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Have Hypertension, Low Thyroid, Diabetic And Spinal Stenosis. On Percocet. Feel Drowsy. Having Chronic Pain. Suggest?
Question: the doc.put my husband on percocet.the med,did not help with the pain and he was very drowsy. we wanted to try a different med but dr. said if percocet did not work no other opiates would wohrk..my husband was told to take as many as 12 tyl.#3 a day as they do give him some relief.my husband would like to get rid of the pain,it seems to have reall worn him down as i think chronic pain does . we need to get some answers and get him back to his old happy self.
Hello ma'am.
I can understand you are concerned about your husband. I am assuming your husband is experiencing chronic pain due to the spinal stenosis.
Your should know that treatment for pain caused due to spinal stenosis includes pain killers like NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, and opioids. Out of these, the strongest are opioids, and the opioid your husband has been prescribed is also quite strong, so I would agree with your doctor. Is the pain being managed by pain specialist? or local GP? If you had not met the pain specialist he may try few combinations but it does not guarantee a complete pain relief as you are looking for.
In my opinion, the next best treatment option would be surgery to reduce the pain, which should be considered when conservative treatment has failed. But there is no specific type of surgery, and it all depends on the specific individual presentation. In some patients a part of the vertebral body causing the stenosis is removed; at times two vertabral bodies are fused to reduce pressure; and so on. But the location for surgery is a very delicate area, and it risks infection. So please discuss the same with a well experienced spine specialist.
Other treatment options include: physiotherapy and steroid injections. I hope this information was helpful. Please write back to me for any further clarifications.
God bless you and your husband with good health.
I can understand you are concerned about your husband. I am assuming your husband is experiencing chronic pain due to the spinal stenosis.
Your should know that treatment for pain caused due to spinal stenosis includes pain killers like NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, and opioids. Out of these, the strongest are opioids, and the opioid your husband has been prescribed is also quite strong, so I would agree with your doctor. Is the pain being managed by pain specialist? or local GP? If you had not met the pain specialist he may try few combinations but it does not guarantee a complete pain relief as you are looking for.
In my opinion, the next best treatment option would be surgery to reduce the pain, which should be considered when conservative treatment has failed. But there is no specific type of surgery, and it all depends on the specific individual presentation. In some patients a part of the vertebral body causing the stenosis is removed; at times two vertabral bodies are fused to reduce pressure; and so on. But the location for surgery is a very delicate area, and it risks infection. So please discuss the same with a well experienced spine specialist.
Other treatment options include: physiotherapy and steroid injections. I hope this information was helpful. Please write back to me for any further clarifications.
God bless you and your husband with good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
your answer did help,one of our main concerns is the dr. does not initiate the measuresyou mentioned. XXXXXXX has tried the cortisone shots but they gave very limited relief. he is also going to try acupuncture. we are going to see an orthopedic surgeon who we have heard good things about and perhaps he can help,at least it is another opinion. we probably will have a 2 or 3 yr. wait to see a neurosurgeon.
Hello once again ma'am.
A 2-3 year wait to see a neurosurgeon is way too long; can't you try consulting doctors at private clinics or at an ER? Extreme pain can be considered an emergency as well.
I would also like to add that an orthopedic surgeon will be able to help, but if possible, try to get in touch with a spine specialist, they would have the expertise required to help XXXXXXX (especially if we consider surgery to be an option).
I am really sorry I cannot help with setting an appointment up for XXXXXXX as the health system in your country is totally different from what it is in mine. I really hope basic necessities like consultation with a specialist would be made simpler and quicker.
God bless XXXXXXX and you, and I really hope we can find a quick and sure solution for XXXXXXX
A 2-3 year wait to see a neurosurgeon is way too long; can't you try consulting doctors at private clinics or at an ER? Extreme pain can be considered an emergency as well.
I would also like to add that an orthopedic surgeon will be able to help, but if possible, try to get in touch with a spine specialist, they would have the expertise required to help XXXXXXX (especially if we consider surgery to be an option).
I am really sorry I cannot help with setting an appointment up for XXXXXXX as the health system in your country is totally different from what it is in mine. I really hope basic necessities like consultation with a specialist would be made simpler and quicker.
God bless XXXXXXX and you, and I really hope we can find a quick and sure solution for XXXXXXX
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Mohammed Kappan
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