Re: neck pain and injections

November 30, 2005

Hi Sara,

I don't write in very often, but when i saw your post I had to reply. I don't

mean to sound stupid, but what is ddd, by the way. I do, however get pain shots

in my neck and in my left shoulder, and I have been getting them every monday

for about 3 months now. Mine are not like an epidural though, I get injections

of lidocaine at certain triggor (sp) points and it usually relieves my pain for

a few days at a time. For it to be really effective, I would have to have the

shots about every 3-4 days. I used to take neurontin and gained a lot of weight

from it. I've been taking Topamax for about 1 1/2 years now and I lost all the

excess weight and I also find that it helps my pain levels a lot better than the

neurontin did. Good luck!

Leanne 39

Spina bifida occulta/tcs, possible retether, results of mri on

dec.23rd/diastematomyelia/bone spurs/and a left shoulder that doesn't work

anymore for some reason

Hi everyone. i went to a pain management specialist yesterday due to

these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back. He is wanting to try

pain shots into my neck. said it was something like an epidural. He

said that my type of insurance insisted that i try medicine first,

which i have been taking relefin for about 4 months now. I have been

on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain much at all. The pain

doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up. Anyway he wants me to

start on either topamax or neurotin. i have read that neurotin causes

weight gain, so if it does i don't want to take it. has anyone had the

pain shots done? He said that i would have to have someone to drive me

home. What kind of shots are they and how is the procedure done and

does it help?? I hope to hear from someone soon. Thanks.

Sara 32

Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

November 30, 2005

I was on neurontin and lost a lot of weight on it. I

was on topamax and lost a lot of weight on it.

Topamax made me feel very drugged and out of it.

Neurontin didn't. Every person is different so you

would have to try one, and if it doesn't work or the

side effects are intolerable, try the other.

I've also had pain shots in my lower back. They did

wonders for a few months. It's time for me to go

through it again, I think. Good luck with your

decision!! Keep us posted.

>

> Hi everyone. i went to a pain management

> specialist yesterday due to

> these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back. He

> is wanting to try

> pain shots into my neck. said it was something

> like an epidural. He

> said that my type of insurance insisted that i try

> medicine first,

> which i have been taking relefin for about 4

> months now. I have been

> on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain much

> at all. The pain

> doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up.

> Anyway he wants me to

> start on either topamax or neurotin. i have read

> that neurotin causes

> weight gain, so if it does i don't want to take

> it. has anyone had the

> pain shots done? He said that i would have to

> have someone to drive me

> home. What kind of shots are they and how is the

> procedure done and

> does it help?? I hope to hear from someone soon.

> Thanks.

>

> Sara 32

> Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord

> (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________

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November 30, 2005

Hi Leanne. Thanks for replying. DDD is degenerative disc disease.

The shot that you described sounds like what the doctor was talking

about. The only bad thing about the injections is my doctor is 2 1/2

hours away. he said though that i wouldn't need many of the

injections. I believe that i will take Topamax instead of neurtotin.

are you on any other kind of pain meds? I just hope that I can find

something that works. this pain is killing me.

Sara

>

> Hi Sara,

>

> I don't write in very often, but when i saw your post I had to

reply. I don't mean to sound stupid, but what is ddd, by the way. I

do, however get pain shots in my neck and in my left shoulder, and I

have been getting them every monday for about 3 months now. Mine are

not like an epidural though, I get injections of lidocaine at certain

triggor (sp) points and it usually relieves my pain for a few days at

a time. For it to be really effective, I would have to have the shots

about every 3-4 days. I used to take neurontin and gained a lot of

weight from it. I've been taking Topamax for about 1 1/2 years now and

I lost all the excess weight and I also find that it helps my pain

levels a lot better than the neurontin did. Good luck!

>

> Leanne 39

> Spina bifida occulta/tcs, possible retether, results of mri on

dec.23rd/diastematomyelia/bone spurs/and a left shoulder that doesn't

work anymore for some reason

>

> Hi everyone. i went to a pain management specialist yesterday due to

> these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back. He is wanting to try

> pain shots into my neck. said it was something like an epidural. He

> said that my type of insurance insisted that i try medicine first,

> which i have been taking relefin for about 4 months now. I have been

> on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain much at all. The pain

> doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up. Anyway he wants me to

> start on either topamax or neurotin. i have read that neurotin

causes

> weight gain, so if it does i don't want to take it. has anyone

had the

> pain shots done? He said that i would have to have someone to

drive me

> home. What kind of shots are they and how is the procedure done and

> does it help?? I hope to hear from someone soon. Thanks.

>

> Sara 32

> Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

>

November 30, 2005

Hi . I don't really understand about the pain shots. can you

give me a idea on what to expect? Thanks.

Sara

>

> I was on neurontin and lost a lot of weight on it. I

> was on topamax and lost a lot of weight on it.

> Topamax made me feel very drugged and out of it.

> Neurontin didn't. Every person is different so you

> would have to try one, and if it doesn't work or the

> side effects are intolerable, try the other.

>

> I've also had pain shots in my lower back. They did

> wonders for a few months. It's time for me to go

> through it again, I think. Good luck with your

> decision!! Keep us posted.

>

> >

> > Hi everyone. i went to a pain management

> > specialist yesterday due to

> > these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back. He

> > is wanting to try

> > pain shots into my neck. said it was something

> > like an epidural. He

> > said that my type of insurance insisted that i try

> > medicine first,

> > which i have been taking relefin for about 4

> > months now. I have been

> > on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain much

> > at all. The pain

> > doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up.

> > Anyway he wants me to

> > start on either topamax or neurotin. i have read

> > that neurotin causes

> > weight gain, so if it does i don't want to take

> > it. has anyone had the

> > pain shots done? He said that i would have to

> > have someone to drive me

> > home. What kind of shots are they and how is the

> > procedure done and

> > does it help?? I hope to hear from someone soon.

> > Thanks.

> >

> > Sara 32

> > Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord

> > (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> >

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

> http://mail.yahoo.com

>

December 1, 2005

The shots they gave me were lidocaine, I think. They

gave me meds to make me a little out of it, then he

did novocaine to numb the lower back area. Under

flouroscopy, he poked with the needle and injected the

stuff at the nerve. He did about 5 or 6 areas in the

L3 - S1 region.

It didn't hurt. The novocaine didn't feel good. I

was able to walk out no problem. It worked for a few

months, just eased the irritation of my nerves, I

think.

--- streamsinthedesert

wrote:

> Hi . I don't really understand about the

> pain shots. can you

> give me a idea on what to expect? Thanks.

>

> Sara

>

> >

> > I was on neurontin and lost a lot of weight on it.

> I

> > was on topamax and lost a lot of weight on it.

> > Topamax made me feel very drugged and out of it.

> > Neurontin didn't. Every person is different so you

> > would have to try one, and if it doesn't work or

> the

> > side effects are intolerable, try the other.

> >

> > I've also had pain shots in my lower back. They

> did

> > wonders for a few months. It's time for me to go

> > through it again, I think. Good luck with your

> > decision!! Keep us posted.

> >

> > >

> > > Hi everyone. i went to a pain management

> > > specialist yesterday due to

> > > these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back.

> He

> > > is wanting to try

> > > pain shots into my neck. said it was

> something

> > > like an epidural. He

> > > said that my type of insurance insisted that i

> try

> > > medicine first,

> > > which i have been taking relefin for about 4

> > > months now. I have been

> > > on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain

> much

> > > at all. The pain

> > > doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up.

> > > Anyway he wants me to

> > > start on either topamax or neurotin. i have

> read

> > > that neurotin causes

> > > weight gain, so if it does i don't want to

> take

> > > it. has anyone had the

> > > pain shots done? He said that i would have to

> > > have someone to drive me

> > > home. What kind of shots are they and how is

> the

> > > procedure done and

> > > does it help?? I hope to hear from someone

> soon.

> > > Thanks.

> > >

> > > Sara 32

> > > Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord

> > > (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > > removed]

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________

> > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

> > http://mail.yahoo.com

> >

>

__________________________________

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December 1, 2005

If it worked a few months then it would be well worth it to me. I

guess the out of it meds is why i would need someone to drive me

home. Thanks.

Sara

> > >

> > > I was on neurontin and lost a lot of weight on it.

> > I

> > > was on topamax and lost a lot of weight on it.

> > > Topamax made me feel very drugged and out of it.

> > > Neurontin didn't. Every person is different so you

> > > would have to try one, and if it doesn't work or

> > the

> > > side effects are intolerable, try the other.

> > >

> > > I've also had pain shots in my lower back. They

> > did

> > > wonders for a few months. It's time for me to go

> > > through it again, I think. Good luck with your

> > > decision!! Keep us posted.

> > >

> > > >

> > > > Hi everyone. i went to a pain management

> > > > specialist yesterday due to

> > > > these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and back.

> > He

> > > > is wanting to try

> > > > pain shots into my neck. said it was

> > something

> > > > like an epidural. He

> > > > said that my type of insurance insisted that i

> > try

> > > > medicine first,

> > > > which i have been taking relefin for about 4

> > > > months now. I have been

> > > > on Lortab, but they are not helping the pain

> > much

> > > > at all. The pain

> > > > doctor said I had a nerve that was acting up.

> > > > Anyway he wants me to

> > > > start on either topamax or neurotin. i have

> > read

> > > > that neurotin causes

> > > > weight gain, so if it does i don't want to

> > take

> > > > it. has anyone had the

> > > > pain shots done? He said that i would have to

> > > > have someone to drive me

> > > > home. What kind of shots are they and how is

> > the

> > > > procedure done and

> > > > does it help?? I hope to hear from someone

> > soon.

> > > > Thanks.

> > > >

> > > > Sara 32

> > > > Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord

> > > > (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > > > removed]

> > > >

> > >

> > > __________________________________

> > > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

> > > http://mail.yahoo.com

> > >

> >

>

> __________________________________

> Yahoo! Music Unlimited

> Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

> http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/

>

December 1, 2005

Yes, you need someone to drive you home. It doesnt

work for everyone, but when it does, it's a good

thing.

--- streamsinthedesert

wrote:

> If it worked a few months then it would be well

> worth it to me. I

> guess the out of it meds is why i would need someone

> to drive me

> home. Thanks.

> Sara

>

> > > >

> > > > I was on neurontin and lost a lot of weight on

> it.

> > > I

> > > > was on topamax and lost a lot of weight on it.

>

> > > > Topamax made me feel very drugged and out of

> it.

> > > > Neurontin didn't. Every person is different so

> you

> > > > would have to try one, and if it doesn't work

> or

> > > the

> > > > side effects are intolerable, try the other.

> > > >

> > > > I've also had pain shots in my lower back.

> They

> > > did

> > > > wonders for a few months. It's time for me to

> go

> > > > through it again, I think. Good luck with

> your

> > > > decision!! Keep us posted.

> > > >

> > > > >

> > > > > Hi everyone. i went to a pain management

> > > > > specialist yesterday due to

> > > > > these bone spurs and ddd in my neck and

> back.

> > > He

> > > > > is wanting to try

> > > > > pain shots into my neck. said it was

> > > something

> > > > > like an epidural. He

> > > > > said that my type of insurance insisted

> that i

> > > try

> > > > > medicine first,

> > > > > which i have been taking relefin for about

> 4

> > > > > months now. I have been

> > > > > on Lortab, but they are not helping the

> pain

> > > much

> > > > > at all. The pain

> > > > > doctor said I had a nerve that was acting

> up.

> > > > > Anyway he wants me to

> > > > > start on either topamax or neurotin. i

> have

> > > read

> > > > > that neurotin causes

> > > > > weight gain, so if it does i don't want to

> > > take

> > > > > it. has anyone had the

> > > > > pain shots done? He said that i would

> have to

> > > > > have someone to drive me

> > > > > home. What kind of shots are they and how

> is

> > > the

> > > > > procedure done and

> > > > > does it help?? I hope to hear from

> someone

> > > soon.

> > > > > Thanks.

> > > > >

> > > > > Sara 32

> > > > > Spina bifida/tethered spinal cord

> > > > > (retethered)/ddd/bone spurs

> > > > >

> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > > > > removed]

> > > > >

> > > >

> > > > __________________________________

> > > > Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005

>

> > > > http://mail.yahoo.com

> > > >

> > >

> >

> > __________________________________

> > Yahoo! Music Unlimited

> > Access over 1 million songs. Try it free.

> > http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/

> >

>

__________________________________

Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!

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December 1, 2005

Hi Sara,

Ok, lol DDD, degenerative disk disease, I should have known that... I like the

topamax a lot better than the neurontin, I was up to 3600mg of neurontin a day

(12 pills a day) and it wasn't helping me any more and my doctor said I could

either add 900mg a day of that or try to switch to the topamax -- I decided

right then and there to switch! While it did bother me a bit for the first few

weeks -- mainly during the switch as I tapered down on my neurontin and started

the topamax at the same time -- making me dizzy and such, I figured it was worth

it as my doctor said it would go away once I got used to it. After about the

first 3 weeks or so, once the neurontin was getting out of my system and I

started getting used to the topamax I felt much better. I have never regretted

the switch. Now I take 300mg of Topamax (3 pills) and feel so much better than I

ever did on the neurontin -- but thats just me, I know other people who do great

on Neurontin and who don't do so well on the Topamax, so try the topamax and if

you see that it doesn't agree with you, maybe you're one of the people who will

do better on neurontin lol. I also take 20mg of baclofen a day for muscle

spasms, and 150 mg of effexor (an antidepressant) for nerve pain and 40mg of

detrol for my bladder (still in control most of the time lol) due to nerve

dammage caused by the tcs. I also have the Duragesic patch (fentanyl) 50mcg

which lasts 72 hours (3 days). These medications work wonders for my " normal "

day-to-day tcs pain, although I may have to up the Duragesic to 75mcg for the

winter months as the cold and dampness really seem to elevate my pain levels.

But they do nothing for the " acute " pain which I am experiencing lately in my

shoulder, my reason for the pain shots. The pain doctor keeps wanting to work on

my back, but I keep telling him that I've had that pain all my life and I can

deal with it a bit longer, although I will let him give me a couple of shots in

the back when I've had a bad week, lol. I hope everything works out well for you

and that they find the best treatment for you.

Leanne