Chronic Pain
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Mon, 09/15/2008 - 09:36
Relief - Finally!
After 21 months of constant pain, I have finally gotten some relief. Percocet is my savior. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but this is the first thing that has reduced my pain and not made me sick.
I can still feel my pain, but it is reduced enough that I have been able to resume more normal activities. Well, at least through the weekend that's been true. Hopefully now that I am back at work, it will continue.
I will still work with my doctor to find non-drug solutions. In fact I have another epidural scheduled for Friday, and my doctor is going to have a TENS unit trial set up for me.
I just had to share my joy with you all. I know that everyone here can appreciate my happiness.
_____________
Cathy
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication. Mild endplate osteophytic ridging, accompanying dorsal disc bulging, eccentric to right of midline - leading to minimal flattening of right ventral thecal sac. Mild right foraminal narrowing due to lateral component of disc bulge as well as very mild endplate osteophytic ridging.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging. Mild left foraminal narrowing due to facet hypertrophy and endplate ridging.
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Double laminectomy L4-L5, bulging discs, DDD, Bone spurs, nerve damage in left leg and hip, DJD, and that to familiar visitor,arthritis
My 2nd MRI showed no herniated disc and no stenosis. Mild loss of signal intensity in intervertebral discs L1-S1 and mild loss of height from L1-L4. Mild DDD throughout the lumber spine. Still have back pain and some leg tingling, numbness though. 3rd opinion Neurosurgeon Oct. 6, 2009.
1st report last year Feb. 2008.
L5-S1 herniated disc with annular tear with disc material in contact with L5 exiting nerve, arthropy facet joints L4-L5. 5 Epidurals. Facet joint injections and 64 trigger point injections. Off work 21 months due to back and leg pain. Not a surgical candidate x 2 Ortho opinions. (history C5-7 osteoarthritis and DDD)
Infrared Platinum heating pad 4x/day and while sitting.
MS Contin 120mg, Cymbalta 60mg, lasix 20mg, Diovan for B/P . oxazepam 30mg for sleep. Excercise ball, recumbent stationary bicycle 30 mins. day, posture-pump for lower back. Tried PT, accupuncture, traction. Pool therapy Oct. 27/2009
http://www.livestrong.com/article/14700-self-affirmations/
Charry
Hi Cathy, I'm glad to hear you've got relief and hope the next procedure makes it even better. Live your life!
Good luck, Jim
click my name to see my medical history
Play with the cards you were delt... I said that
Congrats! And props to your doctor for being so compassionate. Wish my new doctor had this kind of compassion
Diagnoses (For quick reference)
2- Herniated discs with nerve pain in legs
Schuerrmans kyphosis ( A rare curvature of the lower spine)
And accelerated degeneration of the lumbar region
sick and tired of being sick and tired as they all say
(Klonipin 1mg X2 daily) (5X100mg seroquel) (6X10mg flexeril). (30 mgs of buspar) 1800mgs of neurontin, 40 mgs of prozac. 1500 mgs of nabutome
That is wonderful news! It's always so nice to find something that will give you a bit of relief... Don't do too much at work and get yourself in a bind!
Try to take it easy so you can still enjoy the weekend!
Terrie
Wow Cathy,
Good for you! Good luck finding the No Meds pain relief. I know Physical Therapy with Tens, ultrasound, spinal adjustments and deep trigger point massage has helped me tremendously. I feel much better when I'm physically active. Sitting at a desk or standing for very long KILLS me.
Good Luck,
Lauren
Lauren
DDD, Moderate to severe stenosis C3-C6, Mild to moderate stenosis L1-L5, buldging discs, pain around all major joints, numbness in extremities and face, 50% loss of function in left leg, some in left arm and right extremities. Plantar fascitis, carpel tunnel, tennis elbow and bursitis.
Meds include Norflex, Mobic & Celexa.
I'm released from PT aftercare and am swimming 3/4 of a mile 2x a week. Next week to replace the PT I start a pilates class!
Thanks everyone
I think I did over-do it a bit on the weekend, and paid for it yesterday. But I was able to get back to feeling better with an evening of heating pad and rest. I'm also wearing a ThermaCare heat wrap today.
I'll try to keep things in perspective and take it slowly. It's hard not to try and do all the things you've had to put off because of pain, when you are finally feeling better. But I have to learn what my limits are, in order to stay feeling relatively good all the time.
I pick up a TENS unit on Monday, and I'm really looking forward to giving it a try.
Because of the ESI Friday, I haven't started the Mobic (meloxicam) yet either. So that's another thing I'm anxious to try, and see if it helps more than the Relafen (nabumetone).
Cathy
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication. Mild endplate osteophytic ridging, accompanying dorsal disc bulging, eccentric to right of midline - leading to minimal flattening of right ventral thecal sac. Mild right foraminal narrowing due to lateral component of disc bulge as well as very mild endplate osteophytic ridging.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging. Mild left foraminal narrowing due to facet hypertrophy and endplate ridging.
just a thought i would let you know the tens unit can work great... but it is hard to get used to at first...so dont give up on it if you dont like it at first...patsy
I tried a TENS unit once, at my Mom's. And I know what you mean about it being hard to get used to.
I didn't find that one time helpful, but I realize that it can take some time for something like that to work. Also her unit was acting up, as she later found, so that's why I'm still up for giving it a try. I want to make sure that I give it the best try I can, before deciding it doesn't work. Kind of the same way I gave acupuncture a try, after 15 sessions I'm throwing in the towel on that one.
Cathy
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication. Mild endplate osteophytic ridging, accompanying dorsal disc bulging, eccentric to right of midline - leading to minimal flattening of right ventral thecal sac. Mild right foraminal narrowing due to lateral component of disc bulge as well as very mild endplate osteophytic ridging.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging. Mild left foraminal narrowing due to facet hypertrophy and endplate ridging.
-Lisa
I had my ESI this past Friday. I started the meloxicam (Mobic) Friday night. All weekend I felt pretty good. Pain level down to about 2 (from 4 to 5 before). Monday (yesterday) I picked up the TENS unit, and was able to use it while watching TV last night, and I am wearing it today at work. I also picked up my renewal prescription for oxycodone-APAP (Percocet), and increased the number to 4/day (as per my docs instructions).
So far, I have been able to keep my pain level down to 2 to 3 (mostly 2). It's amazing how much better I feel.
I will be trying to cut back again on the oxycodone, to see if the TENS is really helping. And I also need to see what effect the ESI had. Im sure there is a cumulative effect from everything. But the important thing is that hopefully I can break the pain cycle, and wean off of everything. But at the very least I'm hoping that I can resume a more normal life. At a 2-3 pain level, that is very possible.
Cathy
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication. Mild endplate osteophytic ridging, accompanying dorsal disc bulging, eccentric to right of midline - leading to minimal flattening of right ventral thecal sac. Mild right foraminal narrowing due to lateral component of disc bulge as well as very mild endplate osteophytic ridging.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging. Mild left foraminal narrowing due to facet hypertrophy and endplate ridging.
Good for you Cathy! Breaking the pain cycle is crucial so you are definitely on the right track
Give your body a break and don't try to wean off too soon. I'm sure your pm doc is monitoring you? He/she will be able to help you cut back at the appropriate time when your pain is stabilized. Good luck and thanks for the encouragement!
Lauren
DDD, Moderate to severe stenosis C3-C6, Mild to moderate stenosis L1-L5, buldging discs, pain around all major joints, numbness in extremities and face, 50% loss of function in left leg, some in left arm and right extremities. Plantar fascitis, carpel tunnel, tennis elbow and bursitis.
Meds include Norflex, Mobic & Celexa.
I'm released from PT aftercare and am swimming 3/4 of a mile 2x a week. Next week to replace the PT I start a pilates class!
I'm enjoying this lower level of pain too much right now to risk increased pain by weaning off too soon.
But I guess I sort of wonder about this kind of dilemma. Trying all these new things at once, how do you know what it is that helped? The bottom line is, I'm happy to have less pain, but for future reference I'd like to know what it was that helped, or what combination.
I hope that I have enough time to do some experimentation. The TENS unit is on a 3 month rental right now, and of course I just had the ESI. I can stay on the oxycodone for a while (even though I'd like to eventually be able to stop), so I will continue that. But I might give the TENS unit a break after this week, just to see if my pain level stays down without it. It is expensive ($495), even the rental ($75/month), and I don't know how much my insurance is covering (I guess I could call them).
I should be able to know if the ESI helped within a few weeks. Then it is a matter of trying to figure out if it is the ESI or the oxycodone that is really helping out most.
I don't know, maybe it doesn't really matter in the end, as long as the pain is lower.
Cathy
L4-5 Mild-moderate disc degeneration with dessication. Mild endplate osteophytic ridging, accompanying dorsal disc bulging, eccentric to right of midline - leading to minimal flattening of right ventral thecal sac. Mild right foraminal narrowing due to lateral component of disc bulge as well as very mild endplate osteophytic ridging.
L5-S1 Mild disc degeneration with dessication, minimal disc bulging. Mild left foraminal narrowing due to facet hypertrophy and endplate ridging.