Need info on meds for chronic pain

[crestwood]

Hi, I am looking for help with finding a pain medication. I have widespread nerve pain due to 3 herniated disks in my neck and 1 at L4L5. I also had a failed discectomy at L5S1. There is scar tissue trapping the nerve, not allowing it to move freely through the vertebrae and that causes lots of inflammation and sciatica pain.

My problem is that I don't like to take medication for pain but it has got to the point that I don't have quality of life if I don't try to take something. So far the doctor has tried Amitripteline, oxycontin, and cesamet. The only thing that has worked even a little was the oxycontin. The trouble is I can't take it anymore. I have a problem taking anything that causes constipation because the drugs to counteract that side effect eventually caused abdominal cramping and pain. So the thing is this, my doctor is quickly running out of ideas for pain management because I'm not able to take anything that is constipating or anything that bothers the stomach because of a history of stomach ulcers. I do take celebrex but the doctor is monitoring that pretty closely because of the stomach issues. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your ideas

[Zonulin]

Hello -

I'll be the first to add my two cents - I don't know much about pain meds, but have had success with acupuncture. There are no side effects to acupuncture, and you should get some relief after the first visit. I have also found heat to help, both chemical heat (Icy Hot) and heating pads.

How debilitating to have a disc problem, and how awful you had a failed surgery to try to "fix" it -- Dr. Jerome Groopman (How Doctors Think, among other books) had a similar type of surgery, and the results were worse than the original injury.

Karen

[crestwood]

Thanks for your reply Karen. I should have mentioned that I have tried acupuncture and deep muscle acupuncture too. They didn't seem to do anything and the acupuncturist did warn me before that it might not work. I use cold when it gets totally out of control and that helps the inflammation subside a little. Hot doesn't work because it seems to increase the inflammation. I've tried just about every alternative I can think of but it has got to the point that I need something stronger. Everything works a little bit and I use all the tools I have, but I'm losing. Now it looks like medication is the answer, the question is what kind? Another thing the doctor wants me to try is Neurontin and I am real reluctant to try that. I would apprecite hearing from anyone who knows about Neurontin.

[healing_within]

you must heal your heart and soul to begin to overcome...hi..i am new here...i have c4,c5 and lower lombardic pain as well...i am in the process of reconstruction my pscyche and my inner spirituality and miracles have happened in my health...

i share your pain...and visualize a healing force surrounding your BEing...peace.

[Nana4&cntn]

Hi Crestwood,

I too have had failed back (Lumbar) surgeries. I take a boatload of meds all of which can cause constipation. I went to a gastro doc, she told me to take Surfak, or the genaric docusate CALCIUM. In my experience docs were quick to give docusate sodium which has a stimulant in it. I take it daily and have had great success. I Hope this helps, bless you
kathy

[The_Canadian]

I'm on 240 mg of Oxycontin per day, Didrocal, Cesamet (pot in a pill!) and Arthrotec.

At first, while only taking 40mg of Oxycontin per day, I was constipated, but you can get around that by eating lots of bran in breads, cereals, etc. There's lots of breakfast cereals with lots of bran in them, yet still taste good. These days with the big push on brans, it's pretty easy to find some palatable foods that are good for you and taste good as well.

I have rheumatoid arthritis in my spine, discovered after a fall from a ladder at work damaged the C7 and C8 cervical discs and left me unable to walk without help (cane, walker, wheel chair) and in continuous pain.

The reason I came to this site, was while doing a search for my problem, I found this board. I've lost almost 60 lbs. in the past 18 months due to lack of appetite from the pain drugs. I was a stocky, big in the chest and shoulders, with a bit of a belly, but slim from the waist down while I was 192 lbs at 48 years old. Because of my lack of appetite and not eating, I'm a skinny, 50 year old who now weighs 137 lbs. You can see the bones in my shoulders and arms, and my ribs. I went from a 36 waist to a 30. I'm wasting away and need to find something that will help put some bulk back on before I'm a skeleton.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

all the best with your problems, hopefully a little bran will go a long way for you.