1st time poster, long time sufferer

[lifesentence]

I'm new to this sight and appload those of you who post positive suggestions to those of us (probably everyone here) who live with never-ending pain.  As I said in my Background profile, I'm 47 and have been in constant pain from a fall down the steps with my youngest daughter nine years ago - She turned out fine thannk God.  I on the other hand didn't realize it at the time, but my life was about to take a 180 degree turn for the worse with no end in sight.  I paralized the nerves leading into my left shoulder/scapula area and that resulted in two rotator cuff tears/surgery which ultimately failed.  OK enough of of that.  Although I have massive muscle atrophy from the fall (I have no {read zero} Deltoid in my left shoulder and I wound up with two trigger point areas in my left Scapula that left me in the condition I'm in now - life shattering depression and pain that only people on this sight can empathize with.
My question now that I'm done rambling is the following:  Out of concern over societies view on pain medicine I've made it a point to stick with one Pain specialist for all this time nad go to the same two pharmacies for refills.  That said, In an effort to be very open and honest with my Doctor I told him about 6 months ago my pain was getting so bad that I had to take two extra pain pills at night as the pain woke me up.  End result, he almost threw me out of the offioce for not taking the medicine according to his regimine.  I explained that the Oxycodone (10 mg 4-6 x's a day) was not working throughout the day and with everything I was doing to stay on top of the medicine routine, I still had to ice and heat my shoulder all day long (even at work, which is never a good thing!)  Anyhow, he gave me another chance and swithced me off all the Oxycodone an dput me on 10 mg's of Methadone 3 x's a day.  Now I've heard conflicting reports that Methadone is NOT a long acting drug which leaves me 12 hours without any pain medicine in my system.  Turns out they were right (at least for me and my bodies ability to use up all the pain limiting effects within about 4-5 hours).  I brought this up to them about two or three months ago and they said to stick with the three and make them last.  Well, I tried and they dont.  Now, I have an appt. with the same group this coming monday and I'm scared to death to ask them "again" to raise the amount to 4 a day which I think would work and allow me to have some semblance of a normal life.  So you know, I have absolutely no history of addiction to anything.  In fact every surgery, injection, test, you name it I've done it, has been done with the sole ihntention of getting off the pain medicine.  Alas, there are still people who will look at me cross-eyed at the CVS when I get the percsription refilled, but I'm well over that.  I'm just concerned about the reaction of my Doctors as they have said no already a few months ago.  I really like everyone at this Pain Center and believe they consider me a very good patient, which is why I feel such a desire to be honest with them about everything including the level of Methadone not working enough.  Maybe I can ask for a suggestion for a breakthrough medicine?  
Any thoughts would be sincerely appreciated as I can't keep living with a pain level that floats around 5-6 all day and attempt to hold a job and be the best father I can be to my beautiful 12 and 14 year old daughters. Over the past nine years I've been failing at everything and slowly falling apart as a direct result of the very frustrating effort to find the right level and type of Pain medicine for my situation and my body type.  Thanks you all so much.  I widh you well.
Sorry for typos!

[omhome]

if you do try it---i too recommend it------make sure the person has a degree in psychology........master's degree will work!........because there are many who have their "certified status" which is just a certificate they get after several weeks training----very little indeed.  Board certified is preferred.  ok?

omhome

[lifesentence]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful messsges and advice.  I really may try Hypnotherapy for my pain.

[sueduva]

Hi lifesentence, I'm so sorry that you are going through this struggle with your pain, the depression and your struggle to find pain relief.
Really I think you have found the right place to be open and honest with how you are feeling.

I too have been in a very similar situation, and have lived in horrible chronic pain for 21 years now. I did suffer a very horrible depression too, but luckily I have dealt with it; it did take years to battle, but I believe that I have beaten it.

I've been going to a pain clinic for 7 years now, and the drs I've seen have been really sympathetic and very helpful when it comes to trying drugs.
I have had a month where I needed to take a bit more medication than usual,
but I've contacted the clinic asap, and notified them that my pain meds where not controlling my pain. I suppose a trust is built over the years, but they will still only prescribe one months worth of meds at a time. Since abuse is rampant among pain patients, and they don't want full blown addicts abusing their meds.

I've never taken methadone, so I don't know what the breakthrough med is for that? Right now I take Tramadol, and medical marijuana, and if my pain gets way out of control I have 5mg of morphine that I can take if needed.
Luckily I only need to take the morphine a few times a month. I actually took it for years and was taking up to 100mg a day, it really knocked me out, and I would wake up every morning in withdrawal. I came off morphine 2 years ago, and I'm so glad I did. I feel like I've got my life back on track, and I'm not sleeping my life away.

I had a lot of trouble sleeping through the night too because of the pain.
So my dr. prescribed me sleeping pills to take at night.  I wasn't keen on taking them because I knew that I would become dependent on them, but they really have helped. And now I usually sleep through the night.  And a good night sleep has helped my mood and my pain levels.  

I agree with shinty, tell the dr. what your pain levels are like, and explain that your meds are not lasting long enough. And ask the Dr. what they suggest.
If they are pain specialists, they should offer you a solution. Years ago I was on the fentanyl patch, and it was supposed to last 72 hours! But it only gave me 48 hours of relief, my Dr. understood me, and my script was changed to one patch every 48 hours.

I hope you find some pain relief soon, and can get a good nights sleep.
I would also recommend going to counselling to treat the depression, you need to fight it off. When life gets really hard, remember to live one day at a time, or one hour at a time. And treat yourself, like you would treat your best friend if they where in a similar situation, with love and kindness :)

Take care, Sue

[shinty]

You made a big "boo boo" by telling the doctor that you took more pain medicine than prescribed, or not the way they were intended to be taken. Doctors are very "leery" about these things, as narcotic prescribing is starting to be scrutinized more and more these days. I know you were trying to be honest, but what you should have done was tell the doctor what's going on, and ask "what can we do about this". Let the doctor be the doctor. Never ask for a particular medication, instead say "such and such" has worked well for me in the past, what do you suggest we do? It is good to be honest, but be "honest" BEFORE you go ahead and change things on your own! Now one problem that might be is the doctor feeling that he "is doing you a favor" even continuing to prescribe for you anymore. It might be difficult to get a dosage increase anytime soon. All you can do is just tell the doctor the current regimen isn't working, and then ask what can we do about it. This lets the doctor be the doctor, and lets you be the patient! I'm on methadone (2- 10mg. tabs. 3x daily) and oxycodone (2- 20mg. tabs. 3x daily). Methadone is a superior "long acting" pain medication IMHO, and oxycodone is a good medication for breakthrough pain. Methadone has a very long half life. This just means that it stays in your body for a longer time than most medications. An example: if your on oxycontin and run out of medicine, you will feel withdrawals as soon as 12 hours, with methadone you won't feel withdrawals for about 36 hours. Most people prescribed methadone for pain are only taking it twice daily, but I feel (and my doctor does also, thankfully!) that it's needed to be taken 3 times daily for superior pain control. I ASK to switch the short term medication about every 4 months or so, as I get tolerant to it. I have not had to change the methadone dosage for a couple of years now, it seems to be a good dosage for me. I started on the same methadone dosage that your currently on. I hope everything works out for you with your pain specialist. I also suggest that you continue to be honest with your doctor, but don't be honest too late! (we already touched on that!). i wish you luck with your pain control, and take care.
   shinty

[TheLightSeeker]

Hi lifesentence. Welcome to the forum.

No offence, but the name you chose, may elicit some sympathy from some members, but it won't do a thing for your chronic pain, actually it might even  make it worse (mind-body connection/subconscious belief).

There are things that can be done, besides taking strong opioids, that don't work as good for you anyway, as you mentioned.

My top suggestion is serious Hypnotherapy, 5-10 sessions over a few weeks, including self-hypnosis instruction and then booster sessions every 3 to 6 months, as needed.

Please do your own research regarding Hypnotherapy for the Management of Chronic Pain, as I'm a board certified hypnotherapist.
(among other things) and I may be considered biased.

This is not intended as a substitute for medical advice.

Best wishes!
Niko