night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Just went for an MRI and found out I have a bad disc at T7 and T8 (this was caused from an auto accident in 1992, which is a new problem from an old injury.) As I have already undergone years of PT, chiro (which has always been excruciatingly painful when "adjusting" this area of my spine) and massage therapy. The doc called it "degenerative disc disease/disorder" (can't recall which.)
Now, as I'm sure many of you can relate, this has been causing pain likened to a hot knife sticking in the middle of my back. It is not worsened with any particular movement, but gets seriously painful after too long at the computer or walking too long. The pain level is always about a 4 (has been for awhile now) but when I try to go to work or sit at the computer or in certain kinds of chairs for even a half hour, the pain escalates to a 7 or 8 and takes hours of lying down to get back to a "tolerable" level.
The doc gave me Flexeril (which makes me really drowsy, but does nothing for the pain) and is going to refer me to a pain clinic for management. I've never been to a PM doc before, and I really don't care WHAT they do for me so long as it allows me to work and lead a productive life.
My questions are:
1) What has worked for others with disc issues in this part of your back? Doc said surgery would be through the chest and take months to recover from. I simply cannot do that right now. I also want to avoid benzos at all costs.
2) Do most of you find PM docs helpful?
3) I was rated after the accident (but didn't have the disc problem at the time...it was soft tissue damage only at that point) with a 10.XXXXXXX permanent partial disability. Would a DDD issue be enough to qualify for SSI? I have never applied.
I've decided that if this pain is not relieved soon, I will simply resort to going on the methadone program (no hassles with getting meds) as I am already on a low dose of methadone anyway.
Input is much appreciated.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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Tomsgirl
Journeyman
Reged: 10/19/03
Posts: 82
Loc: Midwest
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I've had a herniation at T9-T10 for about 6 years now. I underwent PT for 20 months.Hydro helps. I also opted out of the surgery due to them having to go in thru the side of my rib cage kind of blindsided. I didn't like the odds or the sound of it. I know my limitations now and any kind of arm movements,pushing,pulling will set me off to where the pain radiates from the back to the front of my rib cage which beats not being able to walk or losing control of my bladder and bowel which I was told could happen with the surgery. Strengthening my stomach muscles did help and my neuro said in time calcification may form around the disc. I did go the rounds with the cortisone in the spine but it didn't help.It took a LONG time to get to where I'm at with it today which isn't all that great but bearable with meds. Maybe they may have come up with something new since my injury. I would say read and explore all the options. Good luck!
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slash
Journeyman
Reged: 08/06/02
Posts: 52
Loc: Midwest
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I recommed pain medicine for pain. NWW has been the
best for me and I have exactly the same problem, as
well as a real bad knee. They will give you up to
120 generic vicodin 10mg/325 tylenol with 2 refills.
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tray1
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 241
Loc: US
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Night,
So sorry to hear this, I have a ruptured disc at L5-S1 and the pain does get extremely intense after sitting for any amount of time, I also have a herniated disc at c4-c5 which does not cause as much trouble. What helps me with the lumbar problem is heat, my Tens unit, and Hydro with Soma to control the frequent spasms. Degenatarive(sp?) Disc is far worse I believe then a rupture, especially if you get to the point you are bone on bone. Not sure about the methadone??? I have never used it but my guess is that it would be more efective for pain then the hydro. Strengthening the abdominal muscles is a definate help, the easiest way to accomplish this especially if you are limited in your motion is to simply tighten hold release and repeat, put your hand on your abs as you are doing this to make sure you are using the correct muscles, another thing is to keep breathing....sounds silly but alot of people do this when they attempt to tighten these muscles and if you are holding your breath you are not using the correct muscle group. I hope you can get some relief soon as I know how bad those stabbing pains can be, and it really seems as if you can not find a comfortable position. I have to switch positions or get up and walk around every 20 minutes or so or I have intense pain.
Good Luck and I hope you are feeling better soon.
Tray
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zoe11
Journeyman
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 87
Loc: Other side of the moon
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I'm an L-5, S-1 myself too. My injury has become a degenerative disc problem as well and was bone on bone after surgery number 2.
I've been to a pain doc. It has really helped. I work 40+ hours per week and life is good. Not until the pain doc though. I was taking hydro before the pain doc, and it's really not for chronic pain but acute. I'm not saying I wasn't greatful to have the hydro. It's just so much better now with a longer acting pain medication that is stronger. I take a long acting pain med plus a few others. Pain docs are usually anithesiologists with 3 years extra training.
My first back surgery was like a miracle. The second surgery was another story. I'm not too familiar with SSI. It would kill me not to work. I'm a psychotherapist, so I don't do anything physical. You could probably get retrained to a desk job if you are working in a physical field.
PT is like being tortured. I also can't imagine a quack practor for what you've been diagnosed with. Those folks don't know when to refer out at times.
Best of luck
zoe
Edited by zoe11 (01/31/04 08:40 AM)
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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Thanks everyone for your valuable experience.
Tray- Hydro isn't going to do ME any good. I've just been on methadone for far too long for this type of narcotic to be effective. And as someone else said, it really isn't the best med for moderate to moderately severe chronic pain.
Methadone programs here allow for self-titration of any dose up to 130 mgs per day. That's WAY more than I would need (seeing as I have been on 3.5 mgs for months now) but at least there's no game involved with getting the meds. It's a pain in the butt going in weekly for meds, but at least my insurance covers it 100% and they don't give a rip if you are on it for a month or for life. So, at least I KNOW I will get relief...I just hope I don't have to go this route.
PM doc appointment is for Monday, so I'll update everyone then.
Thanks again!!!
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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sjm
Stranger
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 18
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Good luck with your appointment. I hope that you get a caring and compasionate doctor - it sounds like you could use a break.
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tray1
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 241
Loc: US
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Good luck Night, I hope it all works out for you.....I will be thinking of you and praying you get relief....
Tray
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tray1
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 241
Loc: US
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Geeze Zoe, I hope thats not what I have to look forward to, I am miserable with the rupture I can't even imagine bone on bone.....OWIE.....I do have a desk job and trust me it makes it (Well my condition anyway) worse.....I can not sit for longer then 20 mins even with the meds and tens. I recently slipped and fell on ice and landed on my back, didn't hit me for like 2 days but it hit me like a ton of bricks, I am in the middle of being re-evaluated, seeing the Orthopedic on Tues, Pain is in the same location as the rupture it is just ALOT worse now. The Er and my PCP both think its the nerves causing the pain but have left it up to the Orthopedic to Diagnose. I am out of work (on workman's comp) and I am going CRAZY......I can not stand not working, I feel so useless, I cant even vaccuum the house, I am to the point I will do anything the Ortho says to alieve this pain. I was doing very well with the PT and Hydro, I actually felt like I was slowly getting better, but I have horrible luck and I have been so careful when its icy outside because falling was my biggest fear. When I fell the first thing that came into my head was "Oh Great....Here we go..." but when I got up I was shocked that my back didnt seem injured (More then it already was that is) so I got into my truck and about 30 seconds later my right arm started kiling me, so I went to the ER and found out I had a level two strain, right bicep. Then I took the following day off work to relax my arm and went back to work the next.......well by 2:30 or so my back was on FIRE, I actually had tears streaming down my face from the pain........so that's where I am at, I hope the Ortho will be able to do something for me because I need to work, I am a single Mom and 60% of my income just isnt going to cut it for me. I also want to get back to my PT, she is really awesome, she has helped me so much. I am also going nutty having this sling on my arm.....its my right arm and I am a righty so its almost impossible to do anything! And thank god I found this place and have a great OP because without the hydro I would be a mess, the ER doc was great he started to examine me (This is on the second trip due to the back pain) and realized the pain I was in so he ordered the Nurse to get me pain meds before he went any further (They gave me morphine and boy that sure did alot for the pain but I felt really floaty and disconnected and I didnt like that) He gave me a script for 20 Endocets and Flexeril but my PCP wouldn't give me any pain meds just Motrin and the Flexeril.....I love this Dr but he is so strict about any pain meds....he just refuses to prescribe them so like I said I would be in unbearable pain if it wasnt for my OP, and I have always considered myself to have a pretty high pain threshold, but theres only so much pain that anyone can stand before its unbearable. Well once again I have managed to ramble on like a fool......Zoe I really feel for you and I am glad you have found a PM that actually helps you, I hope Nightshade gets lucky and ends up with someone sympathetic. I guess I will find out what my future holds on Tues, wish me luck, I hope this is just some kind of flare up that will subside.
Take Care Zoe
Tray 
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zoe11
Journeyman
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 87
Loc: Other side of the moon
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Geminy Tray -- be careful. I'm better now. When my first disc was out it was worse than back labor. My second car accident pushed the bone into my spine, as I already had bone on bone. I think when something is pushing on your spine it's He$$ (sorry).
I can relate to the tears flowing in pain. I see clients for no longer than 50 min. at a time, so I'm up and down a lot. Sitting is so hard. Gosh, can anyone remember a time when a simple task like sitting was not torture.
Take care all of you.
z
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