Chronic1008 :- Pain Management Community -: Support Group

Reply: Psychological exam before stimulator trial

I'm in IL and had a Boston Scientific spinal stimulator placed in Jan 2010 and yes I...

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Reply: Fail Fusion

I have had 8 back surgeries total. 2 fusions. I have L2-3 to L5S1 fused. I have spinal...

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Chronic back/leg pain with tinnitus

I lost my hearing in my right ear during a lumbar fusion surgery in 2006. The loss of...

Posted by Chronic1008

I lost my hearing in my right ear during a lumbar fusion surgery in 2006. The loss of hearing has been replaced with tinnitus. The tinnitus is 24/7 and with 3 children under 10 yrs old can get pretty intense. The louder my environment around me, the louder my tinnitus gets. Recently my PD lowered my med's at the same time I tried working for the first time in almost 7 years. I have been off since Dec 2005 with a work related fall. I struggled and struggled.my neurosurgeon placed me on restricted ours from 40 per week to 20 per week. I never did work more than 26 hours in one week. I was a field superintendent for a small gen contractor. Even with the lowered hours I struggled. I spent most of my time at home on ice packs. Every weekend i could not do much because i had to rest up for the work day on Monday. Every month I asked my PD to change my pain med. every month she would say " I really like this med due to it is easier on your body". When I explained to her that my tinnitus would get so bad in the later afternoon and night due to the increased pain levels that it would make me extremely irritable. My children didn't want to be around me because the slightest things could set me off into a rage. Never physically violent but I had a very hard time controlling my temper. Tinnitus is extremely difficult for people to understand and I get that. When I explained this to my PD she said "I don't see the relationship between pain and tinnitus". I responded by telling her "that is the problem". Unless you have tinnitus, you have no idea the negative effects it could have. The slightest stress and anxiety increases the tinnitus. The best way I have to explain it is, imagine being in a forest filled with secatas. Now take the millions of secatas and place them in a jar and put your head in the jar. I came up with this analogy because we had the secatas out in spring of 2007, only months after getting tinnitus. There is no escaping it. I have tried many treatments for my tinnitus but nothing has worked to any great degree. My PD finally switched me from Nucynta to Dilauded. This has worked much better and now that my employment has been terminated, I have been able to manage my pain and my tinnitus much better. My temper has been more manageable, my pain is much more manageable and I don't spend most of my free time laying on ice packs. I can function around the house much better. Now I don't miss my kids sporting events, before I couldn't make them.

If anyone out there has pain and tinnitus, please share with me how you manage the 2.

To everyone with chronic pain or tinnitus or both- i wish you all relief!View Thread

Posted byChronic1008

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Reply: Back Pain post surgery...deperate for words of wis...

I could not agree more with Annette. I have had 8 back surgeries. Annette is probably...

Posted by Chronic1008

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Had enough surgeries/injections?

If you are a regular visitor I won't bore you with my full story. Ive typed it too many...

Posted by Chronic1008

If you are a regular visitor I won't bore you with my full story. Ive typed it too many times. I'll give you the condensed version for the new readers. History: I'm 45 years old. I've had 8 back surgeries. 5 in the past 6 years. Had a scs placed in 2010. Had numerous injections, ablations and have tried so many different medicines I can't even count. I lost my hearing in my right ear during my first lumbar fusion in 2006 and have consistent extreme tinnitus. I was couch/bed ridden for almost 5 years (actually 4 yrs 11 months-but who's counting?). I had 2 head surgeries to place a BAHA device for my hearing. This is all work related and every time my pain Dr or Neurosurgeon proposes something, it ends up in court. Ive had 5 or 6 arbitrations and every time the judge has found in my teams favor. The latest is a cochlear implant for my tinnitus. The insurance is appealing and I'm told this could take up to a couple of years. Conclusion: I am now on a pain medicine that is working tremendously for me- Dilaudid 2mg 6x's per day. My tinnitus is still a huge problem but I believe I may be adapting (I still don't sleep well at all but is somewhat improving). My stimulator works good I just need to manage my activity throughout the day very carefully. I take a cooler with me with ice packs in it wherever I go. This really helps. I returned to work in May after 7 yrs off but I'm not sure how long this can last. My surgeon restricted me to 20 hrs per week. I'm a superintendent for a small general contractor and 20 hrs is difficult to manage a project. I do receive SSDI but would much rather stay employed. I have come to a point where I have accepted the hand that has been dealt to me (much thanks to this sites help). I have learned my abilities (I refuse to say disabilities- too negative a label) and more importantly have accepted them. I was once extremely active, golfing 4-5 times per week, hiking, fishing, wrestled in college, loved a hard workout, mountain biked and enjoyed everything outdoors. Itis amazing what the human spirit can adapt to. Although my activities are less physical, they are no less enjoyable. I now enjoy walking my neighborhood, making my kids breakfast and lunches, seeing them off and home from school, coaching my kids sports teams, and most of all, taking some of the load of my beautiful, wonderful, patient, adorable, fantastic, generous wife.

My suggestions to everyone in pain: find what works for you and do it 110%. Find what doesn't work for you and erase it from your thoughts. Take time to pursue your relief but don't let it consume you. Learn to enjoy the more simple things in life. Watching my kids triumph or fail at a sporting event really doesn't concern me, me being there to see their smile afterward- priceless!

Question: when do you know enough is enough. I think I just recently found the answer. God speed to everyone in pain.View Thread

Posted byChronic1008

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Reply: Nucynta Should Be Taken Off The Market

I was taking Nucynta for the last few months and I didn't have reactions as yours but I...

Posted by Chronic1008

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Reply: Please Help

I agree with Peskypain. I didnt see any mention of MRI, cat scan, myelogram or other...

Posted by Chronic1008

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Reply: Desperate for help

Are you on social security? With SS you can get Medicaid. You will most likely need an...

Posted by Chronic1008

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Reply: Same ol' same ol' and a question???

Sorry I hit submit accidentally- (from previous paragraph) recommended. Bring someone...

Posted by Chronic1008

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Reply: Same ol' same ol' and a question???

I see a neurosurgeon for my lumbar problems. He oversees what my pain dr does as well....

Posted by Chronic1008

26 Replies | Reply | Watch This DiscussionReport This| Share this:Same ol' same ol' and a question??? I see a neurosurgeon for my lumbar problems. He oversees what my pain dr does as well....

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