.I am keeping a diary of my pain levels and of the things i can and cannot do day to day. Every morning I am telling myself i need to be stronger and stand up to these doctors. What i ment by right off the bat is something that works not something that i have to double up on and pray that it works. i do sit home in pain alot and pray for sleep. i take ambiem which generally doesnt work anymore for me and my schedual is all screwed up. i cant get comfrotable to sleep. i had the r.f. done two months ago and my lower back is starting to sieze up again.. feels like there is something being compressed there and then the pain comes and last night i tried to goto bingo (lol and after sittling for 15 mins with a cushion under by butt) i lost feeling in my right leg and had to move it with my a arm to get it awake again then i was able to tell it to move. since then the pain level is high. i do have a lawyer i am going to call monday and talk about how one doc tells me to call the other doc and so forth. this is my second pain managment doctor i am seeing here in southern jersey and i think i should look for another one. i am also going to ask the lawyer about another surgeon because of my right arm and the daily numbness in it there has to be a way to stop that and i am on an anti convulsive because of the headaches due to my neck. i am extremely worried about my liver and all these pills i am on. i am on flexeral and naproxen 500mg. which do not work. i did tell the doctor this.. does anyone know wht the next level up is of muscle relaxers are? i am getting into the surgeon again i am going to bring my diary with me and iam going to be making alist of ?s that i want answered.

One more thing i dont like the fact that these doctors look at me like i am drug seeking. I tell them i just want something that works and when i tell them something doesnt work they are really hesitant to right scripts.. i dont understand what is going. 20 years ago they were more than happy to help someone and now even though you have all this paper work and tests backing what your saying and they still dont want to help you. I dont get it

I sure hope you get to that new doctor. Maybe I can suggest a few things to ease some of the stress of the pain. I know things cost, but I found something that works to ease my back when sitting. A GELL cushion. I have a magazine for people with disabilities. This seems to work so I can sit and type, or even play bingo, or eeucher {opps spelling I think} It is like the kind you sleep on that costs alot.
Also there really is a protocal involved in how to talk to your doctor about pain medications. The thing is so many abused the stuff, that doctors have to be careful for their own sakes on who they prescribe the medications to. If you think about it from the doctors view point, they are scared, and their practice and licence is on the line. Google up "How to talk to your pain Doctor" Also a number of months ago, Doc.Smith, not a doctor, but he goes by that name, he had some real good articles for us, and dog gone I just knew I should have saved them. If you post to the front board again, maybe he will help you find those articles I am talking about. Everything in them made alot of sense. Maybe even PM him for this good information. I tried just now to find the same ones, and just didn't put in the right sentance. Once you have the doctor who does completely understand your pain, and can fully evaluate you again, he will direct to surgeon, or maybe a physiasist/pain specialist. This type of doctor I had never gone to before. She has helped with the nerve pain, and the pain in my spine from the fusions. I truely hope you continue to seek help for this back pain. Those of us who have been in your shoes sure understand how awful it really is. Try to get that cushion, I do believe it works. Keep in touch. ginnie

Could you please tell me the name of the magazine and i will definately look up on how to talk to your pain managment doctor

Hi again C... The name of the magazine is called Easy Comforts, at 250 City Center in Oshkish Wi. 54906. They have several of the ones I mentioned. this months page 5, and 7. Ask for the catalog. 1-800-308-1384. don't give up just keep pushing forword to get the help. I am here anytime you need to talk. You may PM if you want to. Hope the cushion works for you. I am going to order a few more things from this company to help me. ginnie

Thank you for the information. Word just came down friday from my nuerosurgeon that we are doing a l4 to l5 fusion. I am so afraid now..i havent been able to eat for three days. i did get a second opioion and they agreed it is needed. i was told i will have 80 percent pain relieve. Also the nerve that is damaged in my leg may or may not get better but it definalty wont get worse. they will be using prostectics. And it will take four to 6 months recovery.

I so understand you being nervous. I was too when I found Neuro Talk. Just keep writing to us so we can help you get through it. This was done for me, and I did survive it all and healed well. The support helped take away the fear of the whole thing. We are with you in spirit. Anyone who has had to go through this gets nervous. Drink a warm cup of tea, just relax. It will turn out ok and NT will be here for you. ginnie

Ginnie..........you crack me up because I can relate too well. I have been in and out of here since '95 and have a computer much longer. None the less, I still need to look up how to perform the simplist functions. I chose to blame it on Fibro and leave it at that.

As usual, I appreciate Doc's wise, timely words. The doctors are not mind readers and we must tell them what is going on. If the course of treatment is not doing the job, you need to say so in an informative manner, not requesting a specific med or a med increase. I find that if I give him the info. (ususally in a journal form) and let him be the doctor, I leave the office with a change that I am pleased with.

Best wishes!!!!

Yep, we all need each other during these medical situations. I know I do better talking to people here, than anywhere else. Also got good information on how to talk to my doctors. This has been a good experience to learn from this site. Glad to make anyone crack up a bit, we all need those smiles too. Hope you are doing OK with your back. I am decreasing meds. now, and want to try to live without a narcotic at all. I am determined to give it a go. I have a super pain doc. and she has been fantastic to me. I really wish everyone had someone like this in their corner. take care spine, this site is always in my prayers. ginnie

I just realized no one answered posterior or anterior. Maybe I can use my experience to help you understand.

Surgical pain is surgical pain is surgical pain. The only difference I saw and felt was the scars on my neck. I had both done. The doc will proceed to let you know which way is the safest and most effective (or not unless you pin him down prior to surgery.) But I wouldn't pin him down because there are reasons, sometimes found in surgery, why he does it the way he does. . So in effect, you will wake up with one or the done or both like me on my first operation.

Really not a difference in pain level.

My arms and fingers are better but sometimes they recover and sometimes they don't. Like me, I got partial relief. When I am tired they seem so bad...

I just kept thanking God I got through the surgery and that He let me live in pain I could tolerate. I was where I needed to be, and there was a doc who understood..

Hang in there friend.