Back surgeries symptoms and conditions

I am 43 yrs. old and have had 2 back surgeries and other procedures to help elevate my pain, but to no avail. I am now on 60 mg of oxycontin and dilaudid for pain which seem to be finally making a difference. And for some reason my doctor has put me on zanaflex also. I took one dose and I don't know if I wasn't to continue, last night was the first dose and I had a strange feeling as I was falling sleep that I was going to die!!! As I tried to wake myself up out of the drowsiness it subsided and I fell asleep. When I woke up I remembered having strange dreams about my mother and my brother both who has passed away in the past 2 1/2 years. I mean really bizarre dreams that make no sense. I believe it to be because of the zanaflex. Does anyone else have these problems??

Less than 2 months after taking Lipitor I have been experiencing intense weakness of the legs, especially the hip area. A normally avid walker, last week really woke me up when I was unable to walk over 40 feet without having to stop from sheer leg exhaustion. I'd have to actually lean on my partner until I could manage to shuffle again- a shuffling gait is what I had to resort to just to make it back to the car.
This is bullshit because even though I've had some angina symptoms, right up until I went to the hospital I was able to hike; was still relatively strong.
So today I have spent hours researching side effects and have seen on this site alone many mentions of intense leg weakness and pain with Lipitor.
This, along with simultaneously educating myself on the truth about high cholesterol has convinced me to gradually cease taking this medication.

Instead I will replace with sufficient quantities of VitC, buckwheat combined with gingko, and of course I can never stop with the garlic because it is delicious.

Given Zanaflex after 6 back surgeries. Dosage take 2 tabs (4mg) 4 times a day. Total dosage 24hrs (8mg x 4 = 32mg.) This seems high to me. What happens is my stomach does not digest food, mobility slows way down; can not urinate, pass gas. I am a 52 female, with spinal problems. I also have HTN, and when I miss a dose to drive, my face is flushed bright red, B/P soars in the 200's. I can not move my bowels up to 10 days. I am now off this medicine and yes, I hurt, but, once in awhile I will take 1/2 tab. Anyone else experience such bowel, urination problems? And, yes, the HTN? I am now on the generic. This is the medicine from hell. I feel better with a lowered dose. Please help me with your comments. by kwncln

My husband is on the fentynal patch. When it is about time for it to be replaced (about 72 hrs) he starts getting weird feelings in his hands and feet. Can't lie down or get any relief. He has to take an Oxycodone until the next patch kicks in. Don't know is this is withdrawals or what it would be like without the patch. He has haed 4 back surgeries and nerve damage with peripherial neuropathy. The doctors just don't know the answer whether its withdrawals or neuropathy pain.

My husband has been taking Oxycontin for about four years after many other meds that didn't take care of the pain. He has had two failed back surgeries and really needs this for the pain. Some times I think that it's a good medication and other times not. The withdrawls are the most awful thing I have ever seen in my life. He can not sleep, he kicks his feet, rolls around on the bed just trying to get away from the feelings. He says it feels like his legs are on fire. It made me cry to see him like that and I hope I never see that again.
Charlotte

I am one of those who take Effexor XR 150mg as part of a pain management regimen, as opposed to depression. I've had two major back surgeries that left me with arthritis and some internal scarring that causes acute, long-term back pain. Apparently, certain ani-depressants are also starting to be used to treat pain in combination with drugs like Vioxx and Ultram.

I have been on Effexor for nearly two years now. I never noticed any side effects until about a year ago when I thought I was coming down with the flu. My symptoms got steadily worse until I started to fear meningitis or even West Nile virus. I had terrible head and neck ache, neausea and dizzyness. It wasn't until I went to my pain management doctor that we figured out my symptoms started about the same time I had forgotten to take my Effexor and when I started taking over the counter cold medicine I had decided to stop taking some of my meds since I was unsure of the interactions. This turned out to be the wrong idea with the Effexor.

I was suffering from seratonin withdrawals and by the time I saw my doctor I was nearly passing out on the floor. They had neglected to tell me NOT to stop taking the Effexor. Now, I notice that if I miss a dose by even a couple of hours, I start to get dizzy and a headache.

Conversely, on a recent international trip, with jet lag I made a mistake in the time difference and took two doses within 12 hours of each other. Again, I had many of the same symptoms, but this time, even when I waited an entire 24 hours to let the extra drug exit my system, the symptoms pesisted for nearly a week before I stabilized again. Turns out the chemical(s) in Effexor have a half life of 7 days. Consequently, I had a hard time getting back on it without throwing everything out of balance.

I plan to have myself weaned off during my next visit with the doctor. I just feel fortunate that I have that option when so many others do not.

JanK, I thank you so much for your answers!and to everyone who has posted too! after all the reading I am going to request that my Dr.does NOT put me on the Neruontin (unless he has some serious reasons)after my surgery I will be very IN-Active and blood clots are always a factor,I have had 3 back surgeries before so I am not a stranger to that!In response to
The Vicodin I am taking,it does keep the pain under control as much as it can...I have so much going on in there that there is no pain med out there that can control it completly,I REFUSE to take Oxycontin or Ms Contin for it.I have a VERY good Physician and he monitors everything very carefully,I am not worried about him at all,God bless him,he has literally saved my life several times over!I will ask him next week at my appointment why he is leaning towards this med and go head to head with him...lol..thanks for the info!...I will post with the answer,in hopes to help someone with a similiar problem.~Nanc~