Chronic back pain? Sciatica? Anyone deal with this?

I hate to be a bummer here but I deal with this pain everyday. Its really making me miserable and somewhat depressive. I do get up and move everyday. But the pain doesnt get any better. I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. Also have had a fracture about 11 yrs ago in my lower back and the sciatica effects my lower back down into the calves of my legs. My right foot has been killing me and I have a feeling its because of the sciatica on that side. I always had more trouble with the left side of my back but now its both sides. My PCP knows about this. I thought  by losing weight that this pain would decrease but it seems like its getting worse and now on both sides of my back. I take Aleve every morning and night. I know Im not going to be able to take that after surgery but nothing else was working for pain. Now Aleve isnt working either.  I do have an appt. with a new doc( some kind of a new doctor) the end of the month but I just cant afford out of pocket expenses with all the docs and hospitals I already have. I just dont know what to do. If anyone can shed some light on the pain issue, please feel free to comment.

I have degenerative disc disease and a couple of herniated discs.  I have pain daily.  Some days a LOT of pain - it often wakes me up at night.  This morning I was up at 3:30 am, in so much pain I felt nauseous and dizzy.  There are times I cannot do simple things like pick up my car keys if I drop them - that's one of the tasks my service dog does for me.

I take turmeric daily to help with inflammation - it's an herb with anti-inflammatory properties.  Currently I take Trammadol as needed for pain.  In the past, I've taken Vicodin and Percocet for the pain.  I also take Flexeril for muscle spasms.  I've done physical therapy, had steroid injections, a nerve block procedure, etc. 

I did have some pain before my WLS but in the last couple years the pain has gotten much worse.  It's difficult to deal with.

Thanks for responding Kelly. I dont know how you get thru it. Im having a hard time with this pain. I just dont know which way to go from here to try to get it taken care of or at least something to help with the pain. There are no pain clinics in my area and my PCP doesnt distribute pain medication. Im going to call her tomorrow to see if theres anything she can do. Its so hard to walk and when I do, I feel like Im walking with a hobble or lopsided. Just doesnt seem fair to go thru life this way.

Go see an orthopedic specialist.  They might be able to do something to help besides prescribe pain meds.  And if you have to, drive to a pain clinic.

Some times I have a very hard time getting through it.  There have been moments I have felt like I just cannot live with the pain forever.  I don't mean I'm suicidal but times I really just feel like it's going to hurt forever and I can't take it.  And it has hurt every day for the last couple of years.  For a good year, there was not a single night I slept through the night without pain waking me up.

Some days it is more bearable than others, though.  I mean, some days it just hurts but I can still do everything I need to do.  Other days, I can barely  move.  Once I was unable to get out of my car.  Could not move.  Had to call my ex, have him leave work and drive home, go in the house to get me some Vicodin, take the Vicodin, sit in the car for half an hour until it kicked in, and then I could hobble from the car to the house.  I've had to do all sorts of things to accommodate for what I can't do - I can't store anything on the bottom shelf of my fridge because I can't reach it there, can't buy a gallon of milk because it's too heavy for me to lift, when I buy a 30 lb bag of dog food at the store I cannot get it out of my trunk so I have to open the bag in the trunk and put the dog food into small tupperware containers that I can then carry into the house, etc.  It's a pain.  It's depressing.  Mostly I try not to think too much about it.  Except days like today when I can barely get out of bed and I can't stop thinking about it.

Wow, Im so sorry to hear you having such a hard time. I had no idea. I can bend over ok. I just cant stand back up. I cant walk or stand straight at all. Ive shrunk 3 inches in the last 6 yrs. I know how I feel, I cant even imagine what your going thru. Ill be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

When I do bend over, I often have a very hard time standing back up.  Makes me scared to bend over.

I hope you're able to get some relief.

Thanks so much Kelly. I really appreciate your opinions and support.

I'm in the same boat...I've had a fusion at L5 S1 and C4-5-6-7.  I currently have pain down my left leg that wakes me up at night.  I'm going to an orthopedic doctor.  In the past, steroid injections have helped a lot for me.  I was able to delay surgery on my neck with injections for 5 years.  One injection lasted a whole year.  Until the 6th year...then there was enough degeneration that I needed the surgery. 

I'd definitely follow up with an ortho doc.

Sorry to hear that. I did have one injection and when the doc gave it to me, I nearly jumped out of my skin and he dropped the needle. That was very painful. It didnt start working till about 2 days after the shot and then only for about 2-3 more days and right back to the pain. Guess Ill look for an ortho doc. Thanks for responding. Im having my WLS in Oct. and I dont want to do anything to stop that process right now.

The best long lasting pain killer for a RNY patient for nerve pain that I've seen is called nucynta. My brother burst two discs last year, had a fusion, and its severely failed and inoperable. He is able to get around good with that and it lasts for about 6 hours, but without it, he can't walk. He had the RNY same time I did