Hi,My name is connie. I am not familar with your back issues but they sound very painful. Have you ever tried a chiropractor? I have degenerative disc disease and 2 herniated discs. I've been seeing a chiro for the herniated discs since febuary. It has helped me alot. I no longer have to take pain meds,only aleve and ice packs to reduce swealing after treatment. I go three times a week. I've been to a surgeon but opted out due to research I've done on people I know who have had back surgery and on the internet. I really can't tell you how much chiropractor has helped me. I'll keep you in my prayers. connie

hi
i have problems too..
mine are not so much my back tho as my mind.
i have been strugggling with obsessive thoughts,some ablout my life,irrational things and of course my back/leg pains etc
and yea sometimes i lay ion bed and feel i cannot get out of my mind and that can be a kind of frightening thing..if u can just imagine it for a second.we all need a little balance right?
so i have found ways to relieve ,one is to calm my self with physical exertion and praying helps overall
i was womdering ,is there any way to calm yrself ..besides physically? mentally,spiritually?
i believe we are more than our minds and bodies...there are different ways to calm oneslef...im trying to find more.

Hi, like you I live alone with my dog Malcolm and I have my down days. First of all, it sounds to me like you are undermedicated. As a nurse I can tekk you that Lortab 10 is as good as taking 2 Aleve's with a little bit of opiod on them. Have you talked to your Doctor about giving you an ER (extended realease medication)? There are many ER medications in the market that work very well and since your back issues are such, you can asked him to keep you on Lortab from BT (break through) pain.
I have read in other posts about your back condition at it seems that at this point surgery will be your best option to fix what is wrong. Surgery is a scary proposition, if you weren't scare about having surgery, then I would be worry about you! I was a nervous wreck before I had mine, but I empowered myself, study as much as possible about my procedure, talked to people that had it done and I created a list of 25 questions (no kidding!) for my Doctor the day that I said YES, let's have the surgery done.
I understand how people, weather is family or friends are easy to criticize someone that needs to take medications to live their lives. They are NOT the ones with the pain, YOU ARE! and unless they have walked a mile in your shoes, they have NO right to talk about you taking Lortab or whatever else to control your pain.
I did a post in the Chronic forum, is called "A Letter to Normals From Someone In Chronic Pain". I recommend that you go to that forum and read the letter, then go ahead and print that letter or few of them.... one to keep on your refrigerator door and the other ones to give to your family and friends that do not understand what it is like going thru what you are going thru. A heating pad and ice can also give you some relieve in the meantime. One more thing before I close. You need to call your pain management Doctor on Monday and see if they can fit you in earlier, just let the Nurse or whoever answers the phone that there is no way that you can be in this much pain and wait for another whole month. I think that if you put it that way, they might be able to help you. Good luck to you and remember that you are going to get well soon, it's just a matter of time, have faith.
Hugs,
Tipper

Thank you Tipper. It is late and I can't find the forum you spoke about. If you are nurse, you could help me with extended release medicine. When Lortab wears off, that is it. I don't like all the tylenol either. I don't know enough about medicine tp talk to dr. I know lortab does not make me sleepy.
Thanks for listening.
Brenda

Hi Brenda,
There are several ER (extended release) medications in the market some of them are: Fentanyl patch, Hydromorphone(Dilaudid ER), Avinza ER, Kadian ER (those 2 are extended release morphine. Some others that come to my mind are: Roxicodone ER, Tramadol ER, Fioricet ER and Methadone HCL. If I can think of others later I will post them for you. Good luck to you hun.

Tipper, I finally found your letter and getting ready to read it. Yu have been so much help to me.
Hugs
Brenda

Tipper.
What a great letter. That is exactly how I feel. I am making copies.
Brenda

Brenda,
I am glad that I can help you. Like I told you last night, is not easy living alone and having all of the health problems that we have, but it sounds like you have some great and supportive friends, I do too. Just keep the faith, make sure to call your Doctor's office tomorrow to try to get in earlier due to your increase pain and if he can not fit you in, ask to speak to his nurse and explain your situation, that might help you more than speaking to the receptionist. God Bless,

i feel your pain i sometimes feel like picking up my laptop and just smashing it against the wall for no reason at all i know i need help but dont know how about going to get that help ive asked my primary doctor and he was no help im only 29 yrs old and i know im to young to be going through all this mess

Hollywood,
What all are you going thru?
Brenda

I love you people!! What the heck would we do without each other, I just do not want to know!!!
You listen to the posts!!! No one should talk to you about the meds you are on for your pain. Like has been said it is none of their business nor do they feel what you feel...
Unfortuneately the general public and many many many healthcare providers are mistaken with false information about opioid medications... and they have frightened into believing many lies that are floating around on the nightly news channels and else where... They are very safe and effective medicines to treat pain... while others are not... They will not hurt you unless you take them differently than prescribed!!!!
No one in acute or chronic pain will or normally will take medications differently than the doctor has ordered so there is really no validity in the scare stories going around....
gotta go quickly sorry can't finish post BRB

I have been feeling this way for the past few weeks. My surgery (fusion) rehab has been going well. My fibro is flaring and mothers day sucks. (I lost a child 20 yrs ago.) So I am sure when the weather here in ga gets back to normal and mothers day passes, I will feel better. I too want to smash my laptop and anything else in my way. Not my two dogs, they are my therapy. Husband out of town for 4 months, but that is okay, he would be in my way and on my nerves anyway. My best to you all.