Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › General Discussion › Off topic › Your ideas
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Your ideas

post #1 of 12
8/30/11 at 8:22pm
Thread Starter 
Hi everyone,
I have 3 herniated discs in my neck and some arthritis (believe me, I am too young for this crap, but that was the risk in playing football for MANY years). I just had a radial frequency nerve ablation a week and a half ago on both sides of my neck to deaden the nerves so I could halfway function... but, I am in more pain than I was before the procedure. Has anyone had a similar problem before and any suggestions on how to relieve the pain? (other than a few shots of whiskey or Lortab?). I hurt so damn bad that I can hardly function.

Anything that you could suggest would be greatly appreciated.

Mark
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
post #2 of 12
8/30/11 at 10:28pm
Wish I could offer you something - really sorry to hear about your pain. The only thing I can offer is - maybe - some hope. I suffered some nerve damage when I was younger, and I can tell you that the initial pain / burning / whatever has a good chance of going away to the point that you simply don't notice it.

Maybe somebody else has something to offer....
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 12
8/31/11 at 3:24am
Painkillers? Hope you feel better.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 12
8/31/11 at 6:06am
Ask your friendly dr to prescribe morphine pills.
I very recently broke a foot, and those pills help. AND you feel better mentally, too.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 12
8/31/11 at 6:36am
  • kbe
  • offline
  • Gender:
As with other professions, there are physicians and then there are Physicians. Sports orthopedists, particularly professional team orthopedists, seem to be chosen by the owners/managers of those teams for their particular expertise. For example, do you live nearby any home stadium of an NFL team? Sometimes those physicians have a private practice in addition to their pro team practice. A workup by one of those doctors might be revealing.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 12
8/31/11 at 6:37am
Pop back to your doctor, explain the complaint- given that it's a week and a half since your 'op' the muscle damage resulting from the needles will most likely have healed- what you're feeling is a common side effect of what's been done.

Pain killers are the best bet, but there's probably no real need for opiates (ie. the Morphine suggested above)- pregabilin, amitriptyline NSAID's are far more useful (long term) than addictive drugs.

If the injection sites are swollen, warmer than surrounding tissue or leaking pus then you may have an infection and that needs to be treated sooner rather than later.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 12
8/31/11 at 10:13am
I recommend going specifically to a pain management clinic; for the un-abating, severe pain you are describing, something long-lasting like a Duragesic patch can make the difference in being able to have a life. Your general practitioner should be able to help you choose a good pain physician.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 12
8/31/11 at 4:53pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by kbe View Post

As with other professions, there are physicians and then there are Physicians. Sports orthopedists, particularly professional team orthopedists, seem to be chosen by the owners/managers of those teams for their particular expertise. For example, do you live nearby any home stadium of an NFL team? Sometimes those physicians have a private practice in addition to their pro team practice. A workup by one of those doctors might be revealing.

I wish that I did live by one. I live in the NW corner of Montana. I am going to explore that possibility though as I have friends in Denver that could do some research for me.

Thanks for the information..

Mark
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 12
8/31/11 at 4:56pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, thank you all for the feedback.
Angeldust: The area around my neck that he inserted the 4 needles is swollen and that could be the problem. Not much of a pain killer person, but I am at the point that I need something as the pain in non stop and on a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 9.9.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 12
8/31/11 at 10:12pm
So sorry to hear about your pain. Sounds terrible. You have to go back in to see your doctor. The unfortunate thing about opiates is that they offer so much relief that it becomes easy to become addicted if you have the genetic disposition.

Does the application of heat or cold help?

Warning

If you feel severe pain at the injection site and notice swelling and redness, or increased leg weakness, have someone take you to the nearest emergency room or call 911. Tell the emergency room staff that you just had RFA. A doctor must evaluate you for bleeding and injection complications.

http://www.webmd.com/pain-management...blation?page=2
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 12
8/31/11 at 11:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subhalen View Post

Wow, thank you all for the feedback.
Angeldust: The area around my neck that he inserted the 4 needles is swollen and that could be the problem. Not much of a pain killer person, but I am at the point that I need something as the pain in non stop and on a scale of 1 to 10, it is a 9.9.

It is truly daunting to take opiates, considering their potential for abuse, but pain management specialists are trained to monitor your use and wean you off at the appropriate time. It's also very common that they do not offer the 'high' to someone in extreme pain that they might otherwise, making their recreational use less of a danger. I am certainly not an advocate for strong pain-killers, but I understand the sufferer's 'quality of life' and his ability to function, is what he weighs against the fear of becoming an addict. And I choose not condemn the option. I wish you the very best.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 12
9/1/11 at 3:17am
Regardless of how skilled the pain management doc might be, addiction is and will continue to be a massive problem for those taking opiates over anything approaching a long period of time. Of course if you lack the 'addictive personality' dependance will be much slower in coming.

It seems to me that you need long term pain therapy- and that may be better achieved using a non opoid/ate drug (pregabilin etc.)- while dependance is still an issue the wean is much more gentle and less taxing than that of an opioid/ate. Nevertheless- this seems as though it is truly impinging (as Hillaire said) on your quality of life, if opiate/oid drugs will give some of that back to you- then it's the best option. While still remaining far from ideal- things could be much worse.

Given that the swelling is still present (redness? tenderness? weeping or discharge from the puncture site? foul smell? failing to heal?) you may have a simple infection which, when treated should resolve your pain.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Off topic

Features on Basenotes

Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › General Discussion › Off topic › Your ideas