Back Pain Community

Just one medication added 9 wonderful years to a rewarding career in higher education. That was Fentanyl Transdermal (Duragesic). Of course, we are all subject to tolerance over time. Now, about 18 years later, I've discovered that my best result is with a combination of long and short-acting pain medications, off-label drugs (anti-depressant & anti-convulsant), plus mind-body pain management techniques (systematic relaxation, meditation, Yoga, biofeedback). I can reduce my pain by about 20% with biofeedback alone. Add the medication combinations and it goes up to about 35-40%. Add to this, one of the very best techniques... distraction. Whatever holds your interest, try it. I can watch a movie in my preferred genres, or an exciting sporting event. That adds another 10%.

Of course, as soon as I sit or stand, the pain ratchets up to 9, on the 0-10 scale. But when I'm horizontal and I use these techniques and medications, life turns from a living horror to something more tolerable.

Those of us with chronic pain will likely never be pain free. But we can learn to manage our pain using a variety of sources, including medications, distraction and mind-body techniques.

I've heard of people getting relief from Fennal, but it nearly killed me and a friend of mine lost his wife while she was using it.

I understad there was/is class action lawsuites due to the increased suicidal rate in Fentynal users. Have you heard of these?

Tim

Thanks Charles,

When I was finally offered the Fentanyl Transdermal System this month by my primary care physician, I thought about the great success that you have had with this medication.

I am on my 6th patch and the pain relief is more consistent than anything I have tried. And the BEST thing about this medication is it has alleviated my constipation!! The constipation from extended release pills became so bad that the only way I could get relief was by doing 1-2 saline enemas per week and even after those, I still felt backed up! I can now go on my own. I only take a stool softner (Colace) every other day now. The constipation was causing chest pains, difficulty breathing, bloating, gas, and increased blood pressure and pulse. It was horrific! My stomach was 4 times its normal size by the 5th day without a BM.

My breakthrough pain meds now work faster and last twice as long (5-6 hours). I am on the 50 mcg/hr patch and I change it every 48 hours.

this is exactly what i do! unfortunately, it is not a viable technique if one is employed. i have not been employed for 4 years, which is 5 years after i had my L3-5 laminectomy surgery to relieve the stabbing pain i had been experiencing. now, post surgery, i am back in that pain 'saddle' again, with nerve root issues at L3-2 and possible surgery in my future....i cannot stand OR sit longer than 25 minutes before my pain is intolerable. a walk thru a store is likely to bring on such pain that it makes me feel nauseated. if i take the lyrica i cannot function at all! the v.a. medical folks will NOT rx any pain meds whatsoever lest i may become a screaming narc addict!! mind you, i used percocet prn with my regular doctors when i had "real" medical coverage prior to getting v.a. medical coverage and never became a narc junkie....but i digress. now i must be happy with bigger jars of motrin and a heating pad. i have filed for ssi so i dont lose my home. my job was lucrative but also was a sitting job so.....no sit, no work. cant lay down on the job, when i can be pain 'free'....what a life and i am only 56. i have degerative spine disease idiopathic. no trauma. i can add depression now. i love when the psychologist asks 'why are you depressed?'....gee, why do you think??? is it me?
i am so glad to find that i am not alone. my family seems to think i am just wanting to sit and watch a movie b/c i am lazy. they dont understand how frustrating it is to hurt so bad and its impossible to do anything about but try to 'zone it out'..... which is called PAIN MANAGEMENT.

Geesh, part of your story sounds just like mine. I work part time, but it is something I can pretty much pick and choose my hours. But my husband is always throwing it in my face about if I had a job then I would understand and that I could do more than I give myself credit for. A guy he works with lost a limb a few years ago and he works so what is wrong with me. I have had 4 back surgeries and 2 shoulder surgeries (3 of them within the last 5 years and my back surgery was major-tumor removal and remove and replace spinal hardware and fuse another level. I am doing pretty good. But I am sorry there is no way I could live on Lyrica alone. I have percocet and lortab here. I rarely take them but I know they are there for the days I can't take it. Just having them makes it easier to function. I also live at my physical therapy office.

The one thing and only thing I have found that totally helps me is being in water. Had a hot tub, but it is broke and the company went out of business and joing a place that has a pool is out since I don't have the money. My bathtub is deep but not deep enough but if I can sit in water up to my neck (have major neck and thoracic spine problems now, I am a happy camper living in no pain. But I detest the no family support.

My fusions are L4-5 and L3-4. The only way I could get through a store before my last surgery was to lean on cart with very little weight on feet and now that is usually how I do it too. Good luck with the ssi and you mention the VA-are you retired military? If so Tricare has been the only thing that has kept me alive.

I'm 38 and in a similar situation. I can't stand for more then 20 min. I'm an only parent of a 6 year old and run my own sewing-design business from home. Thank god so I can can lay on the floor and ice my neck. Ice and advil bring down the swelling- this cycle goes on all day everyday.I was thinking I may need surgery but have yet to find someone that the surgery helped instead of causing more horrible pain. So far I've had one steroid injection that worked for about 3 weeks. The best 3 weeks I've had in over 2 years. I also have fibromyalgia. Lauren

hi and welcome to the support group -

what doc's have you seen? what all treatments have you had done? what did the doc diagnose you with? did the surgeon say surgery would need to be done.

Seeing either a Orthopedic Spine Specialist or Neurosurgeon Spine Specialist are the best to see regarding spine issues as they are the only ones that can examine, diagnose and treat spine problems.

when seeing a pain management clinic I have found that a PHYSIATRIST Pain Clinic tends to be the best at treating the underlying problem and not just the pain - here's site regarding what they do:

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

Surgery should always be the last resort after all other treatments have been done and failed. there is no guarantee on any type of surgery but for the most part spine surgery will correct disc(s) problems but can only be hopeful to reduce pains.

you can click on my name or pic and read my story - please keep us posted.

take care - Joy

You are SO RIGHT about the mental part of the pain and the medicines you referred.

If you had good relief from the steroid injections, you might benefit long term from a nuero-stimulator. I had mine put in back in November, 2000 and don't regret it for a moment!