Treating Chronic Back Pain?

Question

I was in a very severe car accident when I was 15. I was thrown from the car going a good amount of speed.
My doctors never found any injuries to my back, neck, or shoulders (aside from torn R rotator cuff), but I have had severe back/neck/shoulder pain since my accident.
I have been on pain meds. (Norco 10-325- 2 pills 3 times a day, and 600MG of Neurontin 3 times a day) since then.
It does treat the pain, but obviously doesn't get rid of it.
I go to a Chiropractor, which helps, but also isn't a permanant solution.
I have had physical therapy, but it never helped.

I am sick of having to rely on pills to make me able to get through a day, and my doctor wants to soon start to slowly decrease the amounts, until I have completely stopped taking them.
I am fine with not taking any meds., but the problem is: the pain is still going to be there, and I can't bear it without some type of treatment.

What other options, aside from these above, are there?
That are more long-term?

Well, geez, so sorry I have the right to ask a question that you DON'T HAVE TO ANSWER.
I have been speaking to my doctor, and am simply asking opinions of people who hopefully have experienced different treatment methods. I have done some research on different types, and spoke to my doctor about them, but aren't going to make a decision until I see how other people have reacted to it, and how it has helped (or not helped) them.
Go earn 2 points being a jerk elsewhere. That was completely uncalled for.

Yes, the doctor I am seeing for this now is a pain specialist. We've been discussing more medical interventions of treatment (like, spinal blocks and the like) so, I was looking for more answers/experiences like that.

I have a whole ritual of the average pain management methods just like you, though. Lots of heat, hot showers, stretching before bed, vibrating back/neck massagers and pillows.

Answer 1

I have osteo-arthritis in the severe degenerative stages, for over 14 years I have had 32 screws and 32 wires put in my spine. Along with twelve cadaver bones and, eight of my own hip bones, and, two separate cages in my lower back. I sleep one to three hours a night, walk the floor the rest of the time, The pain is so great I sit and cry.

I recently met a neurologist from a pain clinic, he asked "what took you so ling?" after a lot of testing, and trials that took about a month, he installed a Medtronic electronic spinal stimulator. I had nothing to loose and, read about these. Jerry Lewis had one put in and, my daughter, a surgical nurse has put in several. They were on "Discovery " channel several weeks ago about seizures and muscle entropy.

I know have about 70% relief from the pain. I was on more then a few drugs, I'm down to one for pain and, I don;'t take that to often, As far as I am concerned this is the magic bullet for pain.
I can adjust it to cover a wider area but I don't find it that necessary.

If you have the pain I've had call your neurologist and ask him about the Medronic spinal pain stimulator our of Minneapolis toll free 800-328-0810 it brought back my sanity, Good luck.

Answer 2

I had an accident a while back. I flew over the handle bars of my bike while going down hill really really fast!! I landed flat on my back. As a result I had 2 slipped disc in my back. I had surgery to repair the one disc but the other disc is still messed up and I have good days and bad days. Right now my back is out of commission and it has been that way for a week. I only take pain pills at night though. I always sleep on a heating pad and take hot baths with epsom salt before going to bed . My Spouse is a Massage Therapist so I get a lot of massages which also helps with the pain. Unfortunately the only thing you can do it learn to manage your pain the best you can. Activity is important, do not just lay around because that can cause spasms. Also you may want to ask your Doctor to refer you to a pain management clinic and some insurances will even pay for you to see a massage therapist. I wish you the best!
Do not pay attention to people who are being rude...they are not worth your time.

Answer 3

I've had 10 slipped discs, the 1st when I was only 17, the 10th a year ago and I'm now 50. 9 months ago I had surgery on the disc but this hasn't made much difference to the pain I've lived with all my adult life.

It's only since the surgery that I've been referred to a Pain Management Clinic and part of the program has been counselling with a clinical psychologist who has helped me understand that sometimes Drs & medication/surgery isn't going to be able to fix or help me and that I've had to change mt way of thinking about my body.

I've learned that chronic pain is now seen as an illness in itself, and not just a symptom of something else.

I've had to learn to re-think how I live my life on a day to day basis, planning ahead based on what I can physically do, not what others think I "should" be doing.

I've had to learn to ask for help & tell people that there are things that I can't do.

I've acceped that the cocktail of medications I'm on are helping me get thru each day and without them I cannot walk and therefore are giving me a better quality of life.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is, think about the things that you can do, and every so often check on the internet to see if there are new treatments or medications.

I've been having massage & acupuncture this week for a change - feels nice to have someone touching me :-)

Good luck
Jayne

Answer 4

yes there is alternative to treat depression or chronic pain without using drugs and that is support of the friends and family, concern from the loved ones and a strong will power. I belive to recover from any kinda depression or problem there is a recipe called lovephobia and to make that first you have to put 1 spoon of care, concern, understand and mix it well enough until it makes a form of strong will (believe me if all the above puts together properly it happens) and then sprinkle love and serve it to urself or to the person with positive attitude in 21 days its gonna work like miracle. 100% guarantee, gud luck:)

Answer 5

Heat packs and also TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) can be great for pain relief if you don't want to use drugs. TENS machines can be purchased and used at home safely (they are often used by physiotherapists). Unfortunately these will not get rid of the pain completely, but it can significantly ease it.

Answer 6

This sounds like serious stuff. Get off your butt and talk to a doctor, not a bunch of random people on yahoo.