Where's the compassion?

Hello , im new to this forum and others like it , as this is the first time im trying to do research for
myself. I'm tired of doctor's poking and proding me with all kinds of trigger point injections etc , with no other results then the pain it adds to the already severe pain , for minor temporary relief.

Anyhow , went to the doctor today cause he prescribed me 60x 7.5's for the month but at this dosage it allows me realisticly 3-4 hours of pain relief between them both and i got to pick when to take them.... so rather then relieving me from pain it's creating a pain pattern , times in the day in which ill hurt but cant take nothing for the pain for fear of running out , well im a little past half the month , just couldnt bare the pain and needed more per day there go running out early , i have no
history of drug abuse , achohol abuse , and i dont even smoke. My primary physician has scheduled
me to see a pain management doctor (specialize's in nuero/phsyc) ,but its still 13 day's until my appointment and i ask him for med's to make it through until the appointment , he prescribes me motrin 800 , then tells me that was a months script and i should have enough to make it another
13 days , and what am i to expect from this type of pain management doctor? the same kind of cold shoulder no compassion , feeling i got from my primary care dr?

Any comment's would be greatly appreciated , also i suffer from fibro / ddd / bone spur's and sustained nerve dmg from a few car wreck's i was in the last couple of year's ( none caused by me)

thanks , a pain patient in need of a compassionate doctor in my area
im 46 year old female

[Jaybay]

Hopefully you'll reach a better understanding of what pain management is from the new doc.  PM involves more than just stuffing in enough pills to make the pain go away.  Chronic pain is a mental AND physical issue.  The new doc might ask you to see a pain psychologist.  If so, don't get insulted.  Give it a chance because therapy can help you adjust your life around your pain instead of having your life defined by the pain.  

Every PM doc has a different philosophy.  Some push spinal injections (shot jockeys) because they can make a lot of money off them - and they sometimes work very well.  Others are simply pill pushers.  Hopefully, you'll find a PM doc who will see the best of both worlds and add a pain shrink to the mix.  You won't know until you talk to him.

As for your primary care doc, try not to be too hard on him.  With the DEA breathing down the backs of so many docs these days, they tend to refer chronic pain patients to pain management docs to avoid the heat.  In addition, a good pain doc can help you detox safely if your pain ever gets better.  Many primary care docs don't have the knowledge and experience necessary to deal with narcotic detox.

[Ginab6886]

Whatever you do, stay away from Narcatics.  It may seem like a great releif at first but trust me, it is a vicious circle.
Avoid it at all cost, cause it only works for a few weeks, not something you want for long term, before you'll know it,  you're addicted.
Never abused anything in my life.  After pain managemtent doc prescribed meds.  I was addicted....6 years later I needed detox to come off.
Best of luck.
Gee

[HateThePains]

The stigma the media has put on narcotic's , that follow's through with reader's who indulge in the media scam tactic's of changing your understanding/belief's is to me... a joke.

Ok , the point of the matter is this pain has been Non-stop for 7 year's running , so therefore ur telling me the fear of addiction within yourself is so feirce u would sacrifice quality of life from
''fear of addiction'' is this is something on going for the rest of your days? I dont see it as a addiction , yes u have headache's and use acetiminophin all the time , does this make u a tylenol ''addict''No!
This means u have headaches and need the med to treat it , i ''told the doctor'' to remove me from narcotic's a few years back because it helped just not enough therefore i tried to seek out a better treatment , But i dont think we got until the end of our days at 80+ years old before we figure out it would have been better for your quality of life and ability to do family project's church etc. It's been 2 1/2 years since i was on narcotic's at all , but after they couldnt come up with ''NOTHING'' in that time to get me some relief from the pain, i come to the conclusion ''A life with pain is no life at all!''

I don't have a choice whether to keep working or not because my son is diabetic and is insulin dependent , so therefore i should just suffer endlessly being ''undertreated with pain med's from fear of addiction'' rather then recieving one long acting med a day that will not only keep my pain level down to a tolerable level , but will also keep your blood level's stable. Im not tryin to make myself out to be a drug-seeking junkie , and dont feel i should be treated as one just for the fact i dont want to be in pain 24/7 working 6 days a week , every week. As far as tylenol / nsaid's for pain , i wouldn't recommend them to my dog , let alone a human being? Did u know over 16,000-20,000 +  people a year die from nsaid's that cause stomach bleeding among other thing's? Honestly i don't have a notion that it's the opoid's in the med's killing people as much as the additive's (i.e acetaminophen / nsaid's ) The fact they have been utilizing opoid's for over 3500 year's for pain treatment should say something , also the fact if they let use stabilize our pain they lose alot of money in doctor's visit's?Trying to pawn off there new-spawned drug's saying there alot safer to use (i.e lyrica , cymbalta ,etc) and if u read the side effect's listing over around 20-30 side effects each some including ( thought's of suicide?!!!?) the side effect's of opoids ( i.e slowed breathing depending on dosage , constipation , some sedation ). Can u say WOW? what a big diffrence.

Like i said opoid treatment WAS not my first options , but i do not plan to suffer until the doctors find there miricle cure for me , i will most likely be long passed on by then. Also gina do u know the chronic pain , can cause the condition to become worse over time and the (depression side of it) alot of us go through didnt come before we had the pain , its after we had it for awhile with no hope of relief from a money seeking industry.

Not trying to come off like a a-hole , but some of the ''suggestions of media/public'' are just not right or they didn't study to deep into it before they made there claim's , taken as prescribed there has been minimal death's due to narcotics , someone come up with a better reason then ( ooOOOoo u will be addiction) , U breath everyday all day , are u addicted to air? No your body need's it to keep going , therefore sometimes in the case of chronic pain patients we need a proper AIR supply?

Comments would be great , thanks      
Karol

[Shaley Girl]

Karol, I have severe rheumatoid arthritis along with some neuro stuff and totally believe in adequate pain control.  I take narcotic pain meds and use the fentanyl lollipop for severe flares.  I was rx'd the pain meds almost 3 years ago and know that I am not an abuser.  I am most certainly dependent upon them to function in a small capacity.  Twice in 3 years I have told my Dr. that the pain meds are not adequate and she then raised them in # and strength.  No they don't take all of the pain away but they do cut it to something manageable.

I also see a pain psychologist which is very helpful.  If you have that opportunity I do recommend it as they do have ways to help us deal with severe chronic pain.  I also want to mention that I have NEVER gotten "high" from my medication (and I do know what high feels like, ie. the 60's-70's).  Nausea is what pain meds do to me if I don't have enough food in my stomach first.

I resent the fact that a part of my medical care is based solely on the abuses of others and is regulated not by my Dr but state and federal lawmakers.  Certain rx's must be picked up monthly and cannot be called in or refilled by Dr's.  What!  I cannot drive and many times cannot even get out of bed but because of abusers I can just lay there and suffer (thank God the pharmacy delivers)!

I am blessed to have found a great Dr and since she also suffers from a disease that causes severe chronic pain she will mail rx's rather than let me suffer.

Karol I hope that you find the relief that you need without a big hassle.  

Shaley

[HateThePains]

lol , thanks and i hope i do to but my location is a big problem i think, or atleast a portional size. I just feel like there running me in this endless circle of nothingness ( except bills) , i have already been diagnosed with what my conditions currently are , but yet there sending me to another nuero again , to be re-diagnosed ....... I dont need diagnosis , i need treatment.

and if a primary care doctor freaks about narcotics on a small level , even if a dr did say it would be a proper course of treatment , i dont my primary would freak and i actually just mentioned a girlfriend of mine being on the duragesic patch and he flipped!!! sorta..... it seemed like a flip to me anyhow lol... he start's almost stuttering '' No no no those are bad ''

Also another thing im alarmed about i talked to him today at work , told him my thyroidectmy etc was inflamed and i belived infected on one side , he told me its a skin irratation but to my knowledge the irratation would have been from one side to the other not just swollen/inflamed on one side to where its almost noticable.

Still searching for adequate pain relief , karol

[PeterPaul3]

I feel your pain, no pun intended.  I have degenerated joints in my foot, with chronic tendonitis from fused bones in the ankle.  I was living a productive life on an average of 2 Vicoprofen a day.  Two years ago I was 100 pounds lighter and working out by walking and riding a recumbant bike.  

Now, i am unable to find a doctor who will treat the pain with anything more than a cortisone injection or PT (which usually makes the pain so much worse I can not walk for two-three days).  I have great respect for PT's, I am an OT and work beside them, know much of the same theory they use.  

Currently, I take between 1600 and 3200 MG's of IBU just to make it to work each day.  I dont really go out accept to dinner etc.  It isnt worth the pain I have to put up with to go do the things I used to enjoy, like shopping at the mall, playing pool and darts, bowling, walking my dog, etc.  

Life can really suck.  

I feel your pain!

[HateThePains]

that much nsaids is to much , way to much. stomach bleeding ulcers yet? :|

[Kathi50]

I have spinal disorders.  But first I want to say I went to a pain management clinic for 3 years.  They tried their best to help me (cervicogenic headaches) but to no avail.  And...I was eating meds like candy along with torturous injections.  But a friend of mine told me about a spine group which I had no idea existed.  When I read my current's spinal PM's credentials, I ran over there!  He found the culprit right off the bat (C3/C4) and did injections which I must say gave me about 3-6 months relief each time (had them done twice).  He never once hurt me as the other group did although they are not pleasant.  And, no, he is NOT a needle jockey!  I eventually had to have a fusion as my PM referred me to the Neurosurgeon. Once the NS (from the same group) saw what was happening HE said...surgery ASAP!  The nerve roots were totally crushed with osteo.  Why the first group did not see this or did not mention it to me is beyond me!  I was livid that I suffered so much for 3 years with pain 24/7!   Anyway, moral of the story is...if you have spinal issues, see a SPINE doc!   I don't care if it is an OSS, spinal PM or NS...they are vastly more trained than the average PM...as I found out. And as far as the meds go, don't worry about addiction.  Chances are the people that really need them do NOT abuse them.  And I should add he does far more than just injections; has prescribed PT more than once, helped me to sort out pelvic floor dysfunction, did an RF on my lumbar and basically has saved my life and given me my functionalilty back!  So, with his efforts I have been able to come off many meds and take the dosage down.  He does want me to try the Duragesic patch for various reasons...but 12mcg.  And I never have issues with asking him about any medications as he KNOWS my full history and knows I do not abuse them.  I want to say too that he is one of the most extremely compassionate doctors I have ever had.  And it doesn't hurt that he has also had two cervical fusions and has a bad back.  Not that I wish it on him at all but he KNOWS  what it all feels like.  So, all in all, when you find a good PM, hang onto them...they are worth their weight in gold!  My own has since become the Director of a new spine center and you better believe I followed him. :)

[Shaley Girl]

It is interesting that our Dr's both deal with pain and we both know they are worth their weight in gold!

I once talked with a Dr about sinus infections and he said that he had his first one recently, couldn't believe the pain they bring,  and from now on when his sinus infection patients ask for pain relief he totally understands.  

[Kathi50]

Exactly!  I have so many stories about my own PM that I wouldn't know where to begin.  As well as being compassionate, he is funny!  But he knows when to be serious too.  I did ask him once, since he has two fusions and his specialty IS cervicogenic headaches...or headaches from the neck, at what level of pain are most of his patients at.  I asked this because NO ONE would believe me when I said it was a 10 at it's worst and before any surgeries.  He said that by the time patients come to him for treatment they are at a 9 or 9+.  So, I thought...okay, I wasn't too far off. :)  I mean, what is worse than a 10...being unconscious I would think.   Anyway, I see him on Friday for an injection and I am looking forward to it.  Isn't that awful LOL?  But I just know when he is done, I will have some relief for awhile.

And HatethePains,

I have had only two PM's and the first one was with a university medical center.  Both of the PM's were just great.  It was the Residents performing injections that killed me!  And I now know because of course, they were in training and it just took longer.  But I do remember ONE very arrogant one.  But, overall, I think they are pretty darn good.  Since you said you have found one that deals with Neuro issues I think you are heading the right direction.  I think you will find, or at least I did, that they are extremely compassionate and/or really KNOW what they are talking about.  I can tell you with my own GP, nice guy and all, but he just doesn't have the background to deal with all the spinal and neurological stuff.  

[HateThePains]

Well , i know the trigger point injections cause more reaction then good on me but , my Primary care doctor told me to wait until i seen this nuero to get my pain med's filled and to adjust them , think he is right or just blowin smoke ? Cause i simply tried to talk about the current med's i was getting 60x perc 7.5's for pain and i dunno he acted figity , as i got no history of drugs/alchohol/smokin whats the problem if i need proper pain relief?

So this nuero will help my pain ? Or make it worse? My primary said for my not to see the other woman at his clinic i had went to before that,she did the trigger point injections. But something odd i called the clinic to inform the office clerk that i wasnt supposed to see the woman  , that my doctor wanted me to see the other guy , the office clerk replies '' it dont matter what your doctor wants'' , well my primary told me he was good friends with the guy , i called back my primary and that got fixed rather quickly , so i dunno.  Any thoughts on this?

karol