Desperate for options for Pain Management

[Parodosi]

My problems began suddenly last May 2007. I had terrible pain one day. On that fateful day, the pain was unbearable. It was the beginning of the weekend, and I could not secure an appt. with my primary care physician. So, I packed myself on ice, went to bed, and awoke to a nightmare. I had lost sensation to my right leg, as well as control of my bladder and bowel (equina caudina is what term they used.) I went into the ER and from there into emergency surgery to repair what was causing the paralysis, a rather large fragment from the L5 compressing vital nerves in the spine.

After the surgery, the pain lifted but it took many months for partial recovery of the leg, and to develop the muscles to control the bladder and bowel. I've worked very hard to re-establish movement and control over these areas. My recovery was hindered by the development of two (as the Dr. describes them massive) DVTs - one located in the popliteal - the other in the ilea-femoral.
With this unfortunate life-threatening development, physical therapy had to be delayed. During this period, missed diagnoses were revealed - a clotting-disorder (4 genetic markers) and inflammatory disease.

Now, although only 10 short months have passed, I am living with what is fast becoming chronic pain. Recent MRI scans reveal multiple disc-herniation of the spine at C5-6, T5-7, T9, L1 L3-4, and scar tissue at L5-S1. I do not have hopes that I will ever regain the sensation in the rt. leg or the dorsi-flexion of the foot but I am blessed that I have the ability to ambulate with a cane.

My question is regarding pain management and maintaining the ability to ambulate (sometimes, without warning the legs weaken and crumble underneath me.) Although I do try to keep my mind over the pain through meditation and other positive mind-thought methods, I continue to take pain medications (ultram-er/flexeril) daily as well as loveox injections for the clots (of which, I may be on for life - at last check the clots had not recanalized - both clots are becoming thick and fixed.)

Do you have suggestions on how I can better manage my daily pain as well as maintain mobility and some flexibility, oppose to stiffening of the hips and spine?

[Ghilly]

I'm 100% in agreement with Mr. lucky66 on this.  Ultram is not nearly strong enough for what you are dealing with, and there are too many negatives that go along with it to make it worth taking it.

See a pain management physician and let them put you on a regular narcotic.  Since it sounds like you will probably be using one for quite some time, ask the doctor to prescribe one that doesn't contain tylenol so that you don't have to worry about compromising your liver.  I don't have the same thing that you do, but what I DO have causes me to also deal with legs that just suddenly crumple out from underneath me from time to time.  If you are adequately managing your pain, keeping yourself mobile will be a LOT easier.  I wish you nothing but good.  Hang in there and let us know what the doc says when you talk to him about better pain meds.  

Ghilly

[mr.lucky66]

Ultram is not a strong pain med and has many drawlbacks. You may want to try a true narcotic and get more mobility. all the best.