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Sciatica diagnosis 2 years ago and I'm having pain again.

Posted , 5 users are following.

aaron44444
aaron44444

In 2013 I was in a car accident and slipped a disk crushed 2 others and was also diagnosed with Sciatica. For the next year or so I was prescribed Valium and Oxycodone. Over time and with some physical therapy I eventually quit taking the medicine all together. I haven't been completely pain free for a single day since and I've come to terms with this. Without doing anything significant that I can remember to reinjure my back its started to cause me some pretty significant pain again. Does anyone know if this is normal or if I should go to the ER and have myself checked out??

1 like, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • kevin53196
    kevin53196 aaron44444

    Posted

    Hi aaron

    Sorry to say, it probably and is normally usual.

    Having the accident like you have, it possibly could take years to settle down, and I am sorry to say, its possible you could have some sort of pain for a very long time, though I hope you do not.

    At the end of the day, aaron, if you feel worried, see your doctor, or ER if you wish. If nothing else, but to put your mind at rest.

    All the best to you.

    Kev  (UK)  sad

    • aaron44444
      aaron44444 kevin53196

      Posted

      Thanks Kev. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my question so thoroughly. My biggest issue since the accident has been that I'm a Class A CDL holder so I make my living by my ability to drive an 18 wheel truck that can weigh up to 80,000 LBS. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association has laws against operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle under the influence of any kind of narcotic pain medication along with a handful of other kinds of medications. (Some of the medications on the list would shock you because you would never think of them as being able to impair your ability to drive.) Basically I have two options. Option 1: Take the medicine and be unable to legally do my job and have wasted the last 4 years of my life building an immaculate delivery record, spotless criminal history and 100% accident free record. Or Option 2: Don't take the medication, keep my job and have to deal with the pain with Ibuprofen being the only thing I can take to take the edge off. If I were single and didn't have children the decision would be much easier because I could just take some BS job until I could find something more suitable in a different line of work. I'm open to any suggestions you guys have.

      Thanks, Aaron

    • mel77
      mel77 aaron44444

      Posted

      Hey aaron:

      It seems your between and rock and a hard place with what is the best way you can decide how you want to handle this.  to do it illegally, you are risking your job and even more serious events can happen.  You do have a sparkling record of being a commercial driver.  You don't want to impair your record and as you know any narcotic can affect you in some way in driving.  Not that it will as you are using it for pain but none-the-less it may be a problem.  Taking Ibuprofin for a length of time can cause some adverse effects.  I know my doctor told me this and it might have to do with kidney function.  I know my kidneys are not functioning the best so I have to be careful.  To give up you driving career, you can get a BS job hopefully soon and work on educating yourself in a career that you would like to do.  This is a major dicision on your part and have to weigh the good and the bad.  As long as you are young enough, at least you have plenty of time.  I know people tend to change careers after a number of years of having a steady job as they get tired of the same old rut.  I have retrained for 2 different careers but did not work out.  So, my friend, think this over carefully and if it were me, I wouldn't do anything illegal.  Food for thought.  Stay well and feel better.

      mel

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly mel77

      Posted

      Hey Mel, how are you doing. I had a rough weekend plus yesterday was rough, but today was better😊. Been having headaches though.

      Linda

  • mel77
    mel77 aaron44444

    Posted

    Hey aaron:

    That car accident really messed you up and over time, certain things happen within your body which may not be apparant when the accident happened in the first place.  If some damage is done, sometimes it can progress into more complicated things which do require medical attention.  Valium in itself is not for severe pain, more likely mild to moderate pain and what oxycodone is stronger.  What dosage is enough?  I never seem to get a stronger dosage.  My pain that I suffer is intense at times and can't get myself going about my day.  This is what I think.  Going to the ER may help you get relief for some of the pain but what steps would be taken to do testing to find the problem.  I would say to make an appointment with a specialist and they can guide you in the tests would be taken like MRI's Ultrsound, CAT scans, etc.  Pictures speak louder than words so to speak.  If you have previous X-rays, it would be best if you got them in your hands to show doctors that you will go to.  Chances are they would repeat some of these tests to see if your condition worsened.  I hope this helps and let me know what the doctors find and their recommendations.  Remember, you have to be your own advocate like I say to everyone I meet here.  Just don't take everything for granted.  Take care and be well.

    mel

  • lindagkelly
    lindagkelly aaron44444

    Posted

    You are probably developing some bone spurs and some scarring I would recommend getting a new CT scan or MRI. Then try to see a neurologist. Good luck.

    Linda

  • aaron44444
    aaron44444

    Posted

    Thank you guys very much for all of the advise. Mel77 the Valium was used as a muscle relaxer for the first couple months while the muscles around my spine were still very tight. After that they were taken on more of an as needed basis. If I felt the muscles in my back tightening up and causing me pain and stiffness then I would take them. As for your question about how many MG of it I was taking I couldn't say for sure any more because I was on them for a much shorter period of time than I was taking the Percocet.

    The highest dosage that I was taking of the Percocet was 40MG 6X a day. I was filling a prescription for 100 Percocet 10/325s every week. I got lucky and because I was using a small home town pharmacy and I was in there so often I got to know the pharmacist. Eventually he was basically like "look dude you're taking well over 100,000 MG of Tylenol every month. That's really not safe. Tell your Dr. that I suggested he switch you to Roxy 10s. (Pretty much the same thing only without the Tylenol.) So I did and he switched me and I took them for about 9 months to a year. I also had more MRIs and X-Rays than I can count. I think I'm just going to go back to my original doctor/specialist and see what they want to do.

    • mel77
      mel77 aaron44444

      Posted

      Hi aaron:

      When you mentioned that you were taking Valium, I thought that was to calm you down.  If they use it for muscles, then it must calm them down.  I am also on Percocet at 10mg with 325 mg tylenol.  I should ask my PA to see if he can omit the tylenol as my kidney function is not the best.  The doctor watches though, that is my GP and tests me frequently for blood levels pertaining to it.  I'm glad he does that as he want to make certain that there is no significant drop.  I certainly don't want to go into kidney failure and be on dialysis.  If I were taking percocet with tylenol for even a lesser time time, it still will mount to a lot.  Thanks for mentioning this as I am going to mention it to my PA.  I don't even think they know that my kidneys are not functioning to what they should be.  Again, nice talking to y ou and take care.

      mel

    • lindagkelly
      lindagkelly aaron44444

      Posted

      Aaron, I think you are on the right track to go back to a specialist. If you opt for surgery, I would highly recommend a neurosurgeon. I used an orthopedic surgeon and I have ended up with nerve damage. There may be pain management options like injections that don't involve surgery. Pain meds over time become ineffective. If you are taking Tylenol at least ask for a prescription of famotidine to protect your stomach.

      Linda

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