hello i have a question a friend has a lot of pain in his back just like my husband and both has had surgeries and they both have been to the doctors to see why the have so much pain but all was given to both was a few shots and meds for the pain but my friend say he has done and taken everything for the pain and still hurts i feel he has pain but not as much pain as my husband and feel like he is lying to just get high off a high dose of meds what do you think?
Im sorry to hear about your friend and husbands pain issues. unfortunately it is true that following back surgery, up to 50% of patients will have worsened pain. This is a syndrome known as failed back surgery syndrome or more appropriately post-laminectomy syndrome. The best options for these gentlemen would be to see a interventional pain physician. Most times opioid medications are not the best option to treat their pain as these medications have long term side effects such as : medication tolernace, addiction, abuse, opioid induced hyperalgesia, hormonal dysfunction and many more. the best option would be to obatin an MRI and see where the patients pain correlates with MRI findings and then to make a targeted plan of care. Sometimes when patients do not respond to procedures or medications and excellent option can be a device known as aspinal cord stimulator. These devices have been shown to help up to 70% of patients with post laminectomy syndrome. I hope this helps and good luck to your husband and friend. If you happen to live in Michigan I would be glad to care for either of them.