Back Pain

[bassdrum]

The following tale was told to me by a hermaphroditic Troll that my dead Grandmother met one afternoon while shopping for body-parts in Eastern Silesia:


Seeing as there is a long of good advice being said on this forum and there are tons of knowledgeable and experienced people on here, I decided to finally make a post about my problem and hopefully get some help.

(I hope this is the right place to post this)


// My history:

At the age of 8, I started feeling something in my lower back and like my mom told me just recently "I was always complaining about my back from when I was even very young". At the age of 17 I started feeling it more often and at 19 it finally hit me that I have might something in my lower back and it was finally starting to bother me. Might I also add that prior to that I played tennis for 10 years and was a "super" athlete and could do just ANYTHING imaginable. Now I can't do much... in fact - I had to quit tennis.


// The problem:

I'm 20 now and my lower back is bothering me with non-stop, chronic, and neuropathic type pain. I feel burning, shooting, pulsating, aching, stabbing and 'ripping' in my lower back area. Lots of movements are restricted and I cannot apply ANY pressure or weight on my upper body or my back. I have to avoid certain movements because those can trigger severe pain spikes. I can't do some of the activities I used to be able to do when I was younger. I can't do any physical activity anymore either.

I will be truthful and also add that I have taken some illicit substances last year during a course of 14 months that included ecstasy (MDMA/MDA/MDEA and which was sometimes laced with crystal meth) [about 10 times], cocaine (no crack) [4 times], magic mushrooms (psilocybin) [about 5 times], and acid (LSD) [1 time]. I have stopped cold turkey in April for amphetamines and July for psychedelics. I have also tried marijuana and hard liquor a few times but never stuck with the habits.


// Analysis:

X-ray: Negative, no signs of bone misalignments and such
Bone scan: Negative, no signs of bone problems
CT scan: Positive, there is evidence of an all around bulging disk between L5 and S1. The way they explained it to me was that my L5 disk 'sandwiched' my disk in between S1 like a donut and imploded it around the circumference of the disk.
MRI: I'm going to book this appointment as soon as possible...


// Treatment:

I started asking for treatment last year. I started going to my family doctor and telling her about the kind of pain I was getting. I wasn't really knowledgeable about medication at the time, and I was pretty against any kinds of pharmaceutical drugs too - so I think I prevented a lot of them from working. But nevertheless, I'm past that time of ignorance and stupidity, and here's the list of things I've taken in the past and am currently taking:

Neuropathic pain:
- Amitriptyline (25mg, lowered to 10mg at night for 2 months) [ This treatment didn't work whatsoever ]
- Lyrica (Pregabalin) (75mg in the morning and 75mg at night for 2 months) [ This treatment didn't work really well but worked nevertheless ]

Painkillers:
- Apo-Ibuprofen (100mg - 600mg, taken whenever there's pain) [ It stopped working due to a built up tolerance to it ]
- Apo-Naproxen (500mg twice a day) [ I took it for over a month but it didn't work ]
- Apo-Ketorolac (10mg, taken whenever there's pain) [ I took it a few times but I can't figure out if it did anything... maybe I just didn't give it enough time, although I didn't really like it ]
- Tylenol 3 w/ codeine phosphate (30mg, taken whenever there's pain) [ It isn't very good and I don't take it often, but have already built a tolerance to it ]
- Morphine sulphate (10mg, taken whenever there's severe pain) [ I took it 3 or 4 times so far and it hasn't really taken away the sharp pain and just made me feel like shit, so I'm probably not going to take it anymore ]

Physical manipulation:
- Therapeutic/sports massage: It gave me very little results, perhaps only temporary relief for no more than two days each time. I'm not doing massage therapy anymore.
- Chiropractor: This also gave little results, although he fixed a few pinched nerves and so far it has stayed that way. The disk bulge was left untouched. I'm not taking any more chiropractic sessions.
- Physiotherapy: I haven't tried it yet - should I? I'm kinda skeptical of anything that involves a lot of movements because I can't do much at this stage.

Other:
- Swimming pool: Swimming doesn't seem to help much, although I can barely swim without it hurting a lot. I think I will keep on trying though still.
- Sauna/steam room: They only give temporary relief, not really worth going for my pain.
- Heat/ice: Heat gives me temporary relief and ice gives me longer relief but they still don't help much.
- Inversion table: Started doing it on a regular basis but so far I get nothing but severe pain... I can't tell if it's working yet or not.


// The future:

I'm planning to ask my doctor if she can put me on Lyrica once again because I think that was helping me, although I wasn't quite sure at the time cause I was irresponsible at the time and missed a lot of doses and didn't care for it.

I also want to start swimming more often - maybe that will help? I'm trying to be able to get back into physical exercising again.

So what should I do? I'm starting to really get frustrated as of lately because all I do is think about how I should perform my movements so that I don't hurt my back. It's on my mind 24/7 and I'm becoming restless because of it. I'm missing out on almost every social outing opportunity that I get and I stopped hanging out with my friends. I can't afford to have the pain strike me when I'm around people because it temporarily paralyzes me and just ruins my day.


Any help will be appreciated. Thank you.

[Micklemouse]

Speaking of SWiMming, please it or equivalent. Self-incrimination (speaking of drug-use, past, present or future, in the first person) is heavily against The rules of drugs-forum (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/announcement.php?f=43&a=1). Failure to adhere can & will bring negative reputation, warnings & eventually banning from the site. This rule is non-negotiable. Please edit posts as soon as possible.

So, what we're looking at here is basically a slipped disk, right? Conventional treatment generally involves as complete a level of immobility as possible, coupled with the therapies you have already tried. However without the rest the therapies aint gonna work. Given the length of time this has been going on surgery might also be an option. SWiY really needs to be speaking to a specialist about this. A physio would definitely be a good place to start. In fact I'm surprised SWiYour doc has not suggested this earlier.

http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/lumbar/lumb01.html

And no more drugs for SWiMmy boy/girl until this is sorted out.

[Hlucn8]

Hey. Check your P.M.s
Swim is a soldier. In '03 he got hurt in Iraq. Multilevel degenerative disk disease is the diagnosis. Bulging/herniated disks at L2-3, L4-5, L5-S1. swIm feels your pain, lieraly! Got out of the Army for a while, then swIm noticed after about 8 months, the pain subsided conciderably. After two years, he got back in. He did crazy shit that did not hurt him a bit, (crazy shoot move comunicate shit)! Then a month ago he was picking up his kids clothing off the floor, and boom! Now his wife has to help him put on his socks and tie his boots. He is back on chronic pain meds, and has to ride the whole opiate rollercoaster again. He would rather just use them once in a while for the fun of it, but now he is going to have to allow his body to become addicted, then once the acute pain receeds again, he has to go through comming off again. I'm truley sorry for your condition. Keep in touch with swim via P.M.s and swiwe can comiserate. I hope swiy finds a therapy that helps him.

[bassdrum]

Oops sorry, SWIM copied and pasted this post from another forum. Will correct it now.

[bassdrum]

Uhhhhh - how would SWIM edit his original post?

[Hlucn8]

Swim thinks you may have to have a certain amount of posts/rep level?!? Contact a mod for help, perhaps.

[bassdrum]

SWIM notified a moderator.


Thanks for the replies so far. SWIM has actually tried physio once and he felt that it wasn't going to do him any good. SWIM is feeling benefit from the inversion table so far.

SWIM's next question is - what would be some appropriate medication that SWIM should ask his doctor about? SWIM wants to go abouts his daily tasks without neuropathic and nervous pain until he starts getting better from his current treatment.

[Hlucn8]

swiBassdrum,
With me, strengthening the core, (abdominal muscles), helps tremendusly. Not just the "six pack" but all the supporting muscles surrounding the thorasic cavity. Study up on your A&P.
As far as meds, stay on a good NSAID, (take them religiously). Swiy may try asking for a C.R. opioid, (Oxycontin, M.S. contin, Duragesic), with hydro or oxy I.R. for breakthrough pain. Tell him to keep in mind, though, that a long time spent on opioid meds will result in physical addiction, and when I say physical that includes the brain as an organ. swiHlucn8 wrote a few posts concerning opiate addiction that may help swiy decide if this is the path swiy will want to take. If swiyou can accept the pain w/o opiates, that would be the best, but reading swiy post it seems you have already gone down this path.
Also, if swiyou smokes, quit! Drink lots of fluids, stay hydrated. Look into glyconutrients. Tell him to google them. Glucosamine is one of them, but all of them will help. They are expensive, but they truely help.

[Mona Lisa]

My father has suffered from chronic back pain and had surgery which helped him, though I can't remember what it was called, plus it is risky but he was lucky. I think it might be called a spinal fusion. My mother also has bad back trouble and is seeing an acupuncturist and also sees a specialist who puts her into a machine in which she enters into a vacuum which helps give her back some relief (suppose it enables the compressed disks to stretch some).

I personally tend to be wary of such treatments because they could involve a bit of quackery; but she thinks it's helping her and I'm open-minded if a bit sceptical. You might want to look into such alternative options!

I swear by a good mattress which seems to have held me in good stead so far (age 41). You might benefit from a better bed.

[Hlucn8]

I swear by a good mattress which seems to have held me in good stead so far (age 41). You might benefit from a better bed.
A good older friend of mine once gave me some of the best advice I've ever heard. He said to invest good money in three things for yourself, and to never skimp or go cheap on them:

1: Eyesight. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses, and use them as if they where your prescription eye ware. His cost in excess of three hundred dollars, and he does not regret one penny. Maybe some research would turn up that a cheaper pair would technically work just as well as far as filtering out the more harmful radiation, but considering that the quality of the glass, (almost indestructible and scratch proof, the frames as well), the comfort of wear, and the timeless good taste that never goes out of fashion, all this combined fostered a tremendous sense of responsibility that has kept them protecting his eyes for more than a decade. I can't count how many $5.00 pairs I've lost, ruined, was too embarrassed to wear in public, etc... I probably could have bought a nice pair with all that money. Something that makes you think, huh?

2: Feet. The best socks that support the veins, protect the integrity of the skin, and last a good long while without loosing their supportive quality wash after wash; but don't hold off replacing when they go slack. Custom fit podiatrist recommended orthotic inserts. And, last but not least, shoes that have soles that absorb shock, support the ankle, and have a wide toe base, (sort of like Burks), again replaced as soon as need be. The foundation of the house supports the entire structure and determines if the walls bow and the rafters sag, if you catch my meaning. Fashion and class is important as well so you'll actually wear them

3: The best mattress that accommodates you! Everybody and every body is built differently. Talk to an orthopedic surgeon, a chiropractor, neurologist, consult consumer reports, educate yourself. Oh sure, find a sale if you can, but the best mattress for you is worth some bucks. My wife and I, when we first married, bought a $100 dollar mattress. Oh My Goodness! We tossed it within a month. It was as smart as purchasing particle board furniture for outdoor use in Seattle, Wa. Don't forget to invest in the peripherals; A good pillow that lines the neck up with the rest of the spine, the highest thread-count sheets you can afford, (they promote a good nights rest), and season appropriate blankets.

There you have it! Treat your eyes, your feet, and your back like royalty, and they will last a long time.

I suppose the one thing I would add to the maintenance theme would be hearing protection. I always have earplugs within reach, but my line of work sort of necessitates it. There have been time, though, when they have come in handy while wearing civvies and the bullets weren't flying, (I actually wore a pair of ear-plugs at a Manson concert, what a geek, huh? But hey, I can still hear every instrument in the orchestra).

[MostateN08]

What is the best way to get prescribed pain killers such as hydrocodone? My pet rhinocerus has back problems but only gets high doses of naproxen.... and as you all know how powerful that is im sure. Any suggestions?

P.S.- If any of you have ever had herniated disk problems then you know the pain level. So please help a fellow animal out.

[Nagognog2]

First off, read the rules of the forum. Edited.

Secondly - if you have discussed this with your doctor and told him/her naproxen does not work, and still they won't help you - find a pain specialist. Many doctors don't understand how to treat pain. And still more are afraid to prescribe narcotics due to DEA regulations and fear of losing their license.

Also look into non-drug treatments. They can work wonders. Your rhinocerus with thank you.

[seeingred]

swiy could look into Relafin...it's might be more effective...but Swim doesn't know much about it.

[USMC Wannabe]

SWIM Mother has 3 Ruptured disks as far as I know that is about the same if not worse to your poor pets problem.

Personaly If your Vet does not prescribe your pet something stronger after you has asked, get rid of them.HE/SHE must not understand your pain or give a shit. That mother has had a script for Hydrocodone for about 8 years. That is the 2nd thing the doc gave her and she has done fine ever since.

If your pet is on Workers Comp its been to a pain speacilist and they cover your pets meds it will be alot harder to get that script.

Hope SWIM was a help

[VoodooFeather]

SWIM has spondylosis, dunno the details bout that, but it has to do with disks in SWIM's back. The doctor only prescribed SWIM pregabalin - Lyrica it seems cause thats a new drug, and was told that it would not mess with SWIM's ability to focus in school as opposed to morphine.

SWIM used some hydrocodone in conjunction with this lyrica, and it helped a lot more. How would SWIM go about remedying this?

[ILoveYou]

My puppy's father has a very bad back condition and has built up a high tolerance to most pain-killers except for fentanyl(patches and lozenges) and oxycodone. Swiy might ask Swiy's doctor to try that. Baclofen might also work if Swiy's having muscle spasms.