[SX2002]

Chronic Pain​

I was quite amused when reading today's Newsletter. There was an article re chronic pain and how it can effect your memory, etc. The part that amused me was how these "experts" completely glossed over the subject of pain relief. Surely it would be much more beneficial and prevent any brain damage by getting rid of the pain, not trying to correct something when the damage has been done by the pain.
I've been a long term chronic pain sufferer for many many years now after multiple, major spinal surgeries and ongoing minor procedures. (Four hospital visits over the last two weeks)
Despite attending pain clinics and pain specialists, nothing has ever helped me. My neurosurgeon put me on morphine injections several years ago and I still use them, It's the only way I can ever get any relief albeit temporary. Despite medical professional declaring that no-one should ever be left in pain, very little has ever been done along these lines. E;g, after me most recent surgery, the pain relief offered was Panadol!!! Obviously no help at all and I told them so. It wasn't until Lorraine brought in one of my injections that I got any relief. After injections into my spine last week I was again in extreme pain and the nurse in recovery gave me Fentanyl...supposed to be much better and more powerful than morphine..trouble is they water it down so much it's no better than lolly water...(For me)
I'm not a whimp and have been told, and know, that I have a great tolerance to pain but at times it just gets too much to bare.

 

[Jonathan Leane]

Yeah @SX2002 I hear you... I think doctors are extremely reluctant to prescribe opiate based painkillers these days because of the abuse potential. Perhaps in the past they were prescribed too freely, but the pendulum seems to have swung way too far in the other direction,

It's really unfair that a few bad apples have basically made these types of medications nearly impossible to obtain.

A friend of mine had some pretty severe back pain recently, and told me almost had to beg the doctor for some kind of decent pain relief. In the end he was only able to get panadeine forte.

 

[SX2002]

Yes, a bit of a poor joke really, my doc also gives me Panadeine Forte, might as well be Smarties but they do constipate me so I suppose that's something..LOL...I was on Pethidine originally but the idiots have removed it from the market. When I had it first subscribed, Lorraine was very scared to give it to me so we went back in to see my Neurosurgeon. He confirmed that if yoiu are using it for pain you will never get addicted, ditto for morphine...he, and other doctors were right. I hate to have the injections as they are very painful but it's the only relief I can get. I recently saw another neurosurgeon and I told him I've tried every oral drug known to mankind and none of them worked (a particular issue with my body) He said OK but you haven't tried the new wonder drug, Palexia. I was on a large dose for a month, got so down and depressed if I'd had a gun I would have shot myself. Just sat in a lounge chair and couldn't move. Still had all the pain though.
I weaned myself off it and then went back in to see him. He said yes, you were right, oral meds don't work in your body and recommended my doctor keep prescribing morphine.

 

[Fayaway]

I too suffer from chronic pain and am thankfull that my Drs listen to me and help me with my pain relief.
it is concerning to hear that people are still out there and suffering like you do. I have found morphine based drugs less than helpful and Tramadol in the right dose seems to help also a product called PEA is magic for me. Good luck with your pain management.

Yes, a bit of a poor joke really, my doc also gives me Panadeine Forte, might as well be Smarties but they do constipate me so I suppose that's something..LOL...I was on Pethidine originally but the idiots have removed it from the market. When I had it first subscribed, Lorraine was very scared to give it to me so we went back in to see my Neurosurgeon. He confirmed that if yoiu are using it for pain you will never get addicted, ditto for morphine...he, and other doctors were right. I hate to have the injections as they are very painful but it's the only relief I can get. I recently saw another neurosurgeon and I told him I've tried every oral drug known to mankind and none of them worked (a particular issue with my body) He said OK but you haven't tried the new wonder drug, Palexia. I was on a large dose for a month, got so down and depressed if I'd had a gun I would have shot myself. Just sat in a lounge chair and couldn't move. Still had all the pain though.
I weaned myself off it and then went back in to see him. He said yes, you were right, oral meds don't work in your body and recommended my doctor keep prescribing morphine.

gement

 

[Phyll]

I too suffer from chronic back pain due to scoliosis and osteoarthritis . I recently spent 5 days in hospital having intravenous Ketamine infusions i held great hopes for this but have had no relief.

 

[SX2002]

I too suffer from chronic back pain due to scoliosis and osteoarthritis . I recently spent 5 days in hospital having intravenous Ketamine infusions i held great hopes for this but have had no relief.

Yes, it's no fun Phyll...I was on a ketamine drip after I had a shoulder reconstruction a few years ago..first time in donkey's years I had no pain anywhere...worked wonders for me but it's only temporary like my morphine injections...going in to hospital again on Thursday for more injections into my spine. My 5th visit in 5 weeks. After that they are going to try burning the nerves...(Rhisolisis)

 

[Phyll]

SX2002 Wishing you good results from your treatment on Thursday.

 

[SX2002]

SX2002 Wishing you good results from your treatment on Thursday.

Fingers and everything else crossed Phyll...Cheers, Ron.

 

[Vinylted]

Good luck for Thursday Ron..

 

[SX2002]

Good luck for Thursday Ron..

Thanks Ted...I'm working on frequent flyer points in at the Calvary Adelaide Hospital...

 

[Jonathan Leane]

Yes best of luck Ron Keep us posted.

 

[SX2002]

Yes best of luck Ron Keep us posted.

Thanks Jon..they are quite painful jabs so it'll be a few days to settle down but I'll report back.

 

[Strawb]

I am also a recipient of Chronic Pain ... BUT .. going by what I have just been reading, I am luckier than others (eg SX2002).
I lower my pain (it never goes away) with Panadeine Forte and Tramadol with an occasional dose of Endone.
It causes bouts of depression because you get sick and tired of always suffering (22 years for me).

 

[SX2002]

I am also a recipient of Chronic Pain ... BUT .. going by what I have just been reading, I am luckier than others (eg SX2002).
I lower my pain (it never goes away) with Panadeine Forte and Tramadol with an occasional dose of Endone.
It causes bouts of depression because you get sick and tired of always suffering (22 years for me).

Yes, it's no fun Strawb...mines from 50 years ago when an idiot ran into the back of my car when I was sitting at a red light...sadly no oral meds work for me...something they found out about my body, just get the upset tummy but no help with the pain. This is the reason I have my Morphine injections.

 

[SX2002]

Well, here's the update. I had my injections last Thursday. I managed to get every side effect on the list..LOL. Palpitations, temperature, pain, insomnia, etc.
The pain did ease for a few days, just like last time but it's getting bad again...like last time. It's a different type of pain at the moment, more of a dull pain than a sharp one. I was really hoping for more after all thee years. I see the doc in a few weeks and he wants to burn the nerves next. (Rhizolysis). He said this will get rid of my pain but I'm not so sure. If it was that good why didn't it get done before?? I had several nerves burned some yeares ago in my cervical and lumbar spine and it didn't work then so I'm not holding my breath. At the moment, I'm able to get out of bed and walk without hanging on the door frame for a couple of minutes first so I guess that's a plus as long as it lasts.

 

[Phyll]

Well, here's the update. I had my injections last Thursday. I managed to get every side effect on the list..LOL. Palpitations, temperature, pain, insomnia, etc.
The pain did ease for a few days, just like last time but it's getting bad again...like last time. It's a different type of pain at the moment, more of a dull pain than a sharp one. I was really hoping for more after all thee years. I see the doc in a few weeks and he wants to burn the nerves next. (Rhizolysis). He said this will get rid of my pain but I'm not so sure. If it was that good why didn't it get done before?? I had several nerves burned some yeares ago in my cervical and lumbar spine and it didn't work then so I'm not holding my breath. At the moment, I'm able to get out of bed and walk without hanging on the door frame for a couple of minutes first so I guess that's a plus as long as it lasts.

So sorry you did not get the pain relief you had hoped for, you have my sympathy.

 

[Jonathan Leane]

Really sorry to hear it too Ron... Are you able to go to a different doc for a second opinion?

 

[Maddison Dwyer]

Thinking of you Ron @SX2002 There is absolutely nothing worse and I really hope you can get a second opinion and hopefully reach a solution! I too suffer from chronic pain (neurologically) and saw 4 neurologists before I found one that could actually help me... it's not great, is it? But once you find the right team who listen to you, it really changes the game... However it sounds like you've been to hell and back trying to do exactly this with no luck and I'm so sorry to hear

 

[SX2002]

Really sorry to hear it too Ron... Are you able to go to a different doc for a second opinion?

Had several over the last 30 or more years Jon but still no luck...

 

[SX2002]

Thinking of you Ron @SX2002 There is absolutely nothing worse and I really hope you can get a second opinion and hopefully reach a solution! I too suffer from chronic pain (neurologically) and saw 4 neurologists before I found one that could actually help me... it's not great, is it? But once you find the right team who listen to you, it really changes the game... However it sounds like you've been to hell and back trying to do exactly this with no luck and I'm so sorry to hear

Hi Maddie, seen several over the last 30 or more years but no luck yet. I was contacted a few years ago by the International Spine Centre who actually rang me and said they'd heard of my problem. They got me to see another neurosurgeon but he was no better then the others. He put me on Palexia which turned me into a depressed zombie but I still had all the pain...Oral meds do not work in my body. They discovered this years ago, hence the morphine injections. Sadly they are only temporary but the only relief I can get when I just can't stand it any more.