Pain Management

I've had what may be a unique situation come up.  My surgeon is very adamant about me not taking NSAIDS, and I fully understand that as I have acid reflux and bile reflux.  Back in January, I injured my back at work and have a lumbar strain.  I went to physical therapy, it healed and then I reinjured a few months ago and went through physical therapy again.  Turns out it's a structural issue and I have hypermobility in my back and pelvis. 

Anyway, at first my primary doctor put me on Tramadol with Flexeril.  I had to stop taking the Tramadol after I had a seizure as it interacted with another medication.  She switched me to Norco and that has actually worked very well.  But now it's been a few months, physical therapy has been over for a month, I have a TENS unit and still have some breakthrough pain, mostly when I'm at work (it's a physically demanding job.)  My physical therapist gave me exercies to do at home to strengthen my core, but she said it will be a lifetime struggle.  My doctor does not want me to continue on Norco because it can be addicting, so here lies the problem.  I also tried a Fentanyl patch but did not like the side effects.

What can I do to alleviate the pain without taking NSAIDS or narcotics and keeping my little tummy safe?

I hope you all don't mind, but I thought I would just jump in here real quick.

Ask your doctor about Voltaren. It is an NSAID cream. You don't ingest it, so it doesn't affect your stomach. You rub it into the area (your back) and it's magical wonderfulness makes the pain go away. It doesn't work as long as taking something by mouth, but it also doesn't affect your entire body. I'd say it helps for about 4 hours - at least for me. I have chronic back problems and I LOVE that I have no pain the moment the cream soaks in - no waiting 30 minutes for the pill to get through my system.

I love love love it! My WLS Doc okayed it.

A little goes a long way. Also, you need to know that it is still an NSAID and you can use too much. It can still mess with your kidneys, etc. But, I've found that I use ALOT less of it then when I took Advil by mouth.

Anyway, ask your doctor about it.

Okay - back to lurking.

i use votaren too and there are stronger related ointments. but it has cautions about stomach issues but at least ask. i use it for arthritic hands. diane

thats really good to know about the voltaren ointment for arthritic hands.  I have bad arthritis in my thumbs.  The hand specialist I went to remarked on how bad the thumb joints were, when he did my carpal tunnel surgery, and that was several years ago.  It has gotten alot worse since then.  Pain in hands (thumb joints) is very severe at times, but I don't want to take medications if I don't absolutely have to.  If specific tasks require it, this would give me an option...... Thanks.

The stomach side effects of NSAIDs are systemic.. not direct contact by ingestion. So, whether they are absorbed transdermally, through IV or by mouth- the lining thinning effects are the same. Some classes of NSAIDs are slightly less damaging over time to the stomach lining, but whether you take them by mouth or not- doesn't change it.. any docs don't realize this, but my GI & internist are both pretty good about that, so I get the warning regardless to stay on my PPI when I have to use high doses. 

Also ask about LidoDerm patches.  It's lidocaine just like what they use to numb an area before stitches, dental work etc.

My sister uses them for shoulder pain (she's trying to delay surgery) and my Mom used them for chronic pain.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions!  I will bring them up to my doctor and see what she thinks. 

Sounds like you have been through alot. Personally, my surgeon tells me I can take whatever I want as long as I also take a high dose of PPI during that time. But, after living in this hippy colony that I am in, most ppl here are using medicinal marijauna, I have to say that it works, I was skeptical, until I saw it for myself. I am in agony today after my revision, so maybe I will give it a try..hahahhaha

 

Good Luck, and the voltaren topical preparations are great too!

 

Heather

After seeing several friends deal with serious pain/cancer issues before- and again now, I have no doubts on the effectiveness and usefulness of that plant.. Too bad the US is still so backwards about it still. Someday..