[Micodiscectomy, Laminectomy & Laser Decompression] Lumbar Laminectomy and Miro-Discectomy

[JulieH]

I'm 26 years old and have been having lower back pain since middle school. 2 years ago it took a turn for the worse. I had my first epidural injection and it helped for about 2 week, then the 2nd one made things worse. In September 09, I had Laminectomy/miro-distectomy. Thing where ok for about a month then the pain came back, after a 12 weeks it was back worse then before. When the pain came back after 12 weeks I went to my doctor who said I was fine. I just continued to get worse and worse so called for another appt and his office called back and said I had to go to pain managment. PM has me on 10mg Opana IR, 5mg of Opana ER and Lyrica. Still have the worse pain breaking through. They also did 2 nerve blocks and a EMG test and told me I'm going to be like this forever. My doctor told me this surgery would fix it or not, not make it worse. Unable to accept that my life is stuck like this I contact the best Doc in the area. Finally I received a new MRI! I'm not a doc and don't know how to read them but am pretty sure a bulge sticking far out pf my L5/S1 is not that great. I go back to the NEW doc to give him my MRI on the 8th. I'm going to talk to PM and see if I can switch off the Opana IR to something cheaper. My roommate left with only 10 days notice, I'm thing of getting a second job but I can barley do the full-time one I'm doing now. I need to make cut where I can. I was thinking of asking for percocet cause it will only cost $5 to fill. Any one have an idea of what mg would compare to Opana 10mg IR?

Thanks for reading

[ajj1001]

Sorry I can't help with your question and that you are having such a trying time. Hope you find a way forward with everything soon.

alison x

[Keano16]

Hi, hopefully you'll have new MRI with contrast. Good luck, keep us updated

[JulieH]

Yes my new MRI was done with contrast. I can't wait till the 8th to see what the doctor says. I'm just hoping they can fix it so I can have my life back Thanks!

[Keano16]

Glad to hear. Inform us about MRI report and doctor comment

[scduggan]

Dear Julie,
Welcome to the website. I am so sorry you are dealing with these spine issues. I do not have much knowledge about the meds. Good luck with your new MRI and new doc. Hang in there! April 8th will hopefully give some answers and direction for a brighter future.
CD

[JulieH]

Thanks!!! I hope so too

[HalfLife]

Hi Julie,

Once again, I'm sorry to see someone so young to be suffering with long term, chronic pain whose precise etiology still hasn't been determined. I take it that middle school is the equivalent of high school -- could be wrong.

I admire you for working hard, even thinking of taking on a second job in the midst of all your suffering. I couldn't do it!

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Take nothing I say as medical advice, strictly opinion. I'm no Doctor having missed out on Medical School due to a technicality -- they were looking for folks with high school diplomas.

I had my first epidural injection and it helped for about 2 week, then the 2nd one made things worse. In September 09, I had Laminectomy/miro-distectomy. Thing where ok for about a month then the pain came back, after a 12 weeks it was back worse then before. When the pain came back after 12 weeks I went to my doctor who said I was fine.

On what basis did the Doctor conclude that you were now "fine"? Until they invent a pain-o-meter, all your Doctor has is their own interpretation of scans and tests. Your Doctor may be overly confident in his/her abilities also, not an uncommon trait.

My doctor told me this surgery would fix it or not, not make it worse.

That is generally true, unless things got messed up and injured/tore/poked something else nearby.

Injections & surgeries always have the risk of nerve damage which I pray that you did not incur. I trust a fluoroscope was used for all procedures.

As a rule, IMO, the epidurals, facet point injections, etc. are not worth the risk since they fix nothing and merely temporarily mask symptoms. (Partly just my barely educated opinion)

OTOH, surgery, done right can provide a permanent fix.

I just continued to get worse and worse so called for another appt and his office called back and said I had to go to pain managment.

I hate to say it, but it sounds like perhaps the original surgeon indeed did a poor job and just wishes to wash his/her hands of you. (Again, just my opinion)


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You did good to move onto another Doctor at the PM place. While where I live, PM simply does not prescribe opiate based medications at all -- their Doctors often shock me by not knowing the names of even the most popular formulations, PM centers all have one thing in common:

They will try some injections and similar procedures. It may be a CYA to justify ultimately prescribing medication. They may be "true believers" in the procedures. Or it may better help pay the bills -- an office visit culminating in writing an Rx hardly generates much income. Hard to say which is the case sometimes, I'm afraid. You need to go by your own radar and perception of trust before getting in too deep with a PM center. It helps to speak with other patients in the waiting room on your first or second visits.

**********

You did even better by seeking out the best Doctor in the are who is ordering a new set of MRIs w and w/o contrast. You do check the Doctor out on Find a doctor - Doctor ratings and reviews - Doctor vitals - RateMDs.com , right?

**********

Onto meds and keep in mind that you are far too young to accept from any Doctor that you need to be on pain medication for life. It will be and endless roller coaster of titrating doses upwards and downwards until you reach the point where there is no stronger medication to try. (Much my opinion and my own fear, keep in mind)

I'm going to talk to PM and see if I can switch off the Opana IR to something cheaper. I was thinking of asking for percocet cause it will only cost $5 to fill. Any one have an idea of what mg would compare to Opana 10mg IR?

For the here and now, I don't want to bias you by comparing Opana IR with Oxycodone (Percocet). While Opana is strong stuff, effectiveness depends on the bioavailability of the medication in question when taken orally, your own metabolism and sometimes simply how your body reacts to a medication. In the ideal world, Doctors would move patients around cautiously between different medications since most any medication eventually wears out its efficacy welcome. (My opinion)

However:

Please DON'T "ask for Percocet" or any other narcotic pain medication by name!!!

That is generally the surest way to get flagged as a "drug shopper" -- I know you're not of course.

You simply cannot make a request for a particular medication (strongly held opinion of mine!)

Express your concerns about the $$$. I don't believe there is any equivalent generic for Opana, so perhaps the Doctor will come up with some solution. Endo Pharmaceuticals no doubt offers a program out of "good will" for people who cannot afford high priced in patent medications though you probably wouldn't qualify.

Instead, certainly check out these truly free (as far as I know), Rx Discount Cards and you can save up to 1/2 the $$$ on the price. Their motivation is to bring people into the stores that partcipate and perhaps become loyal shoppers there. No scams here, but do read all fine print carefully.

I'm listing the cards in order from known reliability based on credible reports I've received from people like us:

Free Drug Card - Discount Drug Card - Prescription Drug Card - Prescription Assistance

http://unarxcard.com

Drug Card America - Free Prescription Discount Card

Free drug card - download prescription drug card

Discount Drug Card - Free Drug Card - Prescription Assistance for the Uninsured and Under_Insured

Prescription Card | PS Card Save Up To 50% On Your Next Prescription

Free prescription card - download prescription drug card

RX Freedom Card - America's Prescription Plan


Keep in mind that each card is good only at participating pharmacies so you may have to hunt through the list to find a chain in your area that you like.

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Good luck with all and let us know how things go!

halflife

[JulieH]

Wow Thanks for all the information. I'm going to check out the discount programs. I received my old MRI report from last June before surgery and found out I also have mild scoliosis. No one every told me that! I asked my old doctor why one of my shoulders is higher then the other and he said it was normal. But by looking things up online it is normal for someone who has scoliosis...lol. Scoliosis runs in my family so not so surprised. I also should have know something was up when my mother took me for my 2nd epidural injection and he told her in front of me that if it didn't work, he would do surgery and also remove fragments. I was sitting there think WTF? What fragment? He told my mother more then he ever told me. I told my PM about it and she said he might has thought I was younger and my mommy handles everything. I said that's BS cause he knows how old I am, he would always make comments about it. I'm a big girl and have been doing things on my own for 10 years. UGH! He would always tell me soon the nightmare will be over...well it's not. I think he thinks there is nothing wrong with me cause he is said to be the best around here. Well I looked it up and my new Doc is the BEST. The only thing I hate is he is just outside of DC and it's a pain to park etc.

I just can't wait to got the my new doctor next week and see what he says about my new MRI (with and without contract). I can say the disc is sticking out way worse then it did last year before surgery. I don't even know if I want to do surgery again. If I need surgery I can't do it till September because that when I can get free sick leave from my union. They will give me up to 5 weeks a year for stuff like this.

I just want this all to be over with so things can go back to normal.

Thanks for your help and talking with me