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Wish I Had a SCS today

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 5/1/2009 6:56 AM (GMT -8)
I am in agony. After two days of decreasing baro pressure and rain my spine feels like it's on FIRE. After four spinal surgeries my spine seems to be overly sensitive to fluctuations in pressure. More so with rapidly decreasing pressures like before a storm. Now I get to enjoy two storms: outside and inside. Oxycodone doesn't touch it. No meds I have taken so far can touch it. I'm hoping a SCS will help. In the meantime I am pretty much brought to a standstill. Or should I say sitstill in my recliner. This pain is about as bad as anything I have experienced recently. An icepack is about the only relief I can find and that is minimal. Does anyone have any ideas?

Modelmaker is hurtin'
Posted 5/2/2009 8:10 AM (GMT -8)
Modelmaker:

I am sorry you are hurting so badly. I, too, am very sensative to weather changes. I wish there was something I could say or do to make the pain go away, I try to hang on to the thought that it will get a little better once the bad weather moves on out.

I hope that you are feeling better soon.

Lorie
Posted 5/2/2009 12:59 PM (GMT -8)
Maybe caffeine? Also, be sure to drink plenty of water. Those will increase the pressure of your cerebral-spinal fluid & increase blood pressure which should help if the problem is either vascular (like a migraine) or low CSF fluid in your spine.

Hope that helps!
frances
Posted 5/2/2009 1:03 PM (GMT -8)
Model,
I've only realized this past year how bad weather affects me. It never did before. But I'm still trying to figure it all out. The cold nights we're still getting cause major flares and for me it's getting out all the hardware - TENS unit, heating pack, and sometimes a couple of advil (which I don't normally take) can take an edge off. Otherwise, it's just suffer through it. Percocets and neurontin don't seem to help that aspect.

Wish I could help more!

PaLady
Posted 5/2/2009 1:05 PM (GMT -8)
I am so sorry to hear that you are hurting so badly and unable to get any relief. I agree that maybe when the weather moves out of your area you might get some relief. Are you able to take a hot,soaking,relaxing bath. That may help a little...
I will keep you in my thoughts.
Anice
Posted 5/2/2009 2:08 PM (GMT -8)
Hi all,

Thanks for all your kind posts and thoughts. They really help.

I once had it explained to me that when the weather (baro pressure) is high and stable (good, clear, dry air) the spinal fluid increases its pressure to match the outside high pressure. Then when the outside pressure drops, the spinal cord expands or swells because it is still at the higher pressure. This swelling can put pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord. And since my spine has had so many pieces removed for laminectomies, the spinal cord has less bony containment and is somewhat free to swell in areas that would otherwise be contained. When the pressure in the spinal cord reduces to match the outside pressure, the swelling goes down and we start all over again. It's a roller coaster ride for me. This explanation sort of makes sense to me. But it still doesn't fix the problem. The ice packs must reduce the swelling and offer some relief. Fortunately, the weather has turned and the pain seems to have reduced to manageable (pain meds) levels. People suffering with arthiritic joints can feel the same pain related to pressure changes. I also have arthritic facet joints. How lucky is that!

I really appreciate your thoughtful posts and concerns.

Best to all my CP friends.
Modelmaker
Posted 5/2/2009 3:54 PM (GMT -8)
hey modelmaker:

I also feel the weather changes. I write about this on my blog...how I get very cranky when it rains because I end up being so sore.

You know what actually helps me? Alleve! I know that seems weird since so many of us take morphine and other strong pain meds. but the Alleve in combination with those on weather-changing days really does help. I take the prescription dose...2 tablets twice a day. If you can take it, you may want to consider it (not for long term use....just here and there).

Also..can you get massage? I get therapeutic massage on parts of my back (minus where my stimulator cables are and where my old incisions are) and also on my legs and arms. It actually really, really helps. I found someone to work with thru my pain center.

Finally, moist heat helps me.

Hang in there....I know how it is. shocked

Danimal

http://chronicstimulation.blogspot.com/
Posted 5/2/2009 7:58 PM (GMT -8)
Those are the days I seriously consider amputation - at the NECK. smhair
Posted 5/2/2009 8:04 PM (GMT -8)
Jinx ... You owe me a coke, Bionic ........

Me toooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I hope that isn't just a California thing to say.

It sounded better than "ditto"
Posted 5/3/2009 11:58 PM (GMT -8)
I always know before the weather changes. Both knees are arthritic as well as the back & neck. Its just miserable. Last week when I had my pump refilled and an increase my PM dr sid all of her patients are suffering more because of the crazy weather we are having....Susie
Posted 5/4/2009 1:15 PM (GMT -8)
Ahhh I see I am not alone in this problem!! I too have found that the weather has a direct affect on my increase in pain. I've had four surgeries on my knees and they too have been in a lot of pain as of late. My husband who broke his ankle years ago and had to have a plate put into his foot at the ankle too has been experiencing a lot of pain in his foot when the weather changes. He's never had a problem with it before until he started getting older. Sign of old age? Maybe not but the old bones (45 years) are starting to creak here and there LOL.

Hugs

Scarred
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