Chronic Back Pain For At Least 7 Years Suffering.......

I've been suffering from chronic back pain for over 7 years. If it wasn't for my mother letting me live at her house i would be homeless. I'm broke. All i get is $150 dollars a month in food stamps. Cant get a job feeling like this and i need to get a job. I use to work 6 days a week 10hours a day and like to work....Anyways that's impossable in my condition...Ive been threw several physical therapy places and 3 shots in back and several kinds of pills threw pain management like meloxicam, tramadol, gabapentin, etc.etc.etc threw the CLEVELAND CLINC nothing works...the only thing that works for me is narcotic meds, methadone and also have been on suboxone..anyways all thy did is kept upping my gabapentin until I was taking 1000s of mgs a day thy where no help at all treated me like a junkie and I don't even f***ing drink so just ended up not going back there know im going to a new pain management place PT 2x weekly told them I can only do it once a week because it takes me 40 min to get there .My work history is roofing landscaping construction and also ran a large alpaca farm in vermilion ohio i cant even stand riding in a car anymore cause of the pain nobody seems to understand its so bad i go see the dr in a month to see how my PT is going (not good) if he don't give me something for my pain Its like f***ing torture, you tell these dr your in chronic pain and all of a sudden your a junkie. I'm so sick of it. I have no family and hating my life cant even get out of bed or stand in the shower. im 40 years old and never even had a girlfriend and im not a bad looking guy (that's what people tell me). I hate myself so much in pain 24/7 very depressed cant sleep at all and could care less if i die and im thinking about suicide because dr's don't care. It's all about the money for them, at least the ones ive seen. im just posting this cause someone out there might be going threw the same problems. I just need someone to talk to that has to suffer like i do or someone out there that can get me some info. Thanks very much if you read my story.....Thanks

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Mick-We all are being treated like junkies, yet new laws are more concerned about the real junkies OD'ing leaving us legit pain ppl suffering. A..sbackwards . Wish could help but almost out of few meds I have been on for 15 yrs. no dr. apt gone to (10 in all now with records sent to over 25) has given me anything except one offered pain pump which was the one with so many lawyer actions against it for infections, malfunctioning, etc. I am at wits & bodies end. Was gonna try Cleveland Clinic but I know those useless meds they gave you certainly wouldn't help me. This country has forgotten their tax paying, suffering citizens who no longer can work, function, are dying from chronic pain.
So sad-I wish you luck my friend-remember you are not alone.
Chris-New Smyrna, FL

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Hi Mick, Yes we are all in the same boat!! I also have suffered from back pain since I fell off my roof during Hurricane
Charley and it just got worse I have had many procedures including cement pumped into my L5 never mind all the nerve blocks and other injections. Of course now I am in the donut hole so one med that use to cost me $45 now cost me $180 a month last month my meds cost close to $500. What are we to do I don't have that answer just take it one day at a time if not one minuete or on second. This year for me it started with a gallbladder surgery after 3 months of pain with no diagnose and 3 visits to the ER. 3 months ago I had a stroke and thank God I have fully recovered! I am only 64!!!
I have an 86 year old neighbor that is in his yard all day in the Fla sun and says if he stops he dies maybe that's true but he says he has no pain still God Bless him and all of us in this boat that will not sink if we keep the faith!!
Regards,
Norman

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I feel your pain. I even had back surgery in 06. Im trying to find a Dr who can give me Percocet because that's the only one that helps. I've tried the morphine..dilaudid..methadone pills..I do get ssi but get a lawyer to help you get it. It sucks feeling this way everyday.

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Yes I have herniated discs, bulges, spasms in my lower back and I am on worker comp. They stopped my meds of Norco and soma and they let me go through withdrawals. Went to ER and they treated me like a junkie and even said, "we are not drug lords" Mind you I am a nurse and I let him have it. He researched my record and apologized. I asked what kind of bedside manner is that. As a doctor he should have reviewed my case first. He offered me 8 pills each and advised me never to come back again. My case is still open and Travelers Insurance has ignored my plea and that of my attorney to get me a doctor, physical therapy meds, etc. In the meantime, I have muscle spasms triggering off all day and I'm bed ridden. they finally did find me a doctor but we can thank our government for sticking their noses where it does not belong. Yes, we have problems with people selling drugs on the street but I'M NOT ONE OF THEM SO, WHY AM I BEING DENIED AFTER ALL THIS TIME. You are not alone. Our system is messed up bad taking care of its citizens who have paid into the system and left to suffer.

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Hi Mick! I can relate in a big way! I have been in chronic pain since the 90's and cannot even remember a single day that I haven't hurt like hell! I am on a big bunch of narcotics (morphone, dilaudid, oxycodone, percocet, soma, meloxicam, gabapentin) and all they do is keep me barely functioning. Driving has become excruciating, cooking is nearly impossible (I add one ingredient then run to the sofa because I have to quickly sit down; I even have to sit while waiting for a microwave meal to finish cooking), showering is horrible, and in fact nothing is good any more! I have had four major surgeries this past year (complicated abdominal surgery that included a hysterectomy), two total shoulder replacements and am now recovering from a total hip replacement). This is because of taking Prednisone for a few years because of a failed back surgery in 1999. And because I have such a high tolerance for the pain meds after taking them for so many years, they are unable to determine what post-op meds I should have and they never give enough! After one of these surgeries I was only given 2 mg of Dilaudid because the i**** surgeon "forgot" that I was a chronic pain patient and that her standard post-op protocol was not effective in my case. I though I was going to die after the anesthesia wore off. So now I am searching for a spine surgeon since my back is so messed up. Did you mention why you are in so much pain...is it your back? Has any surgeon made any recommendations to help you? Have you had any surgeries to relieve your pain? What is your diagnosis? I read the replies to your post and can relate to everyone that is living with chronic pain. Life has become so difficult. The only time I can a little relief is laying down, but that's no way to live either. My only hope at this time is to undergo one more surgery and compared to the four that I have just gone through, this will be by far the worst! I already know that I need to be fused and that scares me to death! Which is why I've put it off for so long! I have yet to find anyone who loved having back surgery and have experienced positive results. But don't give up and just keep researching for something that can help. There has to be something out there that will work. I figure if we can roam Mars in this day and age, why can't there be solutions for folks like us!?!?! Hang in there and just know that you are certainly not alone! Hugs! Lori

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Hi Mike! It's Lori again! I just reread your post and it appears that everything you are doing is just like a "big band aid"! You are in chronic pain like me, but drugs, injections, physical therapy, pain management doctors, etc. are not ever going to fix your problem! What is wrong with your back and what has been recommended to actually fix it? And why haven't you done anything that has been suggested? To me that seems to be your only solution! Following a regime to control the pain is not the final answer...getting to the root of the problem is! If you get your back fixed, you probably won't have any need for any pain management and can maybe get your life back. I doubt that any doctor has told you that you cannot be helped! That is my goal and my only hope. I have put off having back surgery for as long as I could. But it has come to the point that I have no choice but to have this surgery which will be a coin flip...either it works or it doesn't. But I have to try! And you should too! Put together a plan and go for it! Good luck! Lori

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Hi have you tried going to a massage therapist. I am currently going to school & have learned a lot of the times our issues with our back could be resolved with a massage. It may take time, try massage school, it costs less. Hope this helps and suicide is not the answer, been down that road brother, hope you gets some healing, peace

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Hi Mike, it's Lori again! I finally went to a highly-recommended spine surgeon last week who took one look at my x-rays (that were done on my back a week ago) and immediately began to discuss my really really crappy neck! Seems that it's worse than my spine, if that is even possible! Apparently there isn't anything holding up my head anymore! Told me that one wrong move on my part and I could end up being paralyzed! Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse! So now I will need to focus on having neck surgery before even considering doing anything with my back. Let's see, I have had four major surgeries between 2014 and 2015 and now it is anybody's guess how many more will be in store for me. I am tired and weary. Each day is such an effort anymore! And of course one of my biggest concerns will be getting off the multitude of narcotics that I have taken for almost 20 years. And even if anything can possibly be done on my back, this doctor assured me that I will never be off pain meds! Someone mentioned being in the donut hole...yep, me too! My morphine used to cost $45 and it is now over $800! And that is only one of many drugs that I take. Another prescription that I take, thanks to a failed abdominal surgery last year, costs me almost $900! Can't win thanks to our stupid government! We have worked our entire lives and this is how we get to spend our retirement.... in pain and broke! And then to have to try to figure out this Medicare stuff while we hurt like heck and can barely think straight! None of us are alone, but it helps just to know that there are others who struggle each day! I really am so sorry to read everyone's comments and pray that there are some miracles out there! Good luck to all of you!

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I'm sorry Mick, when I couldn't work (I've worked all my life, and I'm in my late 50's) I went threw depression that first summer and stayed in my bedroom all summer (2011) and was diagnosed with fibromyalga, different kinds of arthritis, thryoid desease, feet pain, migraines, etc..... Kept changing doctors until I found one that gave me pain meds, not gabapentin, which like you , kept taking more milligrams cause they Peter out fast, I mostly take them for sleep, anyways, since I could not work, I filed for disability threw a lawyer , it took a few years , but with all the doctors, X-rays etc... I was able to get it, and it helped me be more independent, and depression was less, I suffer pain 24/7 too, I know what your taking about , I live in a small border town, which makes it hard to see a good doctor unless I traveled an hour away, but I was lucky to get a doctor that traveled to Yuma Arizona from Phoenix AZ and helped me with my pain medication and other health problems , I couldn't see a doctor in Yuma Arizona without paying out of pocket at the time , and the I also saw another doctor in Winterhaven California where I live, I didn't have to pay for that doctor cause I filed for medical in California, now that's a small town ! only one gas station and a tiny clinic Ha! that doctor helped me a lot , to get X-rays (had to travel to el Centro California) anyways , she helped with paperwork for disability and all the other paperwork , I guess what I'm trying to say is that don't give up! Keep trying , your still very young , and that makes a big difference , cause once you get older , health gets harder , and your alive for a good reason , life is not over for you and life can be very hard , but , it can also be very good at times , concentrate more on the good part , and keep looking for the doctors that can and we'll help , and also be your own advocate!! That is very important, cause doctors are not God, they have to keep going to classes to catch up on what's new , and a lot of them don't do that , a lot of times I end up telling the doctors what's new or what book I've been reading to help with my condition . So, please don't give up ! You have a lot of postitive posts ! So, take care of yourself , take vitamin B's (for depression) and move towards a better health for you ..

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I have chronic neck and back pain treated with 10 mg hydrocododome and 15 mg morphine sulfate ER , plus Advil /Motrin, meloxicam , hydroxyzine to help manage/ tolerate my pain especially when I slip out of place or in cold weather. Please help I conduct therapy to no avail and have heard of Fentinyl, oxcicontin.

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I was feeling the same way you do. I asked God to take away the pain and I kept praying. The Lord answered my prayers. I got two shots In the back and noticed that every time I got the shot the pain would start to hurt less. Then the Lord led me to another doctor who diagnosed it and gave me meloxicam. It keeps the nerve from swelling which keeps the pain at bay. Took around a week before the pain went from a 10 to a level 4. Its been around four months now and the pain is at a level 1. I take meloxicam 15mg in the day and a muscle relaxer (flexerall) at night. I was dealing with sciatica and severe depression because of it. GOD IS THE KEY!!!

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I'm sincerely sorry for your pain and yes my brother was in a similar condition/position some years ago but, once he connected with a qualified psychiatric professional his condition was stabilized with Zoloft and other rxs that were not traditional opiate based or related meds and it was successful. Threatening suicide and acting out is the very worst thing you can do. Actions like that will follow you forever. I hope you find or have found relief for your condition, it's difficult but not impossible to do. Best of luck.

P.S. Opiate pain meds are a very real and valid course of treatment, extremely successful for those when all other options have been exhausted and medical documentation exists. As that saying goes let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

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