Pain Management Referral

[Neckback]

Hi - I was involved in a car accident a few years back after having spinal surgery for myelopathy and brachialgia, I had private health care at the time so I requested an MRI scan which found a new prolapsed disc and stenosis around the foramen, I was virtually pain free after surgery, but the accident has caused my symptoms to return with a vengeance.

At the consultation after the MRI I was prescribed Gabapentin to see if I could continue without surgery, but with the offer of surgery if I wished to do so.

I declined the surgery as the risks are greater this time around, I am very limited in what I can do now but I do have some quality of life with meds and CBD oil. The solicitor handling my accident has sent me for three referrals to medical specialists and the last one being a neurosurgeon has suggested I try pain management, which is something that I am very wary of as I believe my GP will lose control of being able to prescribe me the current meds that I am on and it will become a trial and error scenario with trying new meds. I know my limitations and I work within them to help manage my pain, I’m just really worried that going down the pain management route is not going to help and will cause more problems than it is worth, I feel that it is just a tick box for the solicitor to appease the defence. Any solid advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[rabbits65]

I went to a pain management clinic about ten years ago. I went each week for the best part of a year and it was very beneficial. They teach you how and the best way to handle pain. You also meet others in a group and it’s quite friendly .

[Hidden]

Firstly i understand what you are going through I had c3c4c5fused mine was brought on through a accident and it was a minefield it good luck with that . I also was referred to the pain clinic which I have infusions but to no avail I just manage my Cervical Myelopathy with medication as there is no cure , if you want to ask me anything on Cervical Myelopathy I will try my best to answer. Clive.

[Neckback in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that Clive, I too have cervical myelopathy and I’ve had C5/6/7 anterior cervical discecectomy with cage plate fusion, I can’t have anymore nerve blocks. I know my limitations and work within these whilst taking my medication. You are quite right there is no cure for spinal cord damage, it’s all about how you manage it and it feels a bit like having to suck eggs by being pointed at the pain management clinic...

[tonymarmont]

Try Kaillo pain relief pads , they work I had bad post herpetic Neuralgia and it has taken away 80 %! Of the pain

[Neckback in reply to tonymarmont]

Have you got spinal cord damage too? Do the pads work on that?

[tonymarmont in reply to Neckback]

I don’t know the pads are designed to move the pain to a less painfully place you will have to look / ask Kaillo web site

[Konagirl60 in reply to tonymarmont]

What are the ingredients in those pain patches? Thank you.

I have used Capsicum patches in the past as they redirect the pain and subdue nerve signals to. They only last two hours though.

[AML80]

I have been attending the Pain Clinic for some years and have injections in my back to kill the nerves, unfortunately they recover but this treatment last a number of years. The pain clinic writes to my Dr. with suggestion for pain relief medicine. There is no reason for you to be forces to change your medication.

[KnittIngnannyJ]

Hello, I really sympathise with you as I have suffered with back pain for years and,like you, it was exacerbated by a van driving into me. Honestly my experience with Gabapentin is that it doesn’t really help with the pain. It may be different for you so I would give it a try.

[Neckback in reply to KnittIngnannyJ]

Hi KnittingnannyJ - My pain is tolerable and I have accepted my limitations and I have adapted my life quite contently within those confines, I have never found any pain medication that totally stops pain, but the Gabapentin helps me through my day as long as I don’t overdo things. I just loathe the idea of going through pain management when I have adapted my life to suit my limitations and I am worried that I will end up with substantially more pain again by accepting the pain management suggestion.

[Pollyannna]

Hi I have the same problem along with bulging discs and 7+ crushed vertibra and have limited movement, unfortunately I was just told yhat there is too much damage to do any surgery that would help, and was also told that it would get wirse wiyh age , and pain management was my only option, the pain management department at the hospital was fantastic, I tried gabapentin but pregabalin works better for me along with paracetamol and amytriptaline and morphine patches and then I tried the nerve block injections, supposed ti last 6 months but mine are lasting a lot longer, Im on 10 months now. I can not recommend the pain management department enough. I was on the verge of jumping off a cliff but I can now live my life, yes its a completely different version. But its still life.

[Neckback in reply to Pollyannna]

Hi Pollyannna - I’m sorry to hear about your condition, I also had crushed vertebrae, but I had bone spurs pressing on my my spinal cord and I was told that if I didn’t have surgery then I could well end up paralysed, they removed all of my bone spurs as essential and precautionary surgery along with the ACDF Cage Plate Fusion surgery I received. I hope that you are never in a position to have these bone spurs that cause Myelopathy, but my point is that I cannot have spinal cord damage reversed as it is impossible and my limitations are requisite of this condition, I am currently on medication that I am getting on with and I have a life, limited but still a life, I cannot understand for the life of me why I need to go to Pain Management as my pain is factual and I know my own limitations and I have learnt how to cope with it and all the medication in the world is not going to cure it.

[Pollyannna in reply to Neckback]

Hi it sounds good that you can cope with the amount of pain that you have, I would stick with exactly what you have now and at least you know that if it does get worse then there is a way forward. i also have bone spurs but they press on nerves which causes various symptoms from pain to numbness and loss of control pins and needles and feelings like worms moving, but its never been diagnosed as pressing on my spinal cord. Sounds scary, its good that they could operate and remove them. Maybe its a way firward for me in the future if it gets worse. And a second opinion.

I think Gabapentin is a nerve blocker like pregabalin. You just have to watch your weight as it seems to pile the pounds on. More weight = more pain I have found.

Keep well

[Konagirl60 in reply to Pollyannna]

I agree. Pain clinics often prescribe sedative medications.

[Aoibheann in reply to Pollyannna]

Hello Pollyanna, is the nerve block injection the same as an epidural and did you have it done in theatre. Was it painful having the injection administered into your spine. Take care.

[Pollyannna in reply to Aoibheann]

I have 8 injections and tes it hurts but nowhere near as much as the pain that it helps to releave.

[Loramay]

I would personally not try pain management clinics as it is a bit of a pot luck as whether you get a person willing to listen to you or a person who knows it all and want you to do it their way. Good luck

[Pollyannna in reply to Loramay]

Pot luck is all we have thats why millions of people do the lottery