Awful lumbar pain- want to give up

   I am in so much pain in my lumbar and right arm. I have herniated c3-c6, cc5 are causing the relentless right arm pain. I also have S5 amd L10 herniated. I am severe, chronic pain all the time. I went to an orthopedic surgeon today who say surgery is not conducive at this time. If I excert myself for more than 5-10 minuts it feels as if knives are going through my lumbar. I can't take anymore and want to just end all of this. I have been in pain management for five years. MRI and MRI and injection after injection to no avail. Pain killers don't work and I don't take them. Someone Please help me with advice or a doc. I live in Dupage County, Illinois. Thank you for reading this. I am desperate. Julie

I have been on lyraca, cymbalta, vicodin. I don't know what to do. I have been advised to go to psysiatry, which is someone who deals in osteopathic medicine. I do think a visit to neurosurgeon may be a great idea. I am defeated over here and if this pain does not get alleviated I don't know how I will continue to exist.Thank you for your concern and advice. It is most appreciated. Julie

If vicodin is the strongest pain medication you've tried, I would definitely give some of the others, like the ones SE mentioned, a chance.

Everyone reacts differently to these meds, and the degree of relief varies, but there has to be at least one or a combo of a few out there that lessens the pain to help get you through.

the only thing i've taken that has even remotely relieved my lumbar pain is nucynta. i had to switch to morphine due to financial issues but as soon as i get back on insurance i'm back on nucynta. i still have lumbar pain when taking it but my pain level is soooo much lower. at the moment i can barely handle more than 5 minutes on my feet. if i bend over once, forget it!

Welcome, Julie.

My physiatrist is my pain doctor. He partners with an anesthesiologist who does cervical injections. After years of epidural injections that worked for a long time but are now not helping, my doctor recently tried some facet joint injections to diagnose whether ablating those nerves would help my lumbar pain and leg and feet tingling.

The facet joint injection only is expected to work for a few days, which it did, and now the expected pain is returning. I'll be getting another EMG to check for nerve injury and muscle disorders, also NCV to check for nerve damage. I expect to get facet nerve radio frequency ablation some time later to stop the nerve sensations. It does nothing to the motor nerves or spinal column.

Opioids don't help me enough to be worth it. Neither do any of the regular nerve medicines, and I think I have tried almost everything. I get enough relief to function with tramadol; it raises serotonin and at least improves my mood. It's not considered to be very strong, but it works best for me.

What type of doctor is your pain doctor?

Hi Julnjer - Welcome to the forum, this is a truly great group of fantastic people that know what you are going through in some way or another.

I have almost exactly what you have, plus some. I have the same thing in my neck - with broad bulges in the same exact discs. I also have arm pain - down to my elbow, and my shoulder sometimes feels injured and bruised and sometimes my hands go numb and tingly. Sometimes I can barely move my head or hold my head up - so I do totally understand where you are coming from there. I also have the issues in my lumbar. Add to that facet syndrome, significant arthritis, and sciatica...well, my spine is a hot mess. I can relate. ;o)

I know it hurts, and I know that sometimes it gets exhausting and you just want the pain over. Surgery is not always the answer - and I agree to get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion if needed - but there may be other things to try to avoid surgery.

I am on a cocktail of medications to help me stay semi-normal. I have pain every day, but the medications and treatments help me be able to continue working and remain somewhat active. I take the following meds:
Gabapentin (neurontin) 900mg 2x daily = Nerve Pain
Oxycodone 5mg - 15mg 4x daily = Pain
Tramadol 50mg 4x daily = Pain
Skelaxin 1x each morning = Muscle Relaxer with milder "zombie" effect so I can still function at work
Flexeril 10mg 1-2x day evening/before bed = Muscle relaxer that has stronger effect on me and helps me sleep - so zombie at home vs. work
Ibuprofen = Pain/Inflamation as needed
I also get epidural steroid injections - I got my most recent one on 1/25/13 in my neck and that took away majority of arm/shoulder pain.

I am sharing the medicine info with you because basically when you have back pain due to discs that are impacting your nerves, having a few different meds to assist with the different causes of the pain will help minimize the pain. Like I said, I still have pain every day - but without these meds I would not even be able to work or do anythign besides lay on ice/heat and cry. ;o(

Please don't give up, see the physiatrist - see the pm about getting some different meds. I will be sending positive thoughts your way. Anytime you are feeling like you need to vent, ask a question, whatever, please post to this board. Again, great people - many who understand what you are experiencing/feeling.

welcome julie, i too have the lumbar pain and i have been where you are. i have wanted give up and not feel the pain anymore. i too am on a cocktail of meds that help me tremendously. i feel like i have a better life now.

trust me you will feel better. you go to every one of your docs and ask for help. there is something that can be done. i hope you feel better.. janet