Pain clinic update

[tec2tec]

Just a quick update to my back pain having trigger point injections next month hopefully this will help if not what else is there to try to try and ease back pain

[Madlegs1]

There seems to be so many different types of injections for the back.

A year ago I got one for pain in bum/hip - local anesthetic, xray guided - corticosteroid . This didn't work.

Other day I got one which cauterised the nerve going to the painsite- very painful for 6 hrs after - but good now and seems to be working. Will take a few days to settle down- but looking good

The cortisone one should only be done about twice a year for a few years- apparently they can cause greater deterioration in the facet joints.

Otherwise, I'm on Oxycontin 10 which controls much of the residual pain- and have oxynorm 5 for breakthrough.

I have rods and screws down most of my back and OA in L2/3/4.

Goodluck with your progress.

Cheers.

[Sazntef]

I had the two types of facet joint and the trigger point injections, these helped a little initially then for me not so much. I tried biomechanic, Alexander technique, Tens, heat, cold, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure, physiotherapy, specialist back and neck clinic physio, massage, aromatherapy, sauna, swimming, walking, pilates, yoga, stretches, yoga ball, stretchy band resistance stretches, aqua fit, magnet therapy, hot stone massage, chiropractor, and possibly more I've forgotten to include here. On meds I've tried paracetamol, ibuprofen, cocodamol, dihydrochodine, amytriptyline, nortrityline, trapentadol, dicloflenac, nephopam, diazapam, tram adolescents, and such. Diet I've tried oily fish, pineapple, and cutting out what, gluten, white potato, dairy. Supplements have been cod liver oil, devils claw, can't remember the others just now.

Happy to answer questions about anything here you haven't tried. Happy to get recommendations on things I've not tried too.

Lots of luck for the trigger points. The doc sits with a marker pen and touches the painful areas asking where it hurts. Dot for each yes and then injects a little at each dot. Quick and not so painful. Feels very weird for a while.

Good luck!

[Amkoffee]

Trigger point injections are good but I'm kind of surprised the doctor isn't going to do an epidural injection. The difference being that trigger point injections are just that... the injections go into spots that are particularly painful. An epidural injection injects the same medicine but into your spine.

There are many things a pain management doctor can offer you for controlling your pain. I haven't had some of these so I've just heard of them but there's nerve ablation which is basically burning off the nerves that are causing the problem. But those nerves grow back so you have to have it done again I just don't know how long they last. Then there are TENS units to use and medication that is not narcotic, including muscle relaxers. I highly recommend I icing the area down or using a hot pad it's six of one half dozen of the other so it's whichever works for you.

I have lived with back pain for 13 years and I do take opiates. I really did not see any other option at that point I was at when I first started them. I am currently trying kratom which is working quite well for me. I've been able to reduce the amount opiates I'm taking. Maybe someday I can get off the opiates all together. I've done that once when an epidural injection worked to take all of my pain away. And although it's not a favorite pastime to get off of opiates if you taper it's not the end of the world.

Good luck to you!

[Foxgal17]

Been going to pain clinic for 5 years. Sometime shots help, sometimes not. These doctors simply want a steady stream of chronic patients to get shots so the can have a steady income stream. They do not care about our pain. That is my opinion.