Nerve damage at T-12

These are questions you really need to discuss with your physician. Since we don't know your medical history, and have not been able to see the reports, whatever advice we give may not be helpful to your situation.

Only your physician knows your particular case, so it would be to him/her that you should direct these questions.

You have a classic case of over-medication that I can see. Dr's love to prescribe heavy duty drugs at the drop of a hat. If you want to do yourself a favor, try and find a different dr who does not hand out pain pills for that long a time especially since you said the pain is reduced. Tens units are not the end all either for back pain. If it truly is nerve damage, nerves regenerate but do so at a very very slow rate. I have had the wonderful experience of having excruciating pain from herniated discs and radiating nerve pain from pinched nerves at the discs in my neck, thorax and lower back for years from a horrible auto accident. I found the best thing was to "tough it out" without the heavy duty rx's. Why would he give you amitrypelene is beyond me. (look this up on the net for the uses) I took that one time when I had migraine headaches! And it was not more than a few months. Again, try and find a different dr or just stop taking all the meds, take hot relaxing baths, "baby" yourself I.e. Don't lift heavy things over 5 lbs., don't sit or stand too long, and rest in bed. That's what I've done for many years. The strongest drug I take is aspirin and I'm doing ok. Oh yes, the shooting nerve pain down both of my arms and legs is permanent. It has abated some since 1986 to the point it does not keep me up at night as much. I can live with it as I'd rather have pain then have my liver wrecked by the meds. It's up to you. P.S. My thorax disc damage is at T-12 also so I know how you feel.