Back Pain Forum - Back Probs And Med Questions

I am 26 years old and have quite a story to tell. I realize that my problems are far less than some of yours that I have read, but I still would like to know if any of you have similar stories to share or any good advise. My back pain started when I was 4 months pregnant and was 22 years old. I took only regular strength tylenol when I was at work only when I had to. Amazingly, it helped the pain! Then next pain offense was right after my child was born, I slipped down some stairs and hit my tail bone about 5 times on the steps. I busted about 3 of my stiches "down there" and I had to sit on a doughnut (invalid ring) for months after that. I eventually recovered from that, but had pain off and on in my lower and upper back and legs. Between then and now, things have gotten much worse. In june of this year, I had to quit working b/c of my back pain. Because of the pain, I could not sleep, sit, stand, etc...Without hurting. I started seeing a orthopedist Dr. At healthsouth in june. I had several regular x-rays, showing disc degeneration, and two bulging discs/possibly small herniations. (if there is a difference please tell me) I was sent next for an mri, in which I cried b/c of the pain of having to lie still. At that time, no pain meds had been prescribed, but you bet your bootie after that mri I went right upstairs to my dr and she prescribed me lortab 5. I was is so much pain that I immediately took 2. It helped some, but I was still pretty uncomfortable. Anyhow, since then, I have changed doctors b/c all that dr wanted to do was give me pain rx and do physical therapy. I was dying!!!! I would take one of my husband's 10 mg ambien, and wake up at about 6am in terrible pain, and that was while taking lortab 10!! My new doctor did more x-rays and then did a milogram/ct scan. That revealed that I had 2 bulging discs. According to him, a lumbar block should fix the problem...Hah. Since then, the end of july, I have had 2 blocks. The pain is again slowly but surely coming back in my back and legs...With occasional numbness and tingling in my left leg. Otc meds and muscle relaxers do not touch the pain. My internist has placed me on elavil to supplement my prozac b/c it has been found that triptaline sp.? Antidepressants help pain. The only thing it has done for me is make me soooo sleepy! He also prescribed kolonopin as a nerve med/muscle relaxer. I tried that yesterday b/c my back pain was creeping back and I was just a mental mess. I am feeling trapped in my own body. The bad thing is that my mother's back problems started at 27 for her. She has been diagnosed with early bone degen. Disease and rheum. Arthritis. She has had a major fusion in her back, but she has so much nerve damage that they cannot do anything else. She is on methadone for pain management and an antidepressant for pain/depression from pain. I think that in about 5-7 years she will be in a wheel chair. God help me, I don't want to end up like that...But it is clear that I am traveling down that path. My present dr set me up for phys therapy again...Which doesnt do much for me. It really only makes me hurt worse. By the end of the day, my entire back is hurting, my legs, sciatic nerves (hips) and I just want to die. I wonder if I just need to go to a pain management specialist and be done with it, or what. I had a rheumatoid profile done, and I still havent' gotten the results, but I know I have arthritis, even if its not rheum. In no way do I want to become some drug dependant junkie, but in some ways, I am so tired of crying and hurting, I would welcome a regular regiment of pain meds to keep me to where I can function. It is so hard to live life like this and try to be a mommy and a wife while I am hurting so bad and feeling so trapped. I am also no help to my family b/c I cannot work b.C of the pain! Phys ther has gone nowhere two times, chiropractics made me sooooooo much worse, and now I am at a dead end with two epi blocks in one month...And the pain is coming back. I am also pretty miffed b/c I can tell that my new orthopedist thinks I am a med junkie. I asked for a few pain pills to get me by until the next block, and he looked at me with his head cocked and said, "lets just try and get by on tylenol until then. Okay?" I was infuriated b/c this doctor obviously thinks that I am an fool! Please help me!