[Freedom1990]

I would suggest being screened for depression, seriously. When my depression kicks in hard, my physical symptoms are exacerbated.

Also, it concerns me that you have never gotten a definitive diagnosis of the back pain. The symptoms only are being treated.

I have spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease, with a ruptured disc in my lower back that never healed, and now slowly leaks tiny amounts of the fluid from the disc. That fluid is caustic and irritating outside of the disc.

I absolutely will not do drugs like oxycodone/percocets/lortabs, etc. I was given oxycodone after a major hernia repair in January of this year, and on top of the physical withdrawals, the mood swings were unbearable for a month after discontinuing the drug. I also had horrible anxiety whenever it felt like hitting. I felt like I was going to come out of my skin!

I do see a pain management specialist about every six months for steroid injections into my tailbone, which usually knocks out the sciatica radiating down into my legs.

I do understand what it's like to live with chronic pain. :ghug2