whenever someone is taking medications for specific problems such as psychiatric or orthopedic pain it would seem a good idea to refer to a specialist. i'm not an m. d. but certainly someone who specializes in disorders of the spine other than a surgeon should be consulted on your husband's case and might make recommendations as to alternative medications and some course of physical therapy. the xanax and klonopin that he is on may be used for muscle relief too. it is really in someone's clinical judgment where determinations are made regarding which medications to prescribe and a general practitioner may not have the expertise required. my recommendation therefore would be to consider a second opinion with specialists in the areas where he needs help.
my husband is on xanax klonopin and pristiq for anxiety and depression. he was also given vicodin. is this too much? . our family doctor prescribed vicodin for my hubby's severe back pain (multiple curvatures of the spine).