I am going to the Dr. today..and need some advice

[sadinmichigan]

Hi to all...I am going to my regular Dr. today in hopes of doing something about this pain I am in. My back is hurting so bad that I can hardly stand it. I have a pretty high tolerance to pain but this is getting ridiculous..My question is..What are some non-narcotic drugs I can possibly try? I have been taking valium to help relax my muscles, which it does...But it does nothing for the pain that is constant.I have been taking motrin ,aleve,advil.but feel no relief at all. I have not taken anymore pain medicine since I took those Norco earlier this week. I do not want to ruin my progress but I am in pain and need to do something..I have an MRI scheduled for next week to see if the discs that were already bad in my back are worse..It sure feels like something has happened. I am not going to a chiropractor until I know what is going on in there..Any advice as to what meds to try would be much appreciated..Thankyou

[nursegirl6572]

S1 is in the sacral area of your spine...which explains the pain into your leg.  If the disc is pressing on a nerve...you are having sciatica symptoms.  Other than repairing the disc, sometimes a med like Neurontin will help with the nerve pain.

How awful.

[10356]

Epidural injections really helped my back an uncomfterable procedure to say the least but fantastic for pain and long lasting. I don't know what is wrong with your back but L1 tru L5 I have degenerative disc and L5 and L4 are compressed with just the right amount of arthritis sprinkled in..What ever you settle on my only hope is that it works for you, let us know what the Dr. says maybe it can help one of us fellow sufferers.. Big hug ouch ouch ok hugging leg!!

[newgirl2708]

I vote for the pt deal...It won't help today...maybe one of those dreaded shots and some 3x a week pt...keep us posted.
Good Luck, I will be thinking of you today...
NG

[kittykat58]

I swear by dicofenac. it's an anti-inflammatory (an NSAID, like motrin, but a bit different), non-narcotic, and is VERY effective. I've been on it for 6 month along with my narcs (for severe hip pain), and last week I had to stop it b/c I'm having surgery on monday (NSAIDs affect clotting). I have been in SO MUCH PAIN since I stopped, not even increasing my narcs touches it. so this tells me that the diclofenac was doing a LOT to control my pain.

diclofenac is the drug name. the brand names are voltaren & cataflam. you can get it OTC in australia, new zealand etc in 25 mg instant release -- works great, 3X a day. I was taking 50mgs (prescribed here in the states) 3X/day. don't get the extended release -- it didn't work as well and tore up my stomach.

injections also are a good idea, too. and you can take a tapered steroid over 1 week period while you are waiting for a date to get an injection (if you opt for an injection). the oral steroid (caled medrol dosepak) is the same medicine as the injection but taken by mouth -- it is like a nuclear anti-inflammatory.

so if you are suffering disc pain, a big component of that pain is inflammation (the disc swells into a place where it is no supposed to be and presses on nerves, causing inflammation, irritation, pain, etc. cutting the inflammation down should cut the pain down, significantly.

I am shocked to find out how much benefit I was getting from my diclofenac but it gives me great confidence in its pain-relieving properties.

try hot baths, too. and I think acupuncture is a very interesting idea, too, although I have never tried it. but understanding the mechanism now (small pricks of pain release endorphins = natural pain relief) makes sense to me, and I'd like to explore acupuncture for any future pain I may have to deal with (as I continue to break down over the years...)  :)

good luck, and God bless -
kittykat58

[nursegirl6572]

Hey {{{{{sad}}}}}

I'm so sorry you are going through this, sweetie.

You KNOW the pain is a direct result of an injury....and unfortunately these things takes time.  :0(  I couldn't agree more with the idea of no chiro till you have been thoroughly diagnosed, ok?

How much Motrin have you been taking?  You can take 800mg up to 4 times a day, and Tylenol in between.  Sometimes taking the alternating doses of those two meds around the clock (not just AS needed) will bring you some relief.  

Does your doc that you are seeing know about your substance abuse history?  If not, tell him, and specifically request that you do not want any narcotic pain meds.  That will simply cover all the bases.  You don't need to go in there with a laundry list of which meds you should try...leave that up to him.  Just cover yourself with the request that you do not want any narcs.

There are many different NSAIDS and muscle relaxant meds out there that have helped a lot of people...hopefully the doc will find the right combo.

Hang in there...I'm thinking of you.  And, just remember, unfortunately with pain this severe, even narcs are barely going to touch it, so that just isn't worth it.  If it DID help you...and you could take them as prescribed...that would be something different...but even just the high tolerance you have built up..."as prescribed" aint going to do **** for you, unfortunately.

But, you have to do something....you can't continue to suffer like this.  I'm feeling for you, hon.

Big hugs to you Lisa.

[sadinmichigan]

Kim- Hi there...I was just thinking about the injection thing..My mom told me they helped her but it hurt like a b1tch.. But the way I'm looking at it is it can't make me hurt more than I do right now..I am getting to the crying point..I am pretty active and exercise quite a bit..mostly yoga and pilates..I haven't gone to physical therapy for this because it only happens every once in awhile..I know last time I did get an MRI which did show moderate to severe bulging of L4-5 and my S-1 is deteriorating..I don't even know where the hell is S-1..I am feeling it though.I can actually feel the bones cracking alittle bit depending on how I move..This is really getting to me..I will ask about the shots..I can't wait until 12:30..can't come fast enough.

Vic- You are right..No pain meds are going to help this pain..I know that for a fact..I can feel the nerves being pinched..traction could be an option..I have pretty good insurance.