Back Pain Community

hi and welcome to the support group -

there is always help - just need to know where to look for it -

1) Is there a big university hospital near you? most of the time they are a teaching hospital and have departments for those that don't have insurance and/or on a low income level. Check into this. You do need to have either an MRI or CT Scan done to see what's going on. you really need to have a full diagnosis and once that's done a treatment program can be done based on the findings.

2) Check with Medicaid and see if you qualify for benefits (www.medicaid.gov). they should be able to let you know if there are any programs you qualify for.

3) try and call around to some Pain Management clinics - try to see if any are a PHYSIATRIST Pain Management (see link) sometimes they have programs available for those that don't have insurance etc.

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

check to see if there is a Clinical Research program especially with a PHYSIATRIST Pain clinic. You may qualify for this.

there are lots of different programs out there - you just need to know where to look for them and asking around.

Normally, Chiropractors and/or Physical Therapist won't touch anyone unless they have a current MRI and/or CT Scan and been 100% diagnosed by a spine specialist (either a Orthopedic Spine Specialist or Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist) as they are the only ones that can fully diagnose spine problems.

taking ibuprofen may help relieve some pain and reduce some inflammation. taking 4 tablets (each tablet is 200mg) equals 800mg and you can take up 4000mg a day just don't exceed this dosage amount.

when sleeping at night try using pillows - when sleeping on your side put pillows between your knees. when sleeping on your back put pillows under you knees and prop pillows behind you (kinda like sitting in a recliner) this will help keep pressure off the spine- never sleep on your stomach as this will cause more back pains.

hope this helps - please keep us posted what you find - take care - Joy

12 years and 12 levels of fusion. I can just tell you that you are not alone.
A good doc from a GP to a PM (Pain Managment) is crucial to quality of life. If you're a decade in I would also think that a pain management psycologist may be helpful. I'm not saying you're nuts I'm just telling you that a decade of chronic pain is hard on your mind. It puts stresses on your brain that few people can understand. Learning how to think about pain and understand it can change everything.
Good doctors are key, but each doctor is only another arrow to add to your quiver. It is up to the individual to use all of the tools to better health.

Tim

Thank you BOTH for your replies. I have responded to 2 clinical studies in my area and have a message to call one back already! I also qualify for an insurance through the state that is based upon my income and not an obscene amount of money like all the others. Joy, thanks for all your ideas and I am on it! Enough is enough! Tim, you mention a PM Psychologist. I suffer from a HORRIBLE memory and I have become extremely moody which is unlike me! Could this be linked?????

I don't know. I wish I had a clue for you, but...