Help! Nothing is working!

[TerisDad]

If anyone out there has any suggestions for my father-in-law, I would be so greatly appreciative! He has had 4 cervical fusions, several nerve blocks, is on constant opiate pain medication, has had every form of physical therapy possible, and is currently looking at the possibility of a Peripheral Nerve Stimulator. This has been going on for approximately 15 years now! NOTHING is helping him! He still has severe pain in his neck, the worst imaginable headaches, has had to retire from his job at 56 yrs old, and just feels like he's at his last wits end with this! His quality of life just plain stinks! If there is anyone out there who has any insight or suggestions, or maybe has had this nerve stimulator themselves, I would be ever so grateful to hear about it! Thank you so much!

[sharadale]

I agree with the last post. My niece had years of back pain. The doctors treated her with pain meds and she quickly became tolerant of the effects and they no longer worked. The solution was to increase the meds and add additional meds. She did physical therapy and got no relief. Finally after years of chronic pain she found a doctor who said the only chance for her was to go off all meds and try alternative medicine such as acupuncture. She was only 30 years old, had a Verdi ray degree and could notnwork. Now she is working full time, pain free and snow boarding, surfing and enjoying life.

[Soggymoggy]

Has anyone mentioned opioid-induced hyperalgesia? Weirdly, prolonged used of opiates can increase pain by messing with the sensitivity of pain receptors.