Calling all sisters , I need some help

I need your advice or if you don't have any, I'll take s! I have been having problems (re:my sig line) since my hyst in 2002. I have had SI joint injections 3 times now and each time they help, but the pain comes back before it should. The first 2 times it was a gradual increase, but this last time was full force with a bang!! I just saw the gyn who says adhesions (in op due to history), but thankfully not ORS. I have a reg. follow-up appointment scheduled with my PM on Monday and don't really know what she will do with me.

I take Lortab 5mg 4x daily, Soma 3x daily and Lodine 2x daily. This time when the pain came NOTHING would help so I took extra trying to get it to go away. (Yeah, I know...bad move, but you know how things can get!) Now I am out of pain meds (one lone Lortab left) until Monday and am in agonizing pain with little to no relief. I have been in tears for days and KNOW I will break down when I get to this appointment.

I just don't know how to proceed from here! I enjoy those 2 months of reduced pain after the injections, but still have to take the other meds daily to keep my pain level in check. Then there is the issue of steroid part of the injections and how much of that can my body take? And to add CPP on to all this that my gyn says basically we'll just have to manage the pain? I don't want to take narcotics daily and definitely don't want to increase them, but what else is there?? I simply can not function like this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can relate. It took me a long time to come around to the fact that I need pain meds to function on a daily basis. It no longer bothers me, although I do still hold out hope that one day I will be able to be painfree and medfree!!!

I do still have pain, even on the meds, but most days it is at a tolerable level. I don't think there is ever a day where I am totally pain free.

I am on the duragesic patch and use darvocet for breakthru pain. I know that I probably need something stronger, but don't think my body can handle it, so I have learned to deal with what I have.

I know it's not something any of us wants to do, but if taking the meds helps you function, than that is what you may have to do for now.

I'm sending big s Having been on this Road for 5 years now, I know it's not a place that any of us wants to be be.

I have just read your post, and want to say that I think you are so brave. I can't imagine what it must be like for you, but please know that if I could I would give you a big . Please know that you are not alone we are always here for you.

Lots of love

Kim x

Oh ((((Bill's)))) I'm so sorry you're in so much pain I can't even imagine how you can cope with such daily pain. I can understand how, when the pain gets sooo bad, you can cave in and take additional pain meds. Do be very careful, though: you know just how dangerous this can be.

How about touching base on this with your PM doctor? There may be a pain med available for those occasions where the pain becomes intolerable?

Here's a few extra for you.

I am so sorry you are having such a tough time. I too do not want to have to take pain meds in order to just exist. I have researched some long term pain relief options...the fentenyl patch with meds to help with breakthrough pain, the Intrathecal Drug Delivery System and the neurostimulator (the last 2 info at www.medtronic.com under painful neuropathy products) not saying that is the way you should go, but just some info for you to look at and talk to your drs about.

Don't feel bad about taking a few extra meds occasionally, sometimes that's what it takes to keep us from jumping off a bridge.

Know that you are in my thoughts, and here's a great big for you.

Just a quick update and thank you. PM doc says a pelvic exam can cause an extreme flare of adhesion pain for several weeks and thinks the heating pad and Lodine should be my best friends for a few days. She also refilled my Soma and Lortab & told me to take them round the clock (instead of PRN) for a few days too. So, maybe I'll get some relief!

BillsSweetie!

I just wanted to let you know I was thinking of you - and I'm soo glad that you called your PM's office! I know mine is pretty good about getting me the meds I need when I have a "flare up". I currently take Topamax to keep my pain in check - but I've noticed it isn't working as well anymore. The PM said we would just have to experiment - that there are many options out there that aren't necessarily the narcotic route....at my request. I've spent so much time in a fog that I was hoping to avoid them. BUT I agree with Kim - sometimes you just have to do what you have to do to get by. One other thing my doc has mentioned, but wants to avoid for now, is a Spinal Cord Stimulator to help control the pain. So in addition to what the sisters have already mentioned - this is one more option. It's probably not right for everyone - and I'm not crazy about the idea for myself - but it's out there.

Please take care! Lots of s
Cortney

(((BillSweetie)))...

It just really stinks, doesn't it? I'm glad you called your PM doc and got permission to use those meds on a schedule instead of PRN. That should help you both physically and psychologically.

My heating *is* my best friend. My DH complains that I love it more than I love him.

Regarding your SI and DDD....I've got DDD and spinal stenosis. I had my first injections 3 weeks ago. They pretty much wore off after 2 weeks, although I'm still getting some benefit. It was like a big tease! I woke up last week to my back throbbing and pain shooting down my legs and cried like a baby for half an hour. My 6 year old DD actually kissed my back and brought me every ice pack we had in the freezer.

Anyway, I know that surgery is probably the *last* thing you want to think about, but....I will be trying the injections 2 more times (about a month apart). They are trying to "bathe" the area to see if they can calm down the pain. After that, I would only be allowed 3 injections per year. That is what they consider safe. And, if this doesn't work, the options would be to live on narcotics for the rest of my life (I'm on norco around the clock), or surgery. The idea is to get me to where I could tolerate physical therapy and then I'm supposed to become a gym nut I guess, to keep the pain away. My DH said that my becoming a regular work out person didn't seem too likely...

Is surgery an option for you? I know that your back isn't the only source of your pain, but maybe getting rid of part of it could help your overall functioning?

Sending you many, many hugs.



Margot

Hi BillsSweetie,

I am sending you and a .

I suffer cronic pain too. I have been on opioid therapy for close to 10 yrs. Even with the meds, I still have pain too. And flare ups once in awhile.

I have had surgery, injections, meds, physical therapy and holistic treatments. I still have pain.

Do you see a Pain Mgt Specialist? I gathered you do. If you are aon Lortab, you shouldn't be on it for long periods of time. Opioids are safer for the long term.

Have you tried physical therapy? It really helps me.

I live with my heating pad, too! I use ice sometimes, but heat is better.

Good Luck,

Maria - Sending you an angel

(((margie))) -- surgery isn't an option for me as far as pelvic pain goes and I am against it as far as my back pain goes....heard too many failed back surgery stories. Don't see myself becoming a work-out person either...not at this point in my life.

(((maria)))-- I've done PT with little to no results. Yes, I see a PM doc and I thought Lortab was considered an opiod??? She is reluctant to put me on anything stronger because she doesn't feel it would help this pain any better. Says adhesion pain is very hard to treat.

Thanks for your concern. I'm taking it very easy, dosing real well and hoping this flare will lift in a few days!! s to all!