[Moreta]

So on Wednesday I woke up sick to my stomach, and when I threw up, there was blood in it. I went to my GP that afternoon and they think I have a stomach ulcer. Most likely I got it from taking too much Ibuprofen (800 mg twice a day). I was taking it b/c I had a tooth pulled 2 weeks ago, and it still hurts. Anyways, I have to go to a GI doc next Friday, and they're probably going to want to do a scope thingy...bah. My GP put me on Omeprazol 40 mg for the time being, and told me to not take any NSAIDS.

Then yesterday I went to see a neurologist about my back, and we looked at my MRI and showed me that I have 2 herniated discs. No wonder I'm having so much pain. We talked about meds that have helped in the past, and he finally decided I should try Tramadol, Skelaxin, and Neurontin. I've never taken Neurontin for my back, I took it for my Bipolar once, and when I decided to stop taking it (long story) I went bat ***** crazy, b/c I didn't have anything to replace it. I took the first dose of it last night and it made me feel weird. Anyways, he thinks that if I can get the pain down to a more tolerable level I won't be as depressed (that would be nice) and that I'll be able to exercise more to get off all this extra weight I have, and maybe I'll be able to dance again. He seems pretty optimistic about the whole thing. I was completely honest with him about my past addiction to oxycotin and how I never want to be on that drug again. I don't want to look like I'm just seeking drugs, which is why I took my MRI in.

I am just so flustered with all of this, and what really sucks is that I'm falling apart right when my unemployment is running out, so I don't know how I'm going to be able to pay for all this crap. I'm on 9 meds now, but at least they're all generic, but still, that's like $90 a month. Plus all these new dr appts, that cost $30 each time. What really sucks, is that since I went to see the Neurologist yesterday, I couldn't afford to see my T, so I don't see him until the 29th, which will be a month since I last saw him.

Sorry, just needed to vent.

[SophiaG]

My question is, is it normal for the place where your tooth once was to be hurting two weeks after the fact?

[Moreta]

Probably not. I can't remember how long it hurt the last time I had a tooth removed. It mostly hurts after I eat.

[-jimi-]

When I crushed one of my discs I realized it was quite useless to try to be pain free. I rested up for two weeks, then went on with life. And yea, my back hurt like heck... especially standing up. Standing in line and I wanted to scream and cry. But I did it. I took longer and longer walks, at the start it was not long at all. At the end, my back only hurt when I had been on my feet for a long time. The whole healing process took 2 years. But it only took a few months for it to be bearable.

Discs heal on their own. They might not be what they were before, but sooner or later the pain should disappear.

You are not falling apart because a pulled tooth and herniated discs. Although, that tooth area probably needs to have a look at because pulling a tooth could upset the bite and the teeth around, but that is more a pulling, bad feeling sensation rather than pain.

Unfortunately those things come with age. Have you gotten a good training program for your back? It might help more than taking narcotics.

[misscath007]

I feel for you. I also have disc problems, 2 herniated discs in my neck and lower back. Long history of back problems that come and go. Physical therapy usually helps me as I don't want to have surgery. I do agree that the pain does go away after a couple of months. Without treatment it will take longer. Tramadol works for severe bouts of pain but it can also become habit forming, so please be careful, especially since you said you have addiction issues. I only take it if the pain is bad.

Don't know if it helps any, but you are not alone in this. Hope u feel better soon!

[Leed]

Just one word of warning. DO NOT OPT FOR SPINAL SURGERY! Avoid it at ALL COSTS. Only have surgery if your spinal cord is being compressed or if you're in danger of permanent nerve damage. I've done TONS of research in the last 26 years, since I had my first spinal surgery and the latest findings are that you have the SAME results with physical therapy as you do with spinal surgery!!! How about that!!!

I've had 2 OPEN spinal surgeries (not the minimal invasive type) and I am worse now that I was BEFORE the surgeries. After each one, the levels above and below the surgery sites failed, because they had to take on more of the load -- so that caused more surgery. So surgery begets more surgery! The doctors don't tell you this, of course. It's called "the domino effect.' Also, do NOT have surgery to get rid of pain, because surgery ONLY corrects mechanical problems -- it does NOT corrrect pain!! If your pain happens to go away after surgery, that is just a bonus. Most of the time, you have the same pain or worse after surgery. The doctors don't tell you this either!!! You can find all this out in medical journals like I did. My pain has gotten progressively worse all these 26 years to the point that I'm just about bedridden now.

So Just wanted to give you a heads up. Take care & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Moreta]

I've already had spinal surgery when I was 15. Trust me, I'm not doing it again.