I have used the directions, which I posted today, for PRESCRIPTION DRUGS to do a search on the drugs which you said were prescribed for you: Keflex and Robaxin.
Keflex is a Beta-Lactim Antibiotic and Robaxin is a skeletal muscle relaxant. Neither drug is a pain-reliever! No wonder you are having pain!!!!!
Both Keflex and Robaxin are Brand Names - which means they are more expensive than the generics.
Cephalexin is the generic of Keflex. Methocarbamol is the generic of Robaxin.
I would like to suggest that you read the information for both of these drugs at the Planetrx site. If you have any trouble following the directions, which I have posted today, you can write to me personally at the above address.
Since your adhesions are attached to your small intestine and colon, unless you are able to find a doctor who specializes in doing an adhesiolysis (surgery for adhesions), it would be very unwise to have just any surgeon do an adhesiolysis for you.
* * SURGEONS WHO SPECIALIZE IN ADHESIOLYIS SURGERY * *
Surgeons, who specialize in adhesion surgery , use microsurgical techniques.
These adhesion specialists do many more of these kind of surgical procedures day after day - in comparison to regular surgeons.
Adhesion specialists have developed special techiques - which they strive to improve on from one adhesiolysis to the next one.
A surgeon, who specializes in this kind of surgery, must have the virtue of PATIENCE - because surgeries of this kind can take many hours to complete. Adhesiolysis surgeries are also very risky surgeries for the surgeon to perform and especially for the patient.
I had an appointment to talk with a colon-rectal surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in January 1997. He said that he *would not* do an adhesiolysis for me - unless I, as his patient, were having a bowel obstruction. He did not advise surgery!!!! So what can a person in chronic pain do? PAIN MANAGEMENT! This is what the doctors at the Mayo Clinic advise chronic pain patients, who come to them with adhesion problems.
This does not necessarily mean that these surgeons do not believe that adhesions do not cause pain. It means that surgeons have learned through many failed attempts at adhesiolysis, that adhesiolysis is not the answer *at this time.*
Considering the risks involved for their patients, surgeons do not encourage surgery for adhesions at this time. At the present time there is not an adhesion barrier which has proven to give adequate protection from the re-development of adhesions. Adhesions are how the body heals itself. Our bodies are in control!
So what am I doing for the chronic pain, which I live with everyday? Since January 1997, I have been regularly seeng a psychiatrist, who specializes in pain management. She has prescribed carbamazepine 200mg - to be taken in the morning - and 400mg of the same drug to be taken at bedtime. Carbamazepine is the generic of Tegretol.
My psychiatrist also prescribed amitriptyline 100mg - to be taken at bedtime. Amitriptyline is the generic of Elavil. Amitriptyline is the *first and only medication* which had given me any relief from severe, intractablec chronic pain following a laparotomy in 1970. Amitriptyline is an anti-depressant and it has also been recognized as a medication to help relieve pain. As an anti-depressant, it is a drug that has helped me get restful sleep at night too.
I also see a psychologist on a regular basis for talk therapy, which gives me an opportunity to talk about how pain has affected and is affecting my life; and also so I can share any concerns, which I might have, in a safe environment -- instead of "stuffing them" and never talking about them.
I have also allowed myself to become involved with life again - instead of isolating myself and suffering in silence. I have joined a Weigh Down Workshop group for weight reduction. I teach piano lessons to young people, teen-agers, and adults. I also am the accompanist for our church choir.
In the process of doing research on the Internet, I just recently discovered that that there is psychological term for the research I have done: It is known as DISTRACTION. It really works!!
DISTRACTION has kept my brain so busy that it has prevented the full impact of pain-messages from reaching my brain. I am a firm believer in the mind-body concept; but in order to first accept the mind-body concept, it was necessary for me to take whatever time was necessary for me to first read about it; then to allow myself to understand and accept it -- which has taken me a long time!
* * ADHESION BARRIERS * *
Some surgeons use adhesion barriers in surgical procedures. Some have made a decision not to use the adhesion barriers which are available now - as a result of the less than satisfactory results which their surgical patients have had with the use of adhesion barriers. The use of an adhesion barrier DOES NOT GUARANTEE that adhesions will not return!!
Both INTERCEED (TC7) and Seprafilm adhesion barriers have been approved by the FDA for use in laparotomy surgery (open abdominal).
Some surgeons have taught themselves how to apply Interceed laparoscopically: however Interceed has not been approved by the FDA to be used in laparoscopies. Seprafilm cannot be applied laparoscopically.
* INTERCEED (TC7) *
For Interceed to be effective, there must not be any blood left in the abdominal cavity.
* SEPRAFILM *
Seprafilm's texture is something like waxed paper. It is brittle and once it is moistened, it becomes sticky and unmanageable for the surgeon to manage.
I do not claim to be an expert on the above subjects. The information, which I have just shared with you, is based on the research I have done on the subject of adhesions and adhesion-related topics - for almost two years.