Chronic Pain Support Group

I'm 31. I have had the L5 herniated disc since I was who knows how old probably pretty young since I always had back pain. I finally started pain meds 2 years ago and have been in the wheelchair for the last year. When I'm home my options are bed or the recliner cause being up on my feet shoots the pain sky high. I do walk around the house but only if I'm going to go somewhere and land in the next couple minutes. The docs won't do surgery on my back because I'm on blood thinners so I'm on pain meds but that is going to shorten my life. Thank goodness for my primary because instead of having me in bed full time like my pain doc did she is working with me and my husband to get me to sit up more every day. But that still leaves the pain to be dealt with and it isn't being dealt with well. I'm looking for a new pain doc now but I don't want to rely on the pain meds for the rest of my life. I keep telling the doc I need 10 years till my youngest is 18. I want to see both turn 18.

What do ya'll do for pain relief that doesn't involve meds?

Sorry you are in so much pain. I understand the frustration, but I'm on the other side of it as I've been trying to help my 17 year old daughter deal with her pain. We've tried so much stuff - meds (which she is still on and feels the combination is finally close to "right")...she's done the TENS unit, Lidoderm patches, trigger point injections (and now botox injections), the injections are mainly for migraines but also to help with her back pain. Physical therapy didn't seem to help until I found someone who specialized in p.t. for fibromylgia and myofascial pain syndrome (which is her diagnosis). She was going twice a week and we are just now going down to once a week on the p.t. as her back pain seems to be gone

And of course, she does the heat or ice as needed too. And therapy with her psychologist I think helps as she gives my daughter ideas on how to deal with the things that trigger her pain (stress is a huge one, but so is the cold weather).

Not sure why you state that pain meds will shorten your life? but I don't know what you're on either - I do know that plenty of water is necessary to flush the meds thru so liver damage doesn't happen. That's another thing my daughter has to do - drink at least 60 ounces of water a day due to her meds.

I hope you find a good pain doctor that can help you and I'm glad to hear your regular doctor is a good one!

Not sure if any of what I said helps, but know you're not alone.

Come back here often - read thru other's stories too, I find ideas in them I may have never thought about otherwise

You did help a lot. Just hearing others stories help. My kidneys and liver are very sensitive and I have had problems with organ failure before.

Sara

Hi,

Yes, herniated discs, but the good news is that with rest and proper treatment it can get better. I had 3 discs dislocated by an accident and had a 3 level/360 fusion, in my case I almost did not have a choice, but if I only had herniated discs, I would never, ever allow a Doc to operate on me! I am not minimizing your pain, but Hun as long as you don't have nerve impingement doing some alternative treatments my work. After my 5th lumbar surgery due to the fusion failing a nurse told me, try yoga; I looked at her like she had 10 heads! I was like; HOW CAN I DO YOGA WHEN I WALK WITH A CANE AND I AM IN PAIN 24/7!!!!!!!! Well, I listened and went to the library and checked out a beginner yoga CD, little by little I started to get better, my core got stronger and my pain started to slow down a bit, I am not telling you that is a cure, because is not, but if all you do is sit or lay around your muscles are going to turned into mush, and at 31, do U really want that????!!! I will be 52 in 2 days, and even though my pain is intractable, there's not one day that I don't do some type of exercise, even if is in bed.

This is an article that might help,and I hope that you find alternative treatments so you don't end up with a broken back, walking with a cane, and been in intractable pain for the rest of your life.

thttp://www.livestrong.com/article/203470-how-to-cure-a- herniated-disc/

Stay Strong,

KW