Here is a update on my back problems I am now taking Oxycodone for the pain and now my doctor is recommending surgery

a ACDF anterior cervical discectomy & fusion

for the upper back neck and a neurosurgeon for the middle back also a discectomy

My doctor only works on the upper and lower back so I will have to go to another doctor for the middle back.

I looked it up on the net and one of the things I'll have to do prior to surgery is quit smoking

"The most important thing you can do to ensure the success of your spinal surgery is quit smoking. This includes cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, and smokeless tobacco (snuff, dip). Nicotine prevents bone growth and puts you at higher risk for a failed fusion. Patients who smoked had failed fusions in up to 40% of cases, compared to only 8% among non-smokers [1]. Smoking also decreases your blood circulation, resulting in slower wound healing and an increased risk of infection."

I'll have to talk to my doctor about how long till I can smoke again.

damn, sorry to hear that bro.

Sorry to hear this, but I hope that the surgeries are successful. Thoracic fusion is very uncommon and can include reaching the lesion through the abdomen. These surgeries are far more complicated than neck and back fusions, and are often performed at universities.

Re: #1,

... yep, same advice goes to anyone that is having surgery of any type - quit smoking ...

... I think that the "main" reason is because of the reduced circulation factor ... I don't think that it's the nicotine at all ... because I know people that have been told to use nicotine gum post surgery and their doctors said that this was 'ok' - but "no smoking" ... and that would make me want to question the 'snuff' / chewing tobacco factor as well ... don't see 'how' that would slow healing if the nicotine gum is 'ok' ...

... btw - I opted for the steroid injections in my back ... took 3 sets of shots ... but it eliminated about 75% of my pain and the remainder was treated with steroids ... worked pretty good ...

^

Maybe the patch was a lower dose of nicotine than the cigarette or other means of using tobacco delivered?

Thank you, after over 2 years and nothing else working...

#4 I too did the steroid injections 2 in the middle back did nothing for the pain but did help with the numbness in my thighs for a little while, 2 in the neck first one nothing the second one made it worse doc thought that maybe there was a spinal fluid leak but that was ruled out still have the headache from time to time not constant like it was for the first 3 to 4 weeks after the shot. So far I have not had a migraine again which is good.

Now I have to wait for the insurance to approve all this.

Bob,

I had back sur. in 2002 and it worked!

Try not to get hooked on the pain pills, that's a bitch to get off!

Prayers Sent!!

Randy

Robert, I wish you a speedy recovery! I've met you twice and know you're a great person, so please don't let the Oxy's get the best of you. My uncle became dependent on them so much that it landed him a few years in the slammer. Those things are nasty!

Best wishes,

-JT

Man JT sorry about that hope he's ok.

I so far have not had a problem with them and even they don't get rid of the pain either,sux. They do help me deal with the pain better then the hydrocodone did.

I got another migraine headache from the neck when I went to DollyWood Mon and all I did was walk around some and watch a couple shows. Nothing strenuous just a relaxed day.

I also suffer from chronic back pain, I have sciatica, (bad spelling), which includes my entire right leg being completely numb. I also have disc problems,

have you tried Lyrica? this helps with the nerves, eliminates the tingling, pins & needles feeling completly. If you have tried this med. you def. need to. ask your doctor, they probly have samples, you could try. THIS DOES WORK for the nerve problems/pain, and also helps releive the lower back pain as well. I have serious sympathy for you, as I suffer from this daily, for about 5 years straight.

Lyrica, no generics, cause it's fairly new, but it does work. Ask your doctor if this is right for you.

*I am by no means a doctor or medical specialist

just info from my personal exp. as well as from others I know. I hope the best for you.

By the way, I have 3 friends that had surgery on thier back, and they are still in pain, relying on meds 24/7

da76guinness

Re: #9...

... my doctor put me on the Oxy as well ... pretty significant dosage ... and you're right, it does not eliminate the pain - but it does make it much more tolerable ...

- also - you REALLY have to make sure you eat enough fiber and drink enough water ... 'prolly a good idea to have a tablespoon of Sorbital (sp) every day so you don't get 'plugged up' ...

... I've got a couple of herniated disks and a degenerated set of disks (L1, L2) ... no surgery required (yet) ...

- also - about every 3 weeks I stop taking Oxy for 7-10 days ... just sweat it out ... and by doing this you will help to minimize your chances of building up a tolerance to Oxy and/or becoming 'dependent' on it ... I've had a prescription for it for over 2yrs now ... and I don't take anymore than when I was first prescribed it ... and the doctor has offered to up the dosage and/or prescribe an additional med for 'break-through' pain relief - but I've declined that as well - I do not like taking meds ...

Speaking as someone who ruptured a disk (to go along with two knees that are also shot), I feel your pain. Literally.

If you want, I'm willing to whack you in the back really hard with a 2x4. It can't make it worse, really. Might help.

Just a thought.

#10 Thanks for the info, I'll ask my doctor about Lyrica and see what he says.

#11 Then what do you take for the pain? It must be extreme. I am taking this 2 to 3 times a day and using heat(cherry pit pack-heat in micro for couple minutes stays hot for 20 to 30 minutes)

#12 Ya might not believe it but I think I'll pass on that, but thanks,lol.

good luck man. hope all goes well

I agree with Jimmy (gasp 🙂 lay off the smoke before and after any surgery.

I am in the "bad back" club as well. So far I can usually manage it but there are times when I would agree to the 2x4 just to have it be a different pain.

Good luck. It sucks to be in pain all the time. I have never had to take Oxy and I sure hope I never do.

Re: #13...

... I have the script for the Oxy - total dosage of 55mg per day - that's equivalent to 11 regular percocet pills ...

... I've got two 20mg tablets and three 5mg tablets I can take if needed ... the 5mg tabs are IR (Instant Release) and work very quickly ... the 20mg tabs are ER (Extended Release) and work for about 8hrs - maybe 10 depending on what you have to eat throughout the day...

- the ONLY difference between Oxycontin and Percocet is that Perc's have tylenol or aspirin mixed in with them - and tylenol is NOT good for you long term ... but Perc & Oxy are the same drug - only difference is what I said and Perc's are "instant release" as well...

... on the weeks that I don't take the Oxy ... I don't take anything other than a couple of Aleve and/or Doan's ... nothing more and it can get bad at times where I'll just take two of the 5mg tabs and that's it - but I try to stay away from it completely for at least a week ... doing this helps the Oxy work better for me when I really have to have it ...

... hopefully I'll be getting the injections (steroids, cortisone) in the back soon and that should help it...

I think that I read that Oxycontin and oxycodone are potentiated by grape fruit juice, fatty foods and, I think, Tagamet (or one of the other over the counter meds).

I find it interesting that oxycodone is not available in the U.S. without acetaminophen or aspirin.

^ you are absolutely correct ... if you take Oxy or Perc's - you can get seriously messed up if you have any grapefruit and/or tagamet - both increase (substantially) the 'active' blood levels of the drug in your system - somehow it makes your body more efficient at absorbing it into your system.

Also, it IS available w/o aspirin or tylenol - it's just plain "Oxycodone" - and they start at 5mg through 15mg - but most common is the 5mg. If you add tylenol to it - it's the same as a percocet. If you have the "Extended Release" version - it is then called "Oxycontin" - that's the only difference - it's the formula that keeps it from dissolving all at once.

- it's actually safer to be on low-dose Oxycodone/Oxycontin that it is the be on Tylenol, Motrin or Aspirin - due to the liver/kidney problems those will cause with long-term usage. More people die from Tylenol poisoning each year than those that overdose on Oxy ...

#13 Wow...try to help a fellow biker and BOTL....

:)P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

actually, Jimmy oxycontin have doses of 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 80, & one higher, I think it's 120, or 160, maybe 100.?.

And they work for me, however I do now get the drowsy, lightheaded, or other side effects. my doc. says it's because of my high level of pain. If someone w/o pain, they do make people "high". Thats why they are abused, by druggies. Those same people make it ext. difficult to get them perscribed for people who have intolerable levels of chronic pain. my doctor says she gets a lot of peolple who fake pain to get these.

da76guinness