Pain Medications for back pain...?

Question

I have severe lower back pain due to a disabling condition of severe scoliosis and spina bifida. I've had 30 surgeries and am only 27. So, for my pain I have tried gabapentin (anti-seizure medication), amitryptiline (depression medication), ultram and vicodin. I have tried stretches, hot baths, heat, ice, and all of the over the counter meds. Chiropractors say I can't be helped by manipulation. So, my Internal Medicine doc just reffered me to pain management telling me I need a longer acting form of medication. He was describing the fentanyl patch, but I am kind of nervous about using it. My questions are will my new pain doc look at me like I am a "druggie" (Ive never abused pain pills)? And is there anything I can take that is long acting but less strong then fentanyl? Thanks.

These are some great answeres! Very non-judgemental so thank you. It will be very hard to pick a best answere. To the person who mentioned a change in diet, I eat all fresh organic foods, hardly any processed or refined foods. I am scared to do injections, as I have screws and rods in my back. Again I need to know if there are any medications that are not as strong as duragesic but strong enough to block some of the pain.

Answer 1

I have been on the Fentanyl Patch for two years. First they will start you off on a low dose and that could be it for many years. However on starting the Patch well it made me nauseated and I vomited a few times. I got the injection to stop the nausea and since then have never looked back.
It really helps with the pain and my life has improved 100%.
Like you I thought 'shock' 'horror' but now have no regrets.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You are absolutely not a bad person for taking pain medication. Sometimes it's really necessary. Have I actually had something other than medication heal the pain? Yes. Just last week I had a bad migraine brewing as our community choir practice started. As I sang the beautiful, complex music of the Messiah and the baroque song in German we were working on, the pain totally went away and stayed away. Whether it was the diversion or the music itself I don't know for certain. I just know it worked. I am able to "think away" some pain as well, usually more minor pain. I've found that pressure point massage therapy has healed much muscle pain I've had. I've also had amazing experiences with prayer healing the pain - and the illness or injury that caused the pain. For some types heat takes it away while for other kinds ice packs work better. I have also had many times when the only thing that would take care of it was medication. Do what works for you, and what you feel comfortable using and don't worry about what anyone else says. That's between you and your doctor.

Answer 4

Check here a very effective sciatica natural treatment http://cure-sciatica.info
Normally, I would not answer a question like this as my expertise is generally in medication but I had severe sciatica while I was pregnant with my 3rd child (after having had twins) and I had sciatica so bad that I was finding it difficult to walk. I tried massage therapy and physical therapy and could not take medication
I went to the chiropractor and the pain was instantly relieved. My hips and lower back were out of alignment because I had carried twins the year before. On occasion a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) can also work but they usually only work on one joint at a time - the chiropractor will do your whole back which works faster. Anyone who does not believe in chiropractors will tell you they are quacks - don't listen.
I don't necessarily believe that chiropractors can cure things like diabetes but they can definitely relieve some types of back pain especially if a pinched nerve is involved which is usually the cause of sciatica.

Answer 5

Have you by any chance ever tried acupuncture? I have scoliosis (but not spina bifida) and acupuncture has helped me with back pain management. The advantage is that you would not be putting any chemicals in your system and there are no bad side effects (just some unexpected ones like euphoria). It may or may not work for you, but you might want to try it before escalating your meds. Acupuncture has a long and honored tradition of successful treatment in Asia; they even use it to replace anesthesia in sugery.

Answer 6

I also had lower dick dislocation and 17 years back they done one operation and it was good ,but after one year pain again started and my house Doctor told me get done other operation,luckily my Specialist Doctor told me not go for operation and try with physiotherapist if it's really necessary operation can be done later also.So I started therapy and slowly walking etc.to keep my back Strong and now it's about 16 years I am going good do about 4 km. walking every day and keep going with my life,some time get pain and take my medicine (Pain killer and go on) I have seen people those have even 21 surgery's but steel suffering ,so ask your Doctor to find some way like that and one thing more you have to be mentally very Strong.I wish you good luck and get mentally Strong and get rid of this problem.

Answer 7

take your Dr.s advice. I have the same situation and went to pain management and started on timed relase meds tro give around the clock coverage. every time your body runs out of [pain med you next dose has to catch up to pain which sometimes can take 3-4 hours or more. Duragesic is not gonna make you feel any different as long as it is right dose and covers pain. If you feel goofy you have too high a dose. It also lasts 3 days per patch.

Answer 8

Hello,
It is a fact that no one condition reflects sciatica and it would be prudent to refer to it as a generic medical term encompassing lots of symptoms that taken together describe a lower back pain that a patient suffers from. When someone complains of severe back pain that passes down to legs through his buttocks, even down to his feet and toes, doctors suspect him to be suffering from sciatica. Often sciatica presents itself as numbness or a tingling sensation that may not be anything like the severe pain commonly associated with sciatica. This tingling or numbness may be felt by the person when he engages in some activities.


On this site you can find very good tips on how to treat your sciatica: http://curesciatica.toptips.org
Cheers ;)

Answer 9

My mother in law is always, always, always complaining about her pains all the time. So, if you tried almost everything, there nothing she can do either? She's 52yrs old, she has tried pain killer pills only, doctors have told her that she's too young for a surgery and she is scare to do it anyways. I feel sorry for you because you are really young.

Answer 10

Sorry I cant really help you with the cause of the pain.

To deal with the pain and sleeping I would recommend this site

They have all-natural pain relief product I used during my knee injury. It works really well, I just use some before bed and I sleep very well.