topic Re: Arthritis In Back in Wellness

Arthritis In Back

Winkk — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:00:07 GMT

I've had scoliosis of the spine for quite some time but over the past few weeks I have been having excruciating pain that would run down my leg. I knew I had an arthritic sciatic joint but this pain was the worse. Had an MRI on Monday and it shows I have bad arthritis in my lumbar back.

Went to see my orthopedic today and he is referring me to a pain management doctor. I was wondering if any of you have had experience with a pain management doc? Were they able to help with your problem? Has your pain been relieved?

Thanks.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Still Raining — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:13:06 GMT

I have a different sort of problem, but pain management can help.

Assume you have done evaluations with all your other specialists too? If not, get some referrals. Ortho may not be a complete work up.

Be ready to do some work and do keep up with your PT and OT.

For me, I was eventually placed in a chronic pain clinic. After a year or so, pain is a mind game. They will help.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Kachina624 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:48:32 GMT

I also have arthritis in my back along with stenosis. I have been extensively treated by two pain mgmt specialists. I had injections, tried every treatment they suggested, took medications they recommended and nothing helped in the slightest. Surgery is not an option.

I can only stand a few minutes until I'm in extreme pain so it's hard to manage a home and live a normal life, go places and do things. No shopping, for instance as I can't browse. I do have a mobility scooter for outside use but it's inoperable half the time. I don't get a lot done or have much fun.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Texas Gray Wolf — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:09:00 GMT

I too have scoliosis.....went to a chiropractor starting in my early 30's....he really helped me for a while but as i got older, the arthritis set in....he has done acupuncture which helps at times. I've also experenced pain in the hips and down my legs plus my neck gives me a fit. I'm in my early 60's now and suffer from stiffness along with constant pain. I also cannot stand for long periods of time and those days of hours of shopping in stores are no more. I miss going for walks expecially since I retired.

Re: Arthritis In Back

decaf — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 16:59:22 GMT

I've had to go to a pain management doctor for many years. I think most were born with a needle in their hand, they love to give shots. Unfortunately, these cortisone shots can have bad side effects, some long term. You may want to google about that.

Studies have proven many male pain docs are unduly dismissive and skeptical of women in pain. They misprescribe, giving antidepressants instead of pain meds. If you have trouble establishing a good relationship with the doc, don't wait, find another one. I have a new female pain doc , I wish I would have changed 4 years ago.

Regarding any treatment they suggest (meds, PT,shots,etc), ask them for all your options and also the possible short term and long term side effects. Also, what you should expect to get out of the treatment! If they use a surgical center (for shots and other procedures) get all your costs upfront, be sure they get your insurance approval upfront, it can be expensive. I hope this may help, I know it's scary. Please tag me here if you have any other questions. I hope it goes well for you.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Winkk — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:44:08 GMT

@decaf wrote:
I've had to go to a pain management doctor for many years. I think most were born with a needle in their hand, they love to give shots. Unfortunately, these cortisone shots can have bad side effects, some long term. You may want to google about that.

Studies have proven many male pain docs are unduly dismissive and skeptical of women in pain. They misprescribe, giving antidepressants instead of pain meds. If you have trouble establishing a good relationship with the doc, don't wait, find another one. I have a new female pain doc , I wish I would have changed 4 years ago.

Regarding any treatment they suggest (meds, PT,shots,etc), ask them for all your options and also the possible short term and long term side effects. Also, what you should expect to get out of the treatment! If they use a surgical center (for shots and other procedures) get all your costs upfront, be sure they get your insurance approval upfront, it can be expensive. I hope this may help, I know it's scary. Please tag me here if you have any other questions. I hope it goes well for you.

Thanks @decaf. You raised a lot of good points

I would not have thought about.

Re: Arthritis In Back

chrystaltree — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:38:38 GMT

Yes indeed! I've had chronic pain from different things for 20 years. I spinal stenosis anf and a cervical neck disc problem. I'm in pain 24/7. I saw a pain specialist a few years ago and she did spinal injections every 4 months. That relieved much of the pain for 3 months. She also prescribed Neurontin 2 to 3 times a day. 300mg capsules. I was doing fairly well until Covid struck. The hospital was not doing spinal injections for a year because they are elective procedures. My pain control doc told me to take 3 neurontin and Tylenol. I can't take motrin due to my blood pressure but if the pain is really bad, she said take it along with Tylenol. All that dulls the pain enough so I can push it out of my mind and I sleep well. But now that we are back to normal, I want the injections again. I put in the request for visit with a pain control doctor online, I'm waiting for a call from them. We go on vacation in August and I don't want to be in a lot of pain. I'm 60 and I have had some type of pain for 40 years.

Re: Arthritis In Back

ALRATIBA — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:51:38 GMT

@Winkk

My doc sent me to pain management doc for sciatica that I developed after a rather bad fall. (3 days in hospital)

Pain Mgmt Doc gave me a prescription of physcal therapy. He recommended Tylenol, hot or cold compresses (whichever worked best), and lidocaine patches. And - most important - remain actve.

Pain never goes away completely - like everything else - you learn to tolerate it. I have a rather high pain threshold - so the pain really hasn't interfered with my lifestyle. If necessary - get yourself a cane or walker.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Shelbelle — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:02:44 GMT

My DH gets very painful sciatica flare ups, he has done his research and has taught himself the proper exercises, and has learned to cure the flares on his own. He suffers for a while, but in time all the pain subsides.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Winkk — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:58:39 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
Yes indeed! I've had chronic pain from different things for 20 years. I spinal stenosis anf and a cervical neck disc problem. I'm in pain 24/7. I saw a pain specialist a few years ago and she did spinal injections every 4 months. That relieved much of the pain for 3 months. She also prescribed Neurontin 2 to 3 times a day. 300mg capsules. I was doing fairly well until Covid struck. The hospital was not doing spinal injections for a year because they are elective procedures. My pain control doc told me to take 3 neurontin and Tylenol. I can't take motrin due to my blood pressure but if the pain is really bad, she said take it along with Tylenol. All that dulls the pain enough so I can push it out of my mind and I sleep well. But now that we are back to normal, I want the injections again. I put in the request for visit with a pain control doctor online, I'm waiting for a call from them. We go on vacation in August and I don't want to be in a lot of pain. I'm 60 and I have had some type of pain for 40 years.

I feel so bad for you @chrystaltree . I really need to find the thing that works for me, but I haven't yet. Middle of the night seems when it flares up for some reason.

Re: Arthritis In Back

JeanLouiseFinch — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 00:46:02 GMT

Before having cervical spinal fusion, the first course of action was to see a pain management doc, She tried epidural injections but they did nothing for me.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Junker2327 — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 02:01:43 GMT

I have it in my back also. I went to arthritic specialist that had me take one predinisone every morning for a whle. It worked instantly but I do not take that any longer. fast forward I have gone to chirpractor . Took CBL with no THC, and then dr prescribed Meloxican. Nothing works for me during weather changes. Weather affects me 100% as far as pain goes.

Beckyblu

Re: Arthritis In Back

beach-mom — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 02:46:24 GMT

@Winkk - Until we went into quarantine I was in perfect health, except for occasional migraines and seasonal allergies. In March 2020 I was almost glad to be home and not working during the day and having to go out to meetings every night. I could actually get something done at home.

Then it happened. I thought I'd pulled a muscle moving boxes, only my pain was getting worse. DH was the one who "diagnosed" sciatica. Our family doctor was closed. I didn't want to go to the hospital with everything going on, so I went to a clinic that was open. The nurse practitioner sent me for X-rays. I was nervous because of the virus, but there was no other patient there.

She called and said my X-rays were OK, and it probably was sciatica. She told me to call my GP so they could recommend a PT. Even though they were closed someone would be answering the phone. I called and left a message. They called back and said the doctor wanted to meet me there. He also said DH was right, and I started PT.

A week later I was carrying water bottles. I tripped and fell, stopping my fall with my hands. So now I had a frozen shoulder.

I was in PT until October. When I left, my PT, who specializes in sciatica and who is amazing, told me not to balk at getting an injection. I really didn't want to, but by December I was in more pain. My back didn't hurt, but the pain started in my hip and wrapped around my thigh and down my shin.

I made an appointment with the recommended pain doctor. It was supposed to be a consultation, and he said normally he would let me think about it, but because of COVID, he wanted to do it then. So I had my first injection. It lasted a while.

I had another one in February. This time it made no difference. My last one was the first of May, which helped for a few weeks.

I finally had an MRI. I get the results next week. But I'm still in pain. I have talked to a lot of people who have had this and it went away. I keep waiting. One of my friends had it when she was pregnant!

But I do trust my doctor. He has answered all of my questions and concerns.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Carol Diane — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 03:04:38 GMT

A bit off topic but I was wondering if anyone has made themselves hypersensitive to pain. Broke my wrist last October and had it fixed with plate and screws. I never was happy having the plate in and had pain for 7 months even though bones healed well. Had 2nd operation 8 weeks ago and had hardware removed and a neuroma taken care of. Also had a tendon clipped to allow more finger movement.Still in pain but my dr is telling me it takes at least a year for nerves, etc to settle down. I think I'm worried there's another neuroma stuck in scar tissue and my mind is making things worse. I see the surgeon regularly and had a cortisone shot. Everyone reminds me I was operated on twice in 7 months in the same place. I was wondering if anyone else's pain settled down after a long time and learned to calm their mind down and not think the worst?

Re: Arthritis In Back

NAES1 — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 04:11:12 GMT

@Winkk ,

There are many posters -literally, in acute pain to chronic pain that I have read.

I can attest that @Kachina624 can and would try to walk you through with everything that she knows, and everything she has been through + a wealth of knowledge of your situation,it appears to me.

She's a sweetheart,also.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Winkk — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:43:48 GMT

@beach-mom - It sounds like we have similar problems. I did have a MRI last week. Arthritis along spine and I have scoliosis. I have an appointment to see pain management doc. But, after reading all the posts no two people are alike. I'm just hoping to keep the pain under control. Thanks.

Re: Arthritis In Back

Winkk — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:49:44 GMT

I was wondering about the weather too @Junker2327. It does seem when the weather is damp or humid the pain is worse.

Re: Arthritis In Back

ScrapHappy — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 12:50:04 GMT

I also have scoliosis. Found it during screening at school but very mild case that didn't requires a brace or treatment. I worked in the medical field for years. A lot of lifting and pulling. My back would go out every once in a while but it would always eventually go away. The last time I hurt my back, it just wasn't getting better. Lingered. I finally gave in and went to ortho doctor. He said I had arthritis in my lower back. Said to loose weight...I know and I would have to go to PT for rest of my life. I did go for a couple of sessions than Covid hit. But thankfully I've been okay. The doc did say the injections were an option if PT was not helping. I worked with pain management doctors. The same patients came in week after week, year after year.