Aa
The new war against pain meds
in 1998 i had a cervical fusion C-2 THRU C-7..in front covered with titanium plate 3 screws..it kinda helped my legs still didnt move freely..1999 they went through the back and cut of spinal spurs to free up my crushed and almost severed spinal cord...covered it with titanium plate and 2 wing bars..for stability.....there is still damage like narrowing and some bulging....in 2002 i had another MRI the nurosurgeon said theres nothing he can do he can reach the injuries they are covered but titanium plates...i started taking pain meds in 2005 to improve the quality of my life...i was staying in bed in fetal posistion shaking my legs non stop to relieve the pain...i tried different meds vicodin worked for 6 months, percocette worked for 6 months...i went to pain clinic and recieved 2 80mg tr oxycontin and percocet for breakthrough pain, but the $250 cash per month was more than a disabled person could afford but oxy was the only thing that took the pain from my legs and gave me back some chance at self dependence....so then i went to my primary care doctor who knew about my surgeries and he agreed to help until i found pain management with my insurance he gave me 30 mg ir oxycodone because my prescription plan no longer covered oxy 80mg...there are no doctors who just want to give me that strength of medications they want to do tests and surgeries to make money, but since not one of them want to touch my back because its too dangerous i couldnt get another doctor...Now with this war on prescription drugs my primary care is cutting me off..hes scared even though i have reports and files the size of a phonebook...i always used my meds responsibally so not to lose them but i did anyway..because of abusers and illegal drug users using the same meds as thier backup drug..so now im back to looking for some miracle doctor that takes medicare and medicade its been 3 yrs and im just about done with all this...i live alone and its hard to do basic things like cook nd clean...unless i can find an extra 200-300 cash per month my life is over im 48 and was hurt at 34..my entire life has passed me by..and its getting worse with inflation and our crappy health care system.....I live in new jersey and we just approved medical marijuana which i would try at this point on because marijuana is not addictive like opiates and if i have to stop for some reason I dont have to live in fear of withdrawals....but unlike california its impossible to get on the program unless you have terminal cancer or anything severe excluding chronic pain..its a joke!!!!..Medical marijuana prob wont work as well as opiates but at least i can get some relief each day...the pain is weraring me down mentally and physically ..do i have to move to a different state or country just to be able to live a little or just lay here and wait to die??.this war on pain meds is scaring doctors and legitimate ppl have to suffer or be wealthy...i guess its safer and more profitable to go after doctors than drug cartels...does anyone have any realistic suggestions..if not i understand because ive been doing research for years and it all ends bad
ty....i appreciate it.....something is better than nothing at this point...also the more they can repair the less pain meds i will need ..which is fine with me...pain meds make me feel like a prisoner...i cant go anywhere like vacation without worrying..i dont like to live that way
Good luck on your upcoming appt. Hopefully they can put together a plan to correct some of the issues causing the pain and/or treat certain erves so they stop firing!
They might be able to rec a doctor who can prescribe meds to help you in the meantime. They may have other MDs who they work with who will accept your insurance. That work with them on a referral basis.
Glad to hear of a little progress.
Horselip
They might be able to rec a doctor who can prescribe meds to help you in the meantime. They may have other MDs who they work with who will accept your insurance. That work with them on a referral basis.
Glad to hear of a little progress.
Horselip
well i finally got an appointment with pain dr..that takes medicare but i will have to pay copay to cover other 20% like 26,00 not bad....its just a consultation ,i want to see if they can help me first..they dont give pain medication, but i dont care..i need discs repaires t-7 ..L-3&4 ..that will help me so much..then i can stand and sit upright for more than 20 min....so i will just have to take it slow and fix what i can fix..but at least it gives me time to find other alternatives in the future...i just hope they can do something
thank you...i will look into those options....the only prob i foresee is will my insurance cover these types of treatment...my last doctor presribed non narcotic patches to apply to areas of pain...but my prescription plan would not pay for them..they were $170.00 approx..it seems that they will pay for most forms of narcotics without ant problem....the insurance dillemma i have is my biggest enemy...yes i would be open to any treatment especially if i can avoid addiction meds.....if i had a great insurance plan like blue cross blue shield im sure i would be in much better condition physically and mentally....but im at workers comp and medicare /medicaid programs....sometimes i think its thier plan to give you harmful drugs this way your life ends quicker and they can stop paying for you medical bills
I agree with a lot of what you Are saying. I think that the workmanship comp type pain centers that require cash eats are a bust.
Also there are good pain docs out there who use many types of treatments, check out theacpa.org. I have been personally been treated by several of the docs involved with this group. You are actually the type of patient that the real pain docs see!
Anyways rant away. I agree With you, a d maybe you just want to vent Nd have that conversation right now.
if you want more specific help then ask me any time. I just had another Radio Frequency ablation to a second set of facial nerves these are becoming more main stream type treatments for spinal nerve damage too. I swear the combo of resetting my tolerance, along with opiates,and Cymbalta AND killing off nerves that are just firing for no real reason is helping me so much. I j
Also there are good pain docs out there who use many types of treatments, check out theacpa.org. I have been personally been treated by several of the docs involved with this group. You are actually the type of patient that the real pain docs see!
Anyways rant away. I agree With you, a d maybe you just want to vent Nd have that conversation right now.
if you want more specific help then ask me any time. I just had another Radio Frequency ablation to a second set of facial nerves these are becoming more main stream type treatments for spinal nerve damage too. I swear the combo of resetting my tolerance, along with opiates,and Cymbalta AND killing off nerves that are just firing for no real reason is helping me so much. I j
i dont really care about getting meds more that i need its not my priority..i just need 40 mg to rid my body of the morning pain and to get moving...i dont want to be over medicated..i never took pills in my life till i was over 40...because my pain gets so bad that once it kicks in when im out and about taking more doesnt even help..only lying down to reverse the compression from standing or sitting upright works..but for this war on pain meds taking away my right to choose is just wrong..im not an abuser..my meds need to last all month i cant afford to run out early.....i really hate to assume this but the dea is under pressure from mothers of teens who are out of control and have pull in the government..also the dea is scared to death to go after the illegal drug trade due to mexican drug cartels..if you read the news when the arrest these cartel leaders, before they get to court they dissapear back to thier country or the judges prosicuter assistant pros and thier families are threatened and or murdered so its a waste of taxpayper money and a low conviction rate..and when they do go to jail they just run thier buisness from there and they are safer then if they were out on the streets....doctors are a sure thing and have money..the doctors are easy prey because they have everything to lose...so the DEA LOOKS LIKE HEROS but really are just cowards..if they are going to go after pain pill abusers then create a system that exempts the ppl who are legitimate chronic pain victims..and do it right..im sorry if this seems extreme or if offended anyone but look at the facts..it started with crack in the 80s the heroin then meth labs.....there are more illegal drugs out there then ever before thanks to the cia and fbi allowing countries to bring drugs over our borders..i read alot....and at one time bin laden was allowed to export afghani heroin here......i just woke up and im in pain right now so im getting a little off track i apologize, but with all this corrupt stuff going on here they are picking on us and everyone else gets a free ride
Can you search for a doctor that's maybe not in your town but maybe a nearby town? Its good that you tried the nerve meds, at least you'll have proof that you tired them. I can't take them either, they make me manic. Just try to keep your head up and don't give up. Also get a copy of your records and search for other doctors, like an Osteopath, sometimes they provide pain management also. Let us know how the search goes. Oh and workman's comp is a JOKE, I really feel for you, they are out to sc*ew everyone most of the time. Oh and the poster above me is correct, find a teaching hospital or even a "community, public" hospital, most of them will have an application for either free or reduced cost care. Just don't give up OK.
Hope that you can find a new pain management doc!
I hear you about only opiates working for your pain, I'm the same. So I get it. I also have nerve damage and I amok evenly aware of tolerance issues.
There were recommendations that came out last fall which said: that aside from Cancer patients, no one should be on opiates long term for more than three months. I personallyp think that this is rubbish and is a result of folks who have abused these meds.This has scared a lot of doctors and put them in this position of simply refusing to work with patients who do need opiates on a continual basis. There are many of us who suffer from pain that cannot be cured and will require meds to be able to have more function.
Many larger teaching type hospitals do have pain management programs. Some eveN offer financial- help. So don't back down and keep looking for that right doctor.
A good pain management center will treat your pain, but also look for things that might get rid of the source. I, for example,have been having a series of nerves ablated, get meds, and feel like my docs do not want more to suffer. But they also advocated for the wean, more so my mds would work again.
Now that you've weaned, you should shop around for a real pain management center.
Horselip
I hear you about only opiates working for your pain, I'm the same. So I get it. I also have nerve damage and I amok evenly aware of tolerance issues.
There were recommendations that came out last fall which said: that aside from Cancer patients, no one should be on opiates long term for more than three months. I personallyp think that this is rubbish and is a result of folks who have abused these meds.This has scared a lot of doctors and put them in this position of simply refusing to work with patients who do need opiates on a continual basis. There are many of us who suffer from pain that cannot be cured and will require meds to be able to have more function.
Many larger teaching type hospitals do have pain management programs. Some eveN offer financial- help. So don't back down and keep looking for that right doctor.
A good pain management center will treat your pain, but also look for things that might get rid of the source. I, for example,have been having a series of nerves ablated, get meds, and feel like my docs do not want more to suffer. But they also advocated for the wean, more so my mds would work again.
Now that you've weaned, you should shop around for a real pain management center.
Horselip
thanks trixy, yes ive tried nuerontin and cymbalta...i have lousy medicaid ins and workers comp has been screwing for years....my prescription plan will only pay for certain meds....so in combination it has been a circus..workers comp was ordered to pay for everything..and they purposely sent me to pain management doctors who refused to treat me..ans surgeons that say there is nothing we can do for you...with all these obstacles its impossible to get the proper help...all the pain clinics i wernt to got shut down by dea, and my other back up doctor passed away from cancer..i live in a town loaded with senior citizens,so the doctors dont need my buisness ,i cant even get an appointment..i make the same money i did in 2000 and everything has tripled since 9/11 incident..i cant even afford an apartment nevermind paying cash for pain management doctor..anyway thanks for your thoughts
I don't see where you mentioned your taking a nerve medication. Cymbalta, Lyrica, Neurontin, are meds specifically for the nerve pain. Opiates aren't all that great for that kind of pain, but if you use them in addition, it can help to bring your pain down. Also your doctor did you a disservice by putting you on oxy 30mg IR, those things will increase your tolerance pretty quickly. A med change is definitely in order. Methadone is a very cheap long acting med as well as morphine, something to check into.
Also, don't give up searching for a new pain doctor, hasn't your gp given you a referral? There are also web sites, like healthgrades.com that you can search for specific doctors and what insurance they take, but you have to be prepared to start over. A new doctor might not just follow your old doctors plan, most will want to do it their own way, if you truly want to get better, this is where to start. Yes i do realize its a pain in the rear end, and I feel real bad that your going through this, but like you said, the seekers, doctor shoppers, etc has made it very difficult for legitimate patients. Good luck to you!
Also, don't give up searching for a new pain doctor, hasn't your gp given you a referral? There are also web sites, like healthgrades.com that you can search for specific doctors and what insurance they take, but you have to be prepared to start over. A new doctor might not just follow your old doctors plan, most will want to do it their own way, if you truly want to get better, this is where to start. Yes i do realize its a pain in the rear end, and I feel real bad that your going through this, but like you said, the seekers, doctor shoppers, etc has made it very difficult for legitimate patients. Good luck to you!
thanks for you and everyone replies....the thing is i never liked pain meds so i used the least amount i could and never increased i actually decreased by my own choice..i was seeing a pain specialist for 300 a month...he gave me 2 oxy 80 mg for chronic and 180 perc 10mg for breakthrough..i was like a zombie..i hated it....i just want enough to get pain out of my legs and energy to do things..so i stopped him and went to my fam doctor and got 4 oxy 30 mg and kept that dose for 5 yrs..i knew one day i would have to stop so i tried to limit myself..i saw bad things happen to good ppl and didnt want it to happen to me...but i have nerve damage and structural damage constant pain from behind my ear to my toes 24/7 oxy is the only thing that relieves it..i had physical therapy and they released me cause it made me worse..ive seen 3 neurosurgeons and none will touch me..my titanium cage covers the area that is damaged..they said you just have to live with the pain....they didnt say it includes laying in bed all day shaking my legs in the fetal position.....some ppl just have no other choice but pain meds.....last week i actually had 6 suboxone and im clean now but cant move or take care of myself or my diabetic dog..i feel so guilty he has to suffer.....but i cant even get an appointment for a doctor they dont accept new patients anfd the clinic i used to pay for have all benn shut down by thr DEA....IM not a drug user nor do i drink alchohol....i just want the chance to live a little before i die...the DEA needs to impliment some kind of program for ppl like us so we dont have to suffer due to recreational drug abuse
Hey, I feel for you.
I suffer from chronic pain also. About a year ago I was taking 80 mg of OxyContin along with 16 mg of dilaudid four times a day and that stop working.
So with my doctor's help I slowly weaned off. first the dilaudid and then the OxyContin. It took about six months to do this. .Then I went offal meds for two months. It sucked, my pain got even worse and I pretty much became bedridden. I had some other meds that I was allowed to use to help a bit.. Brut then it got better.
it ended up resetting my tolerance level. I was pretty much maxed out dose age-wise. Now I taking only 20 mg of OxyContin, not on dilaudid, and my doctor added Cymbalta.
over time my dose may need to be increased but I am now much more mindful of tolerance issues and the need to sometimes reset the clock, as part of my care.
Sorry but this is not easy, but it did work for me.
Horselip
I suffer from chronic pain also. About a year ago I was taking 80 mg of OxyContin along with 16 mg of dilaudid four times a day and that stop working.
So with my doctor's help I slowly weaned off. first the dilaudid and then the OxyContin. It took about six months to do this. .Then I went offal meds for two months. It sucked, my pain got even worse and I pretty much became bedridden. I had some other meds that I was allowed to use to help a bit.. Brut then it got better.
it ended up resetting my tolerance level. I was pretty much maxed out dose age-wise. Now I taking only 20 mg of OxyContin, not on dilaudid, and my doctor added Cymbalta.
over time my dose may need to be increased but I am now much more mindful of tolerance issues and the need to sometimes reset the clock, as part of my care.
Sorry but this is not easy, but it did work for me.
Horselip
Hello and many of us are now or have been in the same situation.
I think you answered your own question when you mentioned you might have to move. You can choose to "live a little" or "just lay here and wait to die". You can still have a Life.......and i hope you make that choice. Then everything---anything is possible.
I think you answered your own question when you mentioned you might have to move. You can choose to "live a little" or "just lay here and wait to die". You can still have a Life.......and i hope you make that choice. Then everything---anything is possible.
You may want to consider joining the American Chronic Pain Association -www.theacpa.org - they have videos and CDs with guided imagery techniques that help reduce the pain. I thought my life was over in my early 40's, then I got onto these CD exercises and came to understand the 'type' of pain I was trying to deal with thru ACPA and life got bearable. With that understanding, I was able to work with new Dr's who could prescribe long-term pain management meds. There are 3 types of pain: Local, systemic or inter-relational, nerve. This organization helped me figure out which pain I was having so I could take the correct med and have informed conversations with my doctors. If you have been taking Oxycot for a while, you need to tapper off - and might need help with that undertaking. I am 60 now, and thank this org for taking me from a Patient to a Person.
its fine im used to it....the truth is i am screwed new jersey is like the worst state to get ant help unless you have blue cross ins or have alot of cash....i also have severe bulging in t-7 and L 3 & 4...IF A nuerosurgeon x2 or orthopedic surgeon will not give me a second appt..how can i excpect ppl on a forum to help....i will not go in a wheelchair........my decision gets easier day after day ..pain meds were the only thing that allowed me to walk and be somewhat productive..now with all these new guidelines and my lack of money..its not worth a doctors licence for my 85.00 a month......i know so many ppl who have turned to street drugs for this reason..i never understood until now
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