Question:
What can us postops take for lower back pain, other than plain old Tylenol or Extra

Strength Tylenol? I had Scoliosis surgery approximately 23 years ago. I had a Herrington Rod placed in my back and up until recently, it hasnt really given me a whole lot of problems. I started back to work a few months ago; Iam an LPN that works in home care. Sometimes my job requires bending and lifting, and when Iam in a bended position for a length of time and try to stand up, I almost feel like an old lady. I try to stand up slowly and when I do, YOWSA!!!, my lower back hurts awful! I kind of get stuck in a bent position for a few minutes and then I have to work my way back to standing up, and I feel a creaking in my back. I know us postops cannot take aspirin, Motrin, NSAIDs and the like, but I worry about being on anything narcotic too. Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol and that does NOTHING! Help! Any suggestions anyone? Iam almost embarassed to ask the doc. I dont want to keep bugging her cause Ive had to ask the doc for pain meds before (kidney stones) but I want to be able to function and I dont want her to think Iam an addict cause Im not, I only take the meds when Im hurting. Any suggestions anyone? Thanks! Kris Tangeman surgery date 1-21-03 Howell, Mich    — Kris T. (posted on June 12, 2005)

June 13, 2005
Kris, there isn't a non-addict that has asked for more pain meds than me. If you are in pain, talk to your doctor. If you are afraid he's going to think you are an addict, approach it from the angle that you would like to know what kind of changes you can do in your life to alleaviate the pain. Who knows, you may even find some kind of natural way to manage it. Drugs or no drugs, you can't just ignore pain, that's no way to live. Good luck Rebecca
   — RebeccaP

June 13, 2005
I use Ultram for my degenerative disc. It eases the pain but still allows me to function.
   — Kim T.

June 13, 2005
I have back problems and i take Loratab
   — sheri shelby

June 14, 2005
My suggestion would be to first ask you PCP for a refferal to see an orthopedist because of the back pain and your surgical history... and then I would ask him/her for suggestions on pain medication. Pain medication will only treat symptoms (back pain) and not do anything to affect whatever is causing the back pain. Is it possible that you could have something unrelated to the Herrington Rod that is causing you the pain... such as some type of degeneration/herniation in your spine? I'm an ignorant pre-op and my assumption is that you can't take NSAIDs/motrin/aspirin because of the potential to irritate your altered GI tract. I wonder if you would be able to take one of the Rx NSAIDs such as Mobic, Vioxx (I have heard rumors it is or may soon be back on the market), Bextra, etc. My understanding of these medications is that they are NSAIDs that people who can't take regular NSAIDs (because of GI problems) can take. The other reason I suggest seeing an orthopedist is because it will give your doctor an indication that you are not just med seeking... you are just looking for a temporary solution until a definitive cause of the pain is found (and even if you pain is caused by something that can't be fixed, you will at least 'hard evidence' of a problem to show that you are not just asking for pain meds for the fun of it). There is a wonderful NSAID that is available in an injectible form, Toradol/Toradel (spelling is wrong) but you can only use it for a very limited time (5 days) and it is for, I believe, severe acute pain. I have primarily seen it used for acute pelvic pain in women.. such as that caused by a reptured cyst. I don't know that it would be appropriate in your case but it might be something to check into as option if you have any episodes of more intense back pain. Depending on what is causing the pain, there is also the possibility of having some type of spinal injection--steriods, nerve block, etc--that would work better/longer than an oral pain killer. Physical therapy also might be a non-medication option (or something that would be helpful in addition to medication). Sometimes if you can strength muscles (and not necesarily just back muscles)your body will be able to compensate for whatever is causing you the pain. Also, a PT might be able to offer you suggestions on alternative ways to do lifting/bending in your job. I know this last part of my answer is probably not the most helpful piece of advice and may not be realistic given the demands of your job but if bending and lifting is causing you pain/creakign in your back, maybe you need to find a way to avoid doing those things. As an LPN, I'm guessing that you are aware of the damage you can do to your liver with excessive tylenol use... but if not, now you know :) Be careful not to exceed the reccomended dosages either in frequency or quantity. Please don't let a fear of becoming an addict (either on your part or the doctor's) keep you from getting adequate pain relief. I have chronic severe pain due to reflex sympathetic dystrophy/chronic regional pain syndrome and require on going use of fairly strong narcotics... I offer you the following quote with the hope that it will quell some of your fear regarding addiction. I have found it very helpful in relieving some of my own concerns regarding addiction... I am guessing that this is more extreme than you need but the basic message might be helpful. Here goes: "This is what distinguishes the pain patient who is tolerant to and physically dependent on morphine, from the addict who is also tolerant to and physically dependent on heroin. Both are self-administering an addictive drug several times a day. But while the addict takes his drug to get high, "mellow out," and largely avoid life, the pain patient takes his drug to get on with life." It comes fromt the following webpage: http://members.tripod.com/~Catnip100/addictsNOT2.html Best wishes and good luck. Sid
   — mrsidknee