Back Pain Community

hi and welcome to the support group -

I would suggest that you get a 2nd and maybe a 3rd opinion from both Orthopedic Spine Specialist and Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist. Be sure to take all your MRI test results and all medical records.

this way you will know exactly what you are up against and also they will let you know what the best treatment plans are. they can also refer you to a PHYSIATRIST Pain Management specialist (see link)

http://www.spineuniverse.com/treatments/what-physiatrist

they go deeper into pain management by going to the underlying problems utilizing numerous treatment options

remember, you employ the doctors and can choose to go to another one if you feel you are not being heard and/or treated right.

please keep us posted what you find out - take care - Joy

Yes they do have many medications with less tylenol-it sounds to me like you need to find another doctor-your current one sounds like he is entirely too fond of doing the injections-which make him a LOT of money...hope you find a decent doctor and get relief....

I agree. Taking the norco long term with the tylenol included in it is not good for your liver. I took Vicodin for a year, and Percocet for 2 years...both have tylenol in them. I had increased liver enzyme levels which signified that my liver was having a hard time processing the tylenol. I was only taking max 2,600 mg per day of tylenol or acetaminophen. The limit is 4,000 mg per day. I now take Oxycodone IR which doesn't contain any tylenol and my system is functioning more normally.

My father (75yrs old) has a very hard time taking oral meds for his back pain. And am sure most patients hate how they make you feel. I hooked my Dad up with a company called Browns Compounding in Denver. They incorporate a variety of pain meds, muscle relaxers, etc. into a cream that penetrates your skin, and delivers the meds without all those side effects. My Dad has never been happier. You do need a prescription, so have your doctor look them up.

I COULD HAVE WRITTEN MOST OF YOUR EMAIL MYSELF. I HAVE BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT PAIN MANAGEMENT PHYSICIANS. I HAVE ALSO BEEN THROUGH THREE PHYSICAL THERAPY SESSIONS OF 12 APPOINTMENTS EACH. I AM JUST GETTING WORSE AND NOT AT ALL BETTER. I AM GLAD YOU SAID THAT ABOUT YOUR LIVER AS MY B.M.s ARE YELLOW. I ALSO HAVE DEGENERATION OF MY DISCS AND COMPRESSION. I HAVE LIGHT HEADED SPELLS AND BECOME DIZZY. I AM JUST "OUT OF IT". I WISH I HAD ONE PHYSICIAN WHO KNEW ALL OF MY PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD MANY SURGERIES, ONE OF WHICH WAS A TITANIUM SHOULDER REPLACEMENT. I HAVE FUSIONS IN THE BACK OF MY NECK AND IN MY LUMBAR SPINE. DOES ANYONE HAVE AN ANSWER?

1) On a scale of 10 you were probably doing a 30 because of all the inflamation. One or two steroid shots are not enough sometimes to get the body to accept the steroid.
2) I question what type of steroid is being used. I get Kenalog injections. They last 3-4 months.
3) My first two injections did not work well because I was waaaay over the 1-10 scale. But once we got the inflamation down, the injections have worked miracles with me.
4) Get a different doctor to do the injections. Stick with it.
5) I thought my life was over and contemplated suicide, but stuck with the program and am walking fine now and am upright.
6) I have been on my Kenalog injections for 7 years now.
7) Best of luck to you.
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Donewitit -

I feel you on your pain... I am stuck in the same situation and have been for 15 years now. In 2008 I was done with the meds and foiund myself physically addicited to the narcotics... I was in the dumps, depressed, had no drive for life and was a walking zombie. I had severe pain and didn't know what to do. I did not think the doctors believed me and after multiple failed back surgeries decided to pursue a spinal stimulator to control my pain. I had the trial done and because it worked so well I was able to get it permanently "installed". I grade it as a B and was able to get off all of the narcotics. The stimulator plus a drug called Lyrica controls my nerve pain enough to get back to life. There are good and bad days, but it does work for me. Also, I get myofascial release therapy a couple times a month to help out. I would suggest researching a dorsal column spinal stimulator and myofascialrelaese.com. It is worth a try for sure! My last comment is to interview more doctors. Remember, you are the customer. I encourage you to research new ideas and new ways to relieve your pain. Have you tried accupuncture? That works too! Good luck and keep us informed!!

I had a series of 3 hydracortisone shots, 2 weeks apart at a pain clinic run by an anesthesiologist, for degenerative spondylolisthesis. After the first shot, the results were amazing, my sciatica in both legs/buttocks were gone. During the second shot, I nearly passed out while he was administering the steroid. My blood pressure spiked to over 200. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. After the shot they made me lie down and gave me tranquilizers to lower my b.p. I had the worst headache of my life which lasted over a week. I did have the final shot with tranquilizers before and after to lower my b.p. In conclusion, the pain relief lasted about 8 or 9 weeks only. I've seen 2 neurosurgeons, one said to go home and live my life, the other said I need surgery. Go figure! I'm "living my life" and seeing a physiotherapist who is doing mild spinal decompression - lying on my back with feet over an exercise ball, she gently pulls. This has given me pain relief equal to the shots with none of the side effects. The physiotherapist feels I'm too "functional" for surgery. Also, I take 1, 400 mg Motrin and 2 Tylenol arthritis first thing in the morning. So, will delay surgery for as long as I can as the recuperation period can last as long as a year and the surgeon won't guarantee complete pain relief. By all means see a physiatrist who will probably send you for an MRI and to neurosurgeon for a consultation. Good luck to all of us!

Hi, I've also had back pain with disc and compression problems. I had back surgery and had 4 vertibrae fused at the 3 disc openings. That relieve the constant pain in my legs.
I've had the steriod shots and they help , but the bursa block to the hip (after the first 2 days) seems to help the most.

On top of the Kenalog injections, I also have a wonderful chiropractor. I wish everyone here could have the chiropractor I have. He has done wonders for me. And he is a whiz at fixing my sciatica. I live in Canada and the costs of my Kenalog injections every 3 to 4 months are covered by our Provincial Health Care. I do not think Kenalog injections are available everywhere yet. Pray that they will be.
My usual costs for my chiropractor are $45.00.

I started having your symptoms in October of last year. By March, it was so unbearable I had to go to the emergency room 2 days in a row. I was told I need to see a Spine Surgeon as I had disc problems as you have. He said he could give me injections and/or spinal manipulations, but because the degeneration had caused a slight misalignment of the spine, surgery was recommended. I'm 74 years old, and the thought of pain forever was too much, so I elected for surgery. I had lower lumbar surgery called fusion and laminectomy for three vertabre in May. I'm still healing, but I no longer have the terrible pain and lower back and left leg weakness. I was advised by many not to have the surgery as I could end up worse. Worse than what? Pain and medications and injections forever? It will take me months to fully get back to where I can do almost all I did before, but it will be pain free. I suggest you consider it, especially if you're younger than I am. Best of luck to you whatever you decide!

I have had multiple steroid shots for back pain together with hydrocodone w/tylenol. I just had an implant of a spinal neuro stimulator. This emits electrical stimulus in the spine and by-passes the pain signal. For me, the results are amazing. I hear that it does not work for everyone, but it might be worth looking into.
good luck.