I was born with scoliosis (severe) and had a back brace in highschool, then during my sr. year, fell while hiking (lived in CO) and smashed a couple vertebraes.  Fast forward many years, add falls, traffic accidents, and age, and you end up with severe degenerative disk disease, osteoporosis (chemo, age and anti-estrogen treatment for many years due to breast cancer) and so on.  The pain was at one time limited to just the lower back, but in the last six months, has crept down my legs and buttocks, making walking at times painful, sometimes doubling me over.  I've just finished the thre trial shots (1 week apart) for the intrathecal pain pump, and they were very, very successful!  I see my doc middle of this month to discuss where to go from here.  OH, I HOPE we go on with the pump placemnt!  I can hardly wait.  I realize the pain won't be 100% diminished, but heck, 70 to 80% is just fine, thank you!  I'm also on O2 24/7 due to COPD, and I strongly feel that lesser narcotics will help my breathing - since narcotics do affect you cns, and impair breathing to an extent.  So, I'll maybe get two benefits!

Thanks, and Happy New Year!