2 Days

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Back has been really bad all week and most of last week. Yesterday and this morning it's at 9 on the scale. Have my first in-person appt with the new PCP down here today and I'm very pessimistic about getting any refills on Vicodin and muscle relaxers that I've been using VERY sparingly since we moved. It's days like this where I will break down and take them but don't want any opioids in my system in case they want a urine screen to give me what I need for anxiety meds. At the end of the day, I can get by with 4 advil morning and night, but there's no advil for a panic attack.

So I was wondering, does anyone here know anyone that has had the electrical thingy they implant in some people with turribull back pain? There's a place that keeps popping up in the ads about it. HF10 maybe? Less invasive than fusion surgery and very quick recovery time. If it really works and I'm a candidate, I'd almost have to give it a shot at this point.

[bobathon]

TENS? It worked for my Dad, but eventually he needed more relief. I think he uses it in conjunction with meds.

[k9krap]

They tried it on my mom, but she had a pinched nerve and it did nothing for her. She went to many pain specialists but found no relief. That was awhile ago. Hopefully they’ve perfected it since then.

My back spasms started up again last week and have persisted, although they’ve gotten less frequent over the last 2 days. I have no muscle relaxers left and avoid all pain meds now because kidneys. So heat is my only recourse.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

The procedure and implant is a newer technology. I won't pretend to know the whole physiology of it but what I do know is that I have at least 2 impingements on my sciatic nerve. One is from the FUBAR disc at L5 and S1, as well as a lipoblastoma in the spinal canal in the same general area. The muscle spasms are apparently a sort of side effect and contribute to the pain but aren't the root cause of it. I've had TENS dozens of times with both the chiropractors and physical therapists to no avail. The surgical implant is supposed to interrupt the signals from the nerve to the brain mechanically/electrically as opposed to drugs that are supposed to do the same thing. The main difference as I understand is that it goes to the nerve root as opposed to the brain chemistry, which is obviously more targeted/specific . I'm going to research the procedure in-depth before I ask my new specialist about it. The pcp that I saw today is going to have their referral person getting me set up with one asap.

[bobathon]

Good luck, I hope you get some relief.

You too, Pam

[minx]

Can I just say how pissed off I am for both of you, and others in your situation??

I understand the need to monitor things like muscle relaxers and pain medications. And I understand not handing out prescriptions for them like candy.

But can't we all agree that there needs to be a complete assessment of any new patient coming in
--What are you currently taking?
--How long have you been taking it?
--Does it actually do anything, or is it just a matter of any port in a storm at this point?
--What are the alternatives to medications, and are they viable?

If muscle relaxers, or stuff like Oxy are the most viable alternatives, then just prescribe the damn things with refills as needed.
So in the beginning of treatment, you may have to go in every two weeks, then a month, then every other month, then quarterly.
Why make people in pain beg for this stuff like they're addicts?

And if you specialize in chronic pain, then perhaps have the state make you jump through a few more hoops to become certified, and the state can audit your records two or three times a year to make sure you're not a pill mill.


But for the love of God, people shouldn't have to suffer like this!!

[k9krap]

Like I’ve said, I hope I make it to see the election results. My heart and kidneys are hanging on by a thread. I actually awakened this morning gasping for air. Scared me a little, but I believe that pretty much confirmed - to me at least - that I have sleep apnea along with all the other maladies. I am so done with it all.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

The back has been at about 5 to 6/10 for around a week now. I got a refill of 60 hydrocodone right around the time I posted this topic and have only taken 1.

Does anyone else have trouble sleeping when they're on Vicodin? It's like the opposite for everyone else right?

[minx]

My sister used to take the big V - it made her mellow, but not sleepy at all.

[k9krap]

Yes, I had trouble sleeping when I could take it.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

Sept 29, 2020 14:00:49 GMT -5 minx said:

My sister used to take the big V - it made her mellow, but not sleepy at all.

I always take it with the muscle relaxer and yeah, definitely works on the CNS and even makes me sleepy sometimes but hardcore insomnia at the same time. That's the bitch of it, I'm tired but can't sleep if I take it. 

[k9krap]

Insomnia sucks. I’ve been exhausted for so long, I can’t remember when I got a good night’s sleep last. I need no help, however. Between the pain and the discomfort from my swollen legs, it’s a battle lost.

[Dave's Not Here Man]

I fell ya. I used to have problems back in the day and it got 1000 times worse when life started kicking me in both nuts circa 2008. There was not much that helped it at that point. It's gotten better over time (maybe because I take an Ativan about an hour or two before I try to go to sleep) and before we moved out here I wasn't having much problems with it except when I take the Vikings.