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Posted by Mike
In Reply to: TENS unit - Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator posted by Jon Miller
Hi everyone. I'm new to the group and I can already see you have done quite
a bit to help each other out. I work in healthcare and everyday I see how
people overlook or underestimate the levels of pain that people are going
through. I have a great MD but the front desk nurse makes it difficult to
get to see him, but I'll deal with that.......
Anyways, I'm sure there are a lot of you out there with different causes of
pain. I'm sure some of you are cancer patients, some chronic pain patients,
back patients, etc.
Myself, I have 3 slipped discs, L5, L4, and L1. I think I have problems in
my upper back but have yet to get another C-Scan to prove it. I suffer from
sciatica and constant pain in my back, sometimes burning, sometimes not. The
muscles are ALWAYS in a state of tightness or spasm.
I have been taking 5mg of Valium and 2 Vicodins 5/500 in the AM and usually
2-3 more vicodins through the rest of the day. And maybe one 1 more Valium
at night after work. My problem is that my body has grown accustomed to them
and they no longer take care of the pain like they used to.
I work in a pharmacy and I know this happens after a while.
My question for the group is; what is your experiences, especially in terms
of back pain, with pain medications? I see another MD tomorrow and I am
trying to think of all the different things I could do for pain. I am not
necessarily trying to get any CII narcotics (like Percocet, MS Contin, etc).
I'm really trying to find out if it's possible (and successful) to switch
therapies and how often (every week, every month?). Maybe take Soma and
Vicodin for 1 period of time, then go back to valium and vicodin. This way
my body won't get used to one treatment. Has this worked for anyone, or do
you simply have to go higher and higher in terms of narcotic.
I am also going to ask about a TENS unit (the electric stimulators units).
This really brought a lot of muscular relief when I was getting physical
therapy so maybe it would help to have a small portable unit.
Anyways...I have already typed a lot for people to read, so thank you to
those of you who take the time to read it. I really appreciate it. It is
hard to find people that understand what it is like to be in constant pain
no matter what you take. I'm only 25 years old and I'm saddened that I groan
like an old man when I get up or bend down to pick up a pencil, etc. I can
barely even carry my 1 year old son.
Well...enough of my pity party. I know there are other out there that are
much worse than I am.
Mike
