cant sleep... Please Read, Need Advice

[favrex]

Has anyone got a bulged or herniated disc that prevents them from sleeping, especially on the back, If I turn even on my side with a pillow between my legs, like they suggest, inevitabely (sp) I somehow end up on my back and I wake several times in the night with my back throbbing, and I cant move, If I do, I have spasms like you wouldnt believe, I have a hard time thinking that just a bulged disc could cause this, I havent had anything like this happen to me before, and I have had several surgeries.. HELP!!

[anticourier]

I have it happen every night. I havent slept all night in 3 1/2 years. I have herniated disk at L5-S1. Do you take any muscle relaxers? They use to give me some relief at night now they wear off in a couple of hours. Anyway dont feel alone with this there are lots of us with the same problems..

[favrex]

Thanks!! I Am Glad I Am Not The Only One, So This Is Due To A Herniated Disc? The L-5 S-1 Is The Discs I Had Fused, I Now Have The Bulge Of L-4.. Do You Think This Could Be Causing This Problem? Yes I Do Take Muscle Relaxers, And Yes They Only Last A Few Hours, 3-4 At Most.

I Am Really Glad That I Am Not The Only One Going Through This, And I Am Not Glad That We All Have To Live With This Horrid Pain,
I Have To Go See My Np On The 28th And Dont Know What To Tell Him. It Just Feels Like A Really Bad Ache In My Back, I Hate It. Anyone Else Have Anything Else To Add, I Am Ready To Hear Your Stories. Thanks Again. Favrex

[anticourier]

I actually think after doing research that I might have internal disc disruption(IDD)on my mri it shows a high intensity zone(HIZ), which is usually an indicator of this condition. Trying to get most doctors to understand is becoming a challenge. Right now I have been home since the end of October and have been to 2 back specialist and am into my third pain management doctor, which I think this one will work out. I had a cortozone shot yesterday and I really have doubts that it will work, since I also had one before in November and had no relief. But I have to go through the process before I can get them to do the test that I know I am going to need done.There is a really good website you can check out that may can help you. It is www.chirogeek.com I have found it very helpful to me. Well good luck on getting help with your condition Ill be glad to help you if I can if only support if nothing else..Bobby

[WMR222]

My doctor prescribed Oxycontin which lasts 12 hours and works relatively well for night time pain such as this.

[favrex]

I was prescribed that too when I had my fusion and It did nothing for me, Surprisingly, so I flushed them down the toilet and the only thing that does help is percocet and soma, Some days I can take it once a day, and then others I go 5 days without needing it, It all depends on what I have been doing, Last night was a nightmare again, I took a percocet and soma and slept but again woke up with a horrid back again.the one thing that has sort of helped me not stay on my back completley is we got a new puppy and he has to be taken out to potty a couple times a night. So well, I actually I wake even then with pain. But I can at least take a soma to get back to sleep so in the morning I am not totally crippled.. What else do you all do, I refuse to get shots and I have a friend who had the back brace thing that is suppose to be some type of pain management thing. Doesnt work for her. I feel stupid asking or even him asking me If I need a refill on my meds, I only get 60 percocet every other month, and somas even longer than that. Is that alot? I would be petrified to ask for oxy, even if It did work. I told him the other day, I bet you are so sick of me, He laughed, He said oh what are we going to do with you, I said shoot me. He laughed, He said you would be surprised at how many people say the exact thing, Dont you want to be shot when you have pain constantly. Its exhausting. How do you all manage? Really.

[acuann]

Has anyone tried acupuncture to help treat their pain from disc herniation? I am just wondering. It is usually quite helpful.
Best wishes
DOM

[favrex]

well No offense to everyone else's opinion, I wouldnt look into that anways, Its like pain management, It doesnt work either. I stick to conventional medication that my Dr advises me to, even if I dont agree. Pain sucks, but you just have to buy yourself some time and hope things either work out or they give you the right answer to stop the pain, Am I right? OR wrong? I do appreciate the options, I do.

[Unregistered]

I have had three surgeries for a C5-6 herniated disc in my neck. I have chronic pain. Ice, rest, and meds are the only answer and limited physical activity. The drug Neurontin has changed my life. I highly recommend it.

[Unregistered]

My doctor has prescribed me Neurontin and a TENS unit, bot both seem not to work. The only thing that my doctors given me that works is Lortab. The doc doesn't know whats wrong with my back. I've had a MRI, CT scan, bone scan, blood tests, physical therapy. he says there's nothing significant on the scans like a fracture, but that there's something on each of them. I have trouble falling asleep with my back and I often wake up with bad back pain. I've had pain down my legs to. The doc originally said i had a muscle strain, but it's been like 10 weeks, and i've had PT for it. Do you think i could have a degenerating disc.