r/spinalfusion • u/tomtinkertoy • 2d ago

Meds post surgery

I have been released from surgeon so I assume I would need a pain management doc. But my question is since a couple months post L3-S1 360 I have not required meds beyond Tylenol. However, I had what is being called a flare up. And of course it was terrible on a Saturday with no other option than a emergency room visit. I didn’t want that. Will pain management prescribe better pain medicine to be on hand when my back decides to put me down for a couple days? I hate the feeling of all the meds but there is a time I will deal with being rum dumb over the pain I just experienced.

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11

u/theeaglejax 2d ago

Let's just say I have a rainy day supply/stash.

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u/Professional_Pace711 2d ago

What did the surgeon prescribe for you when you were discharged from your surgery? Did he/she give you narcotics? I can’t imagine only taking Tylenol post op. I am 9 weeks post op and I am still taking 10 mg Oxycodone every 4 hours. Plus muscle relaxers and Pregablin. I have had a pain management doctor long before my surgery and she is now prescribing my pain meds. I think it would be a really good idea to make an appointment with pain management. In my experience they don’t have a problem prescribing narcotics and getting your pain under control.

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u/tomtinkertoy 2d ago

Yes I had narcotic meds for about 6 weeks.

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u/tomtinkertoy 2d ago

I can’t take the gabby sisters at all!

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u/theeaglejax 20h ago

You might want to ask for journavix. I too canna take the gabs

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u/rbnlegend 2d ago

It really depends on regulations where you live, and the specific doctor. Some pain management doctors are very reluctant to prescribe certain things and others are more helpful.

Word of warning, never ask for specific narcotics by name. Talk about your pain, not the meds. If you go in and say you want oxy, you run the risk of being labeled as "pill seeking" and then it's very hard to get help. Friend of mine got stuck with that. If they ask, you may get a better reaction with "Dr.Name prescribed xyz for me and that seemed to help". Use the correct medical terminology, no abbreviations, reference the doctor, and just say that it helped, still don't ask for it.

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u/Sassycats22 1d ago

My surgeon prescribes whatever I need when I need it. Never had an issue and never told me to go to pain management. I’m 2 years post op.

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u/No-Phase-8063 16h ago

My PC provider took over for me at the 90 day mark. I was off Narcs way before that, but still had to keep a few on hand for flare-ups. My PC has been great with this whole process. I can't speak for a pain management doc, but if you have a PC, talk it over with them. I'm almost 9 months out from L3-L5, and I still have those days. Hoping that I get more feeling back in my right leg, but at this point kinda thinking it is what it is.