Christmas tree=Pain; Anti-inflammatory recommendations?

[fiddle]

Another day, another hour, of pain. Today I put up a Christmas tree -- a little three-footer. By the time I bent down to get it in the stand, threw on some lights, and hung ten ornaments, my back was (is) toast.

I need some kind of ongoing prescription anti-inflammatory that I can use...possibly forever. Could someone list a few meds that are out there? I have no idea where to start, other than Celebrex and Vioxx have problems/off the market. What else is there? I find I am taking 2-3 Advil a day, in addition to the pain meds at night. One doctor told me 4 Advil a day was OK, as long as I took Prilosec with it to protect my stomach.

Has anyone tried Zyflamend, a more natural anti-inflammatory?

What I am on now is NOT adequate, though an anti-inflammatory seems like the right direction because it does help. I need something stronger. Some days I feel despair. I just want to cry. Today I had to lie down/nap three times because the pain is wearing me out. I am soooo far from normal.

Thank you in advance for any and all ideas.

P.S. I am 4 1/2 months post op 1 level L5-S1.

Fiddle

[annapurna]

As two natural alternatives you could try Wobenzym or at least a 1500mg of Glucosamine/day. Both have anti-inflammatory effects and tend to be a little less destructive long-term. NSAIDs tend to lead to premature cartilage loss when used for long times in addition to all of the other problems noted with them. Alternatively, you could try regular doses of light medication and haul out big guns to treat flare-ups.

Sorry about the limited advice; my general approach is to call relations. My father and sister-in-law are both pharmacists.

[Harrison]

Fiddle,

A few years ago, I found that different classes of NSAIDs worked differently in my body; e.g. Ibuprofen worked, but Celebrex was better.

Here’s a detailed article which speaks to all the other drugs, along with some interesting technical insights into pain management. The Pain Management tables have a very detailed list of pain meds (PDF file).

Hope this link helps:

http://endlink.lurie.northwestern.edu/pain_management/p...pproaches.cfm#NSAIDs

(Note: It's intended for treating cancer pain, but its a very useful consolidation of information. I'll put together a more comprehensive FAQ with other links soon.)

[JFerg]

fiddle..........I feel your pain! I don't know what you're taking, but you sound like the pain has full control. That's not the way it's supposed to be. I take Neurotin for the inflammatory pain. It works for me. But until this situation (insurance denials) is resolved for me, I'll continue to take narcotic medication in order to function. Otherwise, I believe I would be disabled.

[LBP]

Fiddle,

I used to get a lot of swelling in my lower back following a past surgery (not adr surgery) which caused my low back injury. I took lots and lots of Rx Ibuprophen before I was finally diagnosed with torn discs..and it really damaged my esophagus and now I take prevacid (Rx prilosec). I was told it may be for the rest of my life and the meds are very expensive! Celebrex and Vioxx never helped my swelling issues. for the first year after my surgery (again not adr surgery) I could barely walk any distance without my back swelling up and preventing me from even standing.

anyway, deep tissue massage, ultrasound and H wave (BETTER AND DEEPER THAN TENS OR INTERFERENTIAL) at PT really really helped. I had and still have so much muscle tension build up secondary to the pain of my l4/5 and l5/s1. Certain exercises (pt directed)like flexing over an exercise ball or foam roller really releases the tension up and down the spine, plus side leg lifts while laying on the floor releases tension in my hip. I get a lot of "crackling" sounds but in a good way.I do these religiously every day sometimes more than once a day ...because of everything I learned in Pt these had and have the biggest impact.

Meds...I take tramadol to do anything normal during the day. 50 mg. a mild narcotic. Vicodin once in awhile for the really really bad break though pain. Bending and carrying things is the worst for me. I am so sorry you went though adr already...you sound like someone waiting for adr...I hope you get some answers and feel better soon.

When I exercise too much I start getting numb tingling feelings in my heels, back of thighs and even my outer fingers. I take neuroton for this but I also find that deep tissue massage makes a big impact. Sometimes I get so tight and knotty that the massage is too painful in certain hotspots without some ultrasound or other electrical stimulation first.

[fiddle]

Thank you all for your input. I need better meds and I will go back to the Pain Doc. I am starting to wonder if I have pyriformis syndrome. One high level doctor thought that I had it years ago. I didn't follow up because I tried PT for pyriformis release and nothing helped. Then after I got more injured from an osteopath, another doctor saw swelling of the nerve root, and when he did surgery this was confirmed.

The pyriformis muscle runs through the buttock. If it gets injured, it can tighten right around the sciatic nerve and adhere to it. This is called Pyriformis Syndrome and is quite rare. I know when I stand against a wall, and roll my butt on a small rubber ball, there is a big permanent knot in there. Perhaps I have both: a disc problem and a pyriformis problem.

Now to find a doctor who specializes in diagnosing this.

[LBP]

The pyriformis, even though a relatively small and very deep muscle, was a huge hot spot for me in PT. That's exactly were I had some ultrasound treatment before mannual triggor point release because it was way too painful without the ultrasound first. It was a very pesty problem...at that time I was having intense pt 3x per week and each day I returned for weeks, that muscle would re-tighten to unbearable levels during massage...eventually with lots of attention, it loosened up. I wish I still lived where that PT is...they were the best. Hard to find a really good PT for these problems.

[fiddle]

LBP:

I hope I can find a good PT who does H Wave. I have never even heard of H Wave; thank you for telling me about it. It can be so difficult to even find the right therapist! I am in central CT...if anyone knows of an excellent female PT, I would love to have a name. Thank you.

[LBP]

H wave is not everywhere. I had it southern Cal. Now I'm in WI and no one has it or has heard of it It's very similar to Tens and Interferential in that it uses electrodes but it really "pumps" the muscles if they get the placement right.

see: http://www.h-wave.com/instrument.html

[ZorroSF]

Just an FYI, avoid wasting your money on products like Wobenzym or Vitalzym. I have used Vitalzym X in very large quantities a day for 9 months and it did absolutely nothing. The best that stuff could do for you is help your digestion. But for $100/bottle you should speak with your doctor first.