Hi, I'm having trouble dealing with chronic back pain

Hi all,
I haven't posted in a long time. I'm having trouble dealing with my chronic back pain. I just want to find out how other people deal with pain.
Thanks
izzie

(((gentle hug)))

I think if you read the forum you will find many threads on how other members have dealt with chronic pain.

Sometimes you get a doc who says exercise, and sometimes they say don't.

A good T who specializes in chronic pain is always an asset.

TC

Hi,I know exactly what you are going thru,cause I too suffer from chronic back pain and it effects just about every aspect of my life you can imagine. If i'm on my feet for to long,it agravates my back,walking to.I often have trouble sleeping at night and often have to deal with breakthru pain. I feel that I'm not getting enough pain meds to get thru the day. especially on days when it's real bad. I empathize with you because I'm in the same perdicement. I've been told to excerise,but if moving around aggravates my back,makes the pain worse or causes breakthru pain,what the hell good does such a suggestion do me? I share your frustration.

no real advise for you because I too suffer chronic back pain. most of my time is spent in my recliner. any activity makes the pain much worse.

I have chronic pain and there is no one piece of advice I can offer. A good doc, shop around if necessary. Good P.T. and yes, as Sky said, a good T. Do your own research. Keep note of what helps, what hurts and when. Keep notes on all meds and tests. Make sure doc is taking you seriously. Get a diagnoses telling you why you have pain. I love injections of cortisone in my joints and would do back if they thought it would help. The biggest thing I can tell you is try not to be afraid of the pain because it makes it worse. If you can feel like you know you will be able to handle it and get through it it makes it better. Good luck.

I agree there are many posts of chronic back pain, yet feel if possible a need to find out 'what' is causing the pain and go from there.

I would not trust simple xrays I would suggest to have an MRI and find the source of your pain then as wisewoman said to shop around and find out who or which type of practice or specialist is best for your pain.

Best wishes and hope you are having less pain at the moment. take care krzykris101

Hi, I've been dealing with chronic pain and in my area there isn't any pain doctors so trying to deal with doctors is a nightmare so I do what I can do. It's great having this place to post how I feel but my pain is crazy, I use MS Contin slow release and I go through the Icy Hot Balm the thick stuff along with Lyrica then I use a heating pad and I've went through 5 of those and yes, I am aware they can burn you so guys be careful!! eeeek! The doctor says not to use them anymore but I'm in pain and heat seems to be the ONLY thing that works along with the many meds. Any ideas of other things, HOLLA let me know.

I also suffer from back pain. Hot showers are nice in the morning, and microwavable heat packs filled with something like flax seeds are good, too. If you have access to a hot tub or jacuzzi those are good.
For stressing activities I use a Velcro back brace, which are available in places like Wal-mart near the pharmacy.
For exercise I swim, it's easy to work out in water without straining your back.

I had chronic back pain and "knots" for years. Then it became hip pain as well, and my neck always hurts. I finally found a reliable chiropractor, who actually took time to xray me, show me the misalignments in my vertebrae, and explained how that contributed to my pain. He adjusted, gave me exercises, and the back and hip are great. The neck is too damaged from a whiplash accident 20 years ago, plus bone spurs from 80's headbanging, but I know how to manage that pain. I was a skeptic, but one he aligned the vertebrae that were causing problems, I was better.

Disc problems occur like this: Your spine gets out of line from standing, sitting, accidents, life. This compresses the nerves that feed the discs in your spine. The muscles do not get proper "nutrition", and the discs begin to deterioate because they are not getting fed thru the nerves. The fluid dissipates and the disc dries out, leaving bone on bone with no cushion. The nerves then alway stay compressed, i.e. pain. Try it. I swear by it now even though I was afraid....

Good luck....chronic pain sux!

Chronic pain also, but fortunatley I have Borderline Personality Disorder and we generally have a high threshold of pain. (Obviously, I've been on those threads acting as a cheerleader!) But it does get too me also. It is tough to exercise when I am in pain . The great thing about exercise, though, is endorphines. If you can just keep up a brisk activity for 20 minutes, you can feel the endorphines kick in. The pain, for me, is never completely gone, but it moves into the background. Sometimes, it just doesn't matter what I do though. The pain is in the foreground, way, way in the foreground, in my face. I get snappy, irritable. Then, I take hot, hot baths with epsom salts (also good for you because you absorb the magnesium through the skin.) Sometimes, I do just give up. I just have to lie down.

I would not reommend chiroprators, because Orthopedists are just plain better. They are real MDs. They can do the same manipulations. They usually fix me in one visit rather than several. They have been less expensive for me in the long run. I didn't even know Orthopedists existed until a few years ago. I've been through a series of chiropractors.

I don't want the pain the take over at this stage in my life. I just feel I've got to fight it or by the time I am really old, life will be unbearable.

Post Chronic pain here... maybe I can help. I have over 20 years of low back pain that progressed to partially disabled and using cortisone shots for years to cope to finally fully disabled/bed ridden. I hope you nor anyone goes through such pain. Luckily my 3rd surgery did the trick (thank God!).

Obviously the real question is what is causing your pain? If that is answered treatment is much easier. I would encourage anyone who has had pain consistently for a few months or more (i.e., chronic) that you see an orthopedic or neurological surgeon that specialize in spinal/low back disorders. Please do not isolate yourself with a chiropractor or GP who prescribes pain meds easily. If not in check those two, imho, MAY lead to a progressive downward spiral.

Once you have a diagnosis ask the important question, "if it was you what would you do?" Now either follow it or get a second opinion.

Bed rest in general is almost always a bad thing to do with low back pain. In general you will probably always be required to do at least 6 months of nonevasive treatment before you have surgery. And btw, if you are a candidate PUSH for the MRI!!!!

Now that is the preferred path, till then some basics.

Nerve irritation such as burning sensation usually reacts best to Ice Packs and/or Blood Thinners (ibuprofen). With a doctor you might try RX anti inflamatories such as celebrex, viox (i think gone now) and one other???

Heat will probably only help for muscle spasms. Be careful using heat because if there is an inflamtory issue, you may be making it worse. If you find heat works well and feel like it is causing other problems then a TENS Unit is a great method for treatment (electro impusles through the muscles). Personally a must have for CHRONIC back pain sufferers imo.

If you work sitting a bunch, take a walk every 20 minutes or at least stand up and stretch out a bit...

Well that's the top of my head, hope it helps...

I, too, have suffered for 3 years with chronic back pain. I've had 6 epidural injections (over a 2 year period) which gave me some relief, but the pain eventually came back. Finally, after much pain and several medical consultations, I decided to have back surgery. An experienced neurologist/surgeon performed the procedures. I had a laminotomy (sic) and a foraminotomy (sic) in September. The pain has subsided somewhat, but not much. I continue to suffer from sciatica and arthritis in my lower back. I've been told by my doctor that over time the sciatica will subside, but there is nothing that can be done for the arthritis. I've also been informed that I suffer from degenerative disc disease so that's something I will have to live with.

I will tell you this: Make sure you are being treated by the best doctor you (your insurance) can pay for because your back is your foundation and if you cannot stand for any length of time, sit, sleep or perform your regular duties your quality of life is not what it should be. Please be sure to go to a medical professional that specializes in the spine or treatment of the back.

Many go out to you because you are going through a difficult time. Keep me informed because I do care and want the best for you.

Dont have to much to offer as far as relieving your pain, for me besides daludid (2mg) every 4 to 6 hours (which now I have increased the time to around 10 to 12 hours before taking the next dose), I read alot and stay at long lengths motioness as long as possible. It will be coming up on exactly 1 yr this Jan that I had 4 titanium rods like a cage built around my entire spine inserted. Most recently I under went a hernia surgery which the surgeon in my estimation pulled the mesh around my abdomen muscles so tight that it is constantly causing tremendous pressure and pain on my entire spine, which before those muscles where so inflamed that the daludid just about cuts it. Between both operations its like being in an inside vise that continually is tighting all the time. So if anyone has any advice I sure would like to hear it. Because it is so hard for me to get anywhere, I miss out on all this therapy, like swimming, etc. Another thing is that I know being so motionless is surely not the answer.......but to keep the pain at bay that's what I have to work with right now. I'm all EARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Drilla

Due to ourselves dealing with chronic pain it has taken me away. Years and years. Doctors have given up. It is againist my beliefs to die however, how can doctors give up. I didn't get this way because I led a hectic life it was from abuse since infant. I do use meds, music but becasue I have no friends it's hard to find support. I know that there are other people who probaly have it worse than I do. I can't handle it!

????Does anyone use a "manual wheelchair?" I do, and I fee so all alone. ThaCrew

This is probably the worse problem I have in my life, I not only have chronic pain in my lower back, but also in my neck where it meets the spine and left shoulder.... people respond different to meds so its hard to say what would work for you

I currently ( past 2 months ) take 90 Soma, 90 Tamadol, 60 Voltaren , 60 Xanax .05 per month

I know Xanax is not a pain med, but I feel that it helps with the anxiety caused by the constant pain and in the end this seems to remove some pain....since anxiety can cause pain and vice versa

I dont feel all the above is working on my neck pain though ..... I get maybe 2-3 hours relief after each dose maximum

I used to take Vicoden, it worked for awhile, but I built up a tolerance, Tramadol is supposed to be about the same (I think) but you are not supposed to build a tolerance like with Percocet or Vicoden.

I have been researching a little and found they have a Soma CC, this has codeine and aspirin combined with it, also I read about Klipal ... which is like Voltaren and codeine combined.

I don't know if they will prescribe them (Klipal & Soma CC ) together, but will ask on my next visit, to me they sound like they may work well in my case.

Xanax helps alot in my opinion. For sleep it is the best. I took it (1mg) each night to sleep and it never failed me. But I agree that it does help with dealing with the pain. 2mg of dalaudid every 5 to 6 hrs is what I try to maintain, sometimes I try to push the hrs to 8 but after that unless I am sleeping, it gets to me. I am thinking of getting on methodone which I used before, but haven't made up my mind yet. Don't really want to take anything but you know how that goes. Hope things will work out eventually, I need to get more mobile these days.

Drilla (John, aka Hardryve)

I probably need to increase from 1/2 mg to 1 mg at night......I hardly sleep 3 hrs sometimes and others I cant make it till 8:00pm, I was gonna get some Ambien for the other nights. I dont know whats going on.

The Tramadol seems to help "pick me up" more so than Vicoden, I notice even when combined with the Soma despite the the sedative properties of Soma, if I forget to take my meds in the morning and go all day without them, I am just sore and tired all day

I have taken dalaudid before.....oddly it did nothing at all for me, and I took 2 4mg....I know they are stronger than what I take now but I guess I dont respond to them

Next on the list will be pain management with Methadone. Tried it before for awhile. Seemed to work well, have to get into a longer lasting pain therapy than daludid. Will keep you posted on the results.

Drilla

Hope all go's well for you .... Methadone does seem to help ALOT of people, I've not tried it so cant comment

Well, I have to take Vicoden now, or I cant sleep from the chronic pain, I wake up at 2-3 am sometime dependent on how hard I work that day.I only take it at night though.
I use the tramadol in the day.

Doc..has me on routine blood work to keep everything in check " I Guess "

I have to say though, My anxiety and chronic pain are at a pretty good level of tolerance now.

hope everyone else is finding relief,it really can change ones life/lifestyle,living in sometimes seemingly constant pain,anxiety, stress, etc etc...I think spring will bring me some relief,I love being outside :-)

i suffer from Facet Joint bone Disease,Bursitis,restless leg syndrome,
leg circulation problems,Neuropathy,Herniated Cerical Disks,peripheral edema,
vitamin D deficieny in which i take about 25 meds a day 10 of those i take on a daily basis oxycodone. You Have No Idea the amount of Pain in my life i have been dealing with this pain for the last 10 years of my life.
i cant walk and its so hard for me to get out of bed in the morning in
which im always crying to get to the bathroom,my stomach for all these
dam Prestions are eating away my stomach they not good for me but
if any of you think that you can deal with this amount of pain i say come walk
in my shoes

[quote=Sens123;959267]i suffer from Facet Joint bone Disease,Bursitis,restless leg syndrome,
leg circulation problems,Neuropathy,Herniated Cerical Disks,peripheral edema,
vitamin D deficieny in which i take about 25 meds a day 10 of those i take on a daily basis oxycodone. i have been dealing with this pain for the last 10 years of my life.
i cant walk and its so hard for me to get out of bed in the morning in which im always crying to get to the bathroom,my stomach for all these Prestions are eating away my stomach they not good for me

I am sorry to hear about the pain you suffer, I can atleast function on a semi normal level, I just cant work at a physicaly exerting job for long durations of time.

I feel like a truck hit me in the morning, but this usually subsides with light motivation after a few hours, nothing extremly phsyical atleast for long durations, I was always the type that worked from dark to dark, in the past.....this was taxing on my body, but I felt it made me strong, at the time I looked it atleast, and may still do.....but the irony is real, I dont feel half as fit as I may look and have damaged joints that cause arthridic conditions that seem worse in the winter...but atleast managable for a good part

again, sorry about the struggles you are enduring

kind regards
Eddie