Posted by Flipsactown on April 8, 2004, at 0:30:08
In reply to Chronic Pain, posted by Christopher Farley on April 7, 2004, at 16:58:01
Hello Christopher,
I can totally understand what you are going through, as I was struck by a truck while riding a 10 speed bike in 1981. I have had two failed back surgeries, numerous injections, 3 years of continuous physical therapy (massages,ultrasound, heat, ice), including swimming, walking, back strengthening exercises, acupuncture, biofeedback, several TENS units, etc. Although the first surgery got rid of my leg pain, it did nothing to stop my back pain. I was forced to retire on disability due to my inability to effectively work full time. After 13 years of taking AD's, along with codeine or oxycontin for pain, I am currently in the process of switching ADs from Prozac, Remeron, Lithium, Lamictal, etc. to Nardil. I figured I needed to try some other AD other than the SSRI's as they all seemed to poop out especially after prolonged use--13 years in my case. Anyway, bottomline, is you will need to look after your own body. Only you know from first hand experience what you are going through, the pain not only from the chronic physical pain, but the pain of depression from being in chronic physical pain. I read in the Reader's Digest that chronic pain and depression is related in that when the body is in chronic pain, it is constantly using serotonin and of course when the body's serotonin level is too low, you get depressed. That is why taking the AD's help relieve depression by increasing and bring back the serotonin level to normal. BTW, I am currently home detoxing with the help of my pain doc as I have been on Oxy for over 2 years and decided that I did not like having to keep on taking Oxy so I would not have to go into withdrawals. Although, I am slowly replacing the Oxy, an opiate, with Tylenol with Codeine #3 another opiate, Codeine is the lesser of two evils and did not suffer from withdrawals when I would sometimes forget to call in a refill and run out. Hang in there and let us know how things are going.
FST
> Hi Everyone,
>
> My name is Christopher and I am new to this forum. I have to say I am a bit confused. I suffer from legitimate chronic pain and have so for 3 1/2 years. I have yet to find a doctor who will really treat this pain. I live in the New York area.
>
> I have tried and tied to get a physician to understand that the pain debilitates me to the point of not being able to function, yet they are all terrified of prescribing what I need. This problem is so bad that I cannot spend more than 3 - 4 hours per week with my newly adopted daughter who I love more than life itself.
>
> I have decided to take matters into my own hands and am looking to possibly going down to Mexico and seeing a physician down there.
>
> If any of you have any advice or help for me, it would change my life.
>
> Cheers,
> Christopher
poster:Flipsactown
thread:333790
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/333981.html