Pain meds

Bones, joints and muscles
1

What's the average time on pain meds?

My doctor gave me oxycodone/APAP 10/325 MG

I don't do well on them so he prescribed Hydromorphone 2 MG which is basically dilaudid. Which is better? The dilauded 2mg doesn't seem to touch the pain so I'm taking 2 /2mg tablets q-4. But he only gave me 20 of those. Enough for 3 days. He gave me 120 of the oxy ....the one that I can't stomach. He went out if the country and I'm not sure what to do to get more of the medication that works. Any suggestions & how long is pain medication needed after a multilevel fusion with spinal nerve damage that was sutured closed. I had 3 fractured discs, a synovial cyst, 2 herniated discs & a hole in my spinal cord leaking spinal fluid from a bad epidural injection.

2

Usually, it's a good week in the hospital and over 6 weeks for a fusion alone. Was it anterior and posterior approach? It really depends on the surgeon and the laws. If your surgeon went out of the Country, I'D BE CERTAIN THAT I HAVE THE PRACTICE ADMINISTRATION NAME as well as the physician who is looking over your doctor's patients while gone , which includes you. Daulid 2mg isn't very strong for someone with your extreme case. Oxymorphone isn't either bc I had both during a time of everyday pain and it wasn't right for me. I'm always taking anotes extended release pain medication that is higher in quality and breakthrough meds like Norco or Percocet. Usually, they prescribe a pretty strong Classic 2 with breakthrough medication throughout the day. Im not sure if this is an abrupt case or if you've been a chronic pain management patient bc most of us who have been know what works best and have stayed at a similar dose until further date. I've done this for 15 years and still counting. CALL the ON CALL DR now!. If you can't stomach heavy medicine, they may need to prescribe Phenergan or a anti nausea med to balance out the two. Always remember, if you let the pain get too bad before taking any thing for it, its almost not going to work as well because it's preventative in a better way of describing how it works. It definitely will be more effective to take it as prescribed even if you don't think you need it. It creeps on you. FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS AND DON'T LIFT, BEND OR DO CRAP BC YOU DON'T want to have any setbacks. Don't hesitate to blow up phone numbers for the surgicalast team and hospitals. Good luck . I tried to give you some information.

3

I have a 5 inch incision in my back. The doctor taking over for mine doesn't believe in pain meds.. He will be useless. My primary care physician of 15 years will understand and help me more. I will call him in the morning and try to get in on Tuesday. Tomorrow is a holiday. The pain is making it hard to sleep and walk. Thank you so much.

4

IF you can't make it bc of labor day, I'd still go or call the nursing staff in the OPERATING ROOM. They should have all your records and procedure notes and pain, they should be following up with you. I'm not sure how long your surgery was. I have one four inchon the front and back. I have had two anterior and posterior approach fusions as well as a SCS IMPLANT. I'm about to undergo my 35th plus procedure on Friday. WE are taking the implant out or correctly implanting a more accurate and up-to-date SCS. I'M 37 yrs old hairstylist and criminal justice major who was rear ended after both back surgeries. I've been doing this sense I was 21yrs old. I am trying to get better by helping others and to not give up.

Hang in there.

5

Three drunk driver and I am not going to ever see restitution.

6

Wow! I'm so sorry to hear that. I wish you all the best. Did they give you a bone stimulator to help with bone growth?

7

My first fusion 2003 (Accident in 2000 Charged the other driver for DUI) was beautiful looking but it was not the source of my pain. FIVE weeks following that surgery is when I WAS another passenger in a MVA and it was 2nd DUI ON the SAME road half a mile apart.

I was rear ended again. I went another 10 years with trying every single conservative treatment option, 20 different types of injections, chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, physical therapy and every medication thrown down my tbroat. I got married in 2012, Dec, then that following March I was doing Yoga and blew out the rest of the disc below the fusion at L5 S1, it was gone. However, we verified that by doing a myleogram and a discography in the summer of 2013 which duplicated the pain signals. I had the 2nd fusion 6 months later in September for my birthday, in Dallas TX. It went amazing, I had a new product, a company that just started doing 3D printing, invented a truss system architectural titanium cage for the spinal fusions and they are made for approaching poterior, antetior, lateral, oblique etc and custom sized implants for any other body parts that need custom fusion. Believe it or not it's a very powerful and promising FDA implant that saved MY LIFE . I had gotten pain relief from that surgery, first time in 13 years, which helped both the original pain and new onset of pain causing the 2ND fusion. NOW, UNTIL the fifth week mark, It happened again , I was a passenger in the 3rd MVA accident. So even though my lumbar region is okay, the rest of my body isn't. NOW my TSpine and the SIJoints caused by the trauma ( which is right above and below the fused vertabreas have taken a hit, degeneration, scoliosis has come out of nowhere and has been a downhill battle in that arena. THE continued Trauma has changed my entire spinal structure, I'm pretty tall and thin so I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain, Herniated disc, and lumbosacral spondylitis, radiculitis , neuropathy, unspecified Connective Tissue Disorder, DDD, TSpine curvature increasing monthly, TAILBONE AND SI joint Dysfunction , bone spurs, nerve and joint pain, weakness and unpredictable falls, chronic pain from the cervical down my back to the back of my right leg. Sometimes, my body just feels bruised from my CNS being on overdrive. I know now how to handle stress or toxic people. I do my homework and see the best doctors. My senses, my sleep, my anxiety and depression is managed. I don't usually talk about it bc I Look normal, that is until poolside time. hahaha. To answer ypur question..I was p*ssed bc this one doctor said that he thought I was not fully fused on the second CT scan 3D reconstruction. So my insurance paid for the Bone stimulator, I went to Emory and they agreed that I was already FUSED PERFECTLY. Luckily I didn't listen and I followed my intuition. I had the replacement of the hardware in 2013 so I was Golden in that area. I do have the Bone Stim in the box. I might sell it. NOW, I have the Medtronic Spjnal Cord Stimulator bc my trial procedure was a success. Then the surgery was done in December and I figured it out...... the Medtronic rep misguided my surgeon and the lead placement in not aligned with the trial results from the treating physician the month prior. So after 4 opinions, 4 Medtronics representatives and 8 monthsof adjusting the programs , we are going to take it out bc it's vibrating my ribs, not even close to the trial surgery results. THIS has bern traumatic. Documentation are not even accurate nor complete from the rep and I am not giving up. I have a lot of people involved, I'm not going to accept an apology for the GM. IT'S ON. I will have a medial branch facet injection Friday, then aim to remove the SCS and implant the newest version if I get the r s sults

8

I was given 10mg ocycodone after my surgery and like u i cant take them. I take soma which for me works great. Im 6 montha past my surgery and still having bad pain and still taking pain pills. I was in the ER yesterday cause my back went out and my legs stopped working and i hit the floor. I may have to have another surgery. Im getting a 2nd opinion now. But once u have back pain or surgery chances of getting pain free and off the pills are very slim. But everyone is different. Good luck.

9

Depends on you.  I did not want the narcotics prescribed so did not use.  The only thing I took was tramadol 50 mg and that was 2 times a day. I had a fusion and decompression and something else I forgot at the end of June. I stopped taking after 4 weeks.  I am doing great.  My real medicine is walking.  In month of August I walked 171.5 miles.  Also very careful of what is called the BLT.  No bending, lifting, or twisting.

10

Wow, that's THE BEST THING I've read about and I'm so happy for you and your success with a difficult Surgery. Are you in the states, what caused the problem for you to have to require a Surgery?

11

I have no idea what caused it. Probably 50 years of waitressing ( I am 65).  But a beautiful April day went for a 2 mile run on beach, had lunch, felt great , and walked 2 ft in store and it was all over.  I spent the next 2 months lying in bed about 22 hrs a day.  I had 3 epidural shots, saw 2 different chiropractors, acupuncture, PT. and 2 different orthopedic Drs who both said surgery not an option.  I actually laid on the floor of a gas station bathroom while have oil changed.  When I laid down I was fine but standing or sitting more than 2 minutes and I was in horrible pain.  I even had someone give me a walker from their car to help me.  And I took so many Advil I probably have no kidneys left.  My husband used to move my feet in morning to make sure I was alive that is how many I took.  It turned out there was almost an inch gap in spine so whenever I was not lying down everything moved.  I finally sent an email to an orthopedic specialty hospital about 60 miles from me begging for help.  I was fortunate that they called next morning and said their leading neosurgeon was in a meeting but if I could get there in 3 hrs he would see me.  Drove down stopping twice to lie on side of road pretending I was sunbathing.  That was a Monday and had surgery that Wednesday.  It took me 10 days before I went for a walk and took me almost 30 minutes to go 1/4 mile.  But I went back twice a day and made it longer by 2 streetlights every day.  If you think how long it took me would not bother me, I ran the NY marathon last year.  Now I walk 5 miles in morning and then walk some in evening.  Es every morning I am stiff but do PT exercises on mornings I don't go and no matter the weather I am out.  I am always aware of my back and sometimes sore but nothing compared to what it was.  My first advice to anyone having this is do not Google!  When you do all you get are people who had a hard time so that is what you expect.  And when you expect it it happens.  After surgery it is all baby steps.  Honor the BLT which is no bending lifting or twisting.  I lift nothing more than 15 lbs and still use a grabber for small things.  I can bend but not comfortable.  Just remember you are worth it and although I agree the surgeon is important  but you are responsible for your recovery.  As far as drugs did not want and I managed.   Good Luck!  Live in NEW JERSEY USA

12

also have a bone growth stimulator for 2 hours a day

13

That's anot amazing and wonderful way to get your own work done. Some people love to have the pills but I'M DYING TO COME OFF. I agree with you. Too many people tend to believe that surgery fixes it. What they don't fail to realize is that the vertebrae and discs above and below the fusions start to week and have to compensate for that and it will start tearing down each level one by one if you don't have a strong core and walk and like you said bending lifting and twisting is absolutely the very worst thing that I could do for myself. I don't even lift more than 10 pounds probably not even more than 7. Glad to hear your story and that you're doing well keep going go out there and feel Advocate and teach people about life does go on. Goodnight

14

I've never taken pain pills until I've had surgery. I'm only 4 days post op. I think pain medication is needed this early in my stage. This was a 3.5 hour surgery with a 3 day stay inpatient.

15

You have to do what makes you feel better.  My surgery was 6 hours long an d I was also in hospital for. 3 days.  The thing is the drugs did not make me feel better nor did it take away pain for me.  Last year I had a meniscus removed.  Dr said crutches for 10 days because of problems he encountered.  I went home late morning and after anithesia wore off felt fine.  Knee did not hurt.  Made dinner cleaned house and felt great.  Next day I went shopping.  4 in the afternoon the stuff they put in actual knee wore off.  I didn't know! I was suddenly screaming "where is the drugs".  Took them for 2 days and still felt no relief so stopped.  If they work for you then take them.  I took before surgery 3 Advil pm to sleep at night.  Then since you cannot take them I switched to Tylenol pm.  It helped me to sleep very much.  You have to find what works for you.

16

I have so much pain and discomfort bc of all the trauma done with the total of 7 MVA, two following the first and second surgery ( 5 weeks post op ) as well as a double flip down 11 staircases falling backwards. I also have a lot of trigger point pain, Myofascial Pain, Fibromyalgia which has my Nervous system on overdrive times 10 at times. It is literally as though I wake up each morning after I had been hit by a bus the night before. Sleeping problems since I was a child. I'm not sure if genetics or gifts for personal growth and development, I just do't it, it is my calling. I do okay with working with a cognitive behavior specialist and trying to control my body reactions as much as possible.