Pain!!!!

[fiberowendy2000]

As I sit and type this my left shoulder is in extreme pain. I see my pain doc in about 90 minutes and I need to ask him for better pain control. I am a little worried about asking him because I have never asked him for this type of help before. I would like to ask him for pain meds but nothing that I have to take all the time. Only when I needed it. I don't want to be seen as a drug seeker (as we all have that fear) so I am worried about asking him.
Isn't a shame that us CPers have to worry about asking doctors for help?

[Wittesea]

Wendy,

I am sorry to hear about the pain, but I hope that your doctor listens and is willing to prescribe something to help lessen the pain.

It is sad that we all get so worried baout being labeled as a drug seeker... and the saddest part (to me) is that the actual seekers do not worry about getting labeled as a seeker cause they just switch docs if they don't get what they want.

I hope your docs appointment went well.
Take care,
Liz

[fiberowendy2000]

Well, I did go to my appointment and I got my depo-medrol shots in my shoulder which helped and all he would give me is a medrol pak. He wouldn't help beyond that. Sigh.:Sob: He all but said that the pain is in my head. Which made me upset...like I wasn't crying already from the pain.
I just called my primary doc and left a message asking for a recommendation for an orthopedist specializing in hip and spine issues. I need a new POV on my pain issues now that my SI joint is acting all funky.
I think my pain doc has outlived his usefulness. What do you all think?

[simby]

i am so sorry about the pain and your doc, wendy.
i wonder, since its "all in your head" why he subjects you to shots that are costing your insurance co. about $1,000. And, they are really hard on your system - especially your bones.

It never ceases to amaze my how callous so many doctors are. They don't deserve to be doctors.

[fiberowendy2000]

Hey Sim....welcome! Nice to see you around.
Yes, it kinda shocked me that he said that. They (he and his nurse) kept going on about pondering why I was feeling so bad. It was anything from stress from the holidays, to being depressed (of course I was I was upset because I hurt so darn bad!), to the weather. They tried to get me to take neurontin again, but I said no way because I gained 50 pounds on it and was on 1800 mgs a day that did nothing. He then asked if I had been on Cymbalta, I said yes and it didn't work out for me. I think to get me out of his hair, he gave me the medrol pak. Sad huh. But he is the only pain doc that will see me. Don't know what to do next if I choose to stop seeing him.
But like I said, I am having pain in my SI joint, which is causing the majority of my pain, and I think I need a doc that specializes in that area to take a look at me and see what is going on there.
UGH! Why is it when you feel the worst the doctors seem to become more of a hinderance than a help?

[simby]

i don't understand it, either, wendy. I ate tons of advil the first year - 3200 mgs. a day, as my old pcp would do nothing. I even took a chance and had an esi while taking it, accepting that i could start bleeding and not stop (sadly, the shot did nothing).
My new pcp - who i see tomorrow - agreed immediately to take over my meds. when i was released from the surgeon (who took very good care of me for a year after the fusion).
i had to sign a paper with the usual stuff about no other docs, rx at one place only, etc.
I just HATE when a doc says its all in our heads but then do stuff like give us steroids.
I can't take neurotin either - made me deleriously high. Was kinda fun that first few hours - felt like i had had a few drinks. That quickly went into being so drugged up by the second dose that i thought i would go insane.
Its strange, as pain meds don't do that at all, in fact, they only take the edge off the pain. But that neurotin, shudder, never again would i take it.

[fiberowendy2000]

Oh Sim I have missed you!
That is exactly what is happening to me. He juices me up twice a month with Depo-Medrol which is like a band-aid on a small piece of pain when my entire body is dying. For the first time since I have seen him which was a year in September, I have asked for this kind of help. And he gives me 7 days of oral steroids, which I am not sure will do anything right now. I have had 2 ESIs, 2 facet injections and one radio frequency ablation. Basically everything short of surgery. None of which has worked.
The ONLY meds he has prescribed for me are Lidoderm patches, baclofen, trazodone and now the medrol pak. He has in the past tried mexitil, which again didn't work. Everything just a band-aid he is doing. I feel that he is milking the system for money. Since I am on Medicare, he can string me along for as long as I let it happen.
Today has made me realize that he can do no more for me than he has already done. And won't do anymore. He made that perfectly clear on that account today.
What do I do??? Where do I go from here?
I know my pcp is uncomfortable with giving pain meds and usually refers me to my rheumy, who is in the same practice. Who also won't do pain meds. Living where I do, near a city where some of the best health care in the world is to be had, I can't get a doctor to help me!!!!! I am at a loss.
I have done everything they have asked of me. Did physical therapy twice in a year. Done a Functional Capacity Evaluation to show that I am unable to function at a "normal" level. Gone through immensely painful procedures to get a glimpse of a possibility of help with my pain. I don't complain. I never call the doctor's office and be a nuisance. I am kind, friendly and never skip an appointment.
All I want is to live in a resonably comfortable existance physically. I would like to function somewhat normally. Geez, listen to me....I would like this, I would like that.....I guess it is not meant to be. I am being forced to live in pain at levels that most people would go to the hospital or stay home from work for. They get the attention and medication they need. While I and some of you are here in pain crying for help. We can't even take an ibuprofen without getting a slap on the wrist for doing so. Some side effect or whatnot.:rolleyes:
Okay :Soapbox: getting off now! I don't feel better but at least I got it out!

[Boopers]

Hi FiberoWendy,

Does the doc know what is causing the pain??


Linda :)

[Wittesea]

Wendy,

I'm sorry to hear that your doctor was unhelpful today... and it really stinks that you can't get any other doctors to help you either. That just makes me mad!

Do you have a psychaitrist? Would he/she be willing to help?

My psychaitrist helped me find a good doctor when I needed one, and he also helped me by telling my doctors that narcotic pain meds would not interfere with my mental health and I was not prone to addiction.... it seems as if my doctors were reluctant to prescrie pain meds to me because of the psych diagnosis and their biggest worry was addiction.

I had a drug problem in my late teens and early 20's -- and my psychaitrist knew all about it (my physical doctors did not know at that time, but I did tell them before they prescribed any pain meds) --- anyway, my psychaitrist knew that I needed pain relief and that I would not do anything that would ever lead to being addicted ever again.... but he really went out on a limb for me by assuring my physical doctors that I would avoid addiction, but he was right and his assistance was necessary and very very helpful.

I have been on narcotic pain meds for several years now and they have helped, and I have not become addicted and I have not shown any of the behavior that I had when I was addicted all those many years ago.

Anyway, mabe your physical doctors need a kick in the butt from your psychaitrist??

[simby]

hi wendy, missed you, too.

I wish you could come to maine and see my doc. I take it you are near Boston??? (just a guess).
I was born in springfield, ma.

You definately need a new doc. I know how much we pin our hopes on these doctors to help us, and its is so horrid when they let us down.

IMHO you are on steroids way too much. They have so many horrible side effects. The bone deterition is one. I Have and aunt whose whole spine is ruined from steroid use (prednisone).

please don't let that man do that again. If he can't help you any other way, fire him.
I hope someone has a doc that they can refer you to. As i said, i wish you could see mine, he is awesome. I was told by several med people he is the doctor you go to for a second opinion and that he will absolutely not operate on someone unless he believes it will really help.

Gosh, i hope you can find some relief soon.
hugs,
sims

[fiberowendy2000]

Thanks everyone! I am feeling much better today emotionally. Physically...eh. Same.
When Todd came home from work last night, I was up because of the steroids. Todd looked at the package and said you realize that this is prednisone right? I was floored! I thought it was depo-medrol in a pill!!! Stupid me! The last time I took prednisone, I was up all night and agitated. So I immediately decided to not take day 2 or any more of the steroids! I tossed them down the toilet! I was up part of the night but eventually I settled down enough to get some sleep.
Luckily, I have appointments today with my therapist and my psych nurse practitioner and I will be talking about these issues with them. My poor therapist is about to get her ears talked off today that is for sure!:D I will be asking them for some help for a new doc today and see what I can do about that. I am still waiting from a call from my pcp for recommendations for an orthopedist and I will also ask him about an neurologist as well.
Boopers, I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Sciatica, Piriformis sydrome, L4-L5 disc bulge and tenative diagnoses of SI joint disfunction of some sort and a pinched nerve.
Sims you are right, I live about 40 minutes, depending on traffic outside of Boston.
Liz, Todd does not want me to take any pain meds and bezos because according to him I abused them and he doesn't want me going through that again. I don't think he has put together yet that it was part of my undiagnosed BiPolar issues (manic period) that caused that along with the need for better pain control. Of course I can't convince him of that.
Well....here is another long post I have written. The ironic thing about this is I am such a advocate for proper pain control for those who are not gettng the help they need and here I am falling into that hole now.

[simby]

Wendy,
how did it go today?
I pray you had good luck.
You know, people assume that because we are desperate that we are addicts. What we are is desperate for some relief from this hell.

I get like that with steroids, plus i get a lil whacked around 7-10 later (for a few hours).

No more of those for you.

Hope you feel better soon.
hugs,
sims

[Quahog]

Wendy,

I know it stinks but I think it is time to try and find another pain doctor.

It's too bad you don't live closer to Lewiston Maine because there is a wonderful doctor there that I see. I also know of some good doctors in New Hampshire but unfortunately I can't help with any in Boston or Mass for that matter. The only experience I have is with Brigham & Women's hospital and they weren't that helpful.

Sorry you are in so much pain and oh I agree with you for saying no to the neurontin, that stuff is evil incarnate.

Glenn

[fiberowendy2000]

Thanks everyone. My therapist was in total agreement that what the doctor did was wrong. Seeing that a patient was hurting should illicit some sympathy but unfortunately some docs don't do well with that. She also agrees that it is time to move on to another doc. Unfortunately they are so hard to find around here for pain issues. I wish I lived the areas that docs would help me.
I guess I have to start my search yet again. More disappointments, denials and heismans (the block).

[~KELLWANTSANSWERS~]

Hi Wendy
I am sorry that i missed your post.
I can soo relate to what your going through!!!
It's a real shame that these doctors wont listen to us...
Cant they see the misery in our eyes??
I can surely tell when someone is putting me on and when they are in true
misery!!!
I hope that you are able to find a better doctor somewhere in the near future.
Here's to brighter days my friend!!
{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}
~Kell

[Wittesea]

Wendy,

In the area where I live, there are no pain management doctors or clinics in a 30 mile radius. The closest pain doctor would be a 45 minute drive - and that pain doc only does shots/injections.

So when I started trying to find a pain doctor I thought I was going to end up with nothing.... but my psychaitrist helped me find a good family medicine doctor and she became my primary care physician and my pain management doc.

I also remembering seeing a member of this forum a few years ago who found a DO (osteopath) as a pain doc, and someone else had a physiatrist (physical medicine) as a pain management doc.


Do you have a cancer center near you? Oncologists tend to know a lot about pain management, and I remember someone from the forums once had to move to a new city, and they called the local cancer center and asked who the oncologist refers patients to for post-cancer pain management -- and they got the name of a great internal medicine doctor who was a good pain management doc.

Sometimes you find a pain doc in an unlikely place, so hopefully you can find someone in your area.

Also - maybe printing out the "report card" and "evaluation guide" from the pain policy link I put in this following post would help to give one of your current doctors (and maybe your husband) a wake up call??

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=5911


Take care,
Liz

[fiberowendy2000]

Thanks Kell and Liz. Liz, I was thinking on the same lines as you about calling an Oncologist's office. I feel kinda funny doing that though.
Today was a painful day. I needed to fill my new depakote script and go grocery shopping. Luckily they are in the same plaza. But when I got home my hip was in agony and barely had enough oomph to get things put away. Then once Todd left for work, I have been asleep for most of the day.
I knew that this topic would resonate with everyone. I just didn't realize so much.