Hi everyone, I just wanted to say thanks for all of the replies on the
short vs. long acting meds. I asked my PCP about it and he did not
think it was time for that just yet. I am making improvements on my
back pain by going to physical therapy. I have an exceptional physical
therapist who spends a lot of time stretching the area of pain in my
back. She is wonderful. (Note: I've been to 4 or 5 other physical
therapists who just gave me low back, lumbar area, excercises to do. And
my pain is left side flank pain, the thoracic area, around t9-t10. So
it goes without saying, the low back exercises did not help, if
anything, it made it hurt more.) I feel like the p.t. is helping my
original back pain, but the pain I got after my nerve block is what has
been bothering me so bad lately. It hurts to even touch my side. It
caused pain around my ribs on the left side. I'm even swollen under my
rib cage and it's a bluish color. My PCP took a good look at this
yesterday and I think he went and called the pain doc who did the nerve
block. His office was right next to the room I was in and I heard him
talking about my condition. He was on the phone about 10 minutes and
was getting louder and louder. I'm not sure what that was about, but he
came back with some lidoderm patches (lidocaine) to wear in the areas of
the nerve block pain. The pain clinic kept telling me that it was
impossible for it to hurt worse after the nerve block.... I'm so glad
my PCP takes me serious. He is really great! Anyway, the patches do
really help the pain I started having after the nerve block, but it does
not help my original back pain. But I really do think it's getting
better so maybe my PCP is right that I don't need the long-acting meds
just yet. I do appreciate all of the responses. I got some great ideas
and I see now how they can be better than the short-acting meds in a lot
of cases.
Pain-Free Wishes to everyone,
I keep you all in my prayers,
Joyce