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Suggest Treatment For Back Pain After A Back Surgery

Posted on Wed, 9 Jul 2014

Question: Hello in 2000 i had back surgery L5-S1 a few months later in 20001 i had a 2nd back surgery same area a Fusion -titaniun cage-rods, screws i have been on Lortab 10/500 Watson brand for 14 years it,s the only brand that i could take without any major side effects. my doctor has tried other meds. in the past but the side effects were to severe. Now that Lortab 10/500 is discontinued we are not sure what to do next so i'm left w/o pain medication at this time it seems that my body is sensitive to medication could this have come from taking the Lortab for 14 years? I was 40 yrs. i'm 53 now and to be honest i'm also scared to try different pain meds. because i don't want to become addicted and i want to functional. Can you help? Any suggestions? When we tried new medication i could only take them like 2 days before the side effects would start so I was never able to take any new meds for more than 2-3 days.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (54 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
this is opioid dependence

Detailed Answer:
Hello
I have studied your case.
There is probably opioid dependence due to 14 years use.
I will advise to stop this medicine now.
You can start tab etodolac with pregabalin consulting your doctor.
I required you may need to do MRI spine to see for any new pathology.
You may need methadone for opioid dependence.
ste
Epidural steroid shot may help for long term relief of pain.
I hope I have answered your questions. If you have further questions please feel free to ask. I will be happy to answer your question. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (53 minutes later)

I haven't taken any Lortab10/500 in almost 4 months. In the past I would not take it for 2 to 6 weeks at a time without withdrawals because when i used Noni Juice i didnt need Lortab as much. I don't think you understood my question.

Answered by Dr. Vaibhav Gandhi (9 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Lortab doesn't sensitize you to other drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

I understand your concerns now. Lortab doesn't sensitize you to other drugs. The side effects that appeared with each of those drugs are not due to previous lortabl usage.

You haven't listed the drugs that were tried yet. However I treat my patients with combination of etodolac and pregabalin. They are immensely helpful. You can discuss about it with your treating doctor.

Besides oral medicines, epidural steroid shot may help for long term relief of pain.
Diet rich in calcium and protein will help.
You can take physiotherapy like TENS at home for pain relief.

Please discuss about these options with your treating doctor.

Hope this answers your query. If you have additional questions or follow up queries then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your queries.

Wishing you good health.

Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad