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  • pain medication

    I was told by my nuerosurgeon that it is not good to use pain meds ever. How can I manage day to day without them?He gives me no other alternatives to deal with the pain.Said in my case there is nothing other than surgery he can do for me and once I'd have the surgery,he said I will be disabled and unable to work.
    I have percocet 5/325 ,that my general doctor prescribes for me ,which I do not abuse,I take only when pain is really bad.
    Is it wrong to take these pain meds ever? Should I never take pain meds? It at times is only way to take the edge off of the pain.What damage caould come to me by taking these meds?

  • #2
    MEDS

    I HAVE BEEN ON BEXTRA AND NOW THAT IS CAUSING MAJOR HEALTH RISKS, SO I AM LOST IN WHAT TO DO FOR THE PAIN ALSO.

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    • #3
      Pain Management

      Just my two cents' worth on pain. I cannot imagine where I would be now if I hadn't joined a pain clinic. For anyone who has chronic back pain (or chronic any kind of pain) dedicated pain clinics can do so much! Some of us end up actually taking some narcotics for the long term. Many others get relief from other types of treatments such as accupuncture, facet injections, P.T., water therapy, etc. The people in the clinic do extensive evaluations of new members and will let you know which treatments would be best for you. So, please consider a real Pain Clinic?
      I hope this is of help to you, Scoliosisguy!
      Carole
      Carole

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      • #4
        pain relief

        Hi there,

        I would second Carole's suggestion and try and get in to a pain clinic. Sometimes there are also people who do pain management called "rehabilitation specialists."

        My own "breakthrough" with pain management was when I finally transfered to an excellent MD. She suggested trying low-dose anti-depressants (amitryptilene) for my constant and severe low-back pain. In about two weeks my pain level had gone from about 7-8 to about 3-4. My MD says that this drug is non-habit forming and can be taken for long periods of time safely. Apparently it works because anti-depressants have a side-effect of killing nerve-pain. I take about one-fifth of the daily dose prescribed for depression.

        I had also tried Bextra, but compared to the amitryptilene the effect was nothing.

        Hope this might be of some use as an alternative to try. Good luck. ~Laura
        30y/o
        Upper curve around 55
        Lower curve around 35

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        • #5
          interesting

          I never heard of a pain clinic. What do they do there?
          Percocet is only pain pill that worked for me but I don't want to take it regularily.I still use it when its real bad and can't sleep. I'm interested in the amitryptilene for possibly working on nerve pain.

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          • #6
            amitryptilene

            http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-e01.html

            Seems to have an awful lot of serious type side effects?

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            • #7
              These days, it seems that neurontin is usually prescribed for nerve pain. A lot of people can't take it because of side effects. Those who can generally report that it works well for nerve pain.

              http://home.tampabay.rr.com/lymecfs/nfaq.htm
              Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
              Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

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              • #8
                Pain Clinic/ Scoliosis Guy

                Dear "scoliosis friend",

                You asked where one would find a pain clinic and I didn't see a response to that question.

                Some are Rehab facilities, and some are located within hospitals. Even some local/community hospitals have some pain clinics. They are usually an offshoot of the Anesthesiology Departments, since they are the experts in killing pain.

                Taking Percocet is not the worst thing, either, if that is what your pain warrants. Must be that your physician has prescribed it, right? Do remember to take some sort of stool softener with it, however, as it can be very constipating..

                I wish you the very best and hope that you take a list of all of your questions to your next doctor's visit. Let us know what kind of help he offers?

                Sincerely,

                Carole M. (the elder)
                Carole

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                • #9
                  pain management

                  I would try the pain management clinic in your nearest teaching hospital. I used a pain specialist(I knew him professionally) so I could vouch for his expertise.

                  The problem with narcotics is that they are great in the short term but one's body becomes used to them and one needs higher and higher doses to kill the pain. This is not addiction it is called "tolerance". A serious side effect is on the bowels. It becomes harder and harder to have normal BMs. This messes up the gut and rectal prolapse can occur.(rectum hangs out).

                  When discontinuing narcotics after using them for several weeks physical withdrawal occurs. This happened to me even though we tapered down the meds. This consisted of depression, cramps and diarrhea and hot/cold sweats.

                  The pain from the revision in my case was very severe and I was on Dilaudid(hydromorphone), Duragesic pain patches, lidoderm patches, neurontin and Tylenol arthritis plus an alpha stim unit(a form of tens). My pain was well controlled with all this stuff and gradually I came off them all and I was able to sleep at night .
                  Original scoliosis surgery 1956 T-4 to L-2 ~100 degree thoracic (triple)curves at age 14. NO hardware-lost correction.
                  Anterior/posterior revision T-4 to Sacrum in 2002, age 60, by Dr. Boachie-Adjei @Hospital for Special Surgery, NY = 50% correction

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                  • #10
                    Hi Just a follow-up on the amitryptilene - to give you an idea, I am prescribed only 20mg one time per day (compare the dosages quoted on the website). It works for me great, and I trust the word of my MD on safety.

                    Hope you find something SOON! Take care ~Laura
                    30y/o
                    Upper curve around 55
                    Lower curve around 35

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Carole

                      Yes ,my doctor prescribed me percocet.I try to not take it very often,but sometimes its the only thing to help.It does cause difficult bm's sometimes.
                      I will have to look around and see if i can find any info on a nearby pain managemnt clinic. I do not know of any off top of my head.
                      Thanks

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                      • #12
                        Response to "Scoliosisguy"

                        I have no idea what your actual situation is, but I thought I would tell you that, recently, my doctor changed my use of the Percocet in order to get a better handle on the pain. He said to take two as soon as I arose in the a.m., one mid-day, and one or two at bedtime. It seems to be helping me. However, as I had mentioned to you, I do take Colace along with the pain meds. (Also, I am not a medical person, cannot prescribe and am speaking only as a friend.)

                        Does the doctor who prescribed for you know of a Pain Clinic?

                        Hoping you get some relief,

                        Carole
                        Carole

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                        • #13
                          Finally.............

                          Finally getting somewhere. Seen my neurosurgeon again yesterday and he prescribed me amitriptylene 25mg to take at bedtime and oxycodone,for pain as needed.
                          He also referred me to a pain management clinic ,which i go to my 1st session there on Dec 20th.
                          If eventually all that fails,I am looking at fusion from L1 down.But exhausting everything else first.

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                          • #14
                            also

                            He also referred me to see a scoliosis specialist to review my case and see me,and they will between the 2 of them,work with me .

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                            • #15
                              Pain Clinics

                              For ScoliosisGuy:

                              That is good news! Sounds as though you are definitely headed in the right direction!

                              I wish you the very best, along with a pain-free New Year!

                              Carole
                              Carole

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