Pain Dr. said he couldn't help me anymore???

[joe0813]

I'll start by telling my condition. I have 3 buldging disks (L-3,4,5) and mild central canal stenosis at L-3,4,5. I went to a pain clinic at a local hospital and started seeing a doctor that I thought was great. I had 3 epidurals with little relief and 2 facet blocks with no relief. He started me on Norco 10/325 for the first 6 months, then switched to Fentanyl patch. First 12, then 25, then a 25 and a 12 together. I received no relief from the fentanyl. He then put me on 4 mg of dilaudid up to 5 a day. these were just like sleeping pills.Just last week he went on vacation and I was stuck in pain with these dilaudid pills that don't work. I would call his office and they would say they would page him and I wouldn't hear back. Finally I called again yesterday and a nurse called back saying that she spoke to the doctor and he feels he can't do anything else for me??? She said he thinks if the dilaudid isn't helping then narcotics won't help me??? She then gave me the numbers of 3 other pain specialists for a second opinion. How do you just drop a patient that's been on narcotic meds for 7 months. Now I'm starting to go through withdrawls. What should I do????

[Mollyrae]

I'm sorry for the troubles you're having. You have been on the strongest pain meds available and I hate to say this but I can see where your Doctor is coming from. He just doesn't know where to go from there.

I realize that both the Fentanyl and the Dilaudid have qualities that make you sleepy. I use the Fentanyl patch and I tend to get sleepy but it does help. You say that the Dilaudid makes you sleepy....does it help the pain?? it sounds like you have some Dilaudid left because you didn't want to take it so if you want to stop the w/d process, I guess you'll have to finish the script. The good thing here is that he gave you 3 referrals.

Pain Docs are hard to come by and hopefully you can find another one. If all fails, there is always the ER that might help but they get leery too.

Bulging disc's are quite common...I have two of them and I can live with it. Your Stenosis sounds mild for now. It may give you time to find an Orthopedist who can fix the problem. It is always better to try and fix the problem rather than covering up the problem. In the long run, you may be pain free if the Doctor can solve the issues.

Sorry I don't have better advise for you. it just sounds like the Doctor had no other option left.

Take care,
Molly

[joe0813]

Thanks Molly,

The funny thing is that the Norco seemed to actually help me???? It just didn't help when the pain got really bad on occasion. And for the doctor to not even call me himself to tell me any of this was very dissapointing since I really liked him.

Joe