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Suggest Treatment For Scoliosis And Periodic Sciatica
Question: Hi I am a 53 year old male that has been diagnosed with Scoliosis and periodic sciatica. I have been able to manage with ibuprofen and other over the counter medication until recently. The over the counter meds are not working so well and my family physician says the only option is surgery. I have heard of pain management programs with controlled medication, is that possible? My doctor does not want to prescribe that type of medication.
Brief Answer:
The surgery is not very likely to help pain
Detailed Answer:
It does not have a good track record. The more major the surgery the worse the outcome. It does, however, prevent nerve damage/paralysis, so, if someone is going weak in the leg... losing their knee reflex surgery is recommended.
There are a lot of options for pain management. If it works, ULTRAM/TRAMADOL is quite good. It has low toxicity. While it is associated with seizures, it is rarely associated with seizures and mostly in those who already have them! It lasts 6-8 hrs. It is the lowest category of controlled substance with low abuse problems.
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or... narcotics... which are quite reliable for helping this sort of pain. While there is about a 5% risk of troubles with them (addiction), they do NOT have toxicity on heart, lung, liver or kidney (neither does tramadol; aspirin like drugs are rather a higher toxicity risk).
Pain management is available. Often pain management doctors recommend strongly/require spinal injections which have not had a very good track record of success either (but very rarely make anything worse).
Physical therapy, traction, TENS units are often very helpful and have no risks.
Furthermore, you'll know your situation better than I, but, often the pain lasts for about a week and then subsides.
Thank you for asking a very good question !
The surgery is not very likely to help pain
Detailed Answer:
It does not have a good track record. The more major the surgery the worse the outcome. It does, however, prevent nerve damage/paralysis, so, if someone is going weak in the leg... losing their knee reflex surgery is recommended.
There are a lot of options for pain management. If it works, ULTRAM/TRAMADOL is quite good. It has low toxicity. While it is associated with seizures, it is rarely associated with seizures and mostly in those who already have them! It lasts 6-8 hrs. It is the lowest category of controlled substance with low abuse problems.
.
or... narcotics... which are quite reliable for helping this sort of pain. While there is about a 5% risk of troubles with them (addiction), they do NOT have toxicity on heart, lung, liver or kidney (neither does tramadol; aspirin like drugs are rather a higher toxicity risk).
Pain management is available. Often pain management doctors recommend strongly/require spinal injections which have not had a very good track record of success either (but very rarely make anything worse).
Physical therapy, traction, TENS units are often very helpful and have no risks.
Furthermore, you'll know your situation better than I, but, often the pain lasts for about a week and then subsides.
Thank you for asking a very good question !
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you Doctor Wachsman, can you recommend a physician or medical service that would be willing to work with me on a prescription plan to manage this thing. I am scared of surgery for all the reasons you describe and I was told by my physician that there is 80% success rate which seem low for the risk.
Respectfully,
XXXX
Respectfully,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Hate to mention this...
Detailed Answer:
but my family has a congenital lack of narcotic wiring... they don't do anything but make us sick... me kidney stone, son compound rib, brother compound ankle, mom terminal cancer SECOND COUSIN MOVED TO HAWAII because of availability of medical marijuana for his c-spine disease. So... medical marijuana.. um.. joints.
Then.... there is also.
http://www.yellowpages.com/kihei-hi/pain-management-doctors
the yellow pages.... laser spine WILL want to operate, but it is the minimally invasive. Frankly, the acupunturists you should give a try. It has a pretty good success rate and is very safe and much lower complication rate than even epidurals (the most commonly used procedure by anaesthesiologist/pain managment doctors).
I'm actually on the East coast in Maryland, so this is a bit of a stretch, but I really appreciate your thinking of me !
Hate to mention this...
Detailed Answer:
but my family has a congenital lack of narcotic wiring... they don't do anything but make us sick... me kidney stone, son compound rib, brother compound ankle, mom terminal cancer SECOND COUSIN MOVED TO HAWAII because of availability of medical marijuana for his c-spine disease. So... medical marijuana.. um.. joints.
Then.... there is also.
http://www.yellowpages.com/kihei-hi/pain-management-doctors
the yellow pages.... laser spine WILL want to operate, but it is the minimally invasive. Frankly, the acupunturists you should give a try. It has a pretty good success rate and is very safe and much lower complication rate than even epidurals (the most commonly used procedure by anaesthesiologist/pain managment doctors).
I'm actually on the East coast in Maryland, so this is a bit of a stretch, but I really appreciate your thinking of me !
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Thank you Dr. Wachsman I will continue to try and find someone that can help me. I have been trying the Medical treatment listed previously and has some impact and helps the relaxation. The Laser Spine Institute has already seen me and the do want to operate, they were very quick to make the determination.
Well thank you Doc for answering my question, I was seeing a Doctor while I was working in Korea I may have to go back to him he seemed to have the best grasp on the medication to at least remain comfortable during episodes. I was sort of hoping I could get someone to take me under their wing I am getting desperate....
XXXX
Well thank you Doc for answering my question, I was seeing a Doctor while I was working in Korea I may have to go back to him he seemed to have the best grasp on the medication to at least remain comfortable during episodes. I was sort of hoping I could get someone to take me under their wing I am getting desperate....
XXXX
Brief Answer:
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Sure you can reach him if you consider him best for you.
If you have no further clarifications you can close and rate this query.
Wish you good health.
You are welcome
Detailed Answer:
Sure you can reach him if you consider him best for you.
If you have no further clarifications you can close and rate this query.
Wish you good health.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Bhagyalaxmi Nalaparaju
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