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...

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Chronic Pain Support Group

low back problem

Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
I was wondering if anyone here suffers from low back pain and if so, what do you take for it.

In the past I had been helped with narcotic pain killers after nsaids stopped helping but got addicted to them unfortunately, but now I am on meloxicam which is of little help even though I am on a dose higher then the doctor wants me to take due to my high blood pressure.

I use to run every day but had to cut back to once a week and even that bothers me. It never use to but it does now.

I had a long talk with doctor and she seems at a loss of what else to do for the chronic pain. I have been flagged so there is no way I would get the only thing that ever helped me but I don't think I want them anyway but yet I don't want to suffer so much. I can tolerate alot of pain and have for quite some time now but as I get older, it's getting worse and once I sit down, have a difficult time getting up again, thats how bad it is.

I am just looking for ideas, that's all so please share anything and everything.

Thanks and God Bless!
billwfriend
billwfriend
Bob since I know you and the addiction issue you mentioned I do not know what would help ?? Celebrex is similar to meloxicam if Im not mistaken and isnt narcotic.
I take Narco or hydrocodon for knee pain which is narcotic it also helps my low back pain which comes n goes
AngelnPain
AngelnPain
Bob i had a relative who had a disentegrating disc in his lower back. He told me about tiger balm. He mows now he couldnt do it before. I use it myself. It keeps the heat in for long periods of time. You can get it in most drug stores walmart doesnt carry it. It also helps my husbands arthritic pain in his hands. They swell. After ten minutes the pain is gone. I use it on my neck and spine it helps. With some of my pain. Hope you get relief soon. Angela
NessaLeigh
NessaLeigh
Tramadol slow release works best for me 100mg twice a day. And really good stretches eg the table stretch, psoas, front of thighs, and glute stretches all help with my lower back pain. do them as much as possible.
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
Thanks Bill. Yes I know about celebrex. I have a brother in law that takes it and it helps him. I may mention that to my doctor. My Dr did call me last night and said she would prefer I not even be on the meloxicam or any nsaids due to it being hard on my blood pressure and kidneys which gave me problems in the past.

Thankyou Angela, i just bought some on ebay. It was pretty cheap so worth a try.

Thankyou Nessar I read up on tramadol and not sure it would work on me given my background but I appreciate the suggestion.

God Bless!
drangonflylady
drangonflylady
I do yoga for my back pain and I have a rod and six screws in it and it still helps. They have some DVD's on back care basics. Also massage can really help a lot of different kinds of back pain. I have also done some PT for back pain. Another thing that really helps me with back pain is swimming. There are stretches you can do in the water that help that you can't do on dry land. Hope you can find some relief somewhere.
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
Thankyou dragonlady! Now that you mentioned it, I did get some relief with massage in the past. Maybe this summer I can do some swimming. I love to swim anyway. I never did yoga, not that I know of anyway but I am at a point where I will try anything.

God Bless!
Emerald22
Emerald22
As of October, tramadol is now a schedule III narcotic in the US. So probably not an option for you.

I do everything dragonfly mentioned. Yoga, bi-weekly deep tissue massage, and swimming. I use meditation & breathing exercises to re-focus my mind from the pain. Heating pad & muscle relaxers too. I also take meloxicam. 15mg a day & I have high bp. It's been about 5yrs and my bp has been ok so far-as long as my pain is controlled. I do take narcotics for my bone deep neverending pain & gabapentin for nerve related pain. Too much pain & too many meds but at least we're fighting it from all angles. Chronic pain is a bitch especially without narcs to take it down a notch or two.
angee7
angee7
Hi,

I use prescription Lidocaine Patches (they really work for me). I also tried prescription Voltarin gel (but that didn't work for me).

I spent 6 months in Physical Therapy strengthening my stomach muscles, and stretching my back and hamstrings.

I use the heating pad, and get a massage.
NessaLeigh
NessaLeigh
Wow that is interesting - that tramadol is a narcotic in the US.

Here in Australia it is still deemed as not a narcotic drug.

Fingers crossed that if they ever change their minds here I will be off the drug altogether :)
Community Leaderbobinmaine
bobinmaine
Many years ago, I was given a prescription for tramadol for something, I can't remember what, I think it was after surgery for a torn finger tendon. It did nothing to help with the pain. I don't think it is nearly as strong as some of the other narcotic pain killers but that's my 2 cents on tramadol. I think my brain must be wired differently. If it helps any of you then that's great, but like other narcotics you can get hooked on it if you take it daily and for a long time.

Emerald, I am wondering if gabapentin helped you immediately or if you had to take it for a period of time before you had any relief?

Thankyou angee. I am going to suggest lidocaine patches to my doctor.

Happy Easter and God Bless you all. May God give you all relief from your pain to help you live a happier, healthier life!
Emerald22
Emerald22
I did have to titrate up on the gaba and it took about 3wks to start feeling better. I'm at a pretty low dose of 900mg (300mg 3x a day). The max dose is 3600mg. Drs trying to get me up to 1200 which is supposedly the "sweet spot" when its most effective without side effects. I'm considering it. You still build a tolerance and have to wean down when you stop taking it. But there's no high attached to it or anything. You just feel it when you miss a dose.
cloverset14
cloverset14
Hi Bob. Sorry to hear about your back. I have taken Tramadol before, but I don't remember anything about it. How about that? LOL! It must not have worked and I quit taking it.

I can't take Celebrex because I'm allergic to it. :) because it helped some. I have a prescription for 15mg meloxicam and it does nothing.

What helps me with low back pain is doing the very simple yoga childs pose. That can really stretch out your lower back. Also, the alternating cow-cat poses where you arch and dip in your back is good.

I'm sure one of our resident yogis can describe those poses better than I did! They work!
RJRelaxing
RJRelaxing
Hi, I see you have been with DS for a long time. I am sorry but I am not familiar with any of your medical issues.

I agree with many of the responses for stretching. One that really helps to stretch lower back and hamstrings is to lay on your back and pull your knee up to your shoulder one leg at a time then do it with both legs trying to pull your knees to your chest as much as possible. Then pull knee to alternating shoulders.

You can search different exercises on the net for this. Medications can only do so much. If you are doing muscle relaxants and stretches you have a better chance of lowering the pain.

Wishing you pain relief and a restful weekend.

Hugs-RJ
Decibel-Places
Decibel-Places
My lower back pain from an old accident is dull compared to the sharp pain between my shoulder blades from arthritis.

I found that alcohol (in moderation) helps. I guess it dulls the pain and relaxes muscles. I don't drink every day.
redheaddiva
redheaddiva
I sent you a PM Bob. So sorry to hear you are suffering so badly. I hate to hear of anyone suffering and having so few options as I have been there. Read the PM I sent...hopefully you are able to find some relief.

(((HUGS)))
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