Jay481985 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I recently rehurt my t10-t11 (midspine) from an accident five years ago. It took me about a year of physical therapy and another of non western, acupuncture and massage therapy to get me together. And I never healed properly, I was 15 when I first had slight fractures and herniated disks on my spine which meant that I was not eligiable for backsurgery to remove the herniation. Now over Thanksgiving break I rehurt my back helping my parents move homes. I guess this is the first time that the pain really hit me. When I was younger I sort of focused on other things in order not to feel any pain, well not really more of a constant numbness. But now it seems that I am older, more prone to feeling the pain and literally cannot do things I want to do anymore which maybe even more frustrasting. I have the weirdest sleep pattern now, super insomnia where I gone 84 hours a couple times with no sleep. The thing is I literally knock myself out before I goto sleep. Look at some of my posts, there at 5 am or so forth. I have been prescribed every sleep aid from ambien, lunesta, trazadone, some clinical trial medications too...... Nothing..... My back pain has been pretty cripling to me. I have been bed/home striken, the only time I went out was to goto the mall which was a big mistake.... The medications that the doctors prescribe work on everything else except my back. The Percocets make my body numb but actually then focuses the pain even more by making it the only feeling in my body. I even gone to the emergency room a couple times because my body literally fell apart. I was given dilaudid once, which is a form of morphine which was the only thing to work so far, it actually stopped my pain. But and there always is, I had the "herorin nose itch" and my whole body itched.... The nurse laughed at me when she saw me itching myself like crazy, since I could not really feel how much I was scratching, I literally scratched myself raw in my arms... So my sleep is off, my social life near gone cause I don't wanna move, pain tremendous, pain killers are a joke, also I need to go back to school next week before my MRI and doctors could really evaluate me. Plus I have no transportation to go back and forth, about 40 miles each way so..... I rather not anyways if I were on medication. I stopped taking the medications because they do more harm than good, plus anyways its not good to take on a regular basis, My parents suggested alcohol once at christmas, the way I would need to drink in order for the pain to stop would equal $$$ weekly so no.... Wine does work the best though for some reason. I would have thought bourbon...... Plus medications and alcohol is a big no no, before I drank I waited 2 days being off medication. So I am here asking fellow forum members if they have back pain or any chronic pains to suggest to me how you cope with it? I need to regain my life... Even my klipsch are starting to sound a bit dull... I am all ears. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Ooooh, I feel for you. I haven't had that experience, although I have had a period in the not too distant past of some nasty spasms that left it hard for me to move well for a few hours at a time. Along your lines, I have seen what you are describing. It isn't good. An example I know of is almost like yours, with Percocet injections, Vicodin, Darvoset - you name it - and all to no avail. I'll withhold the identity for confidentiality's sake. Here's what seems to have been the case. Pain and pain pills for years - I'd say 20 years at least. Pain never got better and seemed to progress as the dosage of pain pills progressed. There was also tremendous lack of exercise because the pain just seemed to overtake any desire to move - not to mention the downer effect of pain pills. The last couple of years, the pain pills were essentially stopped, and a little bit of exercise has been thrown in. The pain is well under control, but probably not perfect due to the lack of physical activity. So, I'd say from what I've seen in a person who's had horrific back pain and stout pain killers for 20 years, the most important thing is get off pain pills. I think pain pills probably cause more pain than they relieve when your system is so fully-saturated with the dope that you're a legal junkie. Not that that is you. I don't know with what frequency you've been on the pain pills and how long. But I just don't like pain pills at all, having seen what they do to others. The next thing is exercise to build and train those muscles. The muscles can definitely compensate to handle the load if they are trained to do it. I would not start any real weight lifting - maybe lifting 5 pounds in each arm in a few different directions that are relatively comfortable. I'd do stretching exercises and brisk walking - or any kind of walking if brisk is too much right now. Then, just stick to it and moderately increase the intensity in a way that you don't hurt yourself or induce a heart-attack. The important thing would be to stay with it long enoug to where exercise is just part of your life as opposed to something you make yourself do because you have to. Exercise and dope-free is what I've seen work. Good luck. Constant bad pain is a tough row to hoe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cal Blacksmith Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I have had a back injury since 1979 and have had regular chiropractor visits since then. Sometimes I feel better after a visit, some times not, I will occasionally get spasms in my back and have needed to be transported to the hospital to get them relieved. Now I have on hand muscle relaxers and VIC-O-DEN available to get things to calm down. It hurts every day and I can't work at a counter for more than a few minutes without agony setting in. So goes daily life. OH BTW, a bottle of 30 vicoden will last me for better than a year, ......... most years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMcGoo Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 In the last 14 years, three people have used my back bumper to stop their autos. Conventional medical care has been of little use for me. The first muscle relaxant did not work. The second try at a m. relaxant gave me a rash. I use NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen sparingly. They do help a bit. I use no prescription pain pills now. When I was 22 I had meningitis that nearly killed me. My giant headache was treated with a "non-narcotic" pain reliever, Darvon. I did not realize that I was hooked and as I got better, I stopped the Darvon and went into withdrawal. I had to wean myself which was not fun. In those days the doctors didn't know the stuff was addictive; the manufacturer touted its"non-narcotic" benefits. I agree with the advice to try to stay away from opiate pain killers; it's junk. My soft tissue injuries I treat with heat, massage, exercise (walking) and NSAIDs in moderation. I get chiropractic treatments after a whiplash and once a year I get a series of adjustments. Once a week, I have to work a night shift. The next day is hell. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicholtl Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Maybe it's time to try alternative or eastern medicine? The first thing that comes to mind is accupuncture. I've heard it truly works miracles. The downside is, however, I don't believe conventional healthcare insurances cover such treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Garrison Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Ask your doctor about Lyrica. It's a newer medication designed specifically to treat nerve pain, such as in shingles and diabetes nerve pain. My wife has Fibromyalgia, and has been on every pain medication known to man. Lyrica is helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranjith Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 My dad has hereditory back problems, and he never believed in taking medication for it. He works at a power plant and so its a very physically demanding job. To keep his back problems in check he has this specially designed back support belt sort of thing that helps keep his spine in the right position. I don't know if thats a helpful suggestion for any kind of lower back problem though, just though I'd share. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garymd Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I'm sorry to hear about you back. I've ruptured discs twice in my lower back and once in my neck. I've survived 3 lamenectomies. Not fun. Have you tried a spinal block? It never worked for me but many have had success and it lasts a good long time. I hate to see anyone get addicted to painkillers but sometimes it's better then being tortured 24/7. Try everything else first. Pain specialists tend to go straight to the narcs. If you must go that way, there's a patch that works for many and Oxycontin which is a time-released percocet, very addictive but supposed to work very well. Its had a bad rap because drug addicts abuse it, shoot it up, etc. Surgeries worked for me but when I over-do, I feel it. I have to be really careful. No more hauling cornwalls up the stairs by myself. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScorpsFan Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Got to agree with Jeff, I crushed my T-7 in a fall a few years ago, and found that I felt best after rehab with regular light exercise. I know when I've been too much of a "couch potato" as my back still tells me so. Best of luck to you, and here's a link to some alternate information I hope may be helpful.... http://www.medtronic.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Medtronic/Website/ConditionStage&ConditionName=Chronic+Back+and%2For+Leg+Pain&Stage=Diagnosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted January 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted January 10, 2006 I have suffered with sciatica nerve damage for almost four years now. I have not seen a physician for the condition. In my case it is very obvious that it is sciatica nerve. The first symptom was a sensation of pulled muscles in my buttocks. That pain subsequently traveled down my legs, both legs at one point. I could not move from the sofa without assistance for almost two weeks. After the two week rest the pain became bearable. Dtel and I have a landscaping company, we do all the work ourselves, mainly custom built homes. This is very demanding. For the longest time dtel insisted that exercise would solve the problem, however after researching this particular condition it became apparent that complete rest was the only temporary relief. IMO your particular condition would dictate what therapy would be most beneficial. In my case exercise actually made the problem worse.I live with chronic pain in my lower back, buttocks and right leg. There are times that I actually "freeze" in the position I am standing in and have to attempt to move another direction.I have not taken any narcotics or muscle relaxers so I can not comment on their effectiveness. I would not want to be dependent on narcotics, I would rather deal with the pain. There is a hand held massager at Walmart that sells for about twenty bucks. It is light weight, with a longer handle that is flexible. This may be one way to alleviate some of the pain. Unfortunately, massaging would only alleviate pain that is muscular in nature.An acquaintance of ours recently had back surgery after years of suffering (I am not sure of the exact nature of his problem). I had a lengthy discussion with him about three months ago regarding his surgery. He told me he should have allowed the doctors to operate years ago. He can not do what he could before the back injuries (which accumulated over numerous years) but, he was no longer in pain.As far as Lyrica, I am going to ask my physician about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zealot125 Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 For those of you that have pain problems, may I ask what kind of doctor you are seeing? As for an alternative for those of you that live with pain, I would humbly suggest seeing a clinical psychologist that specializes in pain management. My father works at the University of Kentucky as one, and roundabouts people are always stopping him when he is out shopping/jogging and telling him how well their pain is doing. Seeing a specialist may open up some new option that you may not have realized were availible (both drug related and others). Just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Got to agree with Jeff, I crushed my T-7 in a fall a few years ago, and found that I felt best after rehab with regular light exercise. I know when I've been too much of a "couch potato" as my back still tells me so. That's funny you say that (the underlined part). Many mornings, I get up because my back just hurts from sleeping (despite the $3500 Stearns & Foster bed). That's sometimes a little earlier than I would normally get up, but I think the body needs to move or die. My theory, FWIW, is if you try to just sit or sleep through the pain, you eventually trigger something in the brain (like endorphins) to allow you to go past the pain a little and to a greater state of numbness and dull pain. But then, you have to go through that much more to get back to normal. If you stay in that state too long or too regularly, then, things have to atrophy, and you no longer have support for normal activity. To me, it's similar to letting your foot fall asleep. You can start moving as soon as you feel it starting to sleep, and it is less remarkable than when you allow your foot to go numb and then decide it's time to get moving and can barely stand. I think body pain works the same way. Jeff, M.D. - out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Amy Posted January 10, 2006 Moderators Share Posted January 10, 2006 d's wife, I had the EXACT same thing a few years back, caused by a bulging disc in my lower back (pressure against the sciatic nerve). It was very crippling and pain unbearable...especially during my pregnancy! I eventually went to a chiropractor who also had a medical doctor in their office, and they were able to treat it over time with adjustments, no medication (although I found no medication could touch it since it was nerve related--not muscle). I'd been told by others that a surgery to move the disc back into place would've been effective and quicker, but I wasn't too thrilled about having surgery. That would've been a last resort. I'm not advocating chiropractors over medical doctors by any means, but definitely look into your options and talk to the professionals! It's no fun to go through, especially if there's help out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Sciatica is exactly what the person I mentioned in my first post in this thread has. And it has been a long-lasting problem, leading to narcotics abuse, stagnation and more and more pain. There's no doubt the human body is very complex. If there was one easy answer, we'd all be fixed. I think the most significant improvement came after cleaning the body of the narcotics. It seemed flushing the system got the person out of the depression stupor and motivated her to get a little exercise. The exercise is an added benefit (or at least was in that person's case). I would guess it is so because sciatica is pressure on the nerve. My thoughts were that conditioning the muscles to support the spine better will relieve the pressure from the nerve. I think that's what I saw in the case I mentioned because the theory just fits in with what I've seen over a 20+ year period - with only one person, of course. The body is definitely more fine-tuned when moderate to high exercise is a regular activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Jeff, do you sleep curled up with a pillow between your legs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Matthews Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Actually, I've tried that off and on. It provides relief in the sense that anything different than sitting or lying in the same position does. As with any sitting or lying position, it gets old, and your body will tell you when enough is enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockets Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 I hang...literally. I have a herinated disk w/free floating fragments and short of going under the knife it's the only thing that works. Takes a few days... but it does work. I've tried all the above, drugs, doctors, accupuncture etc. and hanging is the only thing that's helped. Often you can hear your back popping as the disks decompress and separate. This removes the load and thus the pressure off the spine. I paid about $160 for my "inversion table" and have seen them at Sams Club for about the same. Another benefit, once your back is feeling better, is you can do some killer crunches. I often strain my neck and shoulders when crunching on the floor. Doesn't happen when I hang, and they're about ten times harder to do. For the cost of fewer than ten trips to the Chiro you can own one. If it turns out it's not for you put an ad in the classifieds, someone will buy it. Check it out. here's one http://cgi.ebay.com/Quality-Inversion-Table-Stress-Release-Relief-FREE-SHIP_W0QQitemZ7210818914QQcategoryZ44085QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumpelstiltskin Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 Jay, I got hurt in an auto accident in 1994 and went through a lot of the same stuff you're experiencing. It would take forever to tell the whole story, so I'll skip the complaining part and just give some quick advice. First and most important......don't use narcotics to treat chronic pain. Especially if it doesn't provide relief. I've tried them all and found Ibuprofen helps as much as anything......for me anyway. Don't use alcohol as medication. Try to take a long walk every day. It may be tough at first, but go slow and work through the pain. Don't stop taking these walks after you start feeling better. It's really hard to get started once you've stopped. Then the pain will come back, making it that much harder to get started again. Keep socially active. I hope this helps. Good luck, Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speedball Posted January 10, 2006 Share Posted January 10, 2006 ` So I am here asking fellow forum members if they have back pain or any chronic pains to suggest to me how you cope with it? I need to regain my life... Even my klipsch are starting to sound a bit dull... I am all ears. Hi Jay,A lot of familiar names here talking about back problems...[] In the past sleeping on my side with a small pillow between my knees helped a LOT. The "patch" is highly addictive along with any narcotics but it is better than than knocking off your liver with too much Acetaminophen (tylenol). Sitting is the worst thing for my back and it doesnt matter if it's in a thousand dollar recliner or a wood park bench. I am now getting back into the workforce and have found hard physical work makes me feel the best, I suppose it strengthens the muscles and in turn supports the backbone. Many nights I have spent listening to my Klipsch helping me forget all about my back pain. They are great aren't they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay481985 Posted January 10, 2006 Author Share Posted January 10, 2006 First off thanks for all the replies I just woke up an hour ago from literally being knocked out. Thanks ago for being honest and open about various issues and for some their addiction to painkillers... I'm kinda in a stupor so I will reply to every treatment given in a separate post... My memory has gone to nothing since the pain... I been forgeting things just 5 seconds ago or will even forget a thought not more than a few seconds because I get lost in my pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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