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Hello and new at this chronic pain gig

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Posted 11/10/2013 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I feel like I know some of you already from reading all your posts the last couple of days.

I have been suffering from chronic back pain from L5 S1 spondylolisthesis and compressed disc for about 9 months now. I had 3 injections, one of which eased the low back pain significantly.

Shortly thereafter, I developed sciatic pain. It has gotten worse over the last 6 weeks. I finally got a decent Vicodin script (10mg) to manage this constant pain.

I am scheduled for a fusion with instrumentation and bone graft, along with a laminectomy in two weeks. I am looking forward to getting some relief, but trying to be realistic, as I have read that the nerve pain can linger on.

Before this I had been very active, running and playing lots of tennis, and gardening. sad

Mandy
Posted 11/10/2013 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Mandy to HW! Sorry you've had to join us but this is a great pain reliever as well! The injections unfortunately work that way, sometimes, some relief better then others and sometimes not at all.

As for the sciatica getting onto one of the meds that are specific for neuropathy is your best bet! As with anything else what works for me may do nothing for you. Im on lyrica, others are on neurontin or cymbalta and some have better luck with older meds.

Here's hoping your surgery is a success and keep in mind its a healing process and may take time post-op to get the relief your looking for.
Posted 11/10/2013 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Vickie! Thanks for the warm welcome.

I wonder why my PM doc didn't mention any of those meds for nerve pain. He also seems to be very stingy with the Norco, giving me a script for 30, 5mg and instructions for twice/day. I signed a contract, and he gives me a urine screen when I go in. When I told him the Norco was barely touching the pain, he added Flexeril, which just makes me tired. I'm wondering if I need to see another pm.

I went back to my ortho in tears because I was still in pain and frustrated. He gave me 10 mg Norco. That seems to make the pain a little more tolerable.

I have had many surgeries in the past for fibroids and endometriosis, and some docs are more liberal with the pain meds than others. It's always a frustrating game to try and get comfortable without them thinking you are overdoing it. In the hospital they tell you to stay ahead of the pain, then they tell you it's too soon to get a refill, but the weekend is coming, and you know you are going to run out. Aaargh! I'm not looking forward to going through all that again!
Posted 11/10/2013 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Mandy and welcome to the chronic pain forum. Glad that your found us. We have several that have had spine surgery. I do hope this will take care of the problems you are having.

If your surgery is in 2 weeks then you are going to be busy getting everything ready. Making sure you have plenty of easy things to eat that can go in the microwave. Be sure you have plenty of bottled water on hand. Will there be anyone around to help you out once you gt home? Some are lucky enough to have some one but others make do fine without an extra person there. Weekends tend to be slow around here but others will pop on later.

Take care.....Susie
Posted 11/10/2013 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Does you PM dr know about your ortho rxing you another script for Norco at a higher dose ? Since you signed a contract with your PM dr, most of them state you're not allowed to get pain meds from another without informing or clearing it with the PM dr first. I don't mean to me an alarmist, I just thought you should know. And your PM dr will know by looking you up on your stated PMP.
Posted 11/10/2013 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Susie, I do have help coming! My husband is going to be taking off work the week of the surgery, and my sister is flying from San Diego to help for 4 weeks! I have 2 small children(3 & 5,) so I will need extra assistance.

Mercy&grace, that is a good point! I assumed I was "released" from my contract when the PM told me there wasn't much more he could do for me, and to go back to my ortho. I wasn't planning on going back to that PM doc. I hope I'm not going to get in some sort of trouble for overlapping, but it's been such a relief to get some relief!
Posted 11/10/2013 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the board! If the ortho specifically said he wouldn't see you any longer you should be okay but I would send a letter terminating your relationship with the doctor just to be on the safe side. I hope your surgery is successful and your journey with chronic pain will be a short one. I also suffer with endometriosis but never fibroids. You've found a great bunch of folks here. I've come to think of the folks here as my second family. When I was in the hospital in September Susie was the only person who called me daily outside of my family. And everyone on the board were super supportive and would check on me frequently... It meant so much to me.

Welcome to the board! I hope you are able to get some relief soon.

Linds
Posted 11/11/2013 12:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mandy and Welcome to Healing Well Chronic Pain Forum! since your PM told you to go back to your Orthopedic doctor and he is going to do surgery on you, I wouldn't think there would be a problem with you taking those med prescribed by the surgeon. However if you do plan on continuing to see your PM doctor after your surgery, then you might consider calling him and letting him know about your script that was given to you by your surgeon, and about you up coming surgery, if your PM doesn't already know about it. I do hope the surgery helps you and eliminates your pain, but surgery doesn't always do that, it might help a great deal but sometimes patients will continue to have pain and need to continue going to their PM even after having surgery. Something you might want to think about anyway???

I am glad you have help all prearranged, it is excellent to get everything all prepared in advance before your surgery, it will definitely make your recovery much easier and more pleasant!

Again I Welcome you to the forum, and hope that you will continue to come here and keep us all updated on your surgery and post op recovery. We are like family here, and definitely care and support one another. I do wish you well and hope this all works out well for you!

White Beard
Posted 11/11/2013 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Mandy

Prayers
Posted 11/11/2013 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the welcomes and advice. I will contact my
PM and let him know about the surgery and the additional script just to be safe.

I almost feel like I need the help just as much before surgery. Having a rambunctious 3 year old boy and a moody five year old girl certainly can test a person's mettle on a normal day. Throw in back/leg pain and it's really taking a toll!
Posted 11/11/2013 6:12 AM (GMT 0)
Well I think I can remember those days when my children were that young, but it was many many years ago! I do have a granddaughter that is 5 and will be 6 this month and a grandson that will be one in a couple of weeks. I must say I am glad my days of raising kids are past! As I can't imagine having to cope with chronic pain and also have to deal with raising small children! All of you men and women suffering with chronic pain and having to also deal with raising younger and even older children, you do have my utmost sympathy, and respect! And I honestly wish you all nothing but the very very best that life can offer!!

Good luck to you Mandy

White Beard
Posted 11/11/2013 1:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks White Beard! I'm so glad I found you guys.

It's just difficult when all I want is to lay on the couch and vedge out, but I can't. Being a stay-at-home-mom is hard work! I wish I could take a day here and there. At least I don't have to carry them anymore!

I have a question about something I've been seeing. What exactly is breakthrough pain?
Posted 11/11/2013 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
Most of us are on a long acting medication that helps control our pain. Its the primary medication... Like Ms Contin, Oxycontin, Fentanyl, Methadone, Butrans, Tramadol es and medications like that. It is the medication that our doctors count on to do the majority of our pain control. We don't aim to be pain free, just to keep our pain at a manageable level. For instance, my pain is around a 3.5 to a 4 with my LA med.

But there are days where my pain still breaks through and I need a dose of my immediate release medication. When these flares or spikes happen, you can't simply take more of your long acting medication... It doesn't work that way so our doctors give us a second pain that is used specifically for this reason.

With so many changes in pain management, it looks like most doctors will be prescribing medication this way.... With a combination of long acting and immediate release medications. Since most IR (immediate release) meds are generally short acting we benefit from having both types of medication.

**my pain levels are the lowest they've ever been with my new combination. Realistically we all hope to keep our pain around a 5 or 6 daily throughttreatment.

I hope that made sense.
Linds
Posted 11/11/2013 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Mandy -

Just want to welcome you to the forum. Sorry you have to be here.... but glad you found your way here.

Take care -- Tina
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