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Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 6:59:24 AM

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I recently moved and the new pain clinic I'm going to is being difficult...I had back surgery in Sept and I'm in severe, constant pain. I was taking hydrocodone but I only have a few left that I've saving for emergencies. The pain clinic doctor won't see me/prescribe pain medicine until I have an EMG done which I can't get in to have done until March. I had an MRI and X-ray done but she still won't see me. I'm looking for some ideas on things I can try. I use insane amounts of bio freeze which helps some. I can't take NSAIDs. I'm thinking about getting a TENS unit. Any other ideas?

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 7:29:42 AM

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Well, the obvious question is, why are you still on pain if the surgery ws in September? Something's wrong.

This isn't exactly what you want, but a flogging (NOT on the back!) might ease things for a bit.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 8:21:36 AM

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I don't know why...haven't been given the results of the MRI yet. But the surgery really messed up my back. :( pain is way worse than before surgery.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 8:35:08 AM

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I don't know your whole story, but speaking from some experience with back surgery, you have to maintain some form of activity, even if it hurts like a mofo, which it does, because if you lie around a lot, which is pretty much what you want to do when you feel like that, lol, the muscles spasm and get stiff and sore and you do feel worse than before the surgery.

My surgeon told me walking was my best exercise, and he was right. It's really hard, and exhausting, but even if you make it down the block and back and build up from there, it's beneficial. Since you said you get relief from the Biofreeze, it sounds like heat and cold help you. You could just apply hot or cold packs, whichever gives you the most relief. You can even alternate them, 20 min. each, then switch. They do that in therapy, called "contrast baths". Heat and cold increase circulation, which helps reduce inflammation, which is the major cause of pain. Exercise also increases circulation, which reduces inflammation. And you probably would benefits from a TENS unit, because it causes muscle contractions, which are like exercise, which increases circulation, which reduces inflammation, and so on. But you HAVE to do exercises, even gentle ones, as well as gentle stretching, you can't depend solely on the TENS and meds. You've GOT to rebuild those muscles that got weak before and after the surgery, and walking is a good place to start, no matter how hard it is at first. Recovery from back surgery is grueling, but you have to get determined and work through it. Once the muscles start to rebuild, it will become easier, but it takes a long time.

You know what helped me the most? I got a puppy! lol Because then I was forced to get up and take her outside to potty train and for walks. This was about 4 months post-surgery, and I think it played a big part in getting me back out in the real world again. It takes a LONG time and you have to do the work, unfortunately

< Message edited by windchymes -- 2/1/2014 8:37:30 AM >

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 8:42:01 AM

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I'm starting PT in the next week or two. Hopefully that helps.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 9:05:26 AM

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If you are still in that much pain this long after surgery, you should go to the emergency room to find out where the surgeon screwed up. Another alternative is to call your insurance company and have them pressure the clinic into getting you a quicker appointment.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 9:15:46 AM

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I won't go to the ER unless I'm at risk of dying. I saw my PCP yesterday and the pain is making my blood pressure dangerously high so she put me on HCTZ (a strong diuretic)

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 9:48:32 AM

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I'd get a new PCP. They should understand the situation better and get you an appointment for the EMG sooner. I can't understand HCTZ for your blood pressure unless you've been having difficulty urinating (common with opiate use) or something wrong with your blood serum levels. That medication is a vasodilator specifically, but also a diuretic which assumes some imbalance in the biochemistry dealing with endocrine system function. You said you moved, which I'd think would make it hard for that doctor to know where your blood volume normally is... why use that medication in specific when a beta blocker is much safer and will block b1 and/or b2 receptors?

Pain and pain medications cause severe fluctuations in your parasympathetic response system, largely A and B receptors in the brain as well as others. A PMC doctor wouldn't really run a catecholamines test; however, blocking some of those receptors due to an influx of heightened brain chemicals would seem more logical and less dehydrating.

Realize that pain doctors have been pinched since the New Year, so they're all acting a bit maniacally now. It actually isn't uncommon to have pain after this long. To your body, surgery is no different than trauma, and with back surgery, it's severe trauma. I agree that PT and moving around should help, but that's hard to say if there is a pinched nerve or something else going on.

I wish I had more answers, but I simply lack the information. I am sincerely sorry that it has caused more pain, but in the long run, let's hope it does make a change for the better. No one should be in a state where they're on opiates or synthetics for a prolonged period of time. It's just crummy and hard on your body. Good luck with your situation.

PS--your primary care doctor may be willing to help you by writing a Rx for Tramadol. It is not an NSAID and has far less stipulations for the prescribing doctor than Vicodin. It's also much stronger than Ibuprofen.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:03:04 AM

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I'm already taking Diovan, Metoprolol, Spironolactone and Lasix that should be lowering my bp but they aren't b/c of the pain.

Tramadol interacts with my Cymbalta and doesn't help anyways. The pain clinic doctor mentioned possibly starting me on Nucynta (sp?) once the tests are done but that's a long wait. :(

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:04:39 AM

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What's your resting heart rate looking like?

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:07:02 AM

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quote:

I don't know your whole story, but speaking from some experience with back surgery, you have to maintain some form of activity, even if it hurts like a mofo, which it does, because if you lie around a lot, which is pretty much what you want to do when you feel like that, lol, the muscles spasm and get stiff and sore and you do feel worse than before the surgery.

My surgeon told me walking was my best exercise, and he was right. It's really hard, and exhausting, but even if you make it down the block and back and build up from there, it's beneficial.

I've had back pain off and on for decades. Yes, Tramadol helps (like a band-aid), but what helps the most is regular yoga, walking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

OP - there's your natural/OTC method - regular yoga, walking, and maintaining a healthy weight.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:09:04 AM

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Yeah, but the combination of drugs she's been prescribed really treat heart failure (condition; not heart attack). There just aren't enough facts for good advice.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:09:23 AM

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110-ish usually. shoots up to 180+ if I move.

quote:

ORIGINAL: inmate822210

What's your resting heart rate looking like?

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:10:29 AM

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I don't have heart failure. EKG before surgery was normal.

quote:

ORIGINAL: inmate822210

Yeah, but the combination of drugs she's been prescribed really treat heart failure (condition; not heart attack). There just aren't enough facts for good advice.

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"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes its the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow"

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:17:53 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: dollparts85

110-ish usually. shoots up to 180+ if I move.

That is tachycardia with postural tachycardia as well. Has anyone tested you for a pheochromocytoma? It'd be incredibly rare, but with what you just said, symptoms are limited to heart failure, that or very few things. Heart failure isn't always consistent on an EKG pre-op. You have to do an ECG and monitor the heart for a prolonged period of time (especially during a stress test); not 20 minutes. And pheo's will also spike BP when given beta-blockers, which Metoprolol is (and a bad one... why not use Atenolol?).

Postural tachycardia is consistent with lack of exercise, but it's definitely a symptom of something larger.

180+ is dangerously high. Adding exercise to that could potentially be dangerous, which is why I wouldn't jump on that bandwagon.

I'll never have all of the answers to give good advice, but this is beyond a forum by far.

< Message edited by inmate822210 -- 2/1/2014 10:18:11 AM >

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:20:08 AM

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They've never done any tests beyond the EKG to get me approved for surgery. I take the metoprolol for the tachycardia but obviously it doesn't really work very well. I've had tachycardia since I was a child. I was started on propanol at 13 years old (I was a normal weight and very active) They did some tests back then but I don't really remember what since I was so young...never found a cause.

quote:

ORIGINAL: inmate822210

quote:

ORIGINAL: dollparts85

110-ish usually. shoots up to 180+ if I move.

That is tachycardia with postural tachycardia as well. Has anyone tested you for a pheochromocytoma? It'd be incredibly rare, but with what you just said, symptoms are limited to heart failure, that or very few things. Heart failure isn't always consistent on an EKG pre-op. You have to do an ECG and monitor the heart for a prolonged period of time (especially during a stress test); not 20 minutes. And pheo's will also spike BP when given beta-blockers, which Metoprolol is (and a bad one... why not use Atenolol?).

Postural tachycardia is consistent with lack of exercise, but it's definitely a symptom of something larger.

180+ is dangerously high. Adding exercise to that could potentially be dangerous, which is why I wouldn't jump on that bandwagon.

I'll never have all of the answers to give good advice, but this is beyond a forum by far.

< Message edited by dollparts85 -- 2/1/2014 10:21:39 AM >

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:20:37 AM

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I don't want you to freak out or feel like you're dying certainly. I'm just concerned about several of the medications and other symptoms you have that can be extremely serious. I'd rather wish medicine was practiced better on a doctor to doctor basis.

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:23:12 AM

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Do you experience syncope ever when going from sitting to standing (extreme dizziness that leads to falling or a blackout event)?

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:23:28 AM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: inmate822210

I don't want you to freak out or feel like you're dying certainly. I'm just concerned about several of the medications and other symptoms you have that can be extremely serious. I'd rather wish medicine was practiced better on a doctor to doctor basis.

I'm really worried that she has started me on this HCTZ and says I don't ahve to come back for 3 months...you would think she would want to see me in like a month to check my bp and have labs done to see if it's making my potassium or sodium too low.

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"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes its the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow"

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RE: Natural/OTC ways to treat severe pain? - 2/1/2014 10:25:16 AM

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I get really dizzy and fall a lot. My balance is awful. Haven't blacked out in a while though. I used to when I taking neurontin.

quote:

ORIGINAL: inmate822210

Do you experience syncope ever when going from sitting to standing (extreme dizziness that leads to falling or a blackout event)?

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"Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes its the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, I will try again tomorrow"

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