I'm very new here, but really needs some kind words, or support, or something, lol.
I am in constant pain. I have Fibro, DDD, Diabetes, and bulging discs with pinched nerves. I have a pain management dr. and am taking Darvocet for pain. Sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. I'm sure that you are all familiar with that. I have a sedentary job, which really makes managing the pain on a daily basis rather difficult. I do get up and move around as much as possible. I'm 47 years old, and have had chronic pain for about 10 years now. I almost panic at the thought of having to spend the rest of my life with this pain. I have had Epidurals and they don't help. I have constant pain in my neck from bulging discs at C5,C6, and C7, and then bulging discs in my lower back at L5/S1. I use Lidoderm patches for my lower back, and they help some, but I can't get them to stick to my neck.
I appreciate any advice or words of wisdom that you have to offer. I look forward to meeting you all.

If the epidurals don't help, has your doctor tried facet injections or radiofrequency ablation (a procedure where they use a machine that burns the nerve so you don't feel the pain that much anymore). I have had both done and the ablation has done the most good. I have a disc bulge in my L3-L5 area and the epidural didn't do squat for me either. The facet injection helped more but the pain did come back. Finally the big guns...the ablation. I have my pain cut by about 3/4 and I can walk more than 5 minutes without nerve pain.
Ask your pain doc about the procedures. I don't know if you can do them in the cervical area or if they are offered in Australia, but it never hurts to ask your doc!
Welcome by the way to the board!

Hi Kim and Welcome to NeuroTalk

I also have fibro (among other things) so I can relate to the pain and all the other effects on the body that the pain causes.

I use Lidoderm patches too - and I also used to have a hard time getting them to stick to my neck area. I discovered that my problem with getting them to stay stuck was due to the size of the patches and the curves of my neck.... what helped me to finally get them to stay stuck was cutting them to fit. I generally cut one patch into 3 or 4 pieces in order to get the benefits of a full patch on my neck. Thankfully, Lidoderm patches are one of the few patches that are safe to cut to size.

Take care,
Liz

Forgot about the Lidoderm patches......I got a butt load of them in my bedroom. Two boxes. Keep forgetting to use them. The pain gets so overwhelming most times I don't use them.
Thanks for reminding me Liz!

Welcome Kimster:

First off, I can empathize with your pain as I too have DDD, SI Joint disfunction, Osteoarthritis (Hip/Shoulder) L5-S1 thru L3 herniations, L5-S1 thru L-3 Neural Formal stenosis and Osteophytes at L5-S1.

I have been dealing with Chronic Pain for over 11 years now, after suffering a devastating injury in the Military.

My doctors never did surgery at my lower back - although it has been recommended - (Fusion - b/c the bones keep shifting, Laminectomy) I have come to realize that surgery may not be the answer for me - in my research I have read that I would be trading one pain for another and a pain pump would be added when I have the fusion and laminectomy. I have consented to inserting a pain stimulator in my back though and that would happen sometime this year.

Second off, you are in a good place here, the people are knowledgeable, supportive and have some wonderful advice when I need it.

Thirdly, sounds like you have doctors willing to help you in your situation.

I too had a seditary job and to tell the truth I rushed home everyday and got in a super hot tub just to deal with the pain I was experiencing every day - here are some of the strategies I used on a daily basis to combat the pain.

1. My doctor recommended a raised (bar stool like) workstation which kept me in a half standing half sitting position - this helps and frankly standing up when I needed to was much easier - reducing my dependence on my cane.

2. Having a spot in the office where I could go and lie flat with my knees up during my lunch hour was important. I would go into the conference room, lie on a sleeping bag pad and turn the lights off. Having my ipod drowned out the noise of the office and allowed me to do some deep breathing and some stretching exercises.

3. Drink plenty of water. Most of our pain is residual, and sometimes comes from stiff muscles - water will keep both your joints and your muscles well hydrated, so have a water bottle with you at all times.

4. There are some stretching exercises you can do at your desk, email me I will explain more.

5. I had a nasty supervisor that would not like to see me get up and walk around every hour so my doctor wrote me a note to do just that.....get up and walk every hour - that keeps you mobile.

6. Use back supports (pillows), heating pads, and anything else that helps you deal with the pain while sitting.

7. Ice packs seemed to work the best - I would keep them in the office refridgerator.

Wish you all the best,

Kim

Hi Kimster ~

Welcome to NeuroTalk! I'm sorry I wasn't here yesterday ~ I have been having a lot of health problems recently.

You will find lots of support here!

I, too, have DDD along with severe spinal stenosis and arachnoiditis, both in the cervical and lumbar. I am fused from C5 through C7 and from L1 through L5, S1. The surgeries helped some of the pain for a bit, but new pain has since popped up because of the discs collapsing above and below the fusions.

The others have already given good advice for pain control, but I would like to add that Darvocette is one of the weakest opoids. I know it's hard to make the decision to go to something stronger, but it can mean the difference between night and day.

Congratulations on still being able to work! I wish I still could, I have been disabled since 2001 and miss my job so much!

Once again, welcome to the board. I hope you stay around so we can all get to know each other better!

hugs,
dadsgirl