severe back pain, tryed everything, no relif.?

Question

cant sleep @ night, stabbing, burning pain from lower back down in lower extermedies.taqke lirica for permanant nerve damage, flexrilkl 4 spasims in legs & back,nabutone, 4 swelling,oxycontin 40 mgs 4 pain, and phenergan 4 nausia, all 3 times daily. was on 30 mgs morphine, but 2 weeks ago got 40 mgs oxycontin. ever since the meds changed, ive already been 2 the hospital due to the pain and disconfort. what should i do ?

Answer 1

I'll pray for you......

Answer 2

Try to find a massage therapist who practices trigger point release and Myofascial release.
I have some of the same problems you do, except my pain is in the cervical spine and I have spinal stenosis.
I know exactly what you mean about the burning stabbing pain that keeps you from sleeping..a lot of that is nerve pain.
Have you ever tried taking Topomax instead of Lycira for the nerve pain? It works better for me.
Also, chiropractors can help, I used to go, but on the advice of my orthopedic doc, I stopped because of the damage in the disks in my neck.
What has seemed to help me the most in the last few months is Accupuncture combined with massage therapy twice per week; at least it has made it easier for me to rest at night, and has kept the pain at a more tolerable level.
It sounds like you have built up a tolerance to the pain meds also; morphine never worked very well for me, Demerol worked much better for me.
I hope you can get some relief soon...I feel for you.

Answer 3

Have you ever had an actually diagnosis of your condition? Have you been examined by a doctor of Chiropractic? It may be worth your while to get a second opinion for this condition. Seems to be more than just nerve compression and degeneration.. suggests a highly inflamed area of the low back as well as the cervical spine, at a lower intensity. You do have other symptoms which have not been included in your description.

Answer 4

Sounds like at this point you need to be referred for an MRI and possibly physical therapy, depending on the results of the MRI. I suffered from back problems for 15 yrs.; going to chiropractors and taking meds only alleviated the problem temporarily. Then I finally found a doctor who ordered the proper test and treatment. I can definitely say that what I learned in physical therapy has saved me from having back problems, as they not only provide you with treatment like ultrasound heat therapy, but they will also show you the proper way to move your body from one position to another (getting up from a chair, getting out of bed, getting out of a car, sit, stand, etc.). They will also show you some exercises to help stretch and strengthen your back. Sure, medications like Flexeril and some anti-inflammatories can help as well, but all the other meds like oxycontin do is mask the pain enough for you to "feel" like your better. Not to mention the fact that it is habit-forming and that is something you want to nip in the bud right away. I've seen too many good people come to my clinic who had back problems and ended up becoming addicted to pain killers and it turned them into drug seekers who act irrationally when the doctors refuse to give them any more pain meds. So please, find a doctor who is willing to send you to physical therapy or run additonal tests on you before you get yourself into that sort of situation. As a medical assistant, it is never fun having to be cussed out by what you know "used" to be a good person just because they can't get their pain killers.

By the way, my MRI showed an 11mm herniation of L5-S1...which my doctor said it was a good thing I caught in time to have physical therapy, because had I'd just "waited it out" the herniated disc would have started pressing on my spine and that would have led to possible back surgery. So by going to physical therapy and following their treatment plan, I saved myself from having to get surgery.

Answer 5

Find a chiropractor that graduated from Palmer and go ASAP. I work at a chiro office and you are a classic case. Give them 2 weeks and you will be soooo much better.

Answer 6

hey I think I can help you my friend in need. first of all you should buy a product called the "icy hot patch" it costs about $4 for like 5 of them and they relax your muscles well.. as with your sleeping problems you should take melatonin...I take 27mg a night to sleep like a king and it works. as far as the pain thats a hard area to work on try possibly changing your body posture and maybe try yoga or something. sorry thats all I can think of

Answer 7

You should try active release technique. It has been a life saver for me. You can easily search for a practicioner in your area on the web.

Answer 8

I think you should re-think your bed/mattress. All that medicine you are taking and it still hurts? That has to be the bed. That is enough medicine to kill ANY pain.