No an X-Ray is not what you need, you need an MRI, X-Ray's will only show bones and structures like that, an MRI will show tissue, and discs, etc. and that is what you need.
Sometimes if comes that time when we need to decide; "Do l try to live with this pain?, or do I go for surgery and see if that will help me?" It is a tough decision, but unless you make it you never know if it is the answer to your problem.

A lot of people will say; do not have surgery! I had surgery and I am doing worst now, blah, blah, blah! Well yes, some people that go through spinal surgeries do not get better and actually get worst, but some people do get better and their pain goes away. I have 2 friends that have gone through spinal fusions and they are doing great! My fusion lumbar fusion was a multi-level one, and it didn't work, but I am not going to say that ALL surgeries don't work, because that is NOT the case.
I had a cervical fusion in March of this year and I am doing fantastic from that surgery! Why did the cervical worked and the lumbar didn't? I don't know, but I can tell you that I am doing great. Go see a Neurosurgeon, have a new MRI, have a Discogram and see what really is going on with your spine, and then go from there......

Another thing, maybe the medication that you are on needs to be change. Are you on a long acting medication like Oxymorphone, Fentanyl, Methadone, etc.???? or at you taking a short acting medication like Vicodin? If you are on a short acting medication, you need to speak to your pain management Doctor and ask him for an extended release med, that will make your pain better and it will make your life more bearable. When a Doctor prescribes an extended release medication, they usually also prescribe a short acting med like Vicodin or Dilaudid for break through pain. So you take 1 medication every 12 hours for pain, and when the pain gets unbereable you take one or two of the break through medications to boost the pain relieving effects of the extended release med. Is pretty common for pain management Doctor's to do this, so is time to talk to yours and have him get you into a different medication program.

I hope that this advice helps and that you can get an MRI really soon! Take care,

You are smarter that than the dr. is. I go to him in a week or so if I make it. I have cried for hours today. Thank you very much.
Brenda

I know for me, sometimes i just have flare ups from all my back and neck troubles they will last any where from a day to a week.
I have done all that can be done to fix it and i am just to the point that this is what it is, and it is pain. I try to deal with it mentally the best i can, and physically i just take it easy when i do have these flares, i am learning time and time again little tricks to ease the pain as i go.

Brenda,
LOL, I am not smarter, I just have gone through A WHOLE LOT! One 3 level/360 lumbar fusion, 4 Lumbar Laminectomies, 1 Cervical fusion, Spinal cord stimulator surgery, Lung Cancer survivor, plus another 12 surgeries in my lifetime, you can say that when it comes to medicine, I've been there and done that!!
Hun, you need to demand help from your Doctor, if he is not willing or able to help you, is time to wave goodbye to him and fine a good Doc that will take care of you.

I am sorry that you were crying tonight, no one should be in this much pain and sorrow! There are soooo many medications available in the market, and so many interventions that can be done to make people better and in less pain, that listening to your story through the months that I've been a member, it makes me mad and sad too. I hope that you get the help that you desperately need! I will keep you in my prayers..... Hugs,

Tipper

Surgery should be a last resort. First it wouldn't hurt to have the mri to see what is going on. Even assuming there is a hernation or other issues in the spine there are conservative treatments that might help such as physical therapy or chiropractic. I recently had a bad flareup and the pain was hideous. The MRI was not pretty, it showed major issues but conservative treatment did the trick. I've had three back surgeries and my sister has had two. Once a back is operated on it is always more prone to repeat issues so go to a good conservative doctor and see what the issues are. Give it a solid chance with conservative treatments first before jumping into more serious measures. Good luck

I have an MRI set up for Tuesday. Still no relief from pain but Tipper you were right dr. could not tell anything on xray. Got the ball rolling tho. I called my insurance company and they cover the oxy's and hydromorphone. My pain mgmt appt is next Tuesday. Are these meds better than Norco.
Thanks to all of you.
Brenda

Oxycodone HCL CR is Oxycontin in an extended release formulation and it is very good for pain, so I think that it will be better for you than Norco. Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) which I take is a good medication for break through pain, but for extended relief Oxycodone CR is much better.
Your Doctor can prescribe both, the Oxy CR to take regularly and the Hydromorphone for when the pain gets to be too much (break through pain). Good luck with your appointment and with the MRI, I hope that they find the reason for all of your pain. Take care,

Tipper

Tipper, I am going to call insurance company about the two drugs.
I know the Hydromorphine is covered and it shows oxycodone HCL but not CR. If that extended relief is not covered, do yu recommend another one. I have a week to get this together. But will be anxious to know what is going on different in lower back that will take few days. Thank you for all you good advice. Girl, you have been thru it. You just have to keep pushing I suppose. You are right, Norco is not good for this pain. Oh, do these two meds make you sleepy I hope not. take care.

Oh I meant to tell you, I have dropped 38 pounds since first of 09. I have cut back but I was shocked on the scales today. I am at the weight I was in 30's but it sure fell off.

Brenda,
Yeah, call the insurance company and make sure that the med is the CR type, it probably is, but is good to call anyways. I would recommend any medication that is ER or CR (extended release or control release), those are the best because they give you a continuos amount of pain med to keep the pain under control, and you don't have to take as many as them.

Good for you and your weight lost! After I had my spinal fusion I lost over 100 Lbs. and I've kept it off, so good for you! It actually is better for your back when you weight less, so is a good thing.... Take care and let me know what happens with the Doc, OK?

Hugs,

Hey all,
Friday morning. I know what is going on but I will write more later today.
Brenda