Hi Karen, i am guilty allso because i recently had an Epidural done and my cronic back pain remained the same untill 3 weeks after my injection.
I noticed i was for getting to take my meds on time and for getting my nightly pain patch so i looked at my list of meds and sure enough i have reduced my meds wich consists of 2
Avinza 60's twice a day and i am still takeing the 2,Cyclobenzaprine was 3 times a day and now 1 or none per day,Morphine Sulf ir 15 mg's 3 times a day,now i take it 1 or none per day....Gabapentin 600 mg was 3 times per day,now i take about 2 per day so it is a great improvement 
.
I even began exsperimenting and i got down to1 Avinza 60 a day and nothing else but the pain returned again not as severe as it was in the past but that was just for a day so no doubt by the second day i would have been in bad shape.I am happy to get this much pain relief i got my life backand i can enjoy my GranDaughters and my 2 year old GreatDaughter 
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I hope the people reading this post gets something out of this,even ifyour wandering about haveing an Epidural dont hesitate the pain is nt 1/10 of the pain you have right now.
I wish everyone a 0 pain scale and i hope we soon can try the N60
Karen, it's imperative that people like you report on chronic pain research and that people educate themselves, because the average doctor just can't keep up with all that is happening in the field. After suffering for 30 years with chronic pain that was diagnosed as everything from fibromyalgia to arthritis--and NO response to any therapy--I finally learned about Rothbarts Foot. I sought out Dr Rothbart who correctly diagnosed me as having this foot abnormality which he calls " a little-known but common cause of much chronic muscle and joint pain." None of the many doctors I saw ever identified this, even though I had all the common symptoms, and I doubt they'd even heard of it. Dr Rothbart has a FREE REPORT that explains Rothbarts Foot and gives clues to help identify it. I urge everyone that has suffered from chronic pain, and sees no relief anywhere, to educate themselves about this condition. Dr Rothbart's free report is available here:http://curingchronicpain.com/?p=670
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Dear Karen, AS always thank you for keeping us abreast of the latest on pain relief. This sounds very promising, I just wish it would't take so long to get it through the FDA. I also have a question regarding back surgery, why is it so many people have "failed back surgery syndrome"? It seems like everything I read on back surgery is negative. Does anybody ever have good results? Or is it that just the unsuccessful ones post about it?. Just wondering. Thanks again, Pie.
Good question, Pie. I think you're right – it's usually the people who are having problems that tend to come to sites like this and make comments or ask questions. When their surgery is successful and they're no longer in pain, they don't have a reason to come to a chronic pain site. I personally have two friends who have had back surgery – one very recently and the other a few years ago. Both were very successful and they're glad they did it.
But there are no guarantees when it comes to back surgery. Like you, I've read a lot of horror stories. Fortunately thus far I haven't needed any kind of back surgery, but after all I've read, I think it would be my last resort.
Dr. Lasich would be a good person to address your question. She not only treats back problems, but has written a book on it and has had back problems herself. I'll share your question with her. – Karen
Thank you Karen. Pie
Hi Karen & Pie, I wanted to share something about about a Friend that had 'Failed Back Surgey'.
Tom had Back pain for 8yrs. tryed all the treaments his Dr. suggested, nothing helped. Tom finally accepted that he would live on meds the rest of his life, not being able to hold down a job, still living in pain.
Finally Tom agreged to let his Dr. to operate, 4 months after the operation Tom had more pain then before the Dr. operated, his Dr. suggested another operation. Not wanting to jump on the 'Operation Merry-go-round' his Dr. suggested he see someone else, for a second opion. On the way to the new Dr. Tom got into an accident, flipping his car, I don't know all the detials of the accident. BUT after...Tom had no more pain!
This was over a yr. ago, after a few weeks of rest allowing a few cuts & bruses to heal. Tom found a job & has been working 2 jobs ever since, he called last week & him & his wife have bought a house. He says he has no pain, only a headach now & then. His Dr. just said that something must have getten dislogged, or moved in the accident, he can't explain it either.
Strange...Huh? Luckie for Tom, though.