Confuse

[Vasue65]

I need some help please. I have had one surgery for a ruptured disc about 3 years ago and also a breast reduction all trying to relieve my back pain. I am still in pain and have been in pain management for 2 years now. I am on 5 Norcos a day and 20 mg. Kadien. I now have a new pain in my back that feels like a knife sticking in my back. I have asked my PM if I should get a MRI and he said he did not think I needed one. I am scheduled for 6/1 for the trial spinal stimulator to be installed but I don't want to get it done if there is another problem now. I went to the PM today and they had me see the phyiacians assistance and she felt my back and said my SI joint was inflamed. I find it hard to belive that would cause me so much pain that the medicine I am on is not even touching it.

Should I go to my PCP and see about getting a appointment to someone else to see if something else can be done? I am only 43 and am starting to feel hopeless. I am so tired of being in pain and living on meds that is not even working anymore. Please help!!!

thanks

[Vasue65]

It has been a while since I have been on here but I wanted to update and let everyone know the surgery was a sucess. I can't believe how good I feel now. The pain is gone and now just trying to get better from the surgery. May get off all my meds in a couple of months. Yea

[Vasue65]

I went yesterday and saw my PMP and he has put me out of work until after the surgery. He refilled my meds and going to start weaning me down so I can have the surgery. Very thankful to get some relief. I have learneda lesson about where to keep my meds. Thanks for all your help. It is nice to talk with someone who understands. now it is just a waiting game.

[Tuckamore]

You can vent here all you want. Many of us do.

You must call law enforcement and make a formal complaint that your narcotics have been stolen. I know it can be difficult as it may be a family memeber but it is something that you have to do for yourself.

Lock up your narcotics from here on in. Keep them safe and out of view from others. We have had several threads that relate to how we keep our meds safe that you can view if you search our archives. It is important that this not happen to you again or they will label you and may very well refuse to prescribe meds for you again. I don't want this to haooen to you.

Take Care and please let us know how you are doing.
Tuck

[Vasue65]

Thanks for you response. I think I will have the PM take me out of work in about a week or two when the pain becomes where laying around feels best., I just want all of this over. To top all of this off I just realized someone has been stealing my meds and did not realize this till to late and ran out today. I have called my PM and left a message on the nurses line and has not recieved a call back yet. I feel like such a junkie because I know they hear this all the time about losing or stolen meds but I am telling the truth. I have never had to ask for an early refill in 2 years I have been going to them., I had 2 oxy to take today and i am in alot of pain, my fear is that I am going to start going through withdrawls if something is not done soon. I am so tired of all of this and just want the surgery over and get off of all the meds. Thanks for listening to me rant

[Tuckamore]

Hi Vasue,

Thank you for the updates. I am sorry to hear that you have to have surgery. I assume the reason your surgeon wants you to cut back on the medication is so they will be better able to manage the post-op pain. Is that correct?

I hear other PM members report the same practice. I understand it to a point but it almost seems cruel to me. I doubt that surgeon would do the same. He would find a way around it. Post-op you need to deep breath and cough to avoid pneumonia and similar complications.As you know another concern is respiratory depression with opiates. So his concern is valid but I beleive you are correct, you will have a painful wait for the surgery.

Are you able to take a LOA from your job? I would request a written physician's order taking you off work when the pain become unbearable. Or is it possible you could work shorter hours, less days? If these suggestions are not possible remember your health must come first.

Good luck to you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Take Care,
Tuck

[Vasue65]

Just an update. I went and seen my surgeon yesterday and he wants to do a 360 spinal fusion. The only problem is that he says I am on too many meds to do it now. I am on 4 oxy;s 10's and 1 anvinza 30's a day. I now have to go to my PM and get weaned down to nothing but 30 mg of hyrdo a day,. They think they can due my surgery the 1st of Sept. I am going to be in very bad pain until then, I am in alot of pain now and taking away more than half of the meds is going to make it worse. I am trying to continue to work but don;t know how much longer I will be able to stand that. I just don't want to have to lay around from now until Sept. but may have to. Any advise would  be appreciated.

Thanks

[Vasue65]

The insurance finally approved an MRI which I will be getting week of 6/16. They are also making me go for a Physco evalution. I have heart this is common when you are in pain management but it makes feel like they think I am crazy. The only thing I want is to get off the meds and no pain. I go on 6/10(which is my birthday) and it will take 3 hours. I will keep you updated unless they lock me up.LOL

[sandee1818]

I do hope you get good results sooner than later.
I was also thinking if they are going to want the PT for 6 weeks then you may want to go ahead and do that so then you can have the MRI. You may be able to expidite matters that way and still file the appeal so if they do deny it you will have completed what they wanted from you so then you can get the much needed MRI.
Just a thought:)

[Vasue65]

Thanks for everyones advise. I am going to to appealing to the insurance company. I know it may take awhile but I just can't live with this pain much longer. I work 9 hour days and can't afford to lose my job. I will keep you informed.

Thanks again for all the support

[Tuckamore]

Hi Vasue

I just read your post. Sorry I am so late with this response. I just wanted you to know that yes, SI Joint pain can be severe and disabling. Horrid, debilitating pain can come from SIJ Dysfunction.  

But I am confused because you said she felt your back and said it was your SIJ (sacroiliac joint). Your SIJ is not in your back. You cannot touch your back and tell that you have an inflamed SIJ. If I were you I would question that DX.

Yes you can have your PT request a MRI.  If you are in an HMO (at least in our area) it has not been a successful approach. It has been tried. The HMO just sent the patients to another PT that would provide the therapy. I hope you have been successful in obtaining another MRI. If it has been five years a lot can change. Indeed I have seen them change in just a few months.

Please keep us updated. We are always here to support you and will look forward to hearing from you again.
Peace, Tuck

[Red931]

I screwed up "irritation" also. I better go back to bed!

[Red931]

I meant to type "rendering" not "rending" in my post. I was having a senior moment I guess. lol

[sandee1818]

Great advice Red. I had not even thought of that:)
Also there are some exercises you can do for your sciatica. I used to them all the time and they do seem to help.
I will see if I can find you some detailed instructions on how to do them, unless someone here knows a site that offers this information. I can tell you but you really need the proper instructions.

[Red931]

Just to add, you can also ask your physical therapist to contact your insurance company and tell them that they are not comfortable treating you for this condition without having the test being done as they don't want to risk further injuring you if there is some recent injury present that has not been documented since they have been treating you. If you have a good therapist he or she will do this for you as it is in their best interest to do so once you bring these new symptoms to their attention.

If the therapist does this the insurance company is out of options and must let you get the MRI as it has been ordered by the doctor and your therapist is uncomfortable rending treatment until the possibility of a new injury is ruled out. Your doctor can also contact your insurance company and press for the authorization if need be.

The burning pain you are describing may be irritaion of the sciatic nerve. For the time being you might want to try appying ice to relieve it as you were also told the joint is inflamed. Heat will only aggravate nerve pain.

Good Luck

[sandee1818]

You can appeal the insurance company's decision. It may take some time but atleast your doing something that could help. In your appeal list the numerous times you have had PT and how they did not work and that you need a diagnosis. Also have your doctor contact the insurance company that may help. Having a MRI is to help the doctor diagnose what the problem is and should not be denied. I would definitely stay on top of it and make them do what they should be doing.
I know it is frustrating but please do not give up. When you find out what is wrong and have it treated it will have been worth all the trouble.

[nick30]

sorry i didn't actually address the problem.
There are many therapies that you can use(and techniques)to help reduce your pain. I should also point out that pain medications do not remove all pain. that is never the intention as it's rarely possible. If you are finding the medications not useful and are sick of silly things getting in the way of your health then it might be a good time to start looking for other ways to treat your pain.
There are an enormous number of posts in this forum which you can browse, perhaps you will find ideas and solutions that sound like they might be helpful to you.
perhaps even your dr can suggest which therapies might help your particular injuries.
I wish you all the best, i'm sure others will add thier comments and hopefully you will find some better ways to help yourself live with your pain in a more acceptable way.

Nick.

[nick30]

I can't believe that insurance companies have so much control over things like routine tests and scans in the USA. over here(australia) it is entirely up to the dr. if a dr schedules a scan, then it is done. simple as that. you all need to start fighting for your rights. feel so sorry that this happens to you.

Nick.

[Vasue65]

Ok I went to my PCP and he agreed that I should have a MRI and scheduled it for 5/19/09. Quess what? My insurance is denying saying that I should have 6 weeks of physical therapy. I have had physical therapy many times and it does not help. I don't know what to do now. I think I will just stop going to all doctors and try to somehow just deal with the pain. I am just very sick of this.

[sandee1818]

I would definitely see another doctor if you feel your doctor is not addressing your concerns after all your the patient and know whats going on as far as your pain and how it has changed. Your paying the doctor remember this and if your not happy with the doctor you hired it is time to find a new one. I would NOT trust that a PA can feel your back and ascertain there is no futher damage. Go to your PCP and get the order for the MRI and change PM doctors if needed.