DrugBuyers.Com: Finally got a diagnosis on my back problems.....

Well, keep doing your PT exercises, unless they cause lasting greater pain (I'm one to talk). It sounds like a muscle relaxer of some sort might help. There are some incredibly expesnive new ones, like skelaxin. which do not cause drowsiness. Skelaxin (I believe this belongs to the same group of new expensive meds as Bexxtra) does a real number on my stomach (pain), so I swtiched to methocarbamol, aka Robaxin, for awhile. I was on 4500 mg a day, a little more than the PDR reccomends. It comes in 500mg and 750mg. It neither made me drawdy nor affected my ability to operate heavy machinary. I was able to drive my Jeep over Cavaliers with the same ease as always. Unfortunately, it seems that tolerance builds rapidly (within just a couple of months of regular use.

I have been on and off cyclobenzaprine, aka flexeril f over 3 years or (outside US, hard to find) After a year and a half, I found it had ceased to work . Following my robaxin experience, I decided to try it again. I now have a 4 per day script. Luckily my tolerance has subsided and it is now once again useful. Flxeril comes only in 10mg pills. One major side effect that almost every patient experiences in the beginning is grogginess, and you should definitely avoid chainsaws and heavy artilary until this subsides. Note the my 4-a-day script is not the norm. 3 per day is a typical, reccomended dosage and should work fine.

Tizanadine (Zanaflex) is another new drug. It is still in patent and, as far as I know, quite expesnive in the US. It comes in 2mg and 4mg. It will knock your duff in the dirt. I do not use it on a regular basis, so I don't know if this subsides. I can usually stay awake when I take only half 4mg pill and I think it is probably quite effective. But most of the time if I take it I forget to split it, so the truth is, I don't really know how effective it is at muscle relaxation or whether the coma-side effect dissappears with regular use. I recommend a search to locate more information from regular users of Zanaflex. Until then, don't plan. . . or even try. . . to leave you couch while taking zanaflex.

The last one I'll mention is soma. You can read a LOT about soma (generic: carisprodol) on this site. I have never been treated with soma, but I have treated myself with it. It comes in a 350mg tablet and reccommended dosage is 4 times a day.The difference between soma and the meds mentioned above is that it is a mind-acltering substance. It is not yet scheduled federally, but individual state can and are are upgrading it to controlled status. Tolerance to this med grows very quickly; this can be seen from the comments of other posters. It is definitely a strong substance. Once (okay, a few times) I would mistake my high tolerance for opiates and benzodiazepenes for a soma tolerance. Getting my packages I would pop 2 immediately. Though tolerance builds fast, this is definitely a strong drug with major side effects. I just simplu wouldn't take more than one for awhile until you sense that it is no longer helping, then move up half a pill at a time. Do be cautious with this one. You could easily get a DUI on Soma and would not be able to blaim it on sleepiness, because soma makes most people (watch out, dirty word coming up) high.

Valium is the orginal muscle relaxer. It works fairly well and takes much less diazepam to control muscle pain then it does to control anxiety.

Because I'm a CP patient whose major problems began with my back ( or could no longer be ignored) over 2 years ago, and I have been in treatment for this: 4 rounds of PT, 2 MRIs (within 6 months), lumbosacral brace, and portable TNS unit. I have 3 herniated discs in my lumbar spine, problems with my sacroiliac joint, (thankfully infrequent) recurring sciatica, and, of course, muscle spasms associated with pinched nerves and a muscle near my left shoulder I have a wierd tendency to damage, as well as cervical pain that has never been MRI'ed our treated.

I'm only telling you all that to explain my breadth of experience with muscle relaxers. Flexeril in the primary one right now, but I fortunately have a supply of all the others (except Bextra) , so when I start to develop a tolerance to one, all I need to do is go to a druginteraction checker (you should ind in the links pages) to see how long I need to be off one before starting the other. I'm not a "hoarder," I just consider this thrifty. Your meds run out really fast when you are taking 7 times the reccommended dosage.

If you are well-off or have good insurance, going to your PCP is the best bet. They will often give you a one month supply with multiple refills. When it stops working, you will still have fills left and you can see the doctor again for another script with maximum refills. Regardless of you financial situations, I would reccmond do more researchon expensive new muscle relaxers before accepting a prescription for them. A simple, polite, "oh I've read about this. . . causes some peope stomach problems and I have enough of those." Or (this always works for me, "I can't afford a fancy new brand name drug. Is rhere anything else that will help the muscle pain, something older or more traditional?"

Generic Flexeril costs about 50 cents tab in the US. (There is one generic that is much more expensive, so if you get script ask before they take the script to find out wther they fill with the yellow, coated pills (EXPENSIve) or the plain white ones (~50 cents a piece. Methocarbamol is also extremely cheap, maybe 25 cents a pill? You may be able to find it cheaper online, take a look around.

The prices for carisprodol and tizanadine in the US are absolutely criminal. Last I checked, soma was 24 cents apiece and 4mg tizanidine was 47 at www.importedrugs.com If you haven't used them, I will advise that there one obligatory something fee of 25 dollars per package plus 5 dollars for each med ordered. The packaging is, well, obvious. However, they do not sell controlled meds and thus problems are unlikely to arise. (I have not heard of any) The fees sound high, but considering the enormous having they shrink. Meds are kept in original package and are of the highest quality. Lots of folks here order acid reducers, other heart medicine, anti-depressants. . . all the kind of meds that can cost 4-5 dollars a pill at an average pharmacy and they do not stray one bit in quality. Even with the fees, we paid about 85 dollars for nearly a years' worth of nexium.

Another place for soma is www.pharma24.cc The last time I checked, one box of 40 carisoma was 14 euroes. When the page opens, click on the flag in the lower lefthand corner to get currency conversion to USD as you browse. My estimate would be about 35 dollars for 80 blisterpacked soma, plus shipping, which I can never figure out. Not because it's a lot, I just don't understand how they determine it. You can order by credit card, but this does slow down the process. This probably sounds crazy, and if you don't mind waiting a month or so, disregard. But some of us pay for our orders in cash, essentially mail ordering. The reason this method is faster is because the folks who work there can take your cash and immediately fill your order Another bonus is that this company is not located in or near the Middle East. Importeddrugs has usually been pretty fast, but the mail from that part of the world has been erratic lately for understandable reasons.

Anyway, these are both good, honest *reliable* companies that only deal with the highest quality meds, and both have impeccable records regarding seziures Pharma24 can be slow, especially if you pay with a credit card but there a 10pages in the peronsal experience/ IOP forum that essentially guaranttess they ship. Because importedrugs does not sell any controlled substances, there is less chatter about them, but if you search those feedback forums, you will read only good dtuff about.

Now that I've given you a prescription, let's talk about you accident (adjusts imaginary lab coat). I'm a woman, which means I benchpress 30 lbs. . . 40 on a good day. Hoever, I have superhuman leg stregth. My girlfriend had once mentioned it might beinteresting to see what weight I max out on. So, one night when I was at the gym by myself (stupid thing #1) and had finished fooling around with my 10-15 pound dumbells, I headed over to what appeared to be leg press set up. There we two of them: one you add weights to manually, and the other where you move a pin to change the weight. I went to the people at the desk, who sit there and sleep or read a magazine and keep one eye on the weight room to see if anyone collapses while working out in a gym with no air conditioning- I believe they o by the name "employee and his girlfriend" anyway, I asked about the machine and how they worked. I learned that the machine with the pins only went up to something riduclous, like 280 or 300. So I headed aver to the other set. Apparently the previous rider had been legpressing 150 or 200, perhaps in a skirt. Not trying to be too macho or pretentious. I gave the existing weight a little ride, just for size. Each time they hit the top with a clank.

Remembering a one day weightlifting unit from highschool, almost exactly 13 years prior, I recalled the 345lb seated leg press I had done. O, no, we didn't learn anything about form or safety or even the buddy system for that class. We just all scrmbled upstairs and into the 2 adjoining rooms crammed with machines. The teacher stayed in the front room, so I spent most of the class swinging from the top of one of those machines and making out with my "boyfriend." I have no idea how I was fooled into actually participating in the "effort" part of the PE class, since my entire highschool experience had been and would be puntuated by leaving to smoke in the girls room, or, if it was locked, in the boys room. Or strolling around the mapped out mile smoking a cigrarette with the other losers. Or leaving for lunch early, so I would be there for all 4 shifts and not miss seeing friends who took only one lunch shift, never returning to gym or the locker room, where my red high top shoes probably remaining. That's what I did on high school, anyway. So the leg press experience was a one time only deal. Or so I thought.

Since the eight already hanging on the machine actually bounced when I lifted them. I fugred it was safe to double them for 300. As I mentioned, I had just finished doing my upper bodywork with the 10 and 15 pound dumbells. Nonetheless, something bizarre over took me. . . the need to be pimpin', a stud, a "wow, do you see that?" chick. In other words, I wanted everyone to stop what they were doing and be awed by me. (A fruitless prospect in a weight room with men. College age guys in a weight room might as well be anorexic I know. I know that mirror ritual and the constant checking to make sure every pose shows exactly what the intend to be seen and the repetitive glances ensure that all perceived flaws were hidden.)

So naturally I proceeded to load my machine by grabbing a 45lb (~20 kg)plate in each hand, then another 25lbs (~11kg) or so. I got down under the three hundred pounds of weights. It took a little effort, I don't tihink the weights made a clank when I hit top. Still, I knew I could easily do 20 or more reps at this weight. I yanked off one of the lighter plates (because everyone knows that the best treatment for persons with serious back problems is to "yank" heavy iron plates around. I was still waaaay tough. I had to travel further from my spot to find another 90lbs worth of dumbells. I rolled them off the rack with my thumb, one a time, flipped them in the air and caught both on once finger. (Thats a total lie) But I did manage to carry them wothout dropping them all the way across the room. 380.

There was definitely no bounce or clang this time. But I did several quick reps. Enough to count as a set. I wanted to "max out," to find the weight I could lift well, but only once, and lower quietly. I knew I was close, because I could feel myselfmaking a kidney stone face as I began thet reps at 380. 20more lbs (11 kg). I carried the two 10 pound plates to the machine and this time I *did* twirl one on each finger like a frisbee. I'm lying again

400 pounds, I'm making a face that is combination kidney stone/childbrith/ killer constipation. One lift, one demure (I'm lady, after all). So I maxed out at 400 pounds. Myabe I could have gone further, but I couldn't think of anymore metaphors for my facial expression. Actually, I just curled up right there, trying to massage my as yet imaginary insulted quads.

The I got up, and started unloading the machine. One plate at a time, partially because I was dizzy and dazed (obviously the blood or oxygen that was meant for ny brain was somewhere else, I got a few of the big plates off before someguy came over and said he'd take care of it.

I leg presed 400 pounds. Now, my legs are strong. I was an avid runner for a couple of years, but the muscles have always been there. I can leg wrestle just anyone into a yoga position they never dreamed of. But my flexed quads measure 22 inches at the largest spot. Something else was involved in that last lift. My butt came off the ground. I was in labour, preparing a quiche and hors d-ouvres for 25, pass a stone, having a root canal, methadone constipation (metaphorically! I actually take MSContin) being circumsized, all while laying out little cocktails napkins for my 25 guests. That is the look I imagine was on my face as I used probably the world's worst form (inolving yoga as well) to lift that 400 pounds.

Being as it was evening, I then went home, massages my legs, took at shower, kissed my baby and went to bed. The next day I stayed in bed and worked until I had to go in to meet with a professor at three. The chair was hard, the office was uncomfortable, the conversation was uncomfortable, and this was when my back began trying to kill me.

My legs may handled 300 lbs or so, but my back apparently did the rest. As sson as I got home from the meeting, I popped flexiril and 800 mg Ibuprophen. I got into bed (i.e. collapsed on the futon on the floor) and whispered sweet nothings to my heating pad until it was time (Bpm) to go visit our friend Jay. By nine I could not take it anymore. Ironically, this was the same day I was supposed to have my 1stMeds consult, which I eventually gave up and cancelled after spending aout4 hours total on hold (nad getting cut off) and redilaing to get a busy digna;.

At any rate. I told my girlfriend I would pay any ticket she might get, just GET ME TO THE EMERGMENCY ROOM NOW.

It was the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. Memories of my sprained ankle (and how much it hurt to travel to the voting booth by foot on crutches) sciatica that literally makes me scream when I sit down, broken finger slammed in the car door, broken toe climbing a rope bridge at the playground at 3 am, broken tailbone from rolllerskating lessons, sprained wrist on my right hand, losing my virginity, the everyday pain of my back, falling on my head onto concrete (infant), 5 feet straight downonto my bedroom floor (age 5, before I learned to flip off the top of my bunkbed) and again onto ice and concrete leaving school property late after a long detention(age 8), no one heard my screams because everyone was gone.

They decided my back wasn't broken. I think I may have gotten ice. No painkillers. I was realeased at 1am with a prescription for 8 (eight) 5/500s and a convenient map the showed where all the 24hour pharmacies outside a 30 minute radius of the place. I begged them to just give me something noe so I could wait till the next day to fill the script., but I guess that's drugseeking behavior. I begged them to do another MRI. They refused, because I had just had another MRI done on a different part of my back in January. When I followed up with my regular doctor, he said the same thing. The pain subsided for a couple of weeks (remarbly coinciding with the time I had my first order from NWW) Then it got worse. The brace I am supposed to wear to keep the discs in my lumbar inplace makes the pat of my back above it hurt worse. The lumbar exercises caused even greater pain. I laid up all night waiting for my refill in and out of tears because my back hurt so badly. My TNS unit helped some, but the lumbo-sacral brace was causing agony above and beyond the point of injury. I was on bed rest for several weeks, unable to even sit intially. Towards the end of the school term, I tried to start oing back to classes, but I would sit through one 2 hour class with glossy red eyes and be unable to imagine sitting through another 3 hour class. I have had to leave graduate school. (My back injury alone is not the sole or even primary reason, but I did midd 8 weeks of class out of a 10 week term.)

Okay, so that's my story, or at least one of them. My back problems are chronic, whereas this was just an injury that took over 3 months (rather than the 6-8 weeks I was promised) to heal. I had to tell it because you were talking about weightlifting and I am a huge show-off. I'm sure you understand.

It sounds like you had an injury over a decade ago that might have had a chance to heal if it had been treated properly, but obviously you didn't get the right care. Frankly, it doesn't sound like you're getting the right care now, either. I've never heard of cortisone shots for muscles That kind of injection sounds more like it is done with joints.

Is this doctor a back specialist? If not, I would get a referral to one, fast.

Doctors love PT. But if this one claims your muscle "didn't grow back together right," what would be the point? PT doesn't heal tissue and it's certainly not going to movebody parts around or make them magically better.

How many "rounds" of PT have you been through? Did you therapist just have you do exerecises, or were there other modalities, too (like heator cold invarious forms, electrical stimulation, therapeutic massage,a brace or other? A good doctor will include reccomendations for your treatment at PT, and a back speicalist should have some quite definitive treatments in mind. I, for instance, and supposed to have "lumber traction progrssing for 1/2 to one third of my body weight, "lumbosacral brace w/ or without hard inserts" and a "potable TENS unit." The doctor can't just send you to PT with out providing a diagnosis and special notes with explicit reccomendations. Otherwise you arrive and they just osrt of have to guess why you're there. "Ah hah! Flat feet. Lets do a fitting for orthotic shoe inserts and work on ankle strength."

I've been through, I think. . .4? rounds of PT thus far. I certainly didn't love it. In fact, there is a great deal I could have done completely without. I've probably got enough exercise handouts to fill a book. One of them is actually very cool, though. . . it demonstrates how to do all sorts of mundane everyday activities without compromising posture and causing pain.

(I'm just making this up, but I have noticed) there are 4 major goals in physical therapy: Strengthening, Flexibility, Ease of Pain, and the Promotion of Healing. Sometimes one modality will take care of more than one goal: exercises, for instance, can both strengthen and heal. Or they can promote flexibility and comfort. For me, flexibility is a problem. A doctor or therapist has to get to know me before they understand that the fact the I ca not only touch my toes, I can actually place me hands flat on the floor. A strange doctor would assume I'm jerking them around ( and respond rudely. . . it has Happened. I was made to consult with a back surgeon and when I touched my toes, he said he had no idea why I was there, what was I doing there, and essentially yolf me go back whre I had come from because I had no need for surgery. ) I am lucky now that I do have a treament team that understands that flexible legs just simply don't negate the results of the MRI., who will admit that my natural flexibility makes the job harder, but understand that my pain is real.

I was going to say your post didn't mention whether it was your arm or back, but I guess the topic title makes it clear. Working with the back in PT is really hard, whether you're a gumbe like me or any ordinary person. I'm trying to picture this. . . it sounds like the problem is on one side? Is it near the shouder blade or lower?

You're a guy, right? (I always have to ask since we had the male or female poll)Typically men are less flexible than women, which means it might actually be possible for you to gain flexibility--feel a good stretch--in the area of your back where the injury is. This is practically impossible for me because I am a loosy goosy (it don't stretch anything at all) When you had PT, did they assign you exercises for flexibility? If not, it sounds as though they should have. If there are problems with the muscle being malformed, I would assume a ood PT would avoid stregthening exercisis, at least initially, unless there is a severe disparity of strength that causes you problems.

Oh, I am going to make an assumption here. This causing you pain, yes? Have you received E-stim (electrical stimulation through electrodes) to the area when you attended PT? That was one of my primary modalities when I had my first round of PT. E-stim is a "natural" painkiller. It feels a little wierd at first, but suddenly you are astounded that you really can't feel the pain. You usually also get to control the level, which is good, because even though you feel it initially and it's wierd, you get used to it quickly and will probably want to turn it up. There are portable units available, too. You can wear the electrodes around and the leads fit into a little clip on box that is little wider than a pager. When Iknow I'm going to be out a long time, I always put on my TNS unit first because I can almost be guaranteed that my back is going to start hurting if I have to sit or stand for any long period time. You can arrange the wires so that the whole thing is very discrete if you choose, or let them hang out all over the place if you want to freak people out. You have to have it prescribed by a doctor, though. In "insurance-ese" this is considered durable medical equipment and I think pretty much every company will cover it.

The other thing I mentioned that it sounds like you need from PT is focused therauetic massage.Although I don't understtand the exact nature of your problem, it sounds like this injury has resulted some malformity(I made that word up) of the muslce group invovled. The good news is that if hurts, that means the tissue and underlying circutry is intact. , the same way they would be if youwere suffering a muscle spasm or suffering from a large "knot." If it is not scar tissue, focused therapuetic massage could actually 1) get more blood loeing through this area, which, in turn may foster the growth of muscle and normalize the injury site. This will be where more of the eternally boring but necessary strengthening work comes in, and at thispoint, there's a chance it could help. But this sort of thing needs to prescribed by a doctor and performed by a physical thrapist or sports medicine professioanl. Or Mr. Miyagi from Karate Kid.

Or have you done all of this before? I'm kidding, of course.

You have been struggling with this for a long time, so I won't insult you by claiming to understand what you're going through, but it honestly doesn't sound like you done very much to treat your problem, in the grand scheme of things. I mean, what have you been doing for the last 11 years? Why have you switched to a new doctor that doesn't know your history? Is she a specialist? In what?(And why is she prescribing cortisone shots to your muscle? Anatomy is not my strong suite, but I have never heard of a muscle growing back together out of place. . . bones do that, but muscles? The muscle may be weaker or compromised, especailly if you rely on the other side to compensate. If you were not fully grown when this happened, that could be another explanation, but you need an actual explanation of why she believes this and what caused it).

I'm sorry. . . I posed a few questions and then wrote 4MBs of bandwidth about myself and then asked you more questions
I"m going to shaddup now.

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"It's the end of the World as We Know it. . ."
-REM "and I'm seeking asylum in Canada"-toe