Howdy from Texas. I'm new and have found this forum helpful already.

Good morning to all.

I have been a chronic pain sufferer now for 6 years(officially). That is when I was officially diagnosed with chronic pain. At first my primary care doctor thought it was just muscle tension so he prescribed muscle relaxers. They helped for a very short time. Then the pain in my lower back became so intense that I couldn't complete a simple task like grocery shopping. I would get about halfway done then I would have to make my husband finish while I try to make to the car with tears running down my face. My PCP then began to prescribe my hydrocodone 10/325s to help. They did for about a year. Within that year, I was in a minor car accident and had some soreness in my neck for a few months. Never really had any major problems from my neck until I woke up from having my hysterectomy. When I woke up, both of my arms were completly numb. I could not hold onto anything or pickup anything with my hands. It was then that I discovered thatthe minor accident I was in a few months earlier herniated my C4, C5, C6 and C7 discs. The numbness and tingling came and went and my neck started to hurt more. Three months later, I started seeing a pain management doctor.

The new doctor ordered an MRI on my lower back to go along with the one he had of my neck. He discovered herniated discs in my lower back that was riddled with arthritis. It was also found that I have a narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis, I believe) in the same area.

My PMD started me out on the hydrocodone 10/325s but increased the frequency. After a while, it stopped working, so he went to percocet. Once again about a year later they stopped working so I went on just oxytocin for about 2 years. Then I started hydromorphone. I had been on that for about 2 years when my PMD advised me he was leaving practicing medicine completely.

In January, I started seeing a new PMD and he was shocked that I was taking uptp 6 hydromorphones a day. I immediately put me on 8mg of Exalgo once daily. 2 weeks later I followed up and because I had no relief from the Exalgo, he instructed me to start taking 2 8 mg daily. I am now upto 16 mg, 2 daily, plus upto 3 hydromorphones for breakthrough pain, a day and do not get any relief. To top it off, my left arm, mainly the hand, has had a constant numbness and tingling in it for the last couple of weeks. I see my PMD on Wednesday and I am trying to get all my questions written down before I see him. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Sorry this was so long but felt like sharing (or venting) as much info as I felt comfortable doing.

Forgot to mention, seen surgeon already, been told nothing can be done with the lower back and would eventually need neck surgery.

Post Edited (bliss6307) : 6/15/2014 6:46:46 AM (GMT-6)

Howdy from Houston!!

I'm so sorry for what you are going thru. I can sorta relate to the back pain. I've had 4 back surgeries one being a lower fusion. I spent years on every pain med they make! Lol

Have you tried injections for your pain?

Hi bliss6307 and Welcome to Healingwell Chronic Pain Forum!  I must admit reading your post is troubling, and I think I would definitely be looking at going to a different doctor or surgeon for a second opinion! I have a couple  of questions for you, you have said that you have had MRI's done on your neck (cervical spine) and also your lower back. Has that been recently within the past year? or are they older? allot can happen in a short amount of time, and with your symptoms and what the current MRI's show, I would be wondering if there might be some changes going on making it worse?  Anyway with your symptoms, I would think they would at least do an EMG and nerve conduction studies, especially with your arms and hands.  I know what it is like to have the arm and hand problems, and personally for me surgery fixed it!  I would encourage you to seek out a second opinion from a neurosurgeon, to see what his take on it is?? Also have they done any epidural steroid injections on your neck or lower back to try and control your pain? 

I hate to say this, but one would hope that when you go to a doctor that they are not only compassionate to your problems and concerns, but also willing to do what is necessary to find out the exact problem that is causing it, and then adequately treat it! In other words be your advocate! But unfortunately that is not always the case, and as harsh as this may sound, often (especially in the medical arena) you have to be forceful and stand up for yourself and be your own advocate!  Doctors can not see or feel your pain, and allot of them will just brush it off, so you have to be persistent, and persevere! If you don't you might never get any relief! I have been on both sides of this medical fence as a patient and also an employee in the medical field, the saying the "" squeaky wheel gets the grease!"" is definitely true! Being patient with your doctor is one thing but continueing to suffer because of it, is entirely another!

I will tell you, frrom my personal experiences,  cervical disc problems scare me to death! They can and do frequently get worse, I would not be comfortable without having at least a second opinoin from a good fellowship trained neurosurgeon!

Again I Welcome You to the CP forum! and I do wish you all the best!

Good Luck to YOU

White Beard

Hello from Arlington, Tx and Welcome!

I'm sorry you have so much going on and hope you can start finding solutions very soon.

I tried several things for neck pain but when a surgeon ordered the MRI, it was clear surgery was necessary. That was 6 months ago and I'm getting better now.

You have been told you will eventually need neck surgery. Do you know what will have to happen for you to need it OR does that mean when you can no longer function you will need it?

I am sorry to hear the pain that you are experiencing, you have a valid reason to be concerned. I was involved in a car accident and like you, it came back to haunt me. I was young and thought a whip lash, would not harm me.

I sought medical advice with more than one neurosurgeon, they all recommended Fusion on my C-5/C6. I did not want the surgery, I waited one year, hoping the offending disc would go back to normal.

I echo what Whitebeard has advised you. Please see a neurosurgeon,
for help. My heart goes out to you, please let us know how you are doing.

Kind regards,

Sandra

Thanks for sharing your information. There are lots of people here who truly care about you. Are you able to work or take care of your home?

I'm interested to hear what others say about how long a fusion lasts. I'm sure it varies greatly. I asked my surgeon last week if there was anything I should avoid to protect my fusion. He said don't skydive then we talked about President Bush celebrating his birthday that way. I am 30 years older than you but I still hope mine lasts as long as I need it, maybe longer than 10 years.

I hope you are getting lots to think about and discuss with your doctors. Best wishes.

So do you have insurance coverage? And have you considered checking on Social Security Disability? You can research that and others here know more about it.

Went to see my PMD yesterday. He changed my breakthrough pain medication to oxycodone 15mg since I haven't taken it in about 2 years. I will be seeing a surgeon obout my neck on Wednesday. Thank you everyone for all the support. It's helpful knowing I don't have to go through this alone and there are people out there who understand what I am going through.