Lower back pain and Headaches.

i have had lower back pain for almost a year, no infection, and nothing out of place ..

I take so many pain pills for it and my migranes I can hardly function..

How do we cope with all the medicans I am so sick of being on pain pill after pain pill...

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

LD I am sorry to hear of your back pain. I've had relatively mild back pain in the past and even a little sharp pain can be so debilitating, can't move out of bed, etc. I can only try to imagine what having such pain constantly or almost constantly would be like.

That plus migranes must be a difficult combination. Are the migranes "seasonal" for you or do they come at any time? Like depression, bipolar, etc, people who only have experience with regular headaches find it hard to imagine how crippling a migrane can be. Even with other types of chronic pain, you can maybe find a comfortable position to read or watch tv or something, a migrane shuts you down completely.

Currently I'm on over-the-counter pain meds for my arthritis. They only make the pain bearable, they don't at all alleviate it. I'm still working with my rheumatoid doc on finding something better that will work for me.

But it gets to a point where just being so controlled by all the pills themselves becomes stressful too, even if they help.

Are any doctors still looking for a cause of your back pain? Or have they said "no infection, you'll just have to deal with the pain"? It is exceptionally hard to think that there might be nothing you can do for relief in the future.

Good luck with it all hope you can find some relief. sucks, i know. For what it is worth though, you are one of my favorite posters here at psych-central and you seem very knowledgable and sensitive to others suffering... a great combination in life, and it is good at least that your current pain doesn't seem to dampen your spirit for helping others.

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
-- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.idexter.com>http://www.idexter.com</A>

Hi Trish,

I'm sorry you have so much physical pain. It sure doesn't help depression. Did you know that food can trigger migraines? Like chocolate and cheeze. But maybe you alrealdy know this.

(((((((((((((((((((((((((Trish)))))))))))))))))))))

thinking of you
nightdream

yes and wheat and chedder and caffine. and so many other things..

I try not to eat any of them, but sometimes the chocalte overrids my normall thought pattern and says Go for it..

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

{{{{{{{{{{Lady D}}}}}}}}}}}}}

I have had the lower back pain myself for over 8 years. Mine was caused by the birth of my oldest son.....he was 11 pounds 7 ozs. After his birth, my doctor ran every test as my back would literally lock up on me....would lose feeling in my legs at times, etc. What was found in me was that I had a curvature of my spine.....something that is hereditary and did not cause me any problems til childbirth.

How long have you had this hun? After the birth of your baby?

I suffer with migraines as well and my doc thinks they are connected to hormones as well as food, weather changes and stress. Actually the weather plays such a strong role with mine. Especially when it goes from extreme cold to mild weather quickly.

Check with your doc and insist on having a MRI done for your back to find out exactly what is causing you this pain.



Heather

no my pain was way before I had my child..
It has gotten worse, but I can not fiqure out why.... I have asked my doctor to do test, but since I only have Medicade they will only cover a certian amount each quater.. and I do not remember when my new quater starts..
So I have to just suffer along with the pain and try to deal with it

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

my doctor that I am thinking about switcing from is a jerk.. he thinks it is just a croncic pain syndrome and it will either go away or get worse and just keep putting me on new meds but not doing any test other than the ones he thinks are "warranted" but I am thinking about calling my insurance to see if I can change doctors..

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

Have you all had MRIs? Have you been to a good physical therapist who specializes in back pain? It helps to have ppl in your corner.

Please research anything I suggest before believing...

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

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i have not had an MRI done.. my doctor does not think it is "warranted" but yes I hve been to physcial thearpy and it helped for about a week or two then the exersises he had me dong started to make it hurt even worse.. sO I no longer do them..
Or I do them when I do nto hurt so it does not cause more pain

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

Like you know I've had 3 back surgeries. I've had an MRI, CAT scan, myleo (something) and steroid injections done.

What showed up the problem was the myleo-something. Check into it, Trish, and see if you can have one done.

The injection was useless and did more damage than good.

wow. that sounds like a good reason to have an MRi and your pt should know that... when exercise makes it worse...

for the other... a bulging disk in itself might not be enough of a problem as some ppl can run marathons with one... but where it is and what it's affecting sounds pretty intense to me, for you. sorry....

Please research anything I suggest before believing...

Believe in Him or not --- GOD LOVES YOU!

Want to share your Christian faith? Click HERE

>>he thinks... it will either go away or get worse

Pain is bad enough but pain plus an unsympathetic doc is torture. I hope someone can find some relief for you. If this first guy can't find anything wrong then he should apologize and refer you to someone who can. Some doctors have too much "ego" for their own (or their patients') good.

>>any test other than the ones he thinks are "warranted"

Well that's the place to start but if those tests don't reveal anything then it is time to think outside the box (excuse the cliche), not to give up with an idiotic "diagnosis" of "it will either get better or it won't"

You should tell him that either you will pay his bill or you won't.

Good luck with this, again I hope you can find a solution, ideally find the source of the problem or at least find some effective reliable relief.

-- The world is what we make of it --
-- Dave
-- <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.idexter.com>http://www.idexter.com</A>

I'm sorry to hear that you're in so much pain. I know how it is and I have the same type of doctor that says live with it. Very frustrating. My daughter carries her school books in a little suitcase that she can roll along behind her. I don't know if that would work in your situation. I can't lift over ten pounds due to a back injury. Anyway, hugs for everyone. I hope you can find the right medication for relief.

ya and gettting them to try to understand we are his "paycheck"
is very very hard..

But then again, I almost dont care anymore.. The pain pills no longer work, and with the new stress of this semster, I just do nto care anymore

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

i really wish it was that easy, but it is not..
When you live where I live and the only insuarnce you have is Medicade, some doctors wont even think of taking you since they have to take a paycut when you go and see them..
It is very hard to find a good doctor.. in Missouri

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>

ya I have not had a chance to call my old PT person.. I need to find his number and call him.
again

<font color=purple>The way to love anything is to realize that it might be lost.
- G.K. Chesterton
<font color=purple>