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| Chronic Lower Back Pain |
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Question:
got injured at work over 18 months ago. I
was diagnosed by workcover ortho to have 'soft tissue damage' that had not
resolved and left me with the pain but no other offerings or treatments.
I have recently seen another specialist who was thinking facet joint. So I
went off yesterday and had a facet joint injection with cortisone to develop
a block and see if that helps, with a view to maybe doing the more permanent
block if it works. I am in my level of 1-10, about 8,9 of pain from the
injection, but I heard it can take 2-3 days for things to settle initially
and about 48 hours for the cortisone to kick in.
Currently I'm on just panadol constantly with an adding in of some sort of
ibuprofen pill when I need it, so nothing over the counter.
I now have developed other 'issues' such as anxiety, depression, adjustment
disorder and some mood disorder as a result of all this.
I've tried searching the net and looking for some options to assist with my
pain. Oh, and I've been seeing a psychologist re pain management, not that
it seems to be helping.
I also recently started acupuncture, as I'd heard that can be helpful.
I've also had physio, which gives a bit of a relief at the time, but nothing
lasting.
Anyone else here experiencing similar things, or can offer any words of
advice
Answer:
Your only requirement for pain medication should be having pain and maybe,
just maybe, a good word from your Primary doc, and again I add maybe. But a
psychologist who can't treat you for anxiety and depression, which almost
always accompanies chronic pain.
I have been on Methadone for several yrs now for
pain control. I have tried EVERY pain med possible and since I have No
Lg intestine and need a pain med that last long Methadone was the best
choice for me. It was not an easy decision and I had to think long and
hard before I switched from my present pain med.
Maybe after you have a
few pain meds under your belt you can look into Methadone for pain
control. It's an excellent pain med with a very long half life (
meaning it lasts a very long time ) but it shouldn't be your first
choice in my opinion. Good luck in getting proper pain control
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