Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I have had back pain for quite a few years now after my stop/slow paddle was hit by a passing car. It got worse year and half ago after i fell and broke my leg. when i came out of the cast and was able to walk without leg pain i could no longer walk more than 10- 15 minutes without horrible back pain radiating into hips then pelvic bone.My new pain dr wanted to do a discogram. after researching it I refused. I also have chronic knee pain in my left knee. He wants to burn the nerves around the knee. I am terrified of this but am going to go through with it because I am tired of it hurting all the time. My old dr gave me morphine er 2 x day and oxycodone 2x a day for break through pain. The new dr will not prescribe oxycodone so i now get morphine er 2x and morphine ir 2x. The morphine does not work near as well. So I am in constant pain even on the medication. Next time I see him I am going to ask to try something else and take me off the morphine cause it really doesn't help anyway.
Has anyone else had the nerves around knee burnt? How about a discogram?
Has anyone else had the nerves around knee burnt? How about a discogram?
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I invited Bill to have dinner with me last Sunday. He wasn't willing to drive 7 hours to mid Michigan and teased me with his beautiful ribs!!! So, of course I ate alone and had cedar salmon
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check out that smoke ring. It tasted really good. I smothered it with Maulls BBQ sauce which is Local to St. Louis and one of the best I ever had.....
hugs bill
I would go to a spine specialists, one who does hip/leg. Or you could find an orthopedist who specializes in the same. They need to find the cause of your pain before you do anything!!
Before doing a nerve burn why isn't he trying a neuro drug like neurontin? If that worked you might consider a nerve burn but they are only temporary so you are looking at a return of the pain. It could also affect your ability to walk safely.
It sounds like you need to start over and find the right specialist. A pain doctor who doesn't try neuro drugs but wants to do a nerve burn is looking to fill his appt book in my opinion.
An orthopedist would be the person to see. Just make sure it's one who specializes in knee and hip. Sciatica is one of those things that comes and goes. It's hard to see on imaging. Usually they diagnose more by the pain you report. So a pain diary would be a good idea. Try to figure out what triggers the pain and what helps. Heat is usually a help for sciatica.
will try heat and keep log
My sciatica runs upward from my knees to glute. Presently, its being impinged by my piriformis muscle. Or that's this week's cause. It's a different kind of pain than my back or hip pain. The back/hip pain is more stabbing whereas the sciatic is almost electric and travels. Moving my leg in certain directions will make the pain worse.
Please do find a new Dr or at least get a 2nd opinion. You've said he wants to do a neurotomy/nerve burning but he doesn't know what's causing the pain. Has he done recent imaging? What's causing the cysts? If the pain is in the hips you need imaging to see what's going on & try other treatments first. If you hip is torqued or causing pain when you walk you could he overcompensating with your gait somehow which could throw your back & knees into more pain. It could be a few different things. Beyond all that he's not adequately treating your pain & seems awfully willing to do procedures without knowing the pain source by ordering sufficient imaging to find out. A discetomy in your back when the pain isn't generating there seems odd to me. The nerve burning, if successful, only works until the nerves grow back. It's not a long term solution.
The hips & back are not the same and should be looked at separately then all the pieces should be evaluated together for the best treatment plan.
Good luck,
Emerald
As for your knee, nerve burning is not a typical procedure for chronic knee pain. I have a Degenerative Cartilage Disease in my Joints. My knees are bone on bone and the left has been rebuilt with a cadaver implant and screws. I've had 16 bilateral knee surgeries along with the 17th on the left.
Have you seen an Ortho Surgeon and got their input? Synovial Fluid injections, cortisone injections, Nerve Pain meds like Neurontin, Cymbalta, Gabapentin, etc. There are quite a few things they can do before you just let them burn the nerves around your knee. It is risky, can cause permanent damage and as mentioned safety would be an issue, because it'd be harder to walk on that leg. I get that your using a Pain Management Doc, but generally an Orthopedic Surgeon would be a better choice for testing and procedures.
As for your current pain plan, you no longer have a BreakThru med now that your Oxy has been taken away. Your just using a higher dose of Morphine for all pain, including flares. The purpose of a Breakthru med is for it to work differently on Flares, not be the same thing your pain receptors are used to all day. Hopefully your PM Doc will come up with a better plan.
Welcome to the Boards,
Kat
I have had nine back surgeries. & three total knee replacements. I understand your hesitation about doing the discogram. I had this done before I had my first back surgery in 02. The first thing they do is numb the tissue on your back and down towards the discs. After the area is numb the insert a needle into the center of the of the disc. After all of the needles are placed, the discs are "pressurized" one at a time. Pressurization consists of injecting small amounts of a sterile liquid (usually contrast material (x-ray dye)) into the center of the disc.
After each level is pressurized, pictures are taken with the fluoroscopic unit and the needles are removed. Usually, a post-discogram CT is obtained to document the internal architecture of the disc. They main thing the are looking for is your reaction does the needle inflict the same pain, different pain, or no pain just pressure
I won't lie if they hit a "bad disc" it hurts like hell. If the disc is fine you just feel a strong pressure. When I had mine done I had five bad discs. When the test is finished you'll feel a little sore but it's not bad and only lasts for a little while. I know it's scary but I would have this done. At least then you'll know for sure what's going on.
In regards to your knees as several have mentioned I would definetly see an ortho specialist. There's no way I would let them burn the nerves without knowing the cause. I had both knees replaced at the same time. I was up walking the next day.
I hope some of this helps. Your PM Dr is just that he manages your pain. It's the specialists who diagnose & treat whatever's going on. Sending up prayers for healing, diminished pain and answers. I know how hard it is to be in pain 24/7, just about everyone on this board does as well. Remember your not alone were here to support you. Please keep us posted on how your doing. Sorry this was so long
Hugs & God Bless
Lisa