Trying to cope

[Sandybeach71]

I have been in pain since 2003 due to a car accident.  Had one neck surgery in 2004  and I am having problems with another disk.  This past year and half it has been getting worse. My headaches are bad and have been getting dizzy a lot and the pain in the neck, shoulder and down arm and hand.  My oxycodone 10mg and morphine 15 mg are not working.  Called pain management today and left a message and the assistant for the PA finally called and told her bad I was feeling and I can't take the pain.  She said she would have to talk to him and get back to me. Well it's 8 o'clock and I guess no call.  What ***** is that I only have 1 pain doctor in my HMO book.  It's tuff right now. I hope they call tomorrow.  I know they are increasing the mg on the morphine later this month.  What else  is there to do? One time I ask if I can get a lidocaine injection and he said no because I don't need it. I actually paid a doctor $150 to do the Injection.  3 days of pain free.  I know it was only 3 days but it was the best 3 days of my life. :). I

[Sandybeach71]

Thanks tuck!  I hope everything goes well with you.  I will keep you posted. I also picked up a copy of the orthopedic doctor's note stating that I do have a herniated disc In c5-6. My pain doc keeps saying (which is  a PA) I don't.  I might have to throw this in his face. This guy is an idiot! That is why I am sooooooo frustrated.  Well I see this idiot on the 14th and I get the epidural on the 15th. I'll keep you posted

[Tuckamore]

Thanks for keeping us updated. It is very appreciated.

But I am so sorry that you have to wait till the 14th. Hopefully the time will go fast...but it never seems to when you are waiting for something like this.

In the meantime be good to yourself. Take some warm baths and do what makes you feel better. Try not to add anymore stress to your life than what this situation has brought you. It's more than enough!  We're here. Chat whenever you need to do so.

Peace,
~Tuck

[Sandybeach71]

I finally got got call from pm around 4 pm. He wants to evaluate me and so the appt. They gave me is for the 14th of sept. That is the earliest they can get me in.  :(.  Oh well.

[Sandybeach71]

Actually my pm are pretty good about refills on my meds. The last 2 days I was in excruciating pain, crying and throwing up.  Called in sick yesterday and today. So I called pm yesterday and the assistant would leave a message with the PA. No calls. I called today and the excuse was she hasn't heard anything from him.  See I have HMO and there is only one pm in the book.  What do u do when u get so bad.  I have told pm my medications are not working and I also do other alternatives like massages every week, ice and moist heat. I go in for epidural 15th of this month.  The spasms in my neck are horrible, I take soma and they don't work
   They don't give u a few refills on your thyroid meds?  

[lindsaylinn]

That's what I thought Tuck- Exactly! Waiting for 4 days for a thyroid medication? For sure it borders on incompetency. I tell you what, this is what I think I'll do the next time it happens... the very next appt with the doc I will complain about it. I think I should do that first instead of flying mad and firing the doc because truly I feel it's the staff who is to blame.

[Tuckamore]

lindsaylinn,
My answer to your "waiting" question is a definite yes!! That borders incompetency! I would find out who is responsible to this tardy refill...the physician or the staff? I would also bring this ti the attention of the clinic manager.

My pharmacy would have (and has) provided me the non-opiate meds to last till they had a refill order. This has happened to me twice when my PCP was on vacation....and I neglected to check my refill dates.  

Sandy...have you received a call back from your PMP? I've been thinking about you and hope that this has been resolved.

~Tuck

[lindsaylinn]

Sandy, I so know how you feel about waiting on the doctor to call. I hope it happens soon hon. I have a rant on this very subject, my pcp is so slow to call in refills and get back with me. I am NOT talking about refills on controlled meds either! I waited days once for something like thyroid meds. Here's a question for all of you: If you had to wait 4 + days for a refill of an *uncontrolled* med would you be on the lookout for another doctor? thanks and Sandy, again hon... hope that doc gets it in gear. I feel you pain

[Sandybeach71]

I'll let you know what Pm says, hopefully they will call today. I guess i am a few lucky ones that can sleep at night , but only after taking soma, 1/2 mg of Xanax and a lunesta. Sleep seems to be my favorite past time now, because I don't feel any pain.  

[Tuckamore]

Hi Sandy,

I am so sorry that your pain is so high and uncontrolled. My heart goes out to you. We can understand your desperation and depression....we've all been there to one degree or another. The journey through chronic pain is full of difficult challenges and there are often no easy choices or answers.

I too had a MVA. It resulted in what the physicians said were non-survivable injuries. So I have an idea of what you have been facing as I too am left with some horrific chronic pain.

I have heard good things about RFA and I am sorry that it was not beneficial for you. Are they offering you any options that could alleviate the painful residual effects? Is that the goal of the upcoming epidural?

I certainly hope that your PMP will return your call today. If they were in pain they would understand the urgency of your request. I am sorry that you choices of PMPs are so limited.

Yes three days of no pain would be like heaven. It's a shame that the effects were not more long lasting. I have had the lidocaine injections several times but unfortunately I did not note any pain relief. My PCP is able to do the injections and would repeat them if I so desired. They just weren't effective.

I hope you were able to get some sleep and that your PMP will offer some heap for your increasing pain. Please let us know what he has to offer. Good luck to you.

~Tuck

[Sandybeach71]

Hi there. Thank you so much. I have done the epidural 2003  before surgery and also after surgery but they never worked. Actually i would have to take that back about lidocaine, it didn't  get rid all of the pain but it took all the tension in my neck and no headaches for 3 days but sure did feel like heaven. You are right about the strengthening the muscles. I need to get back to pilates.  I have done everything you could possibly thing of.  I will definetly try the tagement.  My doctor prescribe me hydroxyine to boost the oxycodone but that didn't work.  Back in April I did the radio frequency and that didn't work and now I wish I never did that procedure. It was painful and after effects are killing me, like it's still sore and tingling sensation.  Thank you very much for your help.  Oh I go in for epidural sept 16. I say why not.  I am so desperate right now and depressed    

[adam_addy]

Hi Sandy, yes injections are only short lived, I am surprised that lidocaine actually got rid of all the pain since those injections are only subcutaneous - intra muscular injections.....other injections can go deeper like facet joint and epidural injections right into the spine, i have tried them all, the epidural ones where shot right into the spaces next to my spinal cord, and provided about a month of pain relief..... some people have had total pain cessation after 2 or 3 of these injections, but as you eluded to previously, they are quite expensive.....You can take Tagamet about an hour before your Oxys to increase the intesity and duration of their effect....also, you can decrease the amounts by tapering down slowly, and your tolerance will dro down a bit too..... but this is probably not a good option for you right now....
Definitely look into strengthening the muscles in your back by doing some conditioning, higher reps with low weights for the trapezius, spinal erectae, latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids - by doing this, you will decrease the load on the areas of your back and neck where the damage is that is causing you the pain....it is definitely worth doing daily...and causes your body to release a nice stream of endorphins also that will moderate your pain.....

if you have any questions, please let me know and I am always happy to help

[Sandybeach71]

With pain dr I usually call in for my scripts.  I know later this month they're increasing the dosage for morphine. Everyday is a bad day but today is a really bad. Called in sick at work and trying to deal with this. With lidocaine injection some general practice doctors do it.  Ur pain doctor usually does this unfortunately mine won't because he said I don't need it.  I have done botox on my neck and that gave some relief but very expensive. I had 50 cc. I was lucky my friend is a doctor and did it for me for free, normally it would be $500.  Now she moved back east.   I am glad to hear people are supporting others. I do hope u get relief also

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm sorry they haven't called you back yet.  I have that problem with doctor's offices a lot and usually have to call them.  Hopefully they will be able to get you in sooner than your next appt to address your pain.
I completely understand about the lidocaine injection.  I would probably do the same to get 3 days pain free!  I didn't realize they can do lidocaine injections.  I am going to ask about that.
I hope you are able to get some relief soon!  You are in good company here as we are all just supporting eachother, trying to get better.  I hope you'll join us here and share your journey with us!