Elavil and Pain

Wayne,Welcome to the backpain group of one.Only kidding.I too have severe back issues.My doctor says the only way to alleviate the problem is to go and fuse the bones in my spine.I am a single white female 50 yrs of age and in relatively good shape,I have managed to keep 40 lbs off for over 15 yrs which helps.I have stenosis,all of the big,large words that begin with the letter S which I can not pronounce and severe arthritis at the same site.It is at the L5,S1 spinal juncture or whatever. I also am on Elavil for pain 100 mg at bedtime.I do water aerobics 6 days a week to help me because I do not want the surgery.I am trying to prolong it as long as is possible. To answer your question,"Elavil"falls into the class of what the doctors call Tricyclic Anti-Depressants which in my opinion are very good medications that are used for pain management.I do not know if you are aware of any of the others.The only other one I am able to mention off hand is Cymbalta.The Cymbalta is becoming more and more widely used today.-----The do something or other to the serotonin levels in the brain,thus reducing the pain sensations because according to a lot of the books,that is the center of pain,the Head. The only other class that most of the doctors would use for pain aside from these would be your siezure medications like Nuerontin,Lyrica,Topax,and Zonisamide.As with any and all medications there are the side effects.--------As a user of all of these I found they were effective but they caused weight gain.They are all effective in that they block the nerve impulses going to the painful area itself as opposed to starting in the brain.With a lot of these,there will be numbness present along with the ailment itself. I am no doctor but have tried them all over the last 4 years.I have also had three epidural injection to the spine of which the last was the most successfull because it was a facet block. Currently I am like you.I take Elavil.I hope I have answered your question.

I also take Elavil to help to control chronic pain and have for a number of years. While I am currently experiencing a great deal of pain due to a recent injury and back surgery, I continue to take 100 mg of Elavil along with Topomax and Lyrica. It is my understanding that Elavil blocks the neuro-transmitters from the brain that sends the "pain messages" to the areas that are affected. It has caused weight gain, dry mouth and blurred vision for me but has also helped me to get a more restful night's sleep prior to my recent injury. I hope this info is useful.