Depression & Chronic Pain Support Group

Hi, I am new to this group, so I would like to tell a little of my story. I had a car wreck about 7 years back and have had chronic back and neck pain ever since. The first doctor that I went to see only wanted to put me on narcotics and send e on my way. Years later, I found a great Psychiatrist and a great Pain Managment Group that ave both, in conjuction, tried to control my pain.

One of the best medicines that I usd was Opana ER, then the insurance company would not cover it anymore. So they tried Cymbalta...can you say MIRACLE! I did not have any breakthrough pain while taking it. But, once again, the insurance stopped paying for it.

So, after we had reached the scope of medicines that I had tried and we had ruled out all the other medications, I was put on Butrans Transdermal Patches along with Oxycodone for the breakthrough pain. Even with these medications, I still have so much pain that I can barely move most days.

The next options is to have a TENS Unit implanted to control just some of my pain because they can only focs on one area with it. My back hurts from my neck to my tail bone. So, how do you decide which pain you want to go away in this situation? I know that less pain is better than all the pain I am having, but how do I decide?

I was so hopig that the couse we were on right now was going to make a huge difference in my pain level each day. As most people, I have days with just minor pain and then the others I have major pain that I just can not deal with.

I have been told that excercising will help the pain, but when it is difficult to even walk, how do you excercise? How can I even take a walk up the street and back?

So, here I am, asking if anyone can give me some advice as to how I can cope better with my chronic pain.

Hi scarysanity,

Welcome to the group! That is a tough one to call. Have you tried Lyrica or any of it's generics such as Neurontin, or Gabapentin? Will insurance cover these? These meds work well on nerve pain, are more effective and don't have the addiction issues like narcotics do. Are you talking about an SCS Spinal Chord Stimulator implanted? They deliver medication to help with pain. I would hesitate to do this it is more invasive, and they can cause spread of pain. The other concern is that it is a 50/50 roll of the dice as to whether or not it will help you. The tens unit is not implanted just leads put on the skin to help disrupt the pain cycle. The Tens unit helped me at my physio, after the workout I would have this and heat as my reward and to ease the pain. Exercising is painful moreso at times than others, but the pain must be well managed first. It sound like you had that with Cymbalta and maybe should see if your Dr. can get it covered as a special circumstance. Doesn't hurt to look into it. Keep moving is important to keep mobility and to halt further progression of pain signals. Water exercise is easiest on the body,swimming or aquafit classes are very beneficial to regaining control over pain and mobility.Hot tub after as a reward and to ease pain works well. When at home use moist heat wraps to help with pain control. Epsom salt baths work well, the magnesium helps with circulation and blood flow as does the warm/hot water. Creams like gluocosamine MSM help numb the pain but feel warm on skin. Distraction like a comedy show or movie, listening to good relaxing music, talking to a friend anything that takes your mind off pain and away from yourself is a great coping tool. There are many others to help along with meds you can look through old posts and find many ides from many members experiences.It is trial and error for us all to see what works best for us. Come here and talk to us, we will be here to guide you through it as more experienced long term pain fighters.

Hugs,

scorpioj GL

I have had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted about 7 years ago and one of the wires got infected and had to be removed. So, yes, that is wat they are considering again. I know that it will not give me full relief from all of my back pain because they told me I could only pick one place for it to go to. The reason why I was talking to my doctor about the Stimulator was because I wanted to get off the narcotics. But it still sounds like I would have to take soe for the other pain that I have.

My insurance will not cover Lyrica and gabapentin has aweful side effects on me. Ihave trditmnyyearsago and I just did not do well with it. As for the Cymabalta, the insurance will not allow it even or a special circumstance. I have already been down that road with the doctors and insurance company.

I have been trying to do some extra moving around the past couple of days, doing some extensive ceaning in my home. I have been stooping, bending, lifting and carrying things. My back hurts no matter what I do or don't do. I am just going to have to keep going regardless of the pain.

Thank you for your reply and for the advice.

Hi again scary,

I personally would find that a very unappealing solution. I am sorry they won't re-consider covering the Cymbalta that works for you without the negative effects-that sucks!! Yes we do have to move through the pain,as long as we take equal time to rest. I hope you are having low pain and that the implant will give you relief this time without the leads/wires becoming infected or slipping etc.

Take care and hugs,

scorpioj

scorpioj,

Hello again! I do not find a foreign peices of metal and leads in my body appealing either. I was extremely disappoined when I was told that Cymbalta was not on my nsurance formulary anymore. I was having to up my dose of it quite often because it was slowly beginning to stop working as time went by. I have found out the hard way that, even with the Butrans and Percocet, they do not help the pain of Fibro. Instead, I was put on Wellbutrin and Zoloft to try to get the same relief, but it is not working. I have extreme pain in my ankles and toestat wakes me every night and makes it very to even walk.

I do have the external TENS Unit to use en things get real bad! Unfotunately, My husband is not that understanding about my pain and the rest I need. He has never experienced anythng like this in his life so he is not sympathetic either. So, I just deal with it the best I can. Sometimes I push myself too hard and end up strring up a hornets nest in my back, so to speak. That is when I am put out of commision for a long time. I need to find that balance between work and rest.

Thank you and I hope you are doing well,

*hugs*

Scarysanity

I hesitate to mention some ideas, but sometimes we all can just "miss" something! Especaly when you are trying to research something as you body is cryng out!I don't know if you qualify for Lily's assist program regarding Cyambalta! Where I live (Texas) there are County and State programs that will help with one specific med? I have been on Cymbalta about a year now and it does help a lot I have to say I have been there done that with the insurance! I will admit I went crazy to get them to pay for Nucyenta ER, then after all the trouble I had really bad side effects and could not take it! I am not a doctor! I am an "old" (Laugh now!) retired RN. One other idea for an outlet to get meds, procedures paid for is to notify the government group that oversees your states insuranc. Follow everything in writing! I complained to the State when my insurance said I could not get a hip replacement for 3 months, because the doctors on the plan were "booked up." I had developed bone necrosis (death), due to large amount of steroids I received the first time I was in a coma regarding lung issues. I am retired from a county health system and they wrote me that they do not have to answer to the insurance board...BUT a week later I got aproval to go to an "outside physician." I am getting too wordy...Just want to emphasize do not give up! This is a medicine that has proven to work for you!Just FYI..I could not take the Lyrica, either, took one day bad allergic reaction, coma next day! You NEED to find the balance between work, rest, and a better quality of life! Never forget that. After my second coma, I forgot and wa in a coma 2 more times, but the worst was my quality of life. It is not just about taking up space on this planet! I allmost forgot that> speak up any time, or with anyquestions! sassym group leader ARDS

sassym,

Thank you for all of your advice! I once was on Lily's patient assistance program, but when I received my insurance they cancelled on me. I can still ask at my psychiatrist if I could get it since my insurance will not cover it anymore. I will say that my quality of life stinks! I feel like I am just taking up space on this planet and that my life has no meaning what so ever anymore. It is very hard for me to get a balance between everything I need to do and resting to regain my strength. I am moving forward, slightly, but it is forward instead of backwards. My illnesses have taken a toll on my marriage and I am having to find other coping skills to just keep my marriage afloat. It is very difficult for me to communicate with him seeing that he has never experienced anything like this and has never known anyone with anything like I have.

As for where you are concerned...I want to say that I am sorry for everythin that yoou have gone through! You went all the way to get the treatment that you needed and that takes guts. Having a retired RN on my side giving me advice is a wonderful thing for me. I am glad that you have got the surgeries and treatment you needed. I just hate that you have had such severe side effects to your meds. I can not even beging to imagine what it is like to be in a coma once, much less multiple times. I want to give you *hugs* for your caring and compassionate heart!

Okay! thank you, what a "pick-up" your comments are. You remind me what I have been through. You are right. Each time I have said that God must have a purpose for me that I have not yet fulfilled. I have "faith", that has gotten a whole lot stronger in the past 6 months. That is the last time I was in the hopspital, but got there in time to treat the pneumonias, before I went into system failures, and the first time no coma. I promised my self and family that I was goint to improve everything, just not sure why I have hit this rut suddenly...? I needed to be reminded that it is 3 steps forward, one or even 2 back, but I am still going forward.Thank You!

Just a little info on me...I have been married 3 times, my husband 5 times. Now laugh! because we have been married 35 years! I am 61, he is 73. He has had heart issues, but still manages to ride his Harley! We have 2 sons,45 and 53, 3 grandsons ages 25, 21, 18...then the 45 year old son came back from one of his "tours", Afganistan, and decided to keep going, so I have 2 granddaughters ages 8 and 4, greatgrand kids X3 ages 6, 4, and 2 months. I don't usually tell people this but it is just a reminder to myself that I have a lot to live for!!

I can speak from experience that when you go through rough times, as long as you do not give up, it will make your marriage stronger! I try to stay out of my kids affairs (really not too good), but it is a fact,that there will always be the trial and tribulations of making a marriage work. My husband and I are good examples at 8 between us! You have to compromise, tolerate, problem solve, bite your tongue, take the responsibility to make it work. Having said that, you can start again. See, you are the one in semi control of your future. Change what you don't want, don't like, and be happy where you are going! If it doesn't work, what is the option REGROUP! Just an end note, my husband goes motorcycle riding so "I can have some alone time!" Are you kidding me! He wants to go play with his friends, bar hop, and pretend he is still 21! again thank you, I feel much better! sassym (Sue)

I did laugh, but not of the reason you would think! I am 36 and this is my 3rd marriage...now you laugh! I only have one daughter, 10 years old, and she does not like her step-father. A couple of years ago, he was the light in her eye, but it is oh so different now. She has become that sassy teenager even before she is that age. Unfortunately, I could only have one child and that was with my 2nd husband. At the age of 25, I had to have a hysterectomy...a radical one at that. So now, my husband and I can not have a child of our own. I told him this when we met so that it would be a subject we could talk about and decide if we wanted to go further with the relationship. He said he did not want any kids, but I believe now he wishes we could.

Scarysanity (Angela)

sassym,

In the case where your husband rides his Harley to feel 21 again, I have a husband tht plays the Playstation 3 so he can relive his childhood again. Me on the other hand, I really do not have any hobbies right now...hence the stress level rising quickly! I had a cello at one time, which I played for over 10 years, but in this economy, I had to sell it I have tried latch hook, which I enjoy some what, I just have a hard time concentrating when I am trying to work on it.

I have tried, like you said, changing the things I do not like in my life, what I do not like about myself...but it is that 2 step back process we were talking about. I try and try to make myself happy, but it seems that I am only changing to make others happy instead of myself. It Sucks!