New, I too suffer from chronic pain

Hi,
I'm new to this forum and reading through some of the posts, it seems to be a good support one.

My chronic pain started about 8 months before I had my DLIF back surgery and is now worse after.
It's so depressing to wake up every single morning with such pain. Then it takes about an hour and a half to two hours for my meds to kick in. Once they do, I get to about a level of 6 and stay there unless I have a flare up.

I've been going to different specialists that my surgeon sent me to, to try & figure out why I have some of the issues I have. There seems to be different nerve damages in different areas.
I see him on the 26th to go over all results that are in so far & there are a bunch like MRI's including a brain one, ultrasound renal, urodynamic and more.

I am tired of being in pain and as much as I'd like to have my life back, I don't think I ever will.

I really could go on & on but I'll wait until I get to know some of you better.
Thanks for reading....

Thanks tidalmouse,
I hope I find the support I seek. I do see a lot of resources here too.

Hello again Sweet Sunshine & welcome to the chronic pain forum. So sorry to read what you are dealing with for health issues.

It really is alot like Alcie said, the drs really tend to down play these spine surgeries. No two surgeries are alike & no two patients are alike. Each one has their own set of issues & the healing time is a very individual thing. In reality we see it taking people anywhere from 12-18 months, sometimes two years to completely heal from a lumbar fusion. If the drs were honest with the patients instead of doing the text book talk a lot of folks would walk away & say forget it.

I do hope with the results of the testing the dr can come up with some sort of a plan for you that will improve your situation. One thing I do suggest is obtaining a copy of all your medical records including the written reports of any testing. It is always good to have a copy of your medical records. You may have to pay a copying fee but it will be money well spent.

By chance are you being seen by a pain mgt dr? If not depending on the results of everything I would ask to be referred to a pain mgt dr to get help with your pain. Most of us here at the forum are under the care of a pain mgt dr & they do know best how to help get pain under better control. Generally they like putting everyone on a long acting pain med & then give something for break through pain.

Nerve pain is a completely different pain & narcotics have little effect on nerve pain. Have you been tried on any of the meds used to treat nerve pain such as Lyrica, Cymbalta, Neurotin, or the old drug Amitriptiline? It is a matter of finding which one works best for the person & getting the dosage correct.

Others will be popping on to say hi & welcome aboard. Also we have the weekend coming up & the boards tend to be on the slow side on the weekends.

Just so you know, the owner/administrator has a few rules in place here at Healing Well. He asks all members to read those rules & honor them. They are located at the right at the top. By having a few rules it helps keep everyone rowing the boat in the same direction.

Take care.

Hey Sunshine...I'm so sorry you're in pain.  As suggested, you may need a med specifically for nerve pain.  I have been on Neurontin for shingles pain.  I couldn't survive this without it, I don't think.  I've also had mega doses of steroids to slow the progression of the virus early on.  Although my body doesn't respond well to either the Neurontin or the steroids (weight gain) I must endure until I can get past this.  My PM told me I may have PHN, as I'm approaching the 13 week mark with this outbreak.

Indeed, one's healing time is not realistically explained pre-surgery.  A consult with your doctor asking for referral to pain management, as suggested in previous post, is wise.  I certainly understand waking in gut wrenching pain, because my prescription is IR.  I've tried setting the clock to take it in the "wee" hours of the morning.  However, I can't go back to sleep.  I know I need the ER form, but I no longer have prescription coverage.  The cost of ER Oxycodone is $400+ per month.  I tried Morphine ER, but the constipation was deadly for me.  Sorry for TMI, but it's just my reality=(  I hope you find some answers...

Hi Everyone and thank you for all the welcomes.

Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I'm having a problem with this site. It doesn't want to load right and is extremely slow then doesn't want to stay connected. I don't have this problem on any of my other sites so I have no clue why that's happening.

A little more about me...Yes I have a PM Dr that I've been seeing since about 4 months or so before my back surgery. After the surgery he adjusted my meds and I now take morphine ER 2 times a day and oxycodone for break thru pain. For nerve damage I take gabapentin. I use to take lyrica but when I lost my HC Ins I couldn't afford it anymore and my back surgeon is the one who switched me. The combo of meds I take now, so far has been the best. My pain level averages at about a 6 every day but shoots up during a flare up. I've also tried the setting the clock in the middle of the night but I too can not go back to sleep so that doesn't work for me. I have trouble sleeping anyway.

I too am sorry for all of you who suffer with pain. It has changed my whole life if you want to call it a life! I've lost my mobility and quality of life and am still grieving that loss. I don't know if I can or will ever accept that I'll never have my life back as I knew it.

You guys are so right about doctors not telling you the truth about healing time! I think I would have ran too!! I was very angry with my surgeon because he did not warn me that this could take months and months & even year(s) to heal. I was so stupid to think that I'd be going back to work after 6 weeks.



Oh boy have I learned so much after this one surgery! Don't get me wrong, I love my surgeon but it's true that they don't communicate the length of time you may be out of commission or there lack of.

Anyway, things have not gone well for me and I am now disabled and the amount of SSDI is barely enough to live on like so many others have said. I am thankful to get anything though because I certainly worked long & hard enough.

As for my record keeping, you bet ya I do keep good records! I've always been that way so it's not a big thing for Me.

My back surgery was a BIG one. 4 levels L1 to L5 fusion with plates, screws, rods, cages etc.
I lost memory of 4 days after and that so confuses me and I want to know why so that's going to be a question I will defiantly ask my surgeon on Tuesday as well as the many other questions I have after seeing the specialists & having all the tests I had. I can't say I can't wait for all the results because I'm scared.
I have gotten bits & pieces and I know I have different nerve damages and I have the MRI reposts & disks. I am very worried about the nerve damage in my bladder and what that means in my future. The only good report I've gotten is the ultrasound of my kidneys, talk about being happy, I cried because I was so happy.
I know how bad it could have been. And then there's the brain MRI.......and the others & so on.

Anyway, I thank you ahead of time for allowing me to write such a long post and I sooo look forward to the support I think I will here.............

Merrida,
when did you have your surgery? And how are you doing now? My surgeon is a Ortho for my back, when I had my neck done, he was a Neuro. I am probably going to have to have more surgery on my neck because my current MRI shows herniation & pressing mildly on the cord on the level above the fusion. Plus there are issues on the one below. What I don't understand is why I have stenosis on the bottom level that was fused, the surgery should have taken care of that!

I've always heard that Boston has the best doctors!

Thanks White Beard,
yea, I think I might have to have more work on my neck & here is what the MRI report says, I had fused C4-5 and C5-6 and the report confuses me.....

There is mild central spinal canal stenosis at C5 and C5-6 levels
with mild right-sided bony neural foraminal encroachment at C5-C6. A small
central disc protrusion and disc osteophyte complex is suggested at C6-C7.

How is there stenosis where I had a fusion? I don't get it. My surgery was only a little over 2 1/2 years ago. The Neuro Surgeon back then did mention that levels above and below may or may not ever need surgery. Funny part is that my 2nd opinion back then was a Ortho Surgeon and he suggested to me to have all 4 done. I now wished I would have gone with him.
But the Neuro said he'd prefer doing 2 concerned about the loss of range of motion.

Wow, you are lucky and must have strong bones! 25 years, that's awesome.


I have a swallowing test scheduled for tomorrow. I've had swallowing problems since my back surgery. I have complained to my Dr for months now. And I want him to tell me why I have No memory of the first 4 days after the surgery and could that have anything to do with what's wrong in my brain MRI report.

Well, yea I do have a lot going on right now.

Thanks again White Beard

Hi Taller Now & thanks, I look forward to the support.

If my neck surgery was done right in the first place, I would have been fused from C3-4 to C6-7 I think like you had. How are you feeling now with your neck? Mine really wasn't that bad compared to my back!

Good report and fine vent . . . Mean old Mom! Has she ever had pain issues? I sure hear you on the doc after doc routine, tomorrow is a full day of outpatient tests at our local little hospital, St. Vincent's, fondly known in Santa Fe as St. Victims. They could have me in and out in 4 hours but oh noooo, there's always a hold up or three. My vent. Oh yeah, MO on Wed. And new tests and a brand new therapy after that. It's a good thing that everyone is as sweet as can be, just hate the uncomfortable chairs as I spend most of my time in bed with the cats n Wife . . . I do so hope that all goes well for you . . . Q