Question:
prescriptions for back pain...what helped?

What medications were prescribed that worked?    — Sherry H. (posted on September 11, 2004)

September 11, 2004
My doctor gave me skelaxin to use when I have problems and it does help, but the best thing that helps is regular exercise. I run or walk a lot and as long as I do it regularly, don't have much problem.
   — Cathy S.

September 11, 2004
I have had serious back pain for years. Had to have emergency back surgery 2 years ago when I became paralyzed from the waist down, so I know a thing or two about pain. I will tell you that what has worked best for me is Neurontin, which is more of a nerve pain blocker according to my doctor and Skelaxin which is a muscle relaxer. Pain causes muscles to spasm. Good luck.
   — arlene713

September 11, 2004
Ultram and Bextra helped along with regular exercise for my back pain from my degenerative disc
   — Kim T.

September 11, 2004
I had ruptured my spine 2 years ago and had severe back pain, and I was still troubled with it until recently. I have been on VIoxx, and it is wonderful, many say dont use it but do as your doctor says, Ive not had any problems with using it post op. I was also on neuranton sp? and zonegrane, I felt listless, using those two drugs and I didnt feel that they helped my back that much, I used them over 6 months, BUT 2 weeks ago I had a abdominoplasty (tt) with muscle tightening, wow what a differance in my back pain...gone. I had 8 pounds of panni removed and the stress on my lower back is so much better, and as soon as I have the breast reduction the first of Oct, I should be totaly pain free. So depending on the size of your panni, a panniculectomy (tt) may be your answer, without the use of drugs to be pain free, I cant believe the differance in how I feel. Good luck to you and I dont need Vioxx or anything else anymore.
   — wizz40

September 12, 2004
I've had really bad back pain both before and after surgery. It's just in different places now! I know we're not supposed to take NSAIDS, but nothing non-NSAID was doing it for me. My doctor said to try naprosyn, and if it upset my pouch, to discontinue. Well, it did upset my pouch really bad, even when I took it with a meal. So then we tried Mobic, which is a form of Vioxx, which is supposed to be easier on the stomach. I've been taking it for a couple of months now with no pouch problems and it handles the pain very well.
   — christied

September 12, 2004
DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE POUCH Advil............. Aleve............ Amigesic............ Anacin............ Anaprox................. Ansald................ Anthra-G.............. Arthropan............. Ascriptin.............. Aspirin................ Asproject............... Azolid............... Bextra ................ Bufferin............ Butazolidin........... Celebrex........... Clinorial................ Darvon compounds................. Disalcid................. Dolobid............... Erythromycin............ Equagesic................ Feldene.............. Fiorinal.............. Ibuprofin.............. Indocin............... Ketoprofen.............. Lodine................ Meclomen............... Midol.............. Motrin................. Nalfon............... Naprosyn............. Nayer............... Orudis................ Oruval.............. Pamprin-IB............... Percodan.............. Ponstel................... Rexolate.............. Tandearil............. Tetracycline.......... Tolecin............. Uracel............ Vioxx........ Voltaren............ ALL "NSAIDS" (*see below for the Cox 2 Inhibitors) DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE.......... Bendaryl................... Tylenol .............. Dimetap.............. Robitussin.......... Safetussin............ Sudafed.......... Triaminics (All)......... Tylenol (cold products)....... Tylenol Ex Strength.......... Gas-X .......... Phazyme........... Imodium Ad.......... Colace....... Dulcolax-Suppositories......... Fleet Enema.......... Glycerin-Suppositories.......... Milk of Magnesia......... Peri-Colace........... * copied with permission: Bextra is the newest, next generation of NSAIDS. It is simply an anti-inflammatory with no compound to aid in the protection of our GI systems. I want to help everyone understand the reason NSAIDS are dangerous for us. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just that they are "pouch burners" as the industry wants us to believe. It goes much deeper than that. According to an article published in the June 1999 New England Journal of Medicine, NSAIDS, once absorbed into the blood stream cause a chain of chemical reactions that affect the prostaglandins and this in turn reduces the production of mucus in the GI system. The mucus is what lines our GI system and protects our pouch and intestines from damage. If the mucus production is reduced, this would allow ANYTHING, including eating something with too sharp of an edge or foods that are extremely spicy, to inadvertently begin a marginal ulcer. The best answer is to avoid NSAIDS at all cost. Taking an H2 receptor drug such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium is only a band-aid and no guarantee that it will protect you. If you are desperate to try an NSAID, my recommendation would be Arthrotec. It is an NSAID with a prostaglandin compound in it that tries to prevent the chemical chain of events I was speaking of in the above paragraph. There are still no guarantees. You are at risk for marginal ulcers any time you take an anti-inflammatory medication. Ultram is a mild narcotic and can be habit forming, so I would not recommend more than a six week course of it at any one time.
   — Loriann J.

September 13, 2004
I also suffer from back pain after 2 back surgeries and current degenerative discs. I had been taking vioxx and at 18 mo postop developed a pouch ulcer. Now I am on bextra but also take cytotec with it. The cytotec coats/protects the pouch and I have been doing so for about a year now with no problems. While the previous poster is correct, and NSAIDs should be avoided, sometimes its a tradeoff in determining the risk your willing to take. When your quality of life just plain sucks without the medication, then you take the risk of developing pouch complications. I've not heard of the arthrotec, so if there is something else out there less harsh on the pouch, go for it.
   — Cindy R.