sever back problems and rls - want some one to chat with
sever back problems and rls - want some one to chat with
[b][i][size=18][/size]i have[/i][/b][i][color=darkblue][/color]I have sever back problems and have 4 surgeries on lower back. Lately my rls have gotten much worst. i take 6 requip a day and 5 nurontin but no pain meds. I am 70 years old and would love to be able to walk w/o pain the rls are all day now and they never were. thank you for you help stitch[/i]
Oh my goodness. I feel so bad for you. Have you tried pain killers? They work for many of us when other things don't. You are 70 years old, and many people from your generation are afraid to take narcotics, but there are good ones that can truly help, and they can monitor you very closely for addiction and any other probs.
Me? I take just what I need of them, and my symptoms are non-existant. A very low dose is all I need. I don't even feel tired or loopy. When I don't take them, I want to kill myself. I'm not exaggerating.
Please talk to your doctor about a long acting narcotic. If they won't, get a new doc. Quality of life is so important.
please take care of yourself...
Dana
Me? I take just what I need of them, and my symptoms are non-existant. A very low dose is all I need. I don't even feel tired or loopy. When I don't take them, I want to kill myself. I'm not exaggerating.
Please talk to your doctor about a long acting narcotic. If they won't, get a new doc. Quality of life is so important.
please take care of yourself...
Dana
Also, Requip causes RLS to get worse in many, many people. This is called augmentation. This happened with me. My doc says it happens in 80% of the cases he has seen.
Please speak to your doctor about getting off the requip and try an opiod/narcotic, at least temporarily, until thing calm down and you can try something else.
I'm no expert, but I, along with lots of other people (angels) here, have done research on RLS for years.
I am one who truly believes in narcotic therapy when other things don't work. Especially because they have really, the least amount of side effects, when taken as prescribed.
If you have more questions about this, join the conversation on the "pharmaceutical therapy board", on this site. There is TONS of information over there too.
Dana
Please speak to your doctor about getting off the requip and try an opiod/narcotic, at least temporarily, until thing calm down and you can try something else.
I'm no expert, but I, along with lots of other people (angels) here, have done research on RLS for years.
I am one who truly believes in narcotic therapy when other things don't work. Especially because they have really, the least amount of side effects, when taken as prescribed.
If you have more questions about this, join the conversation on the "pharmaceutical therapy board", on this site. There is TONS of information over there too.
Dana
Thank you Dana
Dana thank you so much for reading my post and answering. I have lived with RLS all my life and that is a long time and also have done much research on the subject. I think for me right now the requip is working but the neurontin is not enough for now.
I wish i could take pain meds but after 3rd surgery i had problems with my eyes(have dry eyes) almost, not almost but did lose the sight in right eye and they said it was from the pain meds. So got off of all meds was doing OK but now i am having more problems with back and have a call into my surgeon now.
The problem is no one wants to give me pain meds because of the eye problem and i am getting to where its no pain and have problems with eyes.
The pain meds worked very good and i never had problems with feeling loopy. I hope i can get something done very soon about this pain because i want to get out and do things like i use to do
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I wish i could take pain meds but after 3rd surgery i had problems with my eyes(have dry eyes) almost, not almost but did lose the sight in right eye and they said it was from the pain meds. So got off of all meds was doing OK but now i am having more problems with back and have a call into my surgeon now.
The problem is no one wants to give me pain meds because of the eye problem and i am getting to where its no pain and have problems with eyes.
The pain meds worked very good and i never had problems with feeling loopy. I hope i can get something done very soon about this pain because i want to get out and do things like i use to do
[b][code][/code][list][size=18][/size][color=darkblue][/color][/list][/b]Hi Stitch, I too was on Neurotin with no good result. My GP put me on Lyrica. I have noticed some (and I do mean only some) improvement. I have only been on it for about 1 month. I don't know what kind of insurance you have. It is expensive. I have med coverage through my husband's job and still had to go through loops to get it. And I still have to take my Lortabs or I would be crying every day. Sometimes you have to play around with different combos to see what works for you. Good luck and Hugs...Pat
reply to jumpy
[b][size=18][/size][color=darkblue][/color]Hi jumpy, So glad to hear from ppl about my problem. I have been on neurontin since right after my 1st back surgery back in 2002. I had my rls under control but because of the back surgery and going into the spinal col. it made it so much worse. Right away everything was ok after i started the neurontin. But later after 2nd back surgery i went to requip and then both med worked on the legs. I was also on pain meds but like i said i had to stop them because of the dry eyes. I was taking 600mg's of neurontin 5 or 6 times aday but was able to cut that back to 300mg's 5 times a day. I think that is the problem, i am not getting enough neurontin. Between the pain in my back and now rls I am in a bad way and just want to be able to walk. I have had all kinds of PT in and out of the water and also, worked out with someone helping. So right now I just want something to work. Thank you again, Jeannie [/b]
SERVE DRY EVES AND OXY FOR PAIN:(
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I am so mad because I just typed along reply and was checking my spelling and lost it so here goes again.
I know it is very strange to hear this but I have had dry eyes for many years and put hypo tears in my eyes. Sometimes they were dryer then other times and during all this time I had surgeries but was never on pain meds for long.
In October of 2002, I had my 1st back surgery but was not on the pain meds for long. Then again in November of 2003, I had my 2nd back surgery and I started taking oxy at that time and got up to 60mg a day.
March of 2005, I had surgery to fix something in my back and at that time believe something got into the right eye and I rubbed it. One week after surgery I was at my eye dr and at that time she told me my right eye had deep abrasions. She put me on all kinds of meds including Restasis. I saw her twice a week all summer and I was not getting any better but was really going blind in my right eye. The eye was servely dry and very sensitive to sun.
She sent me to Baltimore to Johns Hopkins Eye Clinc to see a dry eye specialist. At that time I was told to get off all pain meds or I would go blind. They put medicated contacts in my eyes and I used them until January 2006, having them changed once a week. I got new glasses at that time but my right eye is not as good as the left and they are still very dry.
All my dr's have never heard of this and why it would happen but I had surgery again on my back last May 2006, and I didn't get much pain meds.
I have had all the PT and still in a lot of pain and I believe my right eye was so bad because I rubbed it and that the pain meds added to it. But I really feel if they would give me a low dose it would not bother my eyes because I am putting drops in them all the times.
I really don't know if there is any place to research this and I know it has nothing to do with RLS. But because of all the problems with the eyes they will not give me a low dose. I do have a call into my surgeon to see what can be done about my back and the pain. And, at that time maybe I can get the RLS taken care of. Thanks for your interest, Jeannie [/b]
I am so mad because I just typed along reply and was checking my spelling and lost it so here goes again.
I know it is very strange to hear this but I have had dry eyes for many years and put hypo tears in my eyes. Sometimes they were dryer then other times and during all this time I had surgeries but was never on pain meds for long.
In October of 2002, I had my 1st back surgery but was not on the pain meds for long. Then again in November of 2003, I had my 2nd back surgery and I started taking oxy at that time and got up to 60mg a day.
March of 2005, I had surgery to fix something in my back and at that time believe something got into the right eye and I rubbed it. One week after surgery I was at my eye dr and at that time she told me my right eye had deep abrasions. She put me on all kinds of meds including Restasis. I saw her twice a week all summer and I was not getting any better but was really going blind in my right eye. The eye was servely dry and very sensitive to sun.
She sent me to Baltimore to Johns Hopkins Eye Clinc to see a dry eye specialist. At that time I was told to get off all pain meds or I would go blind. They put medicated contacts in my eyes and I used them until January 2006, having them changed once a week. I got new glasses at that time but my right eye is not as good as the left and they are still very dry.
All my dr's have never heard of this and why it would happen but I had surgery again on my back last May 2006, and I didn't get much pain meds.
I have had all the PT and still in a lot of pain and I believe my right eye was so bad because I rubbed it and that the pain meds added to it. But I really feel if they would give me a low dose it would not bother my eyes because I am putting drops in them all the times.
I really don't know if there is any place to research this and I know it has nothing to do with RLS. But because of all the problems with the eyes they will not give me a low dose. I do have a call into my surgeon to see what can be done about my back and the pain. And, at that time maybe I can get the RLS taken care of. Thanks for your interest, Jeannie [/b]
Well, darn it I keep erasing my reply too. Second time today. ARGGGGH!
I think if I were 70 yrs old and nothing was working and I couldn't take pain meds, this conservative, straight laced gal would be headed for the bingo hall to get hooked up with some good old mari-jane.
I'm not above that, and I've heard it's worth a shot. And it they took me down, I'd be in drug court with my head held high. And I'd tell my story to the judge and not even feel bad about it. And it would be alot cheaper than what I'm paying now with all the doctor and pharmacy bills...
Dana
I think if I were 70 yrs old and nothing was working and I couldn't take pain meds, this conservative, straight laced gal would be headed for the bingo hall to get hooked up with some good old mari-jane.
I'm not above that, and I've heard it's worth a shot. And it they took me down, I'd be in drug court with my head held high. And I'd tell my story to the judge and not even feel bad about it. And it would be alot cheaper than what I'm paying now with all the doctor and pharmacy bills...
Dana
TOO FUNNY
Dana, That gave me a good laugh But I tried it once many years ago and I was so hyped up that I never wanted it again.
But I did talk to the surgeon and he told me to get some x-rays and ask my pain dr for some meds.
I see them next Tuesday and will ask and if they won't because of the eyes then we have another pain dr here so I will try him and told the sergeon that today.
That sounds like shopping for drugs but that is not the case here. And I was thinking about going to bingo to play bingo. lol...Jeannie[/b]
But I tried it once many years ago and I was so hyped up that I never wanted it again.
But I did talk to the surgeon and he told me to get some x-rays and ask my pain dr for some meds.
I see them next Tuesday and will ask and if they won't because of the eyes then we have another pain dr here so I will try him and told the sergeon that today.
That sounds like shopping for drugs but that is not the case here. And I was thinking about going to bingo to play bingo. lol...Jeannie[/b]
Well, I'm glad I made you smile. I love Bingo. I used to work in a Bingo hall in Pensacola when my hubby was a junior officer and we didn't have kids. I was a big smoker then and I LOOOOVED it! Best job I ever had. When I wasn't working, I was playing. And believe me, there were a lot of bags of marijane around that place. haha But I ONLY smoked cigarrettes, and lots of em.
Anyway. Take care and try to get some clarity on the eye thing with the narcotics...just doesn't make sense to me. And maybe ask about Klonipin. It's not the same as an opiod. Maybe it wouldn't hurt your eyes...amd it would knock you out.
Keep us posted.
Dana
Anyway. Take care and try to get some clarity on the eye thing with the narcotics...just doesn't make sense to me. And maybe ask about Klonipin. It's not the same as an opiod. Maybe it wouldn't hurt your eyes...amd it would knock you out.
Keep us posted.
Dana
FOR DANA
Dana, I told you that I talked to surgeon and I had x-rays of my back yesterday and got the CD. I think there is a change in lower back but hubby doesn't. Well be mailing it to him on Monday along with the MRI of neck and see what he has to say if anything.
He may be able to tell me why the pain and then on Tuesday will be going to pain dr and if they don't give me anything I am changing dr's.
I have cut back on my requip and neurontin and so far the legs are better. I wish more ppl could read my post about the serve dry eyes.
Back pain and RLS is really a bad combination to have
Hope you have a good weekend, Jeannie
He may be able to tell me why the pain and then on Tuesday will be going to pain dr and if they don't give me anything I am changing dr's.
I have cut back on my requip and neurontin and so far the legs are better. I wish more ppl could read my post about the serve dry eyes.
Back pain and RLS is really a bad combination to have
Hope you have a good weekend, Jeannie
1ST TIME I POSTED AND THE BACK PAIN IS MORE SERVE
When I posted this it was the 1st time and since then my back pain has become more serve and the RLS worse. There just seem's to be no relief in sight. I just called my back surgeon again and he should/might call me tomorrow.
We are getting rain this weekend and as everyone knows that just makes every pain worse and right now at 4PM I am having RLS. I need to walk but it hurts to walk. It's a catch 22.
I am 70 and I still have a lot of life to live, at lease my mind says that but the body doesn't. Everyone has been so nice to me that I love to check the boards to see what is new. It just seems like I learn something new every time I check here. Thank you all so much for all the help. Jeannie
We are getting rain this weekend and as everyone knows that just makes every pain worse and right now at 4PM I am having RLS. I need to walk but it hurts to walk. It's a catch 22.
I am 70 and I still have a lot of life to live, at lease my mind says that but the body doesn't. Everyone has been so nice to me that I love to check the boards to see what is new. It just seems like I learn something new every time I check here. Thank you all so much for all the help. Jeannie