L5-S1 Sciatica :: Flare Ups And Pain Management?
I have been suffering from sciatic pain from last 9 months. The degenerative changes are at L5-S1. Had an MRI(attached as thumbnail) and one of the docs has asked me to go for surgery while other have told me it will heal on its own. I have been doing exercises in this period. But the thing is that it has not healed. There were periods of like weeks
where I was almost pain free but then again it would flare up out of nowhere and suffering would start. Another thing I have noticed is that some times with exercises the pain increases, and the days when i don't do the exercise i don't feel any pain. Sitting is the main culprit, but I can sit for like 2 hours and if my posture is good it would be normal.
My job requires me to sit for like 4-6 hours and then stand for 6-8 hours(i work in 12 hours shift). Had days off from the job, I thought it would go away with with rest and light exercises but that didn't happen. Now I am required to work otherwise I would lose my job.
My request to all of you is, does sciatica go away/heal on its own and if it does how long does it take, or do i have to live like this. I can't even sit as a passenger in car let alone drive, couple of road
bumps would trigger it right away(by the way is there a way out avoiding jerks to your body while travelling). ANd for the job I have to travel long distances in remote areas.
Thanks
Pain Management :: Sciatica, Ice, P/T And Chiropractic?
I got an ice pack. It helps a little. It is made by Chattanooga and is called COLPAC. They say not to use it for more than 30 minutes at a time. You put it in the freezer for 2 hours, then use it for half an hour.
I also have some bags of frozen peas that I use too. However, these don't mold themselves as nicely to my various areas of pain as the COLPAC does. So I think it is worth the price.
Everything else I have tried for my Sciatica so far has not been helpful. This includes Aleve, a homeopathic remedy, Physical Therapy (which I am still doing anyway, as it isn't doing any damage that I can be aware of) and so on.
I think I may try my Chiropractor next. Have any of you had success for Sciatica with Chiropractic?
Pain Management :: Nucynta To Opana - No Effects, No Pain Relief
I was switched from Nucynta 50mg to to Opana 5mg (OxyMorphone) by my Pain Mgt doctor and I have a total different experience. I don't know if they messed up or what, but here's the issue.
While I was on Nucynta, I would take it, and eventually feel the effects, i.e. the lightheadedness, the "high" feeling, and also the pain relief. The reason I was switched was that Nucynta gave me migraines. Bad enough where I got ill and had to run to bed with all lights off.
Onced I was switched to Opana 5mg, things were different. I took 3 last night, my very first dosage, and took the first. No effects, no pain relief, no "high" feeling, nothing. So, about a hour and fifteen minutes later, I took another one. Still nothing. So I wait again, same amount of time, took a third pill...... Nothing.
So, when I saw the doctor originally and was switched, I was told that Opana was an equivalent to the nucynta. So, if it's an equivalent, why did I go from 50mg to 5mg? I'm just curious. I know they are different drugs and probably manufacturers. Can anyone shed some light on this bizarre issue?
Pain Management :: Pain In Bruised Ribs After Accident
I was in a car accident about a week ago and 4 days after the accident I started having pain on the left side of my ribs right under my breast when I take deep breathes, yawn, sneeze, ect. It a little swollen but doesn't hurt to touch. what could this be?
View 3 RepliesPain Management :: Extreme Calf Muscle Pain?
Couple days ago I stepped out of bed and almost hit the floor as the excruciating pain shot through my calves. I have not exercised or done anything extreme. I have tried stretching and over-the-counter pain meds ..
View 1 RepliesPain Management :: Xanax And Right Side Pain
I have excruciating pain on my right side almost constantly and when I take a 1mg xanax, my pain goes away. Why is this? A Lot of people question this when I tell it but in all honesty it works. I wouldn't be telling it on here as telling it on here doesn't benefit me at all. I would just like to know why a xanax will stop my pain on my right side. Any ideas?
View 2 RepliesPain Management :: After ALIF
I have asked to be removed from all pain medications as they were not helping at all and did not want to just keep increasing dosage. So my PM Dr. suggested i try Ativan or Diazepam before bed and also a muscle relaxant called Baclofen for spasms during the day (which i had been on in 2013) it did not work, but he insists on trying it over the Soma 350mg i had been on before the surgery.... any input
View 1 RepliesPain Management :: Getting Off Norco
I have been on 3 pills a day of norco 10/325, I want to slowly taper off. I need a plan that would be with no W/D's. I thought about starting a reduction of 1/2 a pill every week until I am free of the pills.
I also need to stop taking celexa, I am going to cut back 1/4 a week to iam off.
Will this work?
Or do I need to get suboxone and is that addicting.
Once off the pills, I don't know what I will do about my chronic pain.
Pain Management :: Suboxone Vs. Oxy
will i have withdraws after taking suboxone 3 weeks? they put me back on pain meds because i having surgery soon
View 3 RepliesPain Management :: Given Up Methadone
I went to my Pm yesterday and let him know that I wanted off the methadone. So since I had to see the NP because it was considered an emergency visit they decided they were going to put me on the patch where you wear it for three day then take it off. So I asked about the side effect and after hearing them something in me panic and snapped and I said forget I want off of everything. So as off right now I am coming off of the methadone. I decided that with the scare of my heart and the new neurological problems they only way to know is if I come off of the meds. I am still on the Topamax he did not want to take me off of that because I have been on it for over a year and never had a problem. SO I am hoping in with 2 months we will know if it was the meds causing the neurological problems or the something else.
What made me snap was I was telling him that I wanted something for the muscle because I was having a lot of spasms and tightness and off of the methadone and he totally ignored me and said well we are going to give you something a lot strong and this should work since the methadone has not been working. It was as if he was not listening to me. He said to me you are going to Cleveland clinic (CCF) to be treated for the muscle so the will figure it out soon, I said yes but I do not get medicine from them because I have a contract with you. I don't know why he would not give me a muscle relaxer but I feel better knowing that I am coming off of the medicine for a while I just hope I can handle the pain long enough to see of it is neurological or a side effect from the methadone....
Pain Management :: Oxy Vs. Methadone?
.I had a C5-C7 disc fusion done 5 years ago that alleviated all of the pain in my neck and shoulders. What I am left with is a severe case of peripheral neuropathy. My feet and legs are numb to the touch but hypersensitive when I walk so I cannot go very long distances without the tingling burning throbbing pain. This pain is heightened at night when I go to sleep thanks mostly to the 300mg of Lyrica twice daily. I had an EMG nerve conductivity test performed which of course indicated severe neuropathy.
Now I am going to a neurologist who says I have to put up with the pain. I am going back on Monday to my neurosurgeon to ask for a lower MRI (never done) and I wanted a referral to PM because the pain is out of hand on 600mg of Lyrica daily. I have been on Oxycodone before and hated it and I do not like the stigma attached to these drugs so I thought I would ask my doctors to consider Methadone. What does everyone think? I know Methadone has its own stigma but is long acting and something I NEED right now and probably for good as I have had this neuropathy for 5 years.
Back Pain :: Sciatica Pain Unrelated To Spine Bifida
I'm a teenager who suffers from Sciatica pain. Please note that doctors have not told me this, I googled it and Sciatica exactly describes my pain. I have Spina bifida occulta, but was told it shouldn't cause me any pain. Not sure if that is relating to my pain. I had an X-RAY and an MRI (I think) and the doctor said it was fine... but that still does not explain my pain? It's been going on for maybe 4-5 years?
View 3 RepliesPain Management :: Amitriptyline Vs Nortriptyline
I have suspected Piriformis Syndrome & SI Joint Dysfunction also causing sciatica, have also had some nerve pain in the back of my thigh, occasional calf cramps, foot cramps, and foot pain. Since my last Cortisol injection into my SI joint it has made everything horribly worse, I cannot sit now for very long without severe left foot pain that makes me feel nauseous it's so horrible. I have informed the consultant of this and am on a waiting list to go back and see him, this is the 2nd time the injections have caused me extra pain so have now lost faith in these and want to try alternatives.
My consultant previously wanted to put me on Amitriptyline but I have been on this before and was taken off it due to serious sedative side effects (even fell asleep eating in a restaurant) was on a small dose and still didn't improve with time. So I've read that Nortriptyline is an alternative with less side effects, can anyone advise if they have had less sedative side effects with this than Amitriptyline please?
Pain Management :: Going From Norco To Percocet
So I'm on 10 mg norco 4 x daily. I keep telling the doctor if I can take 5 a day because 4 isn't enough and I'm in a lot of pain. he doesn't even respond I'm frustrated. Should I ask for percocet 4 x daily.
Wouldn't I have to take 10mg percocet for it to be stronger then 10 mg norco since percocet 7.5 mg is equivalent to 1o mg norco
Pain Management :: Norco Withdrawl
I have a few questions about withdrawal I have been taking between 2-4 Norco 5/325 for the last year for pain and i'm ready to get off but im so scared to go through the withdrawls so i'm wondering ow bad it would be I have read so many stories on the internet but they are taking way more then me any advice would be great I want my life back......
View 1 RepliesPain Management :: Norco And Percocet?
So told doctor about fentanyl issue and he said we could give Percocet a try again. Ni was getting nausea from it before. So I said ok, now have a script for 90 Percocet 7.5mg. Just had 60 Norco filled last Saturday hoping this won't be an issue at pharmacy. He said the Percocet will be more effective for pain. Also I have a box of unopened fentanyl patches. Can I return them to the pharmacy? I don't want to have pharmacy and my insurance think I'm stocking up on meds.
View 3 RepliesPain Management :: Norco Vs Vicadin
i took norco for first time it made me feel jittery doesn't have the same ingredients as vicodin. maybe it was just my nerves?
View 4 RepliesPain Management :: Oxycodone Dosage?
Long story short, I have two autoimmune diseases and I have death with chronic pain for about two years now. My doctor has me on 20MG oxycodone one every 6 hours. For the last month or so i have been taking two pills three times a day. So 2/20mg 3 times a day.
So when my doctor gives me 120 for a month it doesn't last and he know that I Have been using more for the unbearable pain. How do i Go about telling him that I can't keep staying at the dose he has prescribed because I am not getting any relief. I don't drink or do drugs and I have a bright future if I can keep my pain manageable. I am just concerned about what to say to my doctor without him thinking I am an abuser or him just prescribing the dose he has been prescribing that isn't working unless I double up.
How would you go about this?
Also, what is the maximum amount of oxycodone one can take in a day I find that a lot of my nasty pain comes from breakthrough pain.
Pain Management :: Alternatives To Oxycodone?
I have been suffering from chronic pain since 2008 after I had my daughter, which triggered a downward spiral of health and pain. I currently have a laundry list of problems from rheumatoid arthritis, nerve damage in both hands, spinal stenosis, bulging disc, spondylosis from L1-L5 and both of my knee cartilage is "going out". My GP had tried me on any and all NSAIDS and that left me most of the time in the hospital for uncontrollable vomiting and severe abdominal pains. Steroids left me feeling like my head was spinning out of control. Finally my GP put me on hydrocodone 10/500, which at the time took the edge off the pain to where I could function and take care of my disabled daughter and family. After a while the pain started to get to out of control and the lortab was not cutting it so my orthopedic surgeon put me on oxycodone 20mg and somas 325 mg, 4x daily. WOW....I was able, to get myself out of bed and take care of my daughter, clean my house (a little at a time), cook, actually go grocery shopping and enjoy getting out all without my husband or family member helping or doing it for me. I have not been able to feel like a normal person in a long time and it felt better than the person I had became because of the chronic pain. So after 3 months of oxycodone, I go into my regular appointment and see signs everywhere stating (among with a couple other prescriptions) my doctor could no longer prescribe oxycodone. A few patients did not test positive for their meds and were caught selling them. So I was put on percocet 10/325, even though it's still oxycodone with acetaminophen I feel like I am back to taking hydrocodone 10 mg again, back to barely being able to handle the daily things I need to do. So after my long spell I have an appointment coming up in a week and was wanting to know if anyone has any knowledge or experience with something that is equal to oxycodone or something better? There has to be something else that can get a handle on my pain and if my OS can't prescribe oxycodone for me then I need to know what else is out there.
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