Chronic Back Pain, Who has done...

[Metal85]

What's up guys, I want to know who in here has had Trigger point injections, and if they have worked for them, and for how long?

I injured my back in 2012 moving a literal 600Lb patient onto a CT table. Company paid for the 1st year. After that I have spent 1300-2600 a year on getting it treated out of pocket!
I am tired of being prescribed pain meds (that don't even take the pain away, just make it tolerable)
I asked my Dr to put me on something weaker about 3 months ago, and 2 and 3 weeks ago I had terrible pain. Got back to it's normal level last week.

He prescribed me medical marijuana (800mg) and I had a panic attack, so fuck that shit. I was never into it, and the whole business is goofy.

So Now I am on Percocet 4 times a day, but I want to stop taking it all together if Trigger point injections work.
I am cash pay now, so each apt is $162 (every other month), plus $60 a month for pain med, plus $80 whenever I get my muscle relaxer filled (which I try to gap out as much as possible) The appts take all day, I cant work those days, and the costs is asinine for a 5 minute talk w the dr.

I want to try to avoid facet blocks bc it's deep scarring, but if trigger point injections don't work I will try those next.

When I asked the pain Dr. to lower my pain meds he actually was planning on raising it to morphine (which fuck that for many reasons).

Anyways I rather have another toy with all this fucking money I am spending and REALLY need some opinions from experience here.

Thanks fellas!

 

[thx]

I know what you're going through bro. This really sucks. Back pain ruins everything 24/7.
Start off with getting of the pain meds! Pain meds will only make everything worse in so many ways.
Have you done an MRI?
What diagnosis do you have?
Have you been to a chiropractor and physical therapist?

I know a lot of people talk shit about chiropractors but they helped me 2 times when I had severe back pain.



Sorry I can't be of any help since I haven't gotten any trigger point injections. I really hope you get healed up bro!

 

[Metal85]

I have facet syndrome in my thoracic, a buldging disc at L5 S1 and transforaminal narrowing at L5 S1. I had to go to a sports chiro last week because everything had been so bad, They adjust you and then do a 20 minute massage

 

[Metal85]

Well last 2 days I only took 1 Percocet at 7pm , I am prescribed 4 a day. I am coming off this shit, just quickly weaning down by doing 1/4 of what I was.

I am tired of the cost, and Idon't know that it actually helped my back pain, and also wondering if it was contributing to my back pain by giving me kidney pain??

Not sure if that's possible, but woke up this AM feeling pretty good. I also haven't been doing Jiu Jitsu, so I need to see how that effects my back too.


Any opinions on the kidney pain possibility? with my Chronic Kidney Disease I know shit processes differently.

 

[Presser]

I am sorry if i missed it, but how long have you been taking pain meds now?

And best thing i ever did for my back, was lose some weight man! I need fuse beteen c4-c7 and was in pain to point of tears and well you guys know how bad it gets, it was as bad as ya could imagine, anyhow can you afford to lose any weight or try to shed some access weight? Might help, im telling you it was a miracle for me.

And bro, get off those pain meds if you can, and I hope alternative like trigger point injections work for ya!

 

[BEASTZ6]

Sorry to hear about your back issues Metal. I'm just going to throw this out there, but have you looked into ART?

 

[Metal85]

I am sorry if i missed it, but how long have you been taking pain meds now?

And best thing i ever did for my back, was lose some weight man! I need fuse beteen c4-c7 and was in pain to point of tears and well you guys know how bad it gets, it was as bad as ya could imagine, anyhow can you afford to lose any weight or try to shed some access weight? Might help, im telling you it was a miracle for me.

And bro, get off those pain meds if you can, and I hope alternative like trigger point injections work for ya!

OK so in one week I went from 4 a day to 1 every other day so far. I have Lost a lot of weight by not really lifting more than baby weights now (was right under 220 3 years ago, now I am at 195, 5'9") I was on them since 2012 from moving a 600 pound person onto a CT table.

I am cash pay now so I hope the trigger points aren't too much to be able to afford. I stretch every day, and yeah some days I am so uncomfortable I can literally enjoy nothing at all, so I really hope that is an option. I have an apt but it's not until next month.

- - - Updated - - -

Sorry to hear about your back issues Metal. I'm just going to throw this out there, but have you looked into ART?

Thanks bro, I don't even know what ART is brutha, please explain

 

[drtbear1967]

Hate to hear that brother. I had surgery about 10 years ago and know that pain all to well.

 

[Metal85]

So I have been having less back pain off the pain meds believe it or not.
Not sure if I already wrote this, but I have chronic kidney disease, and recently read the prolonged use of pain meds w chronic kidney disease actually is poisoning your kidneys, bc they can't break shit down the way healthy kidneys do.