Aa
pain without ending
I have had 3 surgeries on my neck and spine in the past 10 years that seem to help for a few months, then it starts all over again. Then the openings between the discs close and the pain is iscruxiating and I'm totally bed bound and can't even go get a glass of water without almost passing out. My pain mgmt Dr had me on the bighest dosage of MS CONTIN and 8mg of Dilaudid 4 times a day and I was able to provide for my family and It was the most painful, but I was happiest man in the world because I was providing for family. After them MS CONTIN started to falter and Dr started.me on 100 mcg fentanyl for almost 6 yrears I got so upset I just stopped everything the cold turkey and almost died (sure didn't c that coming. Was advised to sdd another patch to the 100 mcg I already wore but I want it over. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME ASAP, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND
WORSE THAN THAT. PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
WORSE THAN THAT. PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Joey,
Welcome to our Pain Management Forum. I'm glad you found us and took the time to post your question.
As always Phil has provided you with some excellent suggestions and information. I have little to add - but a question.
When you say,".... I want it over. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME ASAP, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND
WORSE THAN THAT. PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!" - what do you mean? Do you mean that mean you want to be off the opiates completely - or does it mean you want better pain management?
Many of us are sick to death of being treated like criminals, relying on these darn tablets, patches, pumps, whatever and walking on egg shells, frightened every appointment that something will go wrong and stop our access to PM. Who in their right mind chooses that path - unless they are in horrific chronic pain and cannot function without opiate medications??? That's the answer -we chose that path because the other ones are far less attractive. I don't want to lay in bed 24-7 dependent on others.
Looking forward to hearing more from you and your response to my inquiry.
Peace,
~Tuck
Welcome to our Pain Management Forum. I'm glad you found us and took the time to post your question.
As always Phil has provided you with some excellent suggestions and information. I have little to add - but a question.
When you say,".... I want it over. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME ASAP, I'M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND
WORSE THAN THAT. PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!" - what do you mean? Do you mean that mean you want to be off the opiates completely - or does it mean you want better pain management?
Many of us are sick to death of being treated like criminals, relying on these darn tablets, patches, pumps, whatever and walking on egg shells, frightened every appointment that something will go wrong and stop our access to PM. Who in their right mind chooses that path - unless they are in horrific chronic pain and cannot function without opiate medications??? That's the answer -we chose that path because the other ones are far less attractive. I don't want to lay in bed 24-7 dependent on others.
Looking forward to hearing more from you and your response to my inquiry.
Peace,
~Tuck
Hello Joeyboone, and welcome to the pain forum.
Many of us want it over, but for most this is not possible. I've lived with the pain of spine disease for 35 years. I'm familiar with wearing multiple Duragesic patches, and have used every opioid-based pain medication available by prescription. I still use them every day, and have done so for over 20 years.
As you have learned, surgery is not always the answer, and too often causes more pain than it cures. But too often, pain patients are referred to surgery by their primary care physician.
The best pain management strategies involve the use of multiple modes of pain therapy. Opioid analgesics are helpful, but cannot remove all the pain because of opioid tolerance. Other medications can help, and other modes of therapy can also help.
Pain management is a the process of finding the available treatments that work, and practicing them daily to achieve a level of pain reduction that will allow you to function and as you say, provide for your family.
Quitting high dose opioids is a dangerous idea. Contrary to most medical opinions, when pain patients on chronic opioid therapy attempt cold-turkey withdrawal, they are risking their life.
Don't ever do this again. If you want to try a life without opioids, then ask your pain specialist to wean you slowly, reducing dose by approximately 10% a month, and rotating through different classes of opioids to help the nervous system adjust to a life without these medications.
It takes a specialist, trained in the use of opioids (and other pain medications) to manage this withdrawal.
There are many strategies -- since you have spine disease I suggest that you find a pain specialist in spine disease, who understands the disease called "chronic pain" and who can treat with medications, but can also offer interventional pain procedures to manage pain, including nerve blocks, neurotomies, neuromodulation, and intrathecal pain medication pumps.
In my long experience with pain doctors, the best of these have the credential DABPM after their MD (or DO) medical degree.
These docs are trained in anesthesiology departments, and often have a dual specialty. They are most likely to use chronic opiate therapy as one mode of treatment, and have a knowledge of other medications that can help with neuropathic pain. They will offer procedures, and if oral medication stops working altogether due to opioid tolerance or other problems, they can offer you the choice of an intrathecal catheter that delivers small doses of pain medication directly to the spinal cord -- a very efficient mode of pain control.
You'll find these doctors in private practice and in university hosptial pain clinic settings.
Another avenue I suggest that you explore is pain psychology. These professionals are trained in pain and its treatment from a psycho-social perspective. They can offer CBT means of controlling pain, and help you change behaviors that may exacerbate your pain. I've found pain psychologists to know more about the many ways of pain control than pain physicians, and I believe that without a pain psychologist in your corner, you're only getting part of the treatment options available.
You'll find pain psychologists in private practice, and also associated with university hospital pain clinics.
Finally, let me share this insight -- the pain patient who studies, and learns about their condition, its treatment options, and possible treatment outcomes usually receives the best level of pain control.
There are resources available all over the internet for finding out about degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, stenosis, and other painful conditions of the spine. Search for this information, and continue to read. Learn to speak your doctor's language, and how to ask questions. Become an active partner in your quest for pain control, and you will succeed.
People like us must take this step. Current trends in American medicine are towards the under-treatment of pain.
It is only through sites like MedHelp, and self-education can you find the information necessary to fight this giant step backwards in pain management.
You have a right to pain control, but you are going to have to claim that right. No one will give it to you.
Ignoring pain is not an option. "Toughing it out" only makes pain worse through sensitization of the nervous system.
Every person living in pain today must accept the challenge of persevering towards a living solution to their pain. This requires great courage and confidence, which can only be acquired through self-education.
Please look into the topics I've raised today, and come back with questions.
Best wishes in your journey to improving the quality of your life, through better management of your pain.
Many of us want it over, but for most this is not possible. I've lived with the pain of spine disease for 35 years. I'm familiar with wearing multiple Duragesic patches, and have used every opioid-based pain medication available by prescription. I still use them every day, and have done so for over 20 years.
As you have learned, surgery is not always the answer, and too often causes more pain than it cures. But too often, pain patients are referred to surgery by their primary care physician.
The best pain management strategies involve the use of multiple modes of pain therapy. Opioid analgesics are helpful, but cannot remove all the pain because of opioid tolerance. Other medications can help, and other modes of therapy can also help.
Pain management is a the process of finding the available treatments that work, and practicing them daily to achieve a level of pain reduction that will allow you to function and as you say, provide for your family.
Quitting high dose opioids is a dangerous idea. Contrary to most medical opinions, when pain patients on chronic opioid therapy attempt cold-turkey withdrawal, they are risking their life.
Don't ever do this again. If you want to try a life without opioids, then ask your pain specialist to wean you slowly, reducing dose by approximately 10% a month, and rotating through different classes of opioids to help the nervous system adjust to a life without these medications.
It takes a specialist, trained in the use of opioids (and other pain medications) to manage this withdrawal.
There are many strategies -- since you have spine disease I suggest that you find a pain specialist in spine disease, who understands the disease called "chronic pain" and who can treat with medications, but can also offer interventional pain procedures to manage pain, including nerve blocks, neurotomies, neuromodulation, and intrathecal pain medication pumps.
In my long experience with pain doctors, the best of these have the credential DABPM after their MD (or DO) medical degree.
These docs are trained in anesthesiology departments, and often have a dual specialty. They are most likely to use chronic opiate therapy as one mode of treatment, and have a knowledge of other medications that can help with neuropathic pain. They will offer procedures, and if oral medication stops working altogether due to opioid tolerance or other problems, they can offer you the choice of an intrathecal catheter that delivers small doses of pain medication directly to the spinal cord -- a very efficient mode of pain control.
You'll find these doctors in private practice and in university hosptial pain clinic settings.
Another avenue I suggest that you explore is pain psychology. These professionals are trained in pain and its treatment from a psycho-social perspective. They can offer CBT means of controlling pain, and help you change behaviors that may exacerbate your pain. I've found pain psychologists to know more about the many ways of pain control than pain physicians, and I believe that without a pain psychologist in your corner, you're only getting part of the treatment options available.
You'll find pain psychologists in private practice, and also associated with university hospital pain clinics.
Finally, let me share this insight -- the pain patient who studies, and learns about their condition, its treatment options, and possible treatment outcomes usually receives the best level of pain control.
There are resources available all over the internet for finding out about degenerative disc disease, spondylosis, stenosis, and other painful conditions of the spine. Search for this information, and continue to read. Learn to speak your doctor's language, and how to ask questions. Become an active partner in your quest for pain control, and you will succeed.
People like us must take this step. Current trends in American medicine are towards the under-treatment of pain.
It is only through sites like MedHelp, and self-education can you find the information necessary to fight this giant step backwards in pain management.
You have a right to pain control, but you are going to have to claim that right. No one will give it to you.
Ignoring pain is not an option. "Toughing it out" only makes pain worse through sensitization of the nervous system.
Every person living in pain today must accept the challenge of persevering towards a living solution to their pain. This requires great courage and confidence, which can only be acquired through self-education.
Please look into the topics I've raised today, and come back with questions.
Best wishes in your journey to improving the quality of your life, through better management of your pain.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pain Management Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
Could it be something you ate? Lack of sleep? Here are 11 migraine triggers to look out for.
Find out if PRP therapy right for you.
Tips for preventing one of the most common types of knee injury.
Here are 10 ways to stop headaches before they start.
Tips and moves to ease backaches
