I have nerve damage which is impossible to detect on any medical machine so I can relate. Pain meds only help you manage to live with the pain...they never really get rid of it.

never pain is very painful and I am sorry your going through all that, I would get a few different opinons before jumping into surgery. Surgery is a big choice and it doesn't always work. I would see at least 3 different doctors before that. I hope ya get some reilf

get another doctor to have a look,sometimes surgery can make things so much worse.
i have tried everything for pain apart from surgery.
pain medications have helped but not taken all the pain away.

dear jspen, i think you've got to work on better pain management, can you do that? is it possible to get another doc. did you say you've had an MRI? i'am really sorry you are suffering so much. i wish i had something better to offer. sending you a big hug.

Gabapentin has helped my back and leg nerve pain (not sciatica) There are other similar meds. I think there is something in my pain journal that may help as well. I hope you feel better soon. I was deperate to find House, too ;)

I've been there, since it doesn't show up on all these fancy test I chased after answers for years. I've even looked into experamental treatments. One was prolotharapy that would have invoved hundreds of injections all down the nerves in my legs. It's supposed to promote self healing or something like that. But the cost was out of site and isurance wouldn't cover it because it was experamental. I did take all the information to my regular doc and I think that's when he realized just how desperate I was. He convinced me that I still had options that were covered to try and thats when I looked into the neurostimulator. It's the only real hope I've had for years as far as getting some relief. Yes, I can relate to the frustration and desperation. I can't compair anything to the horrible nerve pain, It is by far the worst pain I've ever experienced. I hope your able to find some relief.

I am so very sorry to hear that you are suffering so, but I know how you feel. I have had two surgeries for two herniated disks in my neck. The first was a hemilaminectomy and the second was a diskectomy with fusion. Neither of these have helped, in fact the pain just keeps getting worse. I too have tried all of the other options before the surgeries, the last thing I wanted was to have them cut into me, but at that point, I felt like I had no other option. I am on a regime of meds now, but those are not working either. I have been working with my PMD to find the right fit, so to speak. It is a work in progress. I know we will never be fully out of pain, but much like you I would like to have a semi-pain free life, I could even live with the pain if it could be managed properly. Suggestions were made to me by my PMD about looking into the pain pump and the neurostimulator. I have been doing some research on both of these options. I'm a little hesitant, because the thought of having something inside my body is a little creepy to me. I have read post on here from people who have tried both of these and have had great success at managing their pain. This may be my next step.

I know what you are going through, the past two weeks for me have been terrible, my meds are not even helping anymore. I find myself in bed more often than not, and this is not how I want to live. I wish you the best of luck on your adventure, I like to call it an adventure, because it sounds more fun, I know it's not. I hope you find some solution soon, Kim.

Have you tried Cymbalta. An anti- depressant that doesn't do well with Wellbutrin but seems to help me plenty. You have seen the commercials "depression hurts".

I swear by it for nerve pain. Again there is no such thing as perfect but if it helps your quality of life and that is what we are all truly seeking it may be worth discussing with your docs.

R.O.

where is most of your pain. i couldn't see what your original problem was from your profile. nerve pain is horrible b/c as suzan said, it doesn't show up, so they just try whatever.
it's been 6 yrs for me. i've tried many procedures and meds. pain is very personal and responds to things so individually that you have to keep trying.
sorry you have to go through this, but you're in the right place to get support and info. good luck!!

I don't know what type of nerve pain you have, but a spinal cord stimulator helps people with nerve pain most of the time, but is usually pain cause by spinal issues, radiculopathy, etc.... So if your pain is one of these then talk to your pain management Doctor about an SCS.

I use a percussion vibrator for my pain. It works most of the time. I have been using it for about a year and a half now. Occasionally I take a tylenol 3 when things get bad.

My pain is predominantly - pinched nerves and central canal stenosis located in the cervical and lumbar spine.

Hugs

Actually there is a test they can do for determining if you have nerve damage. It involves inserting a needle into the affected area and producing a shock. They do this a number of times over various spots in the affected area and it is recorded on a computer which measures nerve conduction.

I was going to mention that its called an EMG and it will let you know if the pain is active or the nerve is permantly damages. I have had done and it is not to bad. I just got a coutal injection in my lumbar spine today and I am noticing a difference already. I have sever nerve pain and I need a 3 level fusion but I have 3 young children and they come first so I am doing what I can to put it off. It is the coutizone that makes the difference. Maybe they could test and see if its active damage and if it is you could try an injection. Good luck, it must be horrible. Its just my legs so I cant even imaging it in my face. My prayers are with you.