Absolute Misery
 

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I don't even know where to start. I'm a F, 44 yrs old. Beginning is 1982 I had a bad fall on ice in high school that fractured my Tail Bone. In 2001 I was sent airborne on roller-skates only to land in a V shape directly on my tail end. In 2004 I fell on my tail end again on ice and slid 1/4 mile down a long icy driveway. Then domestic abuse where I was picked up and physically thrown over and into a coffee table on my tail end. I have been in 2 different braces. Hard case with a leg lock and a soft-hard form brace. I have a Hemagioma that covers the entire lower Lumbar area. L5 has collapsed on S1 causing excruciating pain! L4-L3 are on their way down hill. Degenerative Disk Disease stage 3on border of 4, Arthritis in just about every joint in the body (not from lack of exercise either), Vertebral Cysts, Paresthesia now in both legs, sever pain in the lower back, both sciatica that lead down my legs, my skin on my legs feels sort of dead. The left leg is like lead weight and the right is heading that way as well. I am at my wits end. No insurance. Still doing the Aquatic Therapy that my old ortho prescribed . . . coming from the man that said I would be fine . . . When I am in the water, it is the only relief I can get. I have been told by 3 doctors in 2009 I am not a safe candidate for surgery due to the Hemangioma (bleed out), Advanced DDD, and over an 80% of being in a wheelchair the rest of my life. What can I do besides sit on ice and act like a fish? My pain meds don't even take the edge off at this point and they are about as strong as they get for prescriptions. My Family Practitioner is losing her tolerance. I tried Chiropractic but with L5 and S1 fusing I think it just keeps cracking apart, so I quit going. Pain Mgt. wanted to prescribe the same thing I am already on at the moment. I have even made the informed decision that I will submit my spine to research surgery, that's how bad it hurts. Any relief is good relief. Help!

I'm sorry to hear about your pain and back issues! Its really is a terrible thing and so frustrating when you dont get answers, solutions or relief. You might need a diffent pain management Dr if they arent getting you any relief. I dont have much useful advise toward a solution for you but can only say there are others of us out there/here that at least have an idea of what you are going through and I am sorry for your suffering.

It's amazing how little prescription pain pills help. I've never had morphine but I've heard others claim it's the only thing that really works. If it's inoperable can they put you on a morphine pump? I've heard of one women (my sister's friend's mother) who has been on one for years, maybe decades. This women is very old at this point. It has helped her immensely.

re pain
 

I'm just sorry to read how painful your spine is due to all that is going on "in there."

You mentioned being on the strongest pain meds possible so I take that to mean you're already on something like Morphine or Methadone? I have taken the latter for 11 years at a low dose which helped my pain greatly. The other thing is if one has to pay cash it's a dirt cheap drug.

You mentioned not having insurance so I can see why you may not be a candidate for some things that others with insurance have like epidural steroid injections and ?

I don't know what to suggest except that if you live in the states and are uninsured have you gone to a county facility to try to see a group of specialists? Also are you eligible for SSI SSD or Medicaid (in CA it's MediCal) or Medicare due to permanent disability status?

If you've not been deemed permanently disabled perhaps you should be so that at least you'd qualify for Medicare 24 months after being deemed permanently disabled.

This probably isn't too helpful. I just wish you better days somehow. Maria

Hi Shelly the others have said what i was going to suggest and more.I am on the long acting morphine and it does work pretty well for the bad back pain. I know you don't have insurance so it is limited as to what you can afford. They do have spinal cord stimulators and as someone else said implantable pain pumps. Are you getting insurance any time soon? You do need to get to a good pain management doctor as there are other things they try, perhaps a fentanyl patch.
I am so sorry about all you have gone through and wish there was something i could offer.
judy