Piriformis release surgery, discussion and information

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone is doing well. The past week or so has been really rough on me. My pain is nearly the same as before surgery and my pain meds are not doing the trick. I am so tired and exhausted from the sciatic pain. My doctor keeps on telling me that he will only refill my prescription as long as I am not going up on dosage. I barely have enough energy to study, attend lecture and hang out with my gf. I stay up for about 3 hours each night just waiting for pain meds to kick in to make me sleepy enough. My diet is terrible since I can't stand up for any length of time to cook. And my medical debt and credit card debt is depleting me of all my financial aid from school. I also have a father who still owes me 400 dollars that I lent him two months ago which is preventing me from paying my rent on time. I am sorry to rant....

I am currently taking a MethylPREDNISolone pack (strong anti-inflammatories)-probably the same as Shirley's but I haven't noticed a difference except for some irritability. Like Menzie's D, but not to the same extent, my ability to function as a normal person is greatly impeded. If I am ever allowed to sit up or stand still for any length of time, I will have a career in medicine and I will live every day with the goal to alleviate suffering. I will become a doctor with the rare mix of having the knowledge to treat and diagnose effectively, as well as showing compassion and concern for every patient I see.

I want everyone to know that I feel your pain and that everyday I hope for a better world that is full of a little less suffering and a little more pleasure. Let's start by making congress know we want universal health care, debt free education, and a way to decrease the gap between the rich and the poor. I can't believe we live in such a rich country that is too greedy to act through compassion and loving kindness.

Brandon

Hi Brandon, good to hear from you but so sorry that you are having so much pain, and exhaustion. What meds are you on that your doctor won't raise them? I know they have to be careful but he should help you to find something that can help you wiht pain. Have you tried lyrica? It works for some people and is not addictive. I am on a very small amount and I think it has helped with the sciatica, not so much the butt pain.

I am still having quite a bit of post surgery pain but unlike you, I am not trying to study, walk to all lmy classes and sit in class and study at night and worry about student debt. That is a lot. I was shocked that your father would borrow $400 from you as you yourself have debts to pay back and as parent I would never borrow from my children. They have enough struggles of their own. Where do you get your support? Does the university have a student counselling department. It can be helpful to talk to someone because it doesn't sound like you have much parental support.

Are you ever in touch wiht Dr. Filler or Michelle, his new nurse. I know it would be one more expense but they may be able to help wiht suggestions for pain. Michelle seems very good.

I understand about not being able to stand and cook. At night that is the last thing I can do. Sometimes I have a big bowl of cereal wiht nuts and fruit which I add. Or I do scrambled eggs wiht toast and fruit. I order in sometimes but of course that can be expensive.

I am on the dose pack now. I think it helps a little but I can still get lots of pain if I do too much which I tend to do.

You are right about health care and education and I think Obama would have liked to do something but he will be stuck with the debts of Bush. You are always so thoughtful about all of us on the forum and I want you to be sure and know we are here for you too. I hope you can realize your dream and become a doctor. You would be awesome.

Canada has universal health care and though we have our own problems such as long waits sometimes, still everyone is covered and having lived in both countries I believe in the Canadian system.

Take care and sound off as much as you need to.

Shirley

Even if you took lyrica just at night it helps with sleep. I take 50 mg at night and it has helped me settle at night and sleep better. It is for neuropathic pain.

Hi Brandon. So, so sorry you are having a rough time. One thing that stuck out from your post is that you are waiting 3 hours for the meds to kick in at night. I'm not sure if you are taking them on a regular schedule or not (every 4 hours lets say) but it does make a difference if you do or don't. If you wait for the pain to get bad to take meds then you are in a position to have to "catch up" to get relief. I'm in no way telling you how to take your meds because I'm not a doctor and I urge you to follow doctors orders but I just know for me when I was recovering from surgery and even before, I took pain meds every 4 hours and was able to stay on top of at least some of the pain. I realize you have a rough school schedule and probably don't want to be on heavy meds while trying to be at school and trying to study but it's something to think about or talk to your doctor about. Maybe you ARE taking something every four hours, I don't know but wanted to put my 2 cents in. It is horrible that doctors are worried to prescribe pain meds. As we know all to well, there are people out there who actually need them.

I understand your frustration, fear, depression, pain, etc. but like Shirley said, we understand and are here to listen to whatever you want to write. I so relate to eating poorly because you can't stand long enough to cook. I remember when things were bad for me I used to try to cook and had to crouch down and raise my arm up to the pot to stir it. Probably not the safest way to cook but I just felt like I had to try sometimes. I guess I'm lucky I escaped a scalding pot of whatever falling on my head!

We are pulling for you and again, feel free to dump whatever you have here. Try to hang on to hope. I know it s hard. Keep letting us know how you are doing. By the way, you WOULD make an awesome doctor!!

Leesa

Hi there Brandon

I feel so for you with all the troubled pain you're in but detect the symptoms that you're also a true fighter. You're so determined to get through your studies, and continue to have compassion for others. Only those of us who know what chronic pain is can really understand.

I suppose it's a stupid question to ask if you've ever been to a pain clinic? Then again, in my experience, it's a game of trial and error. I was on Lyrica for about 1 year. I had 75 mg. morning and evening which worked really well but it's not a drug that you can take when you have pain and then skip a dose. You have to go on it gradually and come off it gradually and in between stick to the regime. Shirley has taken it and I think Linda is finding it helpful. Also have you tried a TENS unit? It helps greatly in the way your brain picks up signals and transfers those signals into pain. A TENS unit can break that 'paingate'. If you haven't already tried one, you could hire them out for a week so so (at least this is the case in the UK).

Shirley's come up with a grat idea of the possibility of contact the counselling office wherever you are studying. Most universities etc. have a department where you could get help whether it be financial or emotional. There are Hardship funds you could tap into.

It's difficult for me to give any further tips or advice Brandon because I'm not acquainted with the system over there. One thing I have learnt though is if you don't ask, you certainly don't get. You will get through this Brandon once you get that pain under control.

You're not that long through surgery either really and I expect you'll be sitting much of your time which can't help. I have been known to lie on the floor or lean against ANYTHING in order to get myself to an evening course last year. I hd to lie on the floor of a taxi once to get back home.

If you've got to cope with being 'on the go' all day' then I can certainly imagine that it's both frustrating for you and debilitating. Oh I wish I could think of some more ideas. I really hope you manage to get some meds for that pain. Have you got any muscle relaxants because if you're getting stressed, that'll make your muscles spasm the moment you get out of bed. I have to look up the ones David was on and get back to you.

Deep breathing now Brandon and let's see if you can get some relief.

Take care Jo :D

Hi Brandon and Shirley

Muscle relaxant that David was one is called Skelaxin

Brandon & Shirley

With regard to Skelaxin - I have just Googled it. There are some negative reports about it so whatever you OR anyone else does, consult your own doctor on it's safety for you.

Jo

Thank you Shirley, Lessa and Jo for your support.

My pain has been better for the past few days...maybe the anti-inflammatories are working. I am happy that Shirley is getting some relief too.

Shirley: I was prescribed Lyrica a number of months ago but I frowned upon taking it because it is so expensive. It seems like it has helped a number of people on this forum, so maybe I should go in a little more debt and give it try. I really need something that will help me get to sleep.

Leesa: I can't believe you cooked that way. I would have knocked the pot over for sure. You are right about the need of taking the pain meds on a regular schedule. I tend to wait until I am in too much pain. After I read your message, I decided to set reminders on my phone. Do you think I should try to look into getting one of the fentanyl patches? I would really like to just take pain meds a couple of times a day.

Jo: I have a TENS unit but I haven't been using it. It seemed to help at times when my pain isn't terrible but the leads (sticky ends) were always falling off. And now that I don't have the same health insurance, there is a huge deductible for getting any care outside of my university. I will ask my doctor about muscle relaxant Skelaxin when I see him.

Thank you guys so much for replying. I just hope more people who are suffering from chronic pain will find this site and get some support. Maybe we should start our own site specifically for chronic pain warriors. I tried searching for "chronic sciatic pain forums" on google, and nothing valuable came up except for greedy web domain owners claiming to have a miracle drug or exercise routine. I can't tell you how confused I was at first when I tried to find answers online. Would anyone like to start a site with me?

I hope everyone had a good weekend. Take care!

Brandon

Brandon:

I don't have any experience with fentanyl patches but maybe someone else has and can give you some input on that. I know it's horrible to take pills all day so maybe that's an alternative. But, given the fact that you are still in the "recovery" phase (which as you've heard can be a while) you should do whatever you need to to keep your pain levels down. Pain causes so much stress on our bodies and our minds. I'm so glad to hear the past few days have been better for you. Don't overdo it just because you are feeling a bit better :) I hope the good days continue. I know everyone has different experiences with medications, but for me, Lyrica didn't do much and you're right, it was expensive. But that's just my experience. I know others have benefited.

Leesa

Hi everyone. I used to get an email every time there was a new posting on here but lately I only seem to be notified at random, so I had a little bit of catching up to do. Brandon, glad to hear that you are feeling better. You're right, there's nothing out there dedicated to chronic sciatica/piriformis pain. I only found this forum by accident after over a year of suffering from this, and it definitely has helped having all this info available and people to share things with. As far as the fentalyl patches, funny you should mention that. One of my doctors gave me a prescription for it a while back and I had it filled but then decided it was just too hard core for me, made me nervous. But the past ten days have been so painful, I finally put one on yesterday and after an hour or so, the pain started decreasing to a point that I hadn't experienced in a very, very long time. I know it's not a long term solution and I don't think i'm going to use it for more than a few days, but it definitely has helped me for the past 24 hours in a way that I didn't think was possible (it's actually kind of weird). You should definitely talk about it with your doctor. And obviously it's nice not having to take a pill every 4 hours. You just put the patch on and keep it on for 72 hours.

Anyway, hope everyone had a great weekend.

--nick

Hi Bandon

Likewise, I don't get warned if there are postings. I keep checking back and am so pleased to hear that things a little better for you. I have tried both Lyrica and had Fentanyl patches.

We are all different and therefore have different responses to meds. I got on ok with Lyrica until I came off it. Before that, and I'm talking some years ago now, I tried Fentanyl and it gave me hallucinations. I had to rip the patch off in the night, couldn't get downstairs and was completely off my head. I slept for about 3 days. I don't want to put you off trying it - we can only try anything and see what happens. AND if you're in so much pain, we all know that we're willing to do anything - well almost. There are different strengths and I do know a few folk who have got on very well with it.

All I can say, try anything because there's no rule of thumb how we react.

Good luck

Brandon, I am glad that you have had less pain for the last few days. Recovery from the type of surgery you have had takes forever for some.
I think after reading your post about your meds and the Dr. you have, that you need to find a doctor who will be on your team. To only say, I will write this script at this level or nothing is not acceptable or OK.

The doctor is supposed to be on your side. You are hiring him or her to partner with you in order to find a cure or at the very least relief from a very horrible and painful situation. You need to advocate for yourself, and find someone who is will to be your medicine advocate. I hope you can find one. Are you able to go to a pain management Dr. in Eugene?? You might try there. Good luck on the Civil War coming up. :D

Jo, Shirley, Nick and Leesa- Glad to hear that you guys are also having better days and at least better moments.

No changes here. My D is still the same. No worse but no better either. She has been walking and swimming in the pool on most days. She is truly so ready for a life filled with joy, life and laughter. I usually journal everyday, but even that is a repeat of the previous days entry. I am so glad that I have you all to inspire me to continue on. If everyone goes to a new site, please make sure I am there. I hope you all have a great tomorrow, Menzie

Hi Menzie

We are all supporting you Menzie and praying each day that your d's situation will better itself. I had been in so much pain every single day for such a long time - it's great to hear that she's been to the pool and walking each day - that's a step forward. Sometimes, when we live with pain day after day, we hardly notice those small steps of improvement. It's like when you have a baby, you never notice the little changes and developments each day and all of a sudden they're crawling, then running and then flying the nest. I think of you so often you can't imagine.

Don't leave this Forum Menzie because there are lots of us here who like to hear from you!

Jo :D

Where is everyone?

I had somehow lost the link to this forum, so I'm glad you sent this. I hope everyone is doing ok - and doing better. I'm still hanging in there. Now having to deal with my insurance company on top of it all, as they're denying services rendered 6 months ago. I'm so not in the mood to deal with insurance companies right now... sigh...
Have a great thanksgiving week everyone!

Hi,Menzie, Leesa, Jo, Brandon and Nick and anyone else I may have forgotten. Sorry I haven't posted. Anyway I am slowly doing better and have had a few very good days. I tend to overdo and then usually pay a big price the next day. I went out Sat. and was out pretty much all day and really paid a price yesterday. Still, nothing like the pain I had in the first month. So I continue to be optimistic that I am getting better and better. I am now starting to build up my walking and started with 15 minutess of steady walking and I will stick with that for awhile, then slowly raise it so that I always stay within my limits. If you remember, I couldn't even walk 5 minutes in the first month. I am now 8 weeks post surgery.

Nick, how is the prolo going? Are you still going to have the surgery? Sorry you are having trouble with your insurance company. They can be a pain for sure.

I wonder where Dave is because I hope he posts about his appointment at the Mayo Clinic.

Jo, let's keep going forward, even though we have or little setbacks. I know I will have them because I tend to push myself and that's how I learn. I guess we are all that way.

Leesa is our hero now and let's hope we all have that much success.

Menzie, how are you doing? Anything new with your D.?

Brandon, how are you? Did you ever get any new pain meds? How is the studying going?

Well, better go so I don't sit too long> Bye for now.

Shirley