[Moreta]

This morning, I woke up and couldn't move very well, so I went to the Urgent Care here, and the Doc gave me Baclofen. Has anyone had a good experience with this medication? I don't really see anyone for my chronic pain (long story) and most of the time, I do fine. The last time is saw my GP, the nurse asked me if I was in pain - yes - how bad on a scale of 1-10 - 8 - where do you hurt - everywhere, then handed me a questionnaire for depression and GAD....but the doctor didn't even bring it up.....anyways....

The last time I saw my Psych, she asked if I had ever been dxed with Fibro, which I have once, like 8 yrs. ago, and added Neurontin to the mix. It's helped a lot, but I still have muscle spasms in my back. *because my back hates me* I absolutely HATE looking at x-rays, MRI films, of my spine. It makes me so depressed. The top 2 vertebrae are slightly twisted to the right, then at T5/T6/T7, there's a couple herniated discs, not to mention that I have mild scoliosis, so my spine is bent to the left slightly. When you look at my lower back, from L4 and down, the discs are totally black on the MRI, because I have Degenerative Disc Disease. Nine years ago, I had surgery to fix a herniated disc at L5/S1, and I believe that is when my back started to hate me. Just like the top 2 vertebrae, L4 down, are slightly twisted to the left. I've been told if I lose 150 lbs, my back will stop hurting, but how can one exercise when you are in constant pain?!?!?!

[krzyk101]

I am on Baclofen for part of my Pain Management and it is really a drug that would or imo should not usually be prescribed for acute pain it is actually for ongoing pain and used to treat MS and other nerve or neurological pain. I too am in the area of needing to loose over 100 pounds and am unable to excercise due to chronic pain let alone walk much more than around the apartment and use a power chair. Have you considered bariatric weight loss surgery? I just went to the beginnings of mine and it was a seminar and there is alot to it but it can now be done laproscopically and may be the key to losing the 150pounds and ending or easing the pain in your back it may be something to speak to your doctor about. Hope you get to feeling as well as can be expected. Take Care, kk101

[Perna]

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/...les.asp?id=584

[Moreta]

Hi Perna - that article was interesting. I hope to get back to exercising after the surgery. I really can't right now, b/c the mass on my kidney is also messing with the adrenal gland, and if I do any activity for more than 5 minutes, too many endorphins are pumped through my body, which causes excessive sweating and my blood pressure to spike. When my blood pressure is too high, it sometimes causes my nose to bleed. Learned that one the hard way back in June.

I've been _trying_ to stick to eating less calories, protein shakes, soy joy bars, multi grain cherrios. My biggest problem is the binge eating that happens when I'm depressed, but I am _working_ on that.

krzyk101- I had told the doctor that taking flexaril, skelaxin, methocarbonol, was like taking sugar pills, and didn't help at all. He said that they usually only use baclofen in the hospital, but he said that it was one of the only other muscle relaxants that didn't react to my long list of other prescriptions I take. I found it to be helpful, but he only gave me 7 days worth.

[Jesse S]

I was having severe headaches and neck and arm pain. I was diagnosed with herniated disc in my neck. had tried many different treatments including several other muscle relaxers, physical therapy, traction,pain meds etc. was finally sent to neurosurgery but was told surgery wouldnt last. was put on baclofen by pain management and the result are unbelieveable. practically pain free!