what works for severe back arthritis?

15 Dec 2006

For a chronic back problem like your's you should be on a sustained release opiate like ms contin.Have you gone to a pain clinic yet.If not then that should be your next move.Good luck and remember to any exercising that you are able to do.I myself walk as much as I can.Also eat well and if your overweight then lose the gut,it puts alot of pressure on your lumbar spine when you have a belly... Dave:)

15 Dec 2006

yes,i am going to a pain clinic,but it seems to be a limited one. they dont offer many choices,some things they offererd my insurance wont cover and were way too expensive.ive tried the fentanyl patch, but every dose just gave me a horrible migrain,even after i took it off, i would suffer the rest of the night with a headache, so i guess im sensitive to certain medicines, which is bad.i also tried ms contin 15mg, but the percocet 10s worked alot better, so i went back to them.i also have the lidoderm patches, but they only numb the cerfice, it does not get deep down where the pain is.i walk as much as i can, but thats about the only exercise i can do, i did apply for a ymca membership,the idea of getting in a warm pool in the middle of winter sounds good, maybe it will help.

15 Dec 2006

leana,

If you find something to help your Arthritis pain would you please let me know. I have degenerative, osteoarthitis and my back hurts all of the time. I've tried the arthritis tylenol but it doesn't even phase the pain. I spend a lot of time lying on a heating pad and I leave it on all night and that does help the pain to some degree but as soon as I get up my back starts hurting again.

I don't want to take a prescription med. to help the pain.

16 Dec 2006

I am on the duragesic patch right now for my back (arthritis, degenerative disc), and it works great (some breakthrough pain on the 3rd day and before the patch kicks in on the 1st day). I also do a lot of stretching (yoga, pilates). HTH [:I]