Pain Management

Add a Comment

4 Comments

Comment by Andrew Wilson on September 14, 2009 at 10:16am

I've tried multiple combinations. At the moment the current medication of choice is:- Gabapentin 300mg x 3 Daily; Co-Dydramol 20/500mg x 8 Daily; Diclofenac 50mg x 3 Daily.

I initially started on a lower dosage of gabapentin, but the benefits wear off and the dosage has been progressively increased whilst I try Hydrotherapy to regain a bit of mobility.

Gabapentin has been a god-send to me up until now and has given me at least some mobiltiy and the ability to attempt exercises again as even entry level physio led exercise classes were causing me extreme pain both at the time and for a week or more afterwards.

Comment by Sakinah on July 22, 2009 at 8:30pm

Having had a spinal fusion in 2004 due to a fracture, I have turned to alternative medicine in most situations since then and have found a good deal of alternatives for many of my health concerns in the past five years, even my recent prolapsed disc. While I'm still careful to consider medical advice, I recognize that having a positive attitude and the intention towards strengthening the body so it can do its own healing can have a very powerful effect.

Pain relief: acupuncture hands down with a very good practitioner (someone trained at a well-known school with a focus on traditional Chinese acupuncture and medicine) works wonders! I have gone in unable to sit or stand and come out standing straighter and in a lot less pain. Most of the time, effects are not immediate but I start to feel them the next day. It is incredibly helpful with the sciatica and nerve pain. If you've never tried it, don't be put off by the needles--you will barely feel them and it's a lot less painful than the pain you're experiencing from your disc problems. The only problem is that insurance doesn't usually cover it, but again, I found far more relief in two sessions of acupuncture than in 2 months of taking painkillers that only covered up the pain and caused me to do further damage, plus took a toll on my liver.

Homeopathy can be helpful towards dealing with pain as well as the psychosomatic symptoms you may be experiencing. Again, find someone who is trained classically if possible. Some remedies which helped a lot, and which were prescribed in the higher strength to me (but please see someone and get a prescription, don't just take my word) were hypericum (esp. for nerve pain), arnica (for soreness/aching), ignatia (for trauma/grief), and arsenicum.

I have taken the route of resting a lot after dealing with some of the initial pain. It's slow progress and I'm not able to work full-time at this time, but it's been helping. I started doing Structural Integration work with a practitioner (formerly known as Rolfing, but much gentler)--basically working with the fascia or soft tissue and realigning it in the body--improving the overal structure and posture, which has helped because my body was warped because it had adjusted to the pain and movement of the disc so that I could not even stand straight. This is ongoing treatment--12 sessions over about 8 months--and it's made a huge difference for me.

I will be seeing an osteopath soon about manipulations and exercises which may help me gain strength without compromising my lowerback. I'll report back if I find this treatment useful.

All the best to finding your own practices which work. By the way, I was in some pretty severe pain in the beginning and couldn't walk, sit on the toilet or sleep through the night--but that can all be overcome and surpassed without constant painkillers if you are willing to do the work.

Blessings and may you all find comfort and ease...

Comment by Dave Moffatt on February 15, 2009 at 12:13am

Thought I'd add in the various pain relief I've tried over the last 15 to 20 years or so to show you what I've tried, what's worked and what hasn't.

In terms of drugs, I've tried most of the 'stuff' you can buy over the counter and, depending on the severity of your pain and your threshold, some of it will work for you. Ibuprofen based products will have some benefit for most by reducing inflamtion around prolasped areas and give some relief, they worked to a degree for for in the early days.

For prescription drugs, codeine based also worked for a while, especially dihydrocodeine and codeine phophate, but these tend to have an effect on the bowels and cause constipation, the last thing you need with a bad back! Diclofenac is another popular one, but this one had the opposite effect and gave me nothing but major stomach problems and I couldn't take it for long.

Amitryptilline and Gabapentin were prescribed as a pair to help control the restless leg and pins and needles problems I was having ( and still have ) following my third operation. I had to stop taking these after a while as I was not happy with the side effects I was suffering whilst on them. If you're on them and have to come off, come off GRADUALLY, don't just stop taking them like I did. You'll suffer withdrawal if you've been on them for a while and you'll go 'cold turkey'!

The best drugs I've had by far ( apart from morphine in hospital that is! ) is Tramadol. Max dose is 400mg / day and if you're on this then you're likely to be next to useless in terms of doing anything as it's equvalent to a horse tranquilizer, until you get used to it that is. Same goes for the 2 drugs above though, when you don't need to take it, come off SLOWLY.

TENS machines are one of the best things invented since sliced bread! I went through a 2 week period after my third operation where my whole lower back and left leg went into spasm and no pain relief or physiotherapy could stop it, until my physio suggested using a TENS machine. 30 minutes later at full power and I was walking again, having spent the previous 4 days lying on the floor and crawling to the toilet! If you haven't tried one of these yet, give them a go. I used a dual channel one working on lower back and leg at the same time to get the best effect.

I've tried hydrotherapy but apart from the temporary relief you get from the water taking the weight of your body while you're in it, and the obvious benefit from doing some exercise, I got nothing from it back wise.

I've had countless physio sessions, all under the healing hands of my physio Bronwyn ( thanks for trying Bronwyn!) including manipulation, massage, exercise, electrical stimulation and ultrasound, all of which, unfortunately, have come to nothing as I've been told there's nothing more they can do for me as my back currently is. Don't let that put you off though, some of it was very effective at the time.

I've not tried a chiropractor, simply because the first time I saw the neurosurgeon with the MRI results and saw my scan, he said my back condition was so severe I'd been risking permanent damage and possible disability by continuing to play in goal with my back the way it was. He scared the crap out me then so I've been wary of doing too much with my back ever since! Having someone bend it and stretch it to it's limit doesn't really appeal!

I can't comment on alternative therapies such as acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy as I'm a scientist by training and 'traditional' in my thinking, so I'll leave those alone for others to comment on as I haven't tried them ( yet! ).

I hope you don't get to try all of the above! If you do, I'm so sorry for you, you'll have gone through a nightmare. Hope you have more luck than I have and you find something that works for you.

Dave

Comment by Karen on August 6, 2008 at 12:26pm

Reply by Karen on 4 August 2008 at 8:30am
Delete I have had a variety of pain medications most of which have been stopped 'cos my liver packs up when given something decent! The most effective group of drugs for me have been the codeine based painkillers. The trouble with these is they can make you feel a bit out of it and they are addictive as they are opiate based. Consequently I only take these occasionally as need all my faculties to get through the day!

I have for the past year taken a drug called Amitryptilline which is usually used for depression but is now prescribed for nerve pain at much smaller doses. This enabale me to sleep better which really helps.

I have a range of non- drug things i do like a TENS machine, heat pads and exercises the physio gave me. As my affected discs are in my neck any form of "proper" exercise is out so once a week I go to the local hospital for Hydrotherapy where I do some exercises in water that help the rest of me to keep going.

I have also learnt that relaxation really helps, easier said than done in the summer hols...... and i will be trying acupuncture when i can summon the courage!