Originally Posted by PamelaJune

Didn't see my usual GP, she us on A/L saw another nice bloke and got a referral to the new PM. Along with it accompanying correspondence from my NS and also PM which I have not seen before. NS letter states patient requires further fusion but as it is such a big undertaking considered thought must be given. The PM letter says morphology inconsistent, L2 on X-ray shows significant degeneration and should be the apparent cause of severe discomfort but when injected shows little improvement, L3 on the other hand on X-ray appears relatively healthy yet when injected gives considered relief. So confusing and I'm just flummoxed.

Medication wise, I am taking back the reins; I am again on just 20mg oxy slow release a day, I struggle with the pain but stomach wise and brain wise I feel more in control. I had titrated down on the serequel from 25mg nightly to 7.5mg and took the plunge and ditched the serequel for good 3 weeks ago and have taken only 1x5mg Valium in the past 2 weeks. Remained on 50 mg pristiq instead of increasing to 100 as directed by GP and will begin to titrate down on it as well at the end of this month. I know my source of depression is my back pain and I have become quite adept at reading medical practitioners body language as they read I take serequel, Valium or Xanax along with anti depressants. These meds were prescribed to me to deal with my severe anxiety following the car accident and subsequent 6 year long court case. Doctors read I'm on those meds and the "it's in your mind" statement inevitably follows. My back pain has nothing to do with my mind, my spine is crumbling but doctors don't read that far I've learned, they look first at what medication you are on and begin to draw conclusions from that. I want to see this new PM with being on just pain relief.

The pain from my lower back is felt across and through both hips and is now down to the bottom right side of my coccyx, it feels as though it's splitting in half (like doing breastroke frog kicks) when I walk. I had that feeling before the last fusion and haven't felt it for 12 months or more. I have a vague idea that's to do with the sacrum? I had S1 fused so I wonder if the S1 fusion is not taking. My upper back is a constant ache with I think maybe a new compression fracture forming.

Anyway it's been a tough few weeks with pain and withdrawal symptoms from oxy and serequel. Gosh it is horrid what the body goes through when you stop these meds. I felt as though I couldn't breathe, my body weighed a ton and I truly thought I was having a nervous breakdown. My mum thought I was having a stroke or heart attack. I am on the other side of it now and beginning to feel stronger.

Originally Posted by Rimbanda

Hi Pam, hope the new specialist works out for you. It gets a bit old, dealing with docs that are just humouring you doesn't it? Does nothing for your confidence in their ability to fix your problems when they take that attitude.

One of the things I was looking forward to post implant was getting off most of my meds. Not too sure about that now. Mind you I'm probably just having a BLAH type of day.

Phil

Originally Posted by Rimbanda

Hi Pam, glad you made it to Qld in time for the warm weather. It was minus 3 here yesterday, glad I'm not at work doing nightshifts. Guessing from the length of your flight, you must have flown over from Perth. Hope you enjoy your time visiting family.

Phil

Originally Posted by PamelaJune

Hi Phil, I was like you, I so thought the SCS would see me reducing and finally eliminating medications. Instead I found myself in a situation where my dosage was increased threefold to amounts I felt very unhappy with and uncomfortable. I have severe side effects and have been hospitalised many many times due to complications from oxy. I have had all the discussions with the PM, NS and GP about what I should be taking and I will not take the higher dose long term, I'm just going to have to suck it up. Bowel blockages are excruciating, I have been hospitalised over half a dozen times, had perforations twice, peritonitis twice and some 14 inches taken from the bowel, I'm just not prepared to subject myself to that little merry go round yet again. I take a sachet of movicol each day with the 20mg oxy and Panamax, when I was on 80mg plus I reached 4 sachets and was struggling to manage between rabbit droppings and overflow. Don't you just love that on NT wind and bowel movements are a source of many a conversation. I'm wondering how long it will be before I can work my butt to turn out tunes..... And yes, it sure does get old dealing with docs who no longer care about patients and just there instead for the $$$. Fortunately my NS and GP are not one of those, but I've had more than my fair share over the years..
I'm in QLD for a week visiting my brother, the flight was only 4.5 hours but we had weather delays and my back is giving me a long drawn out wail. Blah days become more and more often with back pain eh!

Originally Posted by ger715

Eva, as you write, "it is a sorrowful thought to have these meds in our life forever sucks".


Gerry