the best explanation i can give to explain the pain. i remember waking up in ICU and seeing my left arm in a cast and , because my right arm hurt so bad, due to the nerve pain, i was wondering why my right arm was'nt in a cast too. i talked to the doctor about 3 months after the surgery and asked him about my arm pain, and he said it might go away in 6 months to a year, but if it does'nt, it probley never will.now, 5 years later, i'm still stuck with it. i've tryed dozens of medications from nurontin, trileptal, tofranil, lyrica, and a bunch of anti-depressants. so far nothing has worked. my arms hurt so bad that i have a hard time wear a long sleeve shirt. i was wondering if anyone out there has this or a similar problem and if they have had any luck with meds or anything else. any kind of help or suggestions would be greatly appreciate it.
thank you
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Avatar universal
I had back surgery (fusion of L5/S1) in 2005. A week after the surgery my left leg and foot felt like it had been dipped in boiling oil and then barbed wire used to rip off the remaining skin.  I went to an anethesiologist/pain management specialist.  I had 2 or 3 injections in my back and the pain eventually went away (within 2-3 months).  I was left with a little numbness and tingling.  Much better than the boiling oil feeling.  I am starting to get a throbbing pain now in my leg, I'm hoping a visit to the pain management doctor will fix it again.  
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Avatar universal
Did you ask the doc why the subsequent surgery was necessary, meaning was something done wrong or not done the first time?  Of course you can't use the word wrong because docs will immediately get their hackles up.

You could try accupuncture, I found that helpful.
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Avatar universal
Lumber 5, I can't help you but I have a virtually identical situation.  I fell on my treadmill when the platform broke in half.  I sustained three herniated discs.   I had horrific back pain with pain and numbness down both legs beginning in the middle of my buttocks and down to the feet.  The back of my calves and feet were numb.  My nerves down both my left and right leg were being pinched.  I had surgery on 9/11/07.  I woke up with complete relief of symptoms and was thrilled.  This lasted for 3 days.  The back pain has not returned, but I have terrible pain again down both legs with severe numbness in both calves and my feet.  It is awful.  At times, I honestly think amputation would be a viable option.  It is unbearable.  I hope you get a response because I am concerned.  Good luck to you.
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Avatar universal
I just woke up one day with minor lower back pain.  Over the next few months the pain became severe and the began to travel to my right buttock and down my right leg into the foot.  I tried the chiropractor for a while, slight release for a day or so, and then it came back.  Chriopractor told me there was nothing I could do  for it.  After a few more months with the pain increasing to the point where I was able to stand up straight, or walk without pain or even sit or lye down without pain, I consulted with an orthopedic dr.  The MRI indicated I had a double hierniated L5 Disk.  I opted to have the surgery which was one day.  Went in the morning and was home in my own bed by late afternoon.  First couple days felt okay.  and continued to get better. About 6 weeks after surgery I started noticing the symptoms returning.  Getting worse by the day.  I went back to surgeon. He inidcated that it was residual nerve pain and would take a while to fully heal.  He suggested an injection into the infected area.  I agreed.   It was an extremely painful procedure, and I received no relief.  I decided to consult with one of the top orthopedic dr's at Yale New Haven Hospital.  He did another MRI and indicated the disc was re-hierniated.  He suggested the injection. I reluctantly agreed.  Again, an extremely painful procedure and again with no relief.  The next step was a revision surgery to go in an revmove the damaged pieces of the disc again. Said he felt confident it would work.  So, a week ago tomorrow I had the surgery, and since two days after the surgery, I have had increasing pain in my right leg....same as before.  Anybody have any suggestions??
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Avatar universal
I surely can feel your pain and your description of it is perfect!!!!!!!!!! In Oct. 2005 I had a quad accident on my ranch which I run alone. I was coming in from the pasture and my throttle got stuck wide open, the quad took off rolled and then landed on top of me. My head got seperated from my neck and not much hope for survival. Well 6 weeks later (since I refuse to die) they operated and reconnected me. Much hard work and almost 2 yrs later, I am good...........except for the extreme arm and hand pain like you discribed. I have tried drugs( oxy) no help along with all the rest. I got off all meds and now trying vitamins etc. I also tried acuputure, therapy,physical and mental, sorry to say nothing. My only hope is in my massage therypist, it seems to help alittle, and if not at least for 1 hr. a week it feels good. Right now I am trying DSMO what the heck it surely cant hurt. Oh forgot to mention, I am 63 yrs old and very determine to enjoy every minute I have left so if anyone has a helpful suggestion please post, Thanks Jillann
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Avatar universal
FIND A PAIN MANAGEMENT CLENIC LOOK FOR ONE AT A TEACHING COLLEAGE WHETRE DOCTORS LEARN YOU WANT ANISTOLOGIST TO WORK ON MY THEY ARE THE MASTERS OF PAIN GO FIND A PAIN CLINIC ASAP
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i HAVE ALMOST THE SAME ISSUES YOU STATED. tHE ARM NERVE PAIN AS WELL AS PAIN THAT THUS FAR IS ONLY AFFECTIVLY TREATABLE WITH HYDROCODONE. AFTER THREE YEARS AND 2 FUSIONS (c1 DOWN TO t1) AND ALMOST $200K IN MEDICAL BILLS
I CAN NOT SEEM TO FIND A DOCTOR WHO WILL PERSCRIBE ANYTHING OTHER TRAMEDOL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD "YOU DONT LOOK LIKE LIKE YOUR IN THAT MUCH PAIN TO ME".

IT SEEMS HOPLESS, I HAVE LOST MY JOB MY CREDIT MY FAMILY IS IN TURMIOL. THE MORE I REASEARCH IT SEEMS THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME RESULTS. IN FACT THE FAILURE RATE IS SO HIGH  THAT THEY HAVE NAMED IT (FBSS.

FAILED BACK SURGERY SYNDROM. 5 TO 50% OF THESE SURGERYS RESULT IN FAILURE. IF I DID NOT HAVE CHILDREN I PROBALLY WOULD NOT BE HERE TO WRITE THIS. YOU ARE NOT ALONE AND YOUR SITUATION IS MORE COMMON THEN YOU MIGHT THINK.

I WISH YOU BETER LUCK THEN I HAVE HAD.
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Avatar universal
Is Tramadol addictive?
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Avatar universal
Tramadol. A great pain killer. Enjoy, my friend.
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144586 tn?1284666164
I have had spinal injuries, and believe me, they produce "want to eat the gun" symptoms. Try a TENS device. They work on the principle that the human body is not supposed to be able to transmit two pain signals at once. And that the body prioritizes pain signals. That is to say a signal from pain to the ear lopbe takes preference to one from the arm. The TENS device generates a simulated pain signal. Then the signal should be generated in a place that has "pain signal priority". Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't.
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172715 tn?1285494490
Do you have pain in the middle of your butt cheek too?  If you do look up PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME. If that sounds like you see a Physical Therapist for help to stretch that muscle out an ease the spasm.  If you don't get good result from a few sessions you may need a steroid shot directly in the middle of that muscle.  Good Luck
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Avatar universal
See a good ortho.  Have an MRI/Catscan.  It is fixable, mine was.  Carmelcastle
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Avatar universal
I fell under a grocery cart in March of 2005.  I went to the hospital a couple of days later with back and neck pain.  They xrayed my back, said it looked ok and gave me percecet, which I did not take.  I used advil.  It got worse and worse.  I went to a chiropractor for months, went to physical therapy for a month and my arms were so painful and numb, I couldn't stand it anymore.  I couldn't sleep.  My back problem was masked by the discomfort in my neck and arms.  I finally got to an ortheopedic doctor who specializes in neck and back only.  He did an MRI and Cat Scan and said if I didn't have surgery, I could become paralized.  I didn't want to have surgery.  My daughter's brother-in-law is a radiologist in Pittsburg, PA.  She sent him the cd of the MRI and catscan.  He conferred with several specialist in Pittsburg and they all agreed that I needed the surgery right away and that a Neuro should work along with the Ortho surgeon.  Their suggestion was to open the neck in the back and front.  I was petrified, but I didn't want to be paralized.  So on March 15th of 2006, I had the surgery.  My recovery went well.  The doctors was hoping for 50% improvement in my arms, I got 100%.  They were the best.  On the downside, I don't have full mobility turning left or right, but I knew that from the beginning, I've gone as far as I can with it, but I am able to drive now.  NEW PROBLEM:  Now that my neck is almost healed, I am having severe pain in my right leg, starting at L5 and running completely down my leg, my toes are numb.  I have had an MRI of my spine and there isn't a problem with the discs.  The doctor put me on muscle relaxers and pain medication, which helps for a little while but doesn't last.  The meds are irritating my stomach, even taken with food.  The pain is preventing me from going back to work and I need to get back.  I am seeing a chiropractor again with no manipulation, I've had a couple of massages (which I found helpful) temporarily, but I just can't get this pain under control.  I don't sleep at night.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Avatar universal
allright, i'll go pick some of that stuff up.. i take alot of b complex, but i've also got some b6 in the cabinet so i'll start on that again.. thanks alot for the help.. i really appreciate it.
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172715 tn?1285494490
Opps Not chilli peppers supplement S/B cayenne supplement.Sorry
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172715 tn?1285494490
Also try B6 Vitamin for symptoms of nerve damage like tingling pins & needles & numbness. Try 1 in the AM and 1 In the PM. If you feel hot flashes that don't go away after a few days of this dose then see what just one a day feels like. Maybe talk to a person in a natural remedy store to see what the best dose should be.  I believe that the body gets rid of the excess through urinating but be sure of that so there is no over dose problem.
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172715 tn?1285494490
Capazine cream. It is made with hot chilli peppers I believe and you can buy it at any drug or dept store i.e. Walmart,Walgreens. It will be with the bengay type items and it cost appro. $13.00. Also I believe you can buy a supplement with chilli peppers in it. All works on nerve pain.  The great thing abot the cream is the longer you use it the better it works. Good Luck.
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