I'm glad he's taking the conservative treatment, and not jumping into surgery. He would be worse off than he is now if he did go under the knife.

There are other treatments for pain, such as the Spinal Cord Stimulator which is an implanted device which helps to control pain. Also, another implanted device is a morphine pump. Usually that is used for cancer patients, but it has been used for spinal patients as well. Hasn't his pain doctor mentioned either of these devices???

If your husband is on opiates, these drugs will not harm his body. No study has shown that opiates are harmful to the body in any way. If your husband is on vicodin or a similar drug, the tylenol content CAN be harmful if taken for a long period of time, as it's filtered by the liver and the liver does NOT like tylenol. It can damage the liver.

Your doctor can prescribe something to spur on his appetite, especially if he's losing alot of weight. Have him talk to his doctor if that's an issue.

Also have him talk to him about the spinal cord stimulator. He would still need SOME medications, but not as much as he does now. It's worth a try. God bless and best of luck. Hugs, Lee

I have had some relieve with antinflamatory called Arthrotec and an anti-depression called Celexa. The Celexa also works as a pain reliever. I also do massage therapy once a month. I can only take a light relaxing massage but it works. The key is a well trained therapist ...

I really appreciate the feedback. He is on oxycontin and trazadone. The oxy kills his appetite and the trazadone does nothing for his depression. I'll check into the other options. Thanks so much!

I have had some relief thanks to a TENS unit, some exercises taught by a physical therapist, and chiropractic treatments. You might check into any of these things. It may or may not help, but I just wanted you to know there sometimes is help other than meds.

there are many options out there, There are tons of injections that can be done, nerve bloack, epidurals, a very long list. I have a tens unit that helps. Anti inflamtorys, anti convulents such as nureootin of topamax, lyrica. All thoes have been shown to help with chronic pain issues. There is a spinal cord stimulator that can really realive pain without the use of opids. I work in the medical field and also done some reasearch on opoids and the only time I see that they can be dangrous is when they are abused, or overdoesed. Chronic pain paitents don't normaly abuse there meds they want them to live a normal life and be pain free not for a cheap high. Overdoes can cause major problems inculding death but only if overdosed and the doc told him how to take it so that's not something ya need to worry about. I envey your husband I have been to two pain docs and can't find one to give me any type of pain killer and living life everyday in pain is very rough.