Hi Brenda ~ You poor thing. Have you had surgery before? I hope not. The first visit at a pain doctor usually goes something like this: He'll go over the stuff you filled out when you came to the office, which usually includes a complete history. He MAY ask you the questions on the form that you just filled out, re: medical history & medications. He'll want to know how you injured your back; he'll want to know how BAD it hurts daily; he's just gonna ask alot of questions. Then he will probably examine you, which will probably include walking on tip-toes; walking on heels; doing the straight-leg test to check for herniations; he'll hit your knee with a hammer; etc.

It's pretty much basic stuff like that with a PM doctor.

As far as getting stronger meds, I initially had to go to a pain management doctor. That was years ago. Now we have 3 pain clinics in our area and NONE of them prescribe meds!!! So my primary care physician prescribes for me, thank God!!! Otherwise, I'd have nothing!!!

I don't imagine that the Lortab does much for you, does it??? It sounds to me like you have a herniation, if it's going down the leg now. You have sciatica and that's caused by a nerve being impinged ~ and that only happens if something like disc material is pushing on it. You'll just need to stand your ground and tell him you cannot stand this pain and need something stronger! If he says NO then ask for an MRI WITH AND WITHOUT CONTRAST MATERIAL. That's important that it's done with and without the contrast. Then he'll be able to SEE that you NEED something stronger if he doesn't believe you! Besides, it sounds like you need an MRI anyway! Something is going on in there and you need to know WHAT!!

After you find out what it is, get a referral to pain management. Do NOT opt for surgery or else you'll have more problems than you have now! Best of luck, and please let us know what happens, ok? I'm really interested! God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

Thanks. I am just getting home. I will write tomorrow. Do not think I will have surgery.
later
brenda

Hi Leeall,
My back problems started in 2003 with a lamanectomy and I recovered from that and next year I had a cervical disc to herniate.
My dr ortho calls it degenerative disc. Last year, I moved and hurt the disc that he fixed in 03 so L4&5 L5-S1 are deteriorated and the xray yesterday showed bone on bone and a disc is on a nerve going down legs. He gives me LorTab 10 2 times a day but sometimes I throw in another one. He is not encouraging surgery but he has told me it would be a cage, rod, screws. etc to hold the discs up. So I don't know what to do. Yesterday I ask him if he could give me something stronger and he said no if I wanted stronger narco I would have to go to pain dr. You say that your pain dr would not give medicine I don't understand. Are they not all alike? I think I will get a second opinion from a neuro to see if he did surgery the same way. Anyway he gave me 3 months of medicine and I go back to ortho in 3 months. I don't want surgery but what if it keeps getting worse. I am not getting any younger. He indicated if I wanted something stronger, the pain dr would give me what i wanted. I can't believe the clinics wont give yu meds. What do you take. He did a new xray and I saw the bad disc and I had a MRI couple years ago. I hate to live the rest of my life on pain meds but my dr said I would still have pain if I went for surgery.
Thank you for your advice.
Brenda

For your DDD you could try Soma which is a muscle relaxer or Tramadol which is a pain relief med. You can actually go online and order both of these meds at www.medicinenoprescription.org and the U.S. licensed doctors and pharmacies will ship the meds overnight to your door. All you do is fill out a short form and most likely they will approve the meds. Hope this helps you!!!