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What Causes Persistent Lower Back Pain While Treating Herniated Disc?

Posted on Wed, 2 Nov 2016

Question: I take one and one half low dosage Ultram for a herniated disc in my mid back. Half in the morning and half a night. The prescription is for three per day. I have found this works ok. I have a herniated disc in my lower back for which I take Percocet. 7.5 I take 1/4 of the Percocet around 10 a.m. and then another quarter around noon. One around 3 and 1 around 7 p.m. If I take them any other way they make me drowsy. I am 71 years old and still work a full time office job where I am program manager for a consulting firm. I have to stay alert. I was on Lortab for quite a while and they did not make me drowsy at all. I have very good self control and my doctor has no qualms regarding providing the prescriptions. I would like to go back to a 5 or 7.5 Lorab but I do not want my doctor to think I am trying to get a stronger drug. She knows I have cut down over the past two years on the Ultram which at one point I was taking twice the dosage as now. I found that where I am now with I manages that pain very well unless I get really tired or the weather turns off cold. I Live in Alabama so we don't have dreadfully cold weather but it does affect my lower back worst during the winter months. I know this is a lot of information but would appreciate hearing from someone else what the best combination would be. By the way I am ex Special forces and through all the parachute jumps I gradually damaged my back plus one little chute collapse in the late 60's that caused me to bounce about 10 or 12 feet off he ground.

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
nothing to worry about

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

Welcome to HEALTHCARE MAGIC..

How was your day?

Hope this message finds you in good health.

I have gone through your query in detail and understand your concern.
its good that you are trying to cut down as far as possible on the pain killers. Such tablets usually damage our kidneys and liver and should be avoided.

i advice you to go a step further. why dont you stop the painkillers altogether and just use a lumbosacral belt support, and local sprays/gels to lower the pain.

low back muscle strenghthening exercises can also help.

only if the pain is unbearable, you can go for lortab or ultram,whichever you are comfortable with. ( ultram is comparatively a safer drug )

You should eventually get back to normal in coming few days.Nothing to worry about.

I hope your question has been answered.

Feel free to consult me anytime for follow-up queries.

Take care,God bless.
Wish you a healthy life : )

If you do not have any clarifications,you can close the discussion.

Kind Regards..

Dr Mahaveer Patil, (MBBS,MS,Mch)
Consulting Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon

In future,you can contact me DIRECTLY on - http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-mahaveer-patil/71222

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