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Suggest Pain Management Treatment For Degenerative Otheoarthritis

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Posted on Fri, 16 Dec 2016
Question: hello,
I'm a 52 year old male, in December 2001 I had plasmacytoma. this tumor fractured the T-10 vertebrae resulting in corpectomy to the t-10. there is now moderate anterior wedge compression deformity of the t-10 area. I have kyphosis, spondylosis, degenerate disc endplates, bilateral neural foraminal narrowing along with disc bulging, central disc protrusion flattening the ventral aspect of the spinal cord, osteoarthritis, endplate osteophytosis. the L-spine is very bad with bulging, retrolisthesis, etc.
I'm trying to find a doctor to work with my condition as my primary care doctor can no longer prescribe my medications and so far 3 pain management places do not even want to take me on.....im willing to try back injections ( epidurals did not work, nor has the nerve block ) a possible pain pump ?
I beg for any help. thank you so much.
yours truly, XXXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
ah, typical

Detailed Answer:
This is part of an overall societal pattern. Back in the 1980's we found that cancer patients were not given any narcotics due to (misplaced) concerns over addiction.

Finding that patients who needed it were not given any treatment for pain, led to increased use of narcotics. SOmewhat due to unscrupulous drug companies, the use of narcotics went too much. This led to the current epidemic and now we are right back where we were.

sorry.

Your situation is unique and you could reasonably be followed for pain managment by not only your primary care doctor but:
1) pain management
2) cancer doctor
3) hospice service.
4) orthopedist
Your cancer doctor or your insurance can make appointments with the appropriate speciailist.
And, there are specific treatments you should consider. FIRST you have to have the bones assessed. There can be immediately dangerous bone loss from the cancer/plasma cells. If you are not comatose, then it probably isn't occurring BUT the bones in falling apart put minerals into the blood without any limit to the amount and too much calcium can be fatal. This is treatable and also lowers pain if it is occurring (bone stabilizing medications). Then, there is local cement injections into collapsed bone that might be an option through an orthopedist.
Those are the main modalities other than just narcotic treatment which is indicated in cancer / bone pain.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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Suggest Pain Management Treatment For Degenerative Otheoarthritis

Brief Answer: ah, typical Detailed Answer: This is part of an overall societal pattern. Back in the 1980's we found that cancer patients were not given any narcotics due to (misplaced) concerns over addiction. Finding that patients who needed it were not given any treatment for pain, led to increased use of narcotics. SOmewhat due to unscrupulous drug companies, the use of narcotics went too much. This led to the current epidemic and now we are right back where we were. sorry. Your situation is unique and you could reasonably be followed for pain managment by not only your primary care doctor but: 1) pain management 2) cancer doctor 3) hospice service. 4) orthopedist Your cancer doctor or your insurance can make appointments with the appropriate speciailist. And, there are specific treatments you should consider. FIRST you have to have the bones assessed. There can be immediately dangerous bone loss from the cancer/plasma cells. If you are not comatose, then it probably isn't occurring BUT the bones in falling apart put minerals into the blood without any limit to the amount and too much calcium can be fatal. This is treatable and also lowers pain if it is occurring (bone stabilizing medications). Then, there is local cement injections into collapsed bone that might be an option through an orthopedist. Those are the main modalities other than just narcotic treatment which is indicated in cancer / bone pain.