I'm so tired... oh so tired...

[pippin]

As some may know I've been having issues with my back. Got better, to an extent...

Then a car accident - turned my 'recovery' 180 degrees.

Cut to the update.

Painkillers - do squat.

So I went in for an epidural steroid injection on 7/1 - didn't work. Last week I had a facet joint injection - and guess what - didn't work.

I'm getting so tired of all this - I hurt all day and all night - I can't sleep, can't stand, can't sit for long periods of time.

Sorry for the rant - back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[starkitty]

Lisa,

That was a much deserved rant. I hope something works for you soon!

[J Eddington]

Pain is hard to deal with. I understand. It seems like it is never going to end. Have you looked into any of the cronic panic treatment centers?

[Roy]

Lisa, I knew you had problems with pain, just haven't kept up to date. Are you seeing a neurosurgeon? I'm sorry for your pain. My wife went through a good deal and finally had back surgery. She still has to do exercises but she's doing much better.

[idnurse41]

Lisa, I can refer you to a few specialist in this area. Are you in Colorado? or .....

[Cowboy13]

Lisa, I feel your pain I have 4 herniated disc and I’m just like you can’t stand for a long time ( only 20 min.) nor can I sit for a long time ( only 20 min. ) I’m going to get my shots Aug 7 but like you said they don’t do anything. I take hydrocodone and 800 ibuprofen at least 2-3 times a day. But I deal with the pain and focus on my photography. But like I said I feel your pain

Tim

[pippin]

Well, I went to my PM doc today, told her the facet joint injection did nothing. So she's given me a couple options....

1. Have another ESI, this time on L5-S1 because of the pain I'm experiencing indicates the S1 nerve is what is being aggravated.

2. Try lyrica.

3. If the above doesn't work (i started taking the Lyrica today, being on 75mg for a week, then going up to 150mg next week), have an EMG.

4. Have a rhiziotomy (or however you spell the word) to pretty much burn the nerve. But even that they say may not do anything for me.

So there you have it. I pretty much asked if they were going to give up on me and she said no, that she's going keep trying until she finds out how I can get relief.


Tim - I don't have 4 herniated disks, but I've already had two diskectomies/laminectomies and I've got degenerative disk disease throughout my lumbar vertebrae. I've been told by more than one doctor that my only option left is a four level fusion - which no one will really want to do.

[Rox74]

While my back problems are nowhere close to yours, I can say that I had 1 ESI and it made my back hurt worse than it did before, so they did another one. It helped a little, still there was severe pain, so they did a 3rd one which for me, really helped. I have 1 herniated disk that I'm aware of and I think there is another one (I just haven't gotten it checked yet). I'm just saying, don't give up yet. It took months of physical therapy in addition, plus I took off some weight which really helped. It's by all means a slow process so just try to be patient and do exactly what you are told to do.

Hope you feel better soon!!

[TXhummer2]

My wife, Louanne, had 4-level fusion in 1992. Before, she could barely walk. 3 months after, she was walking 1 mile. 6 months after, she was walking 5 miles. She has never looked back. I hope and pray, whatever your decision is, that it be successful to relieve your pain.

[JenJohnson79]

I have missing discs as well, and back pain quite often. Especially now (8 months pregnant). If you can try sleeping in a recliner. I find that often helps with my back pregnant or not. It sucks because I'm not sleeping with my hubby, but at least I'm sleeping!