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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Severe Pain Due To Spinal Root Nerve Damage

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Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Question: Hi & thx for your help. I have never had back pain in my life & was a gymnast into my early 30's.
In 2004, after rollerblading & swimming in the surf @ the beach, I awoke my first morning home holding onto walls to walk. I have been an anesthetist since 1980. Had only worked @ my new hospital for a year. Found out several years later that the surgeon I trusted had put in hardware for a 350lb man when I only weigh
125lbs. Postop calf complaints were brushed aside as RLS. Four years later, referred myself to a neurologist who found NEW spinal root nerve damage. I have now had an intrathecal pain pump for 4 years with Dilaudid & Marcaine. Also have a PTM for occ bolus during the day. What my pain clinic does NOT know is that because they refuse to allow me one Norco per day, I have had to turn to 6 drinks per day with 1.5 jiggers each to perform ADL. Recently moved fm VA to AR. Think my only hope is to move to CO. Are there any pain clinics that perform refills on intrathecal pumps AND allow medical marijuana? Am terrified of becoming an alcoholic or developing cirrhosis of the liver. Was told when obtained pump for severe bilateral neuropathic pain of calves that I would be back to work in 3 months. It has now been 4 years. Would love to even just try the new CBDs' available in CO. Can you help me??
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (9 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Please send your exact location details

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

I am sorry to know the situation you are in. Being an anesthetist, you could have gotten it yourself. Maybe there are some restrictions on yourself. But slowly lessen the dose of alcohol that you are taking. Take medical help for that.

You have chronic severe pain, etc, and medical marijuana etc may be tried. Your main concern seems to be to know the clinic details that provide medical marijuana and refills on intrathecal pumps. The abbreviations in your query are not very clear. Please provide exact details about your location so that I am better able to help you.

Waiting for your reply.

Dr Vaishalee

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Vaishalee Punj (12 hours later)
I do not understand how my exact location will help you in my care. The main thing I need to know is where are chronic pain clinics in XXXXXXX that will be able to
provide me with intrathecal pain pump refills of Dilaudid & Marcaine every 8 to
11 weeks or so & also allow me to use medical marijuana on a prn basis. That way I can stop using ETOH altogether. I will move anywhere in XXXXXXX that will provide this service.

By the way, the reason I needed emergency back surgery in 2004 was because I had a benign cyst wrapped around my spinal nerve roots. Even though I gave anesthesia to my back surgeon's patients in my work as an anesthetist (he mainly performed craniotomies & had performed a successful neck surgery on my mother the year before)--I was not aware that he only performed simple back surgeries. I have been told by two surgeons since 2004, it would have been more ethical if he had sewn me back up & referred me to another surgeon more proficient in
'complicated backs'. Instead, when I began having the start of severe bilateral
neuropathic calf pain about 6 months postop, my back surgeon brushed it off as my
having RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). After four years of going from one physician to another for RLS Rx, I finally consulted a neurologist on my own who confirmed that I indeed had ongoing damage from my back surgery in 2004. In case you are not aware of this, even though XXXXXXX has medical marijuana as well as recreational marijuana, the majority of chronic pain clinics will not allow medical
marijuana use. Please help me find one that does, along with supplying refills for my intrathecal pump. I will move anywhere in XXXXXXX that I need to for this help. My pain pump is an immense help but I still need a multi-modality approach to my pain management. I am not an alcoholic but am afraid of becoming one because my father was. Chronic pain clinics will allow use of alcohol, although am sure not to the degree I have been using. Please let me know any abbreviations in my first letter that you were not clear regarding. Thank you immensely for your kind help!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Vaishalee Punj (10 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Listing some doctors contact information below

Detailed Answer:
Hi again,

You have neuropathic pain that is severe. Medical marijuana can have some side effects, even if we ignore the fact that it can cause a worse addiction than alcohol. This is the reason why so few doctors will think about prescribing it. It is good thing that you are aware of the addiction potential of alcohol, opioids, etc.

I will advise to stop this addictive medicine now. You can start tab etodolac with pregabalin after consulting your doctor. Etodolac is a pain reliever and pregabalin is nowadays routinely prescribed for neuropathic pain.

I am sending contact information for some doctors. You may call them and check if they provide any services needed by you.
XXXXXXX pain and rehabilitation
1536 Cole Blvd, Suite 120 XXXXXXX CO XXXX
XXX-XXX-XXXX

Dr. Corenman
181 West XXXXXXX Drive
Suite XXXX
Vail, CO XXXX
XXX-XXX-XXXX
XXXXXXX Surgery Center
25 MonteYYYY Rd XXXXXXX CO XXXX
XXX-XXX-XXXX
XXXXXXX I XXXX, MD
XXX5 E Xth Ave Ste 240 XXXXXXX CO XXXX
1-XXX-XXX-XXXX

Hope it helps.

Let me know if I can assist you further.

Dr Vaishalee
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Vaishalee Punj

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 3281 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Chronic Severe Pain Due To Spinal Root Nerve Damage

Brief Answer: Please send your exact location details Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query. I am sorry to know the situation you are in. Being an anesthetist, you could have gotten it yourself. Maybe there are some restrictions on yourself. But slowly lessen the dose of alcohol that you are taking. Take medical help for that. You have chronic severe pain, etc, and medical marijuana etc may be tried. Your main concern seems to be to know the clinic details that provide medical marijuana and refills on intrathecal pumps. The abbreviations in your query are not very clear. Please provide exact details about your location so that I am better able to help you. Waiting for your reply. Dr Vaishalee