[Southflanknorthpawsis]

All I can say is that I have watched my 82-year-old mother suffer terribly with intermittent back pain and it is awful.

Her most recent episode is going on right now and began nearly two months ago. Pain management scheduled her for epidural injections, but.........the earliest available appointment is November 26th. Absurd !!!!

If I could get my hands on someting that relieved her pain, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, many strong pain relievers have been prescribed and have given little help.

I have a brother with even worse problems and I could never explain them all here.

It is very easy to be free of pain and condemn somoene else who is desperately seeking relief. But how many people would sit and do nothing if they were suffering and knew that a particular drug could ease their agony?

Rush may have made some errors in judgment and got himself involved in a bad situation, but it seems evident that a need, a very human need, for comfort set him on that path. Who is anyone to judge?

[Southflanknorthpawsis]

someting = something

[tbird5]

Question is how was he able to play gulf?

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Who is anyone to judge?

Another side...

How many ex-athletes are living in pain beyond most people's comprehension, yet dealing with it? How many back problems are there? How many knees or shoulders were operated on/should have been? Consider all of the devastating arthritis?... People get by in pain without all of the meds.

Rush said he was no victim, I found that to be very meaningful.

[tubebender]

I was ready to end my life in 1974 because of back pain. The only relief I could get was to do pullups on a bar and hang there. Not what I wanted to do the rest of my life and then I was introduced to a Orthopedic Surgeon teaching in the Bay Area that took my case. Fused 8 lumbar vertebrae and installed a SS rod. I was in a cast from my chin to my hips for 10 months. No more pain...

The interesting thing was I was never offered pain killers and took only Tylenol etc...

[RJayneJ]

Before my first back surgery I kept hoping that it would get better on it's own, because I had had a few episodes and it did get better. But that time it didn't and I tried to tough it out. After two months of crawling on the floor to the batroom, as I pulled myself up and got a look of myself in the mirror, I looked almost subhuman. I thought to myself that this was not living.

I finally told my husband to get me to the hospital (no insurance) or clean out the garage so I could end it all. It really didn't matter which, that's how I felt. When you are in that much pain, you will do almost anything for relief. What brought things to a head, the family doctor gave me a prescription of Talwin that was supposed to last for 2 weeks and I took it all in about 4 days. I had no other choice but to get the surgery.

[jbstrick]

South,

I know the situation you are in. My father was lucky enough to have a wonderful pain doctor in the final days of his battle with cancer. At home, he was on a IV drip of Moriphine. The amount (dosage) his body tolerated was unbelievable. The drugs made the final months bearable for him.

That being said, My prayers go to Rush.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Not to poke my nose in your mom's/brother's pain issues, but my husband has gotten relief from a supplement called MSM. Don't know what the letters stand for, but he was much improved after 3 days. Thought I'd mention it. You can get it at a health food store, and different companies make it. The supplement my husband's been using has a couple of other things in it, but it's OTC. Seems to work really well for arthritis/joint issues. Freepmail me if you want more information. (no, I don't sell it :-)

Constant pain is exhausting. I have no fingers to point a Rush.

[BlessedBeGod]

Prayers for your mother.