I had back surgery in 2000. It was great for a while and then the pain came back. I have been off work for the second time in 2 years because i cant deal with the intense pain. This is my 6th week off. I have been through 3 sets of back injections and a RANZ cath procedure. Im loosing my mind and the pain remains but i think ill go back to work next week if the doctor releases me. Any one else in this boat?

Hi Josie E.
I'm sorry to hear about your pain. I can totally relate, I had back surgery for a herniated disc (L-5) in 2000. About 3 years ago I started to have pain again. Almost 3 months ago I gave birth to my "bonus" baby and my back feels worse than when I was pregnant. I think it's from carrying the baby around. It is so frustrating to deal with. Just dealing with the fear of reinjury is what I feel started a lot of my anxiety. It's so stressful living in pain every day, not to mention what we miss out on. I see a chiropractor, but right now I'm living on anti inflammatories, also, this past week has been worse. Just realized I started this program last week too, maybe I'll learn some new ways of coping with the stress of this? I hope you have found some relief, I see it's been a while since you posted. I always feel like nobody can relate to my back issues, I see I'm not alone. Best wishes and I hope you are feeling better. Amy Z.

Hi, there-I have not had the condition itself, but work with a lot of folks who do. Have either of you tried enrolling in a pain management center? They combine medication, physical therapy, and biofeedback to help you reduce your pain levels and learn to function with what you can. FBS is not your fault, back surgery is such a huge deal and can have lasting effects that are not always good, but there are newer treatments out there to help you regain some function and independence without having to do so in excrutiating pain.

Tara

thank you for your concern. I know there are other options out there, I tried most of them before I had surgery. It's just hard to deal with when you remember how bad it got before surgery. I feel the pain and then the anxiety shoots through the roof. You mentioned biofeedback, I did that for tension headaches. What a great thing, not only did it show me where I carry my stress it taught me how to breathe correctly. Still catch myself breathing shallow or holding my breath. My instructor also gave me a relaxation tape alot like what Lucinda has. thanks again, hope you're doing well. AmyZ

I also have back issues. I have a lot of osteoarthritis in my spine and then last fall, hit a deer in my van and ended up with a compression fracture. They did bone density scans and they are all normal, but my xrays show chronic compression fractures in my upper back and then at times, my siatic nerve pinches and I have intense pain in my low back and from my knee to my ankle on one side. Unless you have had this pain, you can't even begin to discribe it to folks.

I hate the prescription pain drugs. In the first place, narcotics make me vomit, so I'm having all of this pain in my back and being sick besides. That only makes the pain worse.
Then, I don't like that drugged down feeling. I honestly don't know how folks abuse this stuff! I think that feeling is just awful. Muscle relaxers help somewhat, but again, wipe me out and I don't like that groggy, drugged down feeling.

I see a chiropractor, have had my doctor do trigger point injections and have had the full circle of antiinflammatory drugs. Ice packs seem to work better for me on bad days than heat packs do. I use ice packs to keep the inflammation down and my vibrator pillow to keep the muscles relaxed on the days I am hurting bad enough to need to do something else.

I have good days, bad days and most days I just get up, shrug and get up. If I can walk to the bathtub fairly upright, it will be a good day. At any rate, I start my day by grabbing a good book and soaking in a warm bath for about an hour. It loosens the muscles and seems to get the kinks out. I take ibuprofen, but no other drugs as they all don't seem to work for me. I do the glucosamine and chondroitin. That works well, but takes about a month to get any results. Then it is gradual, but if you stop taking it, in about 3 days you know you need to get back on it.

One of the BEST things I have ever done was to get a full body massage.....WHAT a deal! I found someone to rub the tension and sore spots out for an hour! I was in hog heaven and as soon as I get back to work, will do that again. I doesn't cure anything, but I was so relaxed the first time, I went to stand up when she was done and almost fell down! It really took the tension out of my back and legs. I felt wonderful for the next few days.

If anyone comes up with better answers, I am all for it! I'd just like to be able to do some of the stuff I used to again.

Smiles, DEB

I'm sorry for your pain. I got hurt when I was 17. Had pain and problems since. Pain causes depression . I've had 2 back sugerys. Ome in 1995, for ruptured disk. Had another sugery in 2000, after so much pain I couldn't walk.L3-L4-L5, now fused and rods put in. My pain hes been increasing, now Dr.s say I need sugery befor I'm parolized. Try taking TRAMADOL, it's not narcodic. If you have nerve pain like I do try Neurontin.