Hi gmak, i take Baclofen, i was told it likely had the least side effects of the muscle relaxers. I see several European countries are banning or recommending suspending Carisoprodol (Soma) i think due to safety concerns but not sure. I take Dihydrocodiene(opiate), lyrica, celebrex also for the pain. This mix usually keeps the worst of the pain away in summer but winter is another matter. I hate to add in anything stronger as i then could not safely drive and i really need my car for getting about any further than a few hundred yards or so and would never see my kids without my car either.
I know of the morphine pump but am very wary of it also. Too many mixed reports on web about it and my local pain clinic only offers the spinal stimulator. Our health services in the UK and US are so different, each with their own problems. As you have insurance based service it seems very quick to get treatment where we can wait ages! However, ours is free at point of care and in Scotland we have totally free drugs. I sympathize with you having large medical bills as that adds greatly to the stress we already have.
I was told i produce more scar tissue than the average guy.
my internal organs (liver, lung) and whenever i try exercises that involve my stomach muscles i get sharp pains around those organs areas! 3 years ago my ortho referred me to a general surgeon to look at removing some of the abdominal adhesions but he said they usually come back as bad as ever and only gave me a 40% chance of success!
I didn't use to be able to post much but since i bought an iPad i find it more comfortable to go on the net. Here's hoping others do join in!