Pain Relief

[Jimmy1]

Many veterans with PTSD not only have to battle with find the right medication for their symptoms, but also suffer from additional injuries which can be permanent and require pain relief.

After 20 + years, my body started to fall apart and I have only recently gone through a bout of surgeries ending up with a fused back, a shoulder where the bicep tendon is now attached to the humorous rather than where it should go etc, etc, and these all give intense pain at times.

I only found out I was allergic to codeine which rules out oxycontin, vicodin etc, etc.
After being on Tramadol 200 mg SR, and Tramadol 50 mg normal, I found these do little as well.

Today I started on 10mg Norspan patches. The don't start taking affect for 3 days but I should know whether they are taking affect by the end of next week, if not, I have to add an additional 5 mg patch, and then if no joy, a 20 mg patch and so forth. There is only one other patch to go after that and I don't know the name of it. Does anyone else have any suggestions???

 

[Anglesachse]

Personaly Jimmy cocker, being the Alternative medicine person I am, I would seriously look at seeking out an Aboriginal Witch Doctor, Medicine Man or Natural Health Professional or what ever they would be called down under.

People like that have a very long history of understanding the Body and mind and how things need to work in unison.

The Guy I go and see has sorted my Back pain and deals with any other Physical issues I have, and the lass in his clinic deals with my Psyche. They will even work together to enhance what the other is doing.

I have seriously not been this good for years.

I know a lot of people see it as Hockus Pockus crap. But if it helps..............

 

[CAFTT0607]

The only thing I can think of, Jimmy, is acupuncture....sounds crazy, but it is an option and it supposed to work pretty good for some types of pain. Just sayin'

 

[T^3]

Capsicum oleoresin. It burns like hell, and messes up your nerves so you can't really tell what you're feeling.

Acupunture can help but you must find one that treats you as a whole...so you'd probably do more than just get stuck with needles.

(I'm not really in a good mood but I'm trying)

I have developed major allergies to pain meds.
I've found massage, heat, traction, exercise and diet help me.

Have they checked you for adhesions?

 

[Jimmy1]

It's been 16 months now and the bones have fused in back now, but my physio said I will never be able to hyper extend my back at all, which in layman's terms mean I can't lean backward at all, and as you all know, it is so hard not to do that at all.
The pain in the morning is not all the time either. Some mornings though and after some gym sessions, I feel like I am Jar's age, and that is f*cked.

I guess I will have to play with the hand I have been dealt, it could be worse, I could have left it and ended up in a wheel chair.

I will give the patches ago and then go looking for an alternative if they work.

Cheers for the suggestions.

 

[Jimmy1]

Capsicum oleoresin. It burns like hell, and messes up your nerves so you can't really tell what you're feeling.

Funny you should say that T, I just started on Capsicum a week ago to stimulate my metabolism. A lot of the medications they throw you on slow it down, hence the weight gain a lot of us experience.

I am actually on physillum husk capsules (fibre, and a good filler to stop hunger pangs), Acai (look it up), and capsicum. They are all natural which is the good thing.

 

[JarHed]

I feel like I am Jar's age, and that is f*cked.

Hey Jimmy,

Yeah, you don't want to be here, till you're here. I'm sorry for you pain Mate. I'm actually with Caft, to go the acupuncture route. I've been using it for about 4 or 5 months now for chronic pain and I've seen a vast improvement in that time. You've got a tough row to hoe, as chronic pain is very tough to deal with. When all else has failed, it's time to try a new tack in regard to your situation. I know of many that have some similar situations to yours that have been helped by acupuncture. It helps to stimulate the bodies own energy and I like it as I don't have to try another med. I'm allergic or sensitive to just about everything. Nothing ventured, nothing gained my friend. If not that, I hope you find something that helps.

Jar

 

[RC135Linguist]

It's been 16 months now and the bones have fused in back now, but my physio said I will never be able to hyper extend my back at all, which in layman's terms mean I can't lean backward at all, and as you all know, it is so hard not to do that at all.

That sucks. I had a fusion in my back this past February at L-4-L5. Where was yours? What kind of rods did the Ortho surgeon use? Mine used some sort of high-density plastic rods as opposed to the titanium rods for the very reason you seem to have stated: these newer plastic rods allow full bending of the back whereas the metal ones keep the back rigid. it probably depends on what part of the back was fused. I do, however, have 4 titanium screws holding the rods in place - so I did get "screwed" after all.

VAR

 

[Jimmy1]

Mine was an L4/L5, L5/S1 Anterior Lumber Interbody Fusion. They go through the front, take out your intestines, remove the old herniated/flattened disc (mine were only 5 mm in thickness in the end), then they insert a titanium disc coated in bone graft material and then screw them into place.

I can't quite touch my toes anymore and I have no movement past the vertical otherwise it kills.

At present I am doing a lot of core work and strengthening exercises.

 

[RC135Linguist]

Mine was an L4/L5, L5/S1 Anterior Lumber Interbody Fusion. They go through the front, take out your intestines, remove the old herniated/flattened disc (mine were only 5 mm in thickness in the end), then they insert a titanium disc coated in bone graft material and then screw them into place.

I can't quite touch my toes anymore and I have no movement past the vertical otherwise it kills.

At present I am doing a lot of core work and strengthening exercises.

Yikes! It sounds like yours was rather complicated. Anyway, since you showed me yours I'll show you mine. And my screws look bigger than yours! LOL

You can't see the pegs that are holding my vertebrae together because, as I mentioned, they are made of some sort of plastic material which looks invisible in an x-ray.

 

[JarHed]

WOW!, I don't envy you guys. I've had some ligament and muscle problems with my back but that's nothing in comparison to ya'll. I have issues with other areas and chronic pain is a tough thing to deal with on a daily basis.

 

[Jimmy1]

I don't know about that.