Posted 1/24/2023 11:18 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Dinosaur Girl, you've been through the wringer with multiple surgeries & a variety of treatment in an effort to get your pain levels down. What your drs are saying about you being stable is from a mechanical standpoint. Either your pain stayed the same after surgery or got worse. Unfortunately, sometimes people end up with no relief after having surgery.
You mentioned the dr talking about a stimulator. Do your homework on this. Ask the dr if a stimulator will help with both the pain in your neck & back? Unless things has changed, stimulators only worked on one source, IF they worked at all. It's been a few years since stimulators were discussed here, back then, very few got any relief. They went through the trial, got some relief, however, once implanted the units did nothing. There is also a real potential problems with PM drs cutting off any oral pain meds once the units are implanted whether they work or not. Patients got told, you have the unit you should not be hurting. Another thing, the PM drs do not know the knowledge of these units. If you need any adjustments or help the tech from the company has to meet you at the drs office. I'm not trying to scare you, you need to everything involved with the units & be fully informed.
Other than the 2 pain pills per day, are you on any other medications? Have you ever tried a jacuzzi? We are on our 2nd one, it helps both of us. It's not a cure but the heat feels good & it helps loosen up knotted muscles. What about OTC analgesics, even though relief is temporary. My husband swears by horse absorbine that he gets at a feed store, lol.
I'm sorry that you are having such a hard time, pain just sucks.