Chronic Arthritis/ Back Pain?

Question

My mother suffers terribly from back pain after being hit by a truck.
She has now got osteo arthritis, and has been trying for over 10 years to find medication to relieve her pain, and nothing works.
The doctors even got her hooked on morphine!!!
She has tried heat packs, massages, natural remedies.... what can she do to help the pain?
she is only 50 and she has less mobility than alot of people in thier 90's.

Answer 1

So many places to start. First, Aleve, this is an over the counter drug which makes many believe that it is safe. It's not. It works by blocking an enzyme which makes prostaglandins, which cause inflammation. Read the directions. It shouldn't be taken over 10 days without a Doctors supervision, because you could either cause bleeding ulcers or irreversible liver damage. The doctor needs to check your system with tests to continue to use it so that you don't cause these problems.

Second, Omega-3 fatty acids are found in Ocean fish, no side effects and inhibit these same prostaglandins from being produced, plus they are good for your heart. This is a recommendation from the Arthritis Foundation.

Third, Vitamin D deficiency. Go to pubmed.com search Vitamin D deficiency and look at the article 3. Vitamin D deficiency is widespread unless you are in the sun a lot. And, it's used in more places in your body then just the bones. This is a fat soluble vitamin, which means your body has to process it to remove it from the body. This takes time, so it can build in the body which could cause problems if you take to much. So a doctor with an open mind to the newest research should be utilized so that she doesn't take to much.

Fourth, Turmeric the spice has curcumin in it. Curcumin also has anti-inflammatory properties. But, this too can cause liver problems if used too often. Again, a open-minded doctor should be utilized.

Fifth, Heat. Heat is good for muscles, because it causes them to relax. But, we control our blood pressure with muscles in our arteries. If you apply heat over the spinal joints, the same arteries will relax allowing more blood to flow into the area. The extra fluid has to go somewhere and part of it will swell the joint space. You have nerves in the capsule of the joint that check for swelling upon expansion of the capsule. This will fire off a signal to your brain in the form of pain. Ice is the better solution. It has anti-inflammatory properties by reducing the blood flow. But, it must be left on until numb, otherwise it just gets cold and won't do anything. And, it will feel horribly like pens and needles for 3-4 minutes right before it numbs, most people will take it off at this point and never get relief. Plus, a numb nerve cannot transmit a pain signal.

Massage should provide some temporary relief, but beneficial relief because her muscles are surely involved at this point. She should find a masseuse that she is comfortable with and stick to it for a while.

Mechanically, a Chiropractor or Osteopath could provide benefits but this is a case by case problem. A joint that is mechanically not sitting in the correct position is going to wear that joint faster than others, this will be the joint that develops "wear and tear" arthritis, big name osteoarthritis. This is the reason more people should see a Chiropractor or Osteopath, because look around you everyone gets this arthritis, because in general only 1 in 8 utilize the services of these 100 year old professions. Side note, you can look around and here the negatives of Chiropractic, but did you know it is the largest non-allopathic healthcare system in the world and it was started here in the United States. You can find it being practiced in most countries, including Chinese hospitals by American Chiropractors, now that says something about its value.

Lastly, musculoskeletal pain can be minimized with exercise. She obviously is going to have a hard time by the sounds of it. I would go with a previous suggestion of swimming. It's easy on joints because your floating, yet your whole body has to work. If you have a YMCA nearby, they sometimes have a water arthritis class that heats up the pool (this small amount of heat doesn't make my previous argument false.) It will help her move. She is on a slippery slope, she needs to move to minimize her pain.


Just a few opinions and some facts. I truely hope it helps her.

Answer 2

Hmmm, back pain is a terrible thing and can be very difficult to treat. Maybe she should try another doctor, one who specializes in spinal conditions. I've heard of implanted electrical devices that essentially turn off the source of the pain. There are steroid injections that are sometimes helpful. Sometimes, surgery can be helpful. There are Pain Centers that specialize in treating pain. It's possible there is little she can do but take the morphine. We have a friend with painful fibromyalgia whose been on morphine for years. Can your Mom swim -- perhaps she can do gentle swim/aquasize exercises that would provide some relief and help strengthen her muscles, which might also provide some relief. Some large university medical centers have spinal centers that offer state of the art care. Tell her not to give up, there is something out there for her.

Answer 3

I was run over by a truck in 2000 it ran over my left leg then my chest and off my right arm since that time I have had VERY bad pain in my lower back. Doc said over 72% deterioration at the present time. After trying every kind of medication you can think of including morphine like your mother with no real good results. The Doctor then put me on Methadone for Chronic pain and Lortab 10/350 for breakthrough pain. Although Lortab is not the best pain med for pain management it does work well to suppress the breakthrough pain that the Methadone does not take care of or when I forget to take the Methadone.
Methadone works very good for chronic pain and is not going to destroy your liver and kidneys like most other pain meds. The thing about Methadone is that you have to take it every day like clockwork. Because it does not work like most pain meds. If you take it right now it might not really start to stop your pain for 24 hours. Do not ask me why but that is the way it is. So when you take the pills everyday maybe 3 times a day then after about 3 days most your pain will be gone. The down side is if you forget to take a pill you might not notice it at first but when you do it takes a long time for your next pill to start working again. That’s where the Lortab comes in it does not really work as good as the methadone but it will get you through until the Methadone starts working again. Also make sure to get the Lortab 10/350 this allows you to take 3 pills at once without destroying your liver or kidneys.
I hope this works for your Mother because if anyone understands what she is going through I do. Best of luck to the both of you.

Answer 4

I have pretty serious spinal problems, to the point where I sometimes need a cane to walk. I have had all kinds of drugs, including percocet and IV Demerol, none of which really helped.

Ironically, the only thing I've found that really helps me is plain over-the-counter Naproxen (ie, Aleve). I always recommend it to people with arthritis pain before they try more serious drugs. I'd love to take it every day, but I don't think that's good (my doctor wouldn't give me a straight answer on this), but I find that taking two when I feel things starting to get bad keeps me from having a really bad episode.

Chiropractic didn't work for me, but I know people who have been helped that way.

Answer 5

I suffer Severe Unresponsive Sero negative Rheumatoid Arthritis, I faced many challenges because my case is complex and not exactly text book. With pain though GP's have to adhere to United Nations Narcotic Ladder its International Law. First line is Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs aka NSAIDS such as; Ibuprofen, Anadin, Aspirin, Naproxen and Diclofenac, if these do not give sufficient support then Weak Opiates are introduced this includes: All Codeine preperations, Dihydrocodeine, Tramadol in low dose and for US an Canadian folks Vicodin and low dose Percocet. Vicodin is not avaliable outside of US/ Canada/ Spain and Germany as Hydrocodone is rearly used although legal in other states. Then finally we have strong Opiates; Demerol (Pethidine), Buprenorphine Patches and Subotex tablets, Fentanyl, Methadone, Morphine Sulphate, Oxycodone including high dose Percocet, Hydromorphone (Diluadid and Palladone), DiaMorphine (Heroin UK folks), for example For Arthritis it is usually advised short term use of NSAIDS and Steroids such as Prednisolone, Weak Opiates are also used especially, Tramadol and Codeine, however, if like me and these meds dont work Dr's will as a last resort supply strong Opiates such as Burpenorphine Patches, Morphine Sulphate and Oxycodone. I currently use; Prednisolone Steroids for Inflammation and Pain, Methotrexate, Sulphasalazine and Hydyroxycholorquine (Plaqunile), for Disease Modifying Agents in fighting my R.A and I use Co-Codamol 30/500 Effervescent which is (30mg Codeine, 500mg Tylenol/ Paracetamol), alongside, Oramorph 10mg/5ml 4 times daily and ZoMorph 30mg twice daily for Slow Release Pain Killer. Oramorph is an immediate release liquid Morphine and Zomorph is a Capsule of Modified Release Morphine. Oxycodone is normally only given thru a Chronic Pain Clinic Specialst or if a patient does not suite Morphine treatment as Morphine is very harsh on the stomach and bowl causing very bad constipation but a GP can prescribe a laxative such as Senna 7.5mg to help ease constipation caused by Opiate use. Oxycodone is known under many names its Slow Release form is most famous this is Oxycontin Immediate Release is known as OxyNorm in the UK and OxyFast is the US, Percocet is Oxycodone combined with Paracetamol/ Acetminophen, this is usually low dose Oxycodone with Paracetamol to increase the effectiveness of the Oxycodone.

Answer 6

I have osteo arthritis in my spine as well. The only thing that has helped the pain is Chiropractic adustments and "Active Release Techniques" ART (soft tissue treatment).
If you want to find a chiropractor in your area that practices ART, they do have a website.
This is not an over-night cure. It took me several months of treatment to improve, but it is better than getting hooked on pain killers.

Answer 7

I can relate...I am a chronic pain sufferer. Please don't confuse addiction with dependence and yes there is a huge difference. People who take pills for fun or to get high get addicted...they don't need them, but for someone with the problems I have it means being on medication for the rest of my life. Yes, I depend on it to be able to move (I'm only 32) but I don't get high or get a rush when I take it. A pain mangement Dr may be able to help her with injections, radio wave therapy or nerve blocks. If she winds up having to take prescription meds, let her. Living in chronic pain can bring on severe depression and anxiety and takes over your life. She needs to get some relief. Ask her regular Dr to refer her to pain Management...trust me it will help her to feel somewhat better, but unfortunately, my pain never goes away all the way. I wish her luck and peace.

Answer 8

sorry to say this but, if all that isn;t working i don't think there is anything else that will. Does she seem very stressed out, anxious or depressed, these things can worsen her condition. you just need to keep her on the bright and cheery side and support her, help her forget about it...even though it is hard to. Does she go to physical therapy at all? Being more mobil and putting those body parts that have been resting to work and become stronger!

Answer 9

Have you already tried out Back Pain Relief 4 Life technique? Look at this site : http://www.BackPainInstantRelief.com/ . It might truly guide you!

Answer 10

The absolute best thing I ever found for my back pain (and I was prescribed morphine as well - it didn't totally take away the pain, just kind of dulled it), is Aleve. The stuff really, really works.