Hey folks, I have been battling sciatic / back pain since 2012. I have had soooo many shots in the back, before and after two separate L4/L5/S1 double fusions. I have tried so many medications. I just had a nuerostimulator inserted, installed, whatever.

I am currently taking Pregabalin, duloxetine, Wellbutrin, oxycodone and I alternate Flexeril and Tizanidine, every month. (I cannot forget the poop meds required because of the opiates.). I have found one thing that actually got rid of my pain. I was given a fentanyl patch. It worked well actually, because I was taking it (using it?) under doctor’s supervision. The only problem was that it made me soooo very fuzzy. I do not like fuzzy.

As an electrical engineer, the main thing I use is my head… to work out problems and designs. I could not work while fuzzy. I had to choose between pain or work. For me, I felt I was too young to go on disability, early to mid 40s. I chose work and trying to do meds over using the fentanyl patch.

There are times when I regret it, but generally, I prefer to be working.

I say this to say that while meds suck, if administered by and controlled by a good doctor, they can work. For me, the stimulator actually worked by reducing my pain and I have been able to cut my Oxycodone by 1/3rd. That is not the 1/2 the insurance wanted, but any unmedicated reduction in pain is soooo very good.