I just realized I never answered your question.

Post #359,657 by mmoffitt 6/27/12 8:19:36 AM Reply	I just realized I never answered your question. And I still won't. ;0) The best advice I could give you is talk to an orthopedic physician as well as your neuro-guy. I don't know how they do things everywhere, but up here people go see one or the other. I went ortho and didn't regret it. YMMV and likely will. I had to have the surgery - I couldn't sit in a car long enough to get to work and certainly not more than 1 to 2 minutes at a desk in front of a computer. I'm sorry I can't be more help, but this really is an individual decision. FWIW, I've been told that they are beginning to experiment with the artificial disks in the lumbar that they've been using for a while in the C-spine area (haven't looked it up but if that's true, I might go back under for that - most of my lumbar disks are obliterated). In any case, yoga actually does help - especially the Upward Dog position. I do that whenever I feel my back starting to tighten up and it really does help.
Post #359,665 by drook 6/27/12 11:10:30 AM Reply	Couldn't do upward dog until yesterday I've got to say, as much as Big Pharma is a lying cesspool of evil, the right drug for the right reason is fucking magic. I took the first nerve drug -- Lyica -- last night. A half-hour later I was completely pain free and able to stand up straight for the first time in 9 days. -- Drew
Post #359,666 by malraux 6/27/12 11:19:05 AM Reply	Re: Couldn't do upward dog until yesterday That one's for fibromyalgia too. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #359,667 by drook 6/27/12 11:55:59 AM Reply	Saw that on the labeling ... have you used it? -- Drew
Post #359,668 by malraux 6/27/12 12:20:02 PM Reply	Re: Saw that on the labeling ... have you used it? No, I don't actually have FM. I have a high avoidance to taking neuro medicines too. Too many side effects. Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #359,671 by drook 6/27/12 12:56:51 PM Reply	Oh, I don't plan on using it forever I don't believe in lifestyle meds. I want something to treat acute symptoms, fix the underlying problem, then stop taking it. Given the choice between surgery and a daily med, I'll let them cut. -- Drew
Post #359,669 by hnick 6/27/12 12:44:42 PM Reply	Didn't do much for me. My regular doc gave me a scrip for that while I was waiting for my surgery because I was bitching that the Vicodin was useless. It didn't do much, but apparently I was really a mess inside the spine. Glad it worked for you.
Post #359,726 by crazy 6/27/12 9:21:47 PM Reply	Probably a dosage issue I have a bottle of gabapentin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabapentin) from the old days when I popped pain meds like candy. The only reason they invented Lyrica was becuase the patent was running out and they needed their next brand name drug in the family for the diabetes patients (their extremities can be in agony). Of course, at that point, the Pfizer salepeople sold it to everyone for everything. 1 did nothing. Nothing at all. WFT the fuck was those stories about, people waking up in a ditch after driving home from work under it (my sister in law). So I did 2. I woke up 2 days later. Must have been a fluke. I do it again. And wake up 2 days later. No, I don't think I'll be doing this stuff again. Like I said, I have a bottle of it.
Post #359,728 by crazy 6/27/12 9:23:20 PM Reply	Do NOT drive no matter how clearheaded you feel. That drug has an affect like an avalanche when you hit a certain dosage.
Post #359,741 by drook 6/28/12 12:17:35 AM Reply	Thanks for the tip I was planning to do more research over the weekend. -- Drew

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