lizw;
You and I have a lot in common! I was abused as a child by an alcoholic mother. I had a CRAZY upbringing! I don't have MS, but I have fibro, osteoarthritis in my spine, neck, hips and left knee (I am also only 31), a herniated disk in my lower back, and 2 herniated disks in my cervical spine (near my neck) (also called degenerative disk disease), spinal stenosis (all the way from my lumbar spine to my cervical spine) and bone spurs on my facet joints (called facet joint disease), carpel tunnel in both wrists, and last but not least, achilles tendonitis in both of my ankles. So I know pain! I started being diagnosed around the age of 28 as well. I was sober for only a short year (I am an alcoholic and drug addict, opiates being my DOC). I have tried MANY MANY different non-narcotic ways to relieve my pain and have not been successful. I had to leave my job due to the pain after working there for 6 years. I am still jobless, but I found a doctor that does both primary care and pain management and I get to see her for very little money, they go on a sliding scale. I am currently on methadone 10mg x 2pills 3 times a day, Soma at night for muscle spasms, Restoril for sleep, and Flexeril as needed during the day for muscle spasms (doesn't make me as tired as the Soma, so my doctor prescribed Soma only for nighttime and Flexeril for daytime only as needed and if I need it). I am not happy that I have to take narcotic pain relievers for my pain, but I genuinely tried EVERYTHING else to no avail. Then I started trying different narcotics. First I was on vicodin, then moved up to oxycodone (percoset) and vicoprophen (ibuprofen and vicodin together) those things stopped working after a year or so, then they moved me up to the Fentanyl patch which burned my skin and made me VERY sick so they put me on MS Contin (time released morphine) along with Norco 10mg/325mg (Vicodin extra extra strength 10mg and 325mg of tylenol), I hated the morphine but stayed on it for about 2 years because it worked better than percoset and vicodin, but it made me feel grumpy and tired all the time (as well as VERY depressed). The doctor I am seeing currently was the one who started me on Methadone for pain, and it is the best medication as far as pain relief and less side effects that I have tried yet. So I am staying on it for now. I may need some surgeries in the future, but I am waiting for my medicaide to start before I start seeing another orthopaedic specialist again for more images of my back and my knee. So anytime you want to talk privately, just PM me! Have a great day!!! Take care of yourself! I am really sensitive too and cry at the drop of a hat, I was put on dextroamphetamine once for ADHD and that was the only medication that worked for both my ADHD and my depression but it is VERY addictive! I still am on it, but I so rarely take it because of the addiction properties (I don't desire to abuse ANY of my meds due to good solid recovery and a good boyfriend who keeps and distributes all of my medication to me). Welbutrine XL worked VERY well for me to keep me less depressed and to stabilize my emotions, but I had 2 seizures and I can no longer take it. If you don't have seizures, you may want to mention Welbutrine XL to your doctor and see what he/she says about it as an antidepressant along with whatever you are on now (it works best with Paxil, Prozac, Lexapro or Celexa). Hang in there Liz! Write me a PM if you wish.
Sincerely;
Jaz
