Hi KatLC,

Its so unfair isn't it!
I found that Lyrica had the biggest effect on pain, its designed to help with nerve pain (although I guess all pain is nerve pain) but you know what I mean! There is also Gabapentin which is meant to be very good.
I recently phoned up and cancelled my SCS trial as I wasn't happy with what I was reading, it can cause many problems itself.

My pain is worse in winter and so I slowly reduce my meds in summer to about half and then I get a better pain relief from them when I slowly increase them in autumn/winter.
Doctors will advise but at the end of the day, you know your pain better than they do, I find its so hard to properly explain how the pain feels.

I do hope you find something or someway to help!

I just stumbled upon this and it gave me a bit of insight. I have been struggling with pain and surgeries for 6 years and not sure about what medication path to take. It seems like doctors don't fully grasp your pain or emotional state your in. Unfortunately I've been having to go to the er for pain relief and get treated like a drug addict. I feel ashamed and embarrassed. Thank you for all of the input in this thread. I really appreciated it.

Heather,
I am sorry you have to go the ER for pain relief because unfortunately, they do treat you like a drug addict. Like everything else in the pain control universe, a small minority who abuse the system make it bad for all of us.

I was in the ER once with a family member and the person in the next bed was screaming and screaming non-stop at the top of his lungs. When I asked a nurse why the patient was not being tended to, he said that this individual was a known drug seeker who makes the round of ER's weekly to get drugs and they were just waiting for the police to come get him. She told me that people come in screaming non stop thinking the staff will do anything to shut them up.

I am glad you learned from the thread, it is a good one. I hope your circumstances change so you can see a doc who understands because they are out there. Try http://www.partnersagainstpain.com/ and look under finding pain care.
Diandra

Thanks to every contributor to this thread.
Lots of helpful information here.

I had not heard of the H-Wave machine before. sounds very interesting and will be asking my doctor about this machine.

With Gratitude.
DejaVu

I learned about the H-wave machine while at Hippocrates Health Institute...it was part of their treatment protocol for everyone a few times a week, not sure if they still use it.

Anyway, I bought one, which at the time was over $2000 but, I had gotten off all my pain meds while in the program. At the time they also had a trial period.

It looks like a TENS unit and they teach you how to use it and I did use it daily for over 2 yrs. Honestly, if I had to to do it over, I am not sure I would have spent the money because its effectiveness has seemed to peter out, or perhaps my enthusiasm has.

It seems they market more to sports teams and PTs. It was effective but I think it works best in conjunction with all the other protocols utilized while at HHI. If you have all the money in the world, buy it but, If you want to try it out first , I would contact the company and ask which practitioners have they sold to in your area. You really need someone to teach you how to use it.
My best, D,