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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 7:18:00
Okay Eddie, here's my repost from psychology, thanks for wanting to reply to me....fw
I had an injury about 10 years ago, and I have chronic pain from it in my hip, butt, and down the back of my leg, sometimes in my lower back. I'm aware of the pain all day/every day, its just that I've "adjusted" to it because it's gone on so long, and because I chose not to take meds when I was injured because at the time I had two little kids, and was baby-sitting two other young kids. At the time I used a medical magnet with very good success. I learned to live with it, and learned to sleep with it, or so I thought. I'd forgotten that it kept me up, woke me up repeatedly through the night, and always woke me up early.
About 4 months ago my p-doc Rxd me Ambien for sleep and it worked wonders, so I asked him if I could take it every night. He said yes, I'd build up a tolerance, but that I could. Anyway, tonight I decided not to take it because it knocks me out so much, and my husband isn't home; I'd hate to think I wouldn't wake up if something happened. So, I tried to sleep, and guess what? No sleep, at first it was because I kept thinking about things. Then I realized how much pain I was in, and every inch I moved was agonizing. I put on my magnet, and it helped enough to get to sleep, but I woke up from the pain. Can't believe I used to put up with this every night. Finally I just got up because I couldn't stand the pain anymore.
I've tried physical therapy, which worked for a while, then chiropractic, which did nothing, now I'm doing neuromuscular therapy, which is a form of deep muscle massage therapy - which feels really good, or at least the first session did, and I have very high hopes for.
I've gotten to the point where I realized if something doesn't help me, I'll be in a wheelchair in a matter of years. Anybody else have any other ideas for chronic pain? Other ideas for sleep, other than meds? Anybody doing neuromuscular therapy? If so, how's it working for you? Anybody else living w/chronic pain and not taking meds? Anybody else choosing to exercise w/chronic pain because you know that, for yourself, if you don't you'll be worse off?
thanks,
fairywings
Posted by Pfinstegg on August 21, 2005, at 8:29:28
In reply to chronic pain, posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 7:18:00
You don't mention a diagnosis of any kind, but what you are describing sounds like lumbar disc disease. An MRI will tell you. I just went through that this past year, and found an excellent neurosurgeon who operated and eliminated all the things which were causing pressure on my sciatic nerve: old ruptured disc fragments, and the bony overgrowths which had occurred afterwards (bone spurs, narrowed foramina and stenosis of the spinal canal. If thus is what you have, it's a complex disease; you need just the right neurosurgeon- preferably a younger one trained in newer techniques. But an MRI is definitely the place to start. I got completely pain-free after 15 years.
Posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 8:36:28
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by Pfinstegg on August 21, 2005, at 8:29:28
thanks pfinstegg,
i had an mri initially, after the injury, and they didn't find any disc problems. the neuromuscular therapist i've been working with said that it is definitely pressure on the sciatic nerve that's causing the pain - i guess the muscles pressing on the nerve? i don't know. he said that it's causing problems in my butt/hip/and down my leg. in any case he said in all the time he's been a sports trainer (he does both) he's never seen anyone protect an injury the way i protect mine, so he can tell it'll take some time. i'm going to give this a good several months before i go to anyone else about it.
fw
Posted by spriggy on August 21, 2005, at 13:01:30
In reply to Re: chronic pain » Pfinstegg, posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 8:36:28
I don't know if you would qualify for a pain pump, but my father has had seven back surgeries and has severe nerve damage.
THey just installed a different pump (he had one previously that wasn't installed correctly). Amyway, it helps his pain immensely but doesn't make him "drugged." If I am correct, the medication doesn't pass through the blood brain barrier or something- therefore he doesn't get that dopey feeling.
He has chronic, severe pain. Without medication, he can't get out of bed or walk. He is now able to mow his grass again!
Posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 15:12:48
In reply to chronic pain, posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 7:18:00
Hi Fairy!
Thank you for reposting :-)
Which meds have you tried for the pain so far?
~ed x
Posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 17:48:23
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by ed_uk on August 21, 2005, at 15:12:48
Oh no, no, no!
I'm sorry Ed and Spriggy, what I'm trying to avoid is medications! I take narcotics for my migraines when they get really bad, and realized how horrible it would be to depend on them! I've lasted 10 years w/o them, and didn't realize how much the pain affected me until I tried the Ambien for sleep, and then realized when I tried to do w/o it, the pain kept me up, and once I did get to sleep, it woke me up. I'm in pain pretty much 24/7, but I've gotten used to it, and sometimes it's not too bad. Right now I'm doing neuromuscular therapy, and hoping that will work wonders. I was just wondering if anyone else is in the same position and fighting it the same way with any luck.thanks and sorry for the confusion!
fw
Posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 14:21:07
In reply to Re: chronic pain » ed_uk, posted by fairywings on August 21, 2005, at 17:48:23
Hi Fairy,
Are you interested in non-opioid analgesics?
~ed xx
Posted by fairywings on August 22, 2005, at 14:49:09
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by ed_uk on August 22, 2005, at 14:21:07
> Hi Fairy,
>
> Are you interested in non-opioid analgesics?
>
> ~ed xxHi Eddy,
LOL, you gonna "hook me up"? Just kidding.
I think I've tried everything that's out there from time to time, which is why I"m trying to avoid the pain killer route, that and because I'm on other stuff - head stuff (adderall, ambien, xanax) and migraine stuff (4 migraine meds). What were you thinking about?fw
Posted by ed_uk on August 23, 2005, at 14:26:45
In reply to Re: chronic pain » ed_uk, posted by fairywings on August 22, 2005, at 14:49:09
Hi!
>LOL, you gonna "hook me up"?
That sex drive never switches off!
>migraine stuff (4 migraine meds).....
What are you on for migraine?
>What were you thinking about?
You'll have to wait and see ;-)
Ed xx
Posted by fairywings on August 23, 2005, at 14:40:27
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by ed_uk on August 23, 2005, at 14:26:45
> Hi!
>
> >LOL, you gonna "hook me up"?
>
> That sex drive never switches off!
>
> >migraine stuff (4 migraine meds).....
>
> What are you on for migraine?
>
> >What were you thinking about?
>
> You'll have to wait and see ;-)
>
> Ed xx
Hi Eddy,I'm on Topamax, Midrin, Vicodin, and Maxalt for the migraines. The only thing that helps with the leg pain is the Vicodin, and I can't take that with any regularity because I'd get addicted, and my GP is really careful to only give me a min. of it. The pain was so bad this morning that I thought I might have to reconsider the meds, but I feel better now. Have neruom. therapy on Thursday.
; )
fw
Posted by ed_uk on August 23, 2005, at 17:35:42
In reply to Re: chronic pain, posted by fairywings on August 23, 2005, at 14:40:27
Gosh, I have to sleep now! Will reply tomorow!
Love Ed xxx
Posted by ed_uk on August 24, 2005, at 15:02:05
In reply to Re: chronic pain, posted by fairywings on August 23, 2005, at 14:40:27
Hi fw,
>The only thing that helps with the leg pain is the Vicodin, and I can't take that with any regularity because I'd get addicted.......
OK, so you'd be physically dependent on it....... same as Adderall - an amphetamine!
~Ed x
Posted by fairywings on August 25, 2005, at 6:22:27
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by ed_uk on August 24, 2005, at 15:02:05
> Hi fw,
>
> >The only thing that helps with the leg pain is the Vicodin, and I can't take that with any regularity because I'd get addicted.......
>
> OK, so you'd be physically dependent on it....... same as Adderall - an amphetamine!
>
> ~Ed xHey Eddy,
I can go w/o the Adderall. I don't like to because I don't think as clearly and I'm scattered, but I take days off here and there. With narcotics I worry that I wouldn't be able to stop. My dad was an alcoholic and that was so ugly.
Have you taken narcotics for anything? Did they give you a buzz? The Vicodin does give me a buzz if I take it for the leg pain. It doesn't if I take it for the migraines, I guess because my head is messed up already with the headache. I took a narcotic cough medicine last year, it made me feel awful.
fw
Posted by ed_uk on August 27, 2005, at 14:08:15
In reply to Re: chronic pain » ed_uk, posted by fairywings on August 25, 2005, at 6:22:27
Hi!
I've taken codeine and dihydrocodeine - they didn't make me high.
> The Vicodin does give me a buzz if I take it for the leg pain.
The dose is too high. You won't get a buzz when the dose is right.
Love Ed xxx
Posted by fairywings on August 27, 2005, at 16:27:05
In reply to Re: chronic pain » fairywings, posted by ed_uk on August 27, 2005, at 14:08:15
> Hi!
>
> I've taken codeine and dihydrocodeine - they didn't make me high.
>
> > The Vicodin does give me a buzz if I take it for the leg pain.
>
> The dose is too high. You won't get a buzz when the dose is right.
>
> Love Ed xxxThanks Eddy,
You know, this neuromuscular therapy is great! I've only been twice, and the first time it was with a guy, he was a sports trainer and NM Therapist, who had really firm pressure and really stretched the muscles out. I felt really good for several days afterwards. The 2nd time it was with a female massage therapist, not specifically trained in NMT, and her pressure was so whimpy, but she massaged the pressure points pretty well. When I was getting therapy, I was thinking, "Gosh, what's the point? This is SO whimpy", BUT I felt much better the next day, and for a day afterwards. So, I think as I get more therapy, and it's worked out, and it gets better, the pain will gradually get better, if not go away. This clinic does accupuncture too, so I might try that.
fw
Posted by ed_uk on August 29, 2005, at 8:13:52
In reply to Re: chronic pain » ed_uk, posted by fairywings on August 27, 2005, at 16:27:05
Hi fw!
It sounds like it's going really well. Keep us updated :-)
Ed x
This is the end of the thread.
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