seeking new help

[kloe36]

A little about me.  I am a 40 yr old female with IDDM, DDD, Hypertension, Thyroid Carcinoma, Neuropathy in hands and legs/feet, and Arthritis.  Two years ago is when my back issues were finally discovered.  I had been complaining of headaches and pain for well over ten years but apparently to the wrong doctors.  Surgery is not really an option because I do not have any 'good' discs to support surgery on those that really need to be replaced.  It is feared that surgery would cause a snowball affect until I am either paralyzed or walking with a pole in my back.  I was treating with a pain management clinic for a year and half.  I was put on morphine, cymbalta, lyrica, neurotin, ultram, lidocaine patches, and wore a tens unit.  The doctor there did not feel he was helping me because I would not do steriod injections (my diabetes is not in good control).  I functioned on the meds.  I am going to a new pain clinic at the end of this month; but I am a bit concerned.  Not about the doctor.  More of the guilty feeling of asking for "drugs".  I am told that my back is not going to get better.  That I am now looking for quality of life.  Why is it that taking pain medicines seem to be such an issue for doctor's to prescribe?  Should I feel like a bad person for asking for pain medicines?  Is there something that others have been on that may be different or more helpful than what I have?

[nick30]

I hope you aren't actually considering going through with the rehab?
it is unfortunate that you didn't speak up earlier with your dr when he suggested it.
rehab is for people who want to get off drugs, not for people with chronic pain who require medication to help them get through basic daily tasks.
you need to IMMEADIATLY find another dr who can help with your pain management.
one of the worst things i ever went through was a pain clinic who did not tell me that they expected me to come of all meds. i wouldn't have gone through it if i'd have been told from the start. I spent many months wasting away in bed after that. I'm not sure how bad your pain is, or how well you can function w/o meds, but if you feel that your life will suffer excessively w/o medication then it is up to you to do something about it.

Nick

[luppygirl]

Well I think if they are going to call themselves pain management doctors they ought to get working on managing your pain. Or maybe that is just my way of thinking.  You know like a Rhuemetologist work on people with arthritis and autoimmune diseases. Of course if you have arthritis you are going to go to a rhuemetologist am i not right in this thinking. So therefore going to see a pain management doctor i expect to be treated for my pain and nothing less.  If you have found a combination of meds that work for you and your pain then you should be able to let the dr know what it is., that doesn't make you look like a drug seeker it makes you look like a well informed chronic pain patient who has been there and done that..It makes me mad that us chronic pain patients have to worry about whether we look like drug seekers or not. We have to suffer enough just to get through our daily lives without this kind of stress and worry.  And stress makes everything worse. It causes flare ups which cause more pain. I just want to be treated as a person who hurts a hole bunch ( and i saying that nicely so it won't get blocked out) and has done my research and tried every combo of pain meds and finally find one that works.  They should trust that you know what you are talking about.  I find that pain patients often know more about the drugs then the doctors do.  Because if anybody out there is like me i google everything before i put it in my mouth. All I want is a little respect and dignity when i go see my doctor. Is that really to much to ask for. I for one don't think so.  sorry for the rant it just peeves me that someone has to worry about be labeled a drug seeker. grrrrrrrrrr

[kloe36]

Thank you so much for your responses.  I know I am not the only person in the world who is suffering; but it is amazing how alone you can feel at times.  I need a new Pain Clinic because the doctor at the one I was treating at told me he did not feel that he was helping me.  It didn't matter that I told him he was helping and that I was able to do so much more than what I had been able to do prior to coming to him.  It didn't seem to matter that quality of life was where I was at.  He seemed to think that he needed to fix me.  He told me that he did not feel he was helping me because he specializes in steriod injections and since I was not a candidate, he was referring me to an Intensive Rehab Facility.  It was a very awkward situation for me.  I felt as if he didn't want to help so didn't ask for him to continue.  I was also paranoid about being looked at as if I was just seeking out drugs.  Believe me, I am on enough medication because I will not survive without them that taking drugs to help me function is a hard pill to swallow (pardon the pun, lol).  I did not question him on his referral which was a huge mistake.  When I made the consult with the Rehab facility, I found out that what they expected was not something I was capable of.  Their rehab was 5 days a week from 8am - 1pm for 6 weeks.  For many reasons I was not able to participate:  I am a single mom and my kids did not start school until 9am.  The facility was an hour away.  I could not afford a sitter.  I could not afford the price of gas let alone parking.  I could not afford to pay the deductible for each doctor (a total of 5 different ones) or the out of pocket expense that my insurance would not cover.  I went thru the entire consultation explaining to each my concerns and they all understood.  When I tried to get back to my original doctor at the pain mngmnt clinic, his nurse told me that if he referred me there he did not feel he could help me any longer...end of story.  Despite my verbalizing concerns of how to wean myself off the pain meds, she told me I would be fine.  I went thru horrible withdrawal.  All at the same time, I stopped morphine, ultram, cymbalta, lyrica, neurotin, and lidocaine patches.  It was hell.  So I do not have much confidence in them even if he would offer to see me again.  I was very scared after feeling what I felt coming off all the drugs.  I decided then that I wanted to get my system cleaned out before I went to another pain clinic.  During that time, I wound up in the hospital on three different occasions.  So here I am now waiting for my April 29th appointment with the new pain clinic.  I have heard every medical professional that I've come across tell me that I am too young to have so many medical problems.  Jokingly some have commented that I am going to be in trouble when I get old - yep, I agree with that one, lol.  In addition to my other medical conditions, I also have IBS and Acid reflux but those aren't really the significant issues.  I seem to have a high tolerance for pain or so I have been told.  I try not to let the pain or any other of my medical conditions rule my life.  I try to deal with them as much as possible.  But I have found that being on the morphine and vicodin for break thru pain gave me the ability to function at a higher level than I had been.  Not being on any type of pain meds for long term since the last pain clinic made me realize that for sure.  I miss not being able to do things daily.  Simple things like being able to blow dry and curl my hair without having to be in extreme pain for the next day or two; sleeping for four hours at a stretch at night; being able to bend over to pick up toys or fold laundry without feeling like you are going to pass out each time you straighten back up.  I know there is no cure.  I just want to be able to live life with my girls as best as I can.  Some doctors seem to think that is asking for too much.    

[Mollyrae]

Hi Kloe:

Sorry that your not in the position where surgery can help you. I know in your case that if your spine was in a place where it could be operated on, it would surely benefit you.

I'm wondering why you need a new Pain Clinic? Is the one your at not doing it's job correctly? It is very important that you had a good relationship with the Pain Management Doctor. He will make notes in your records that will influence the new Doctor. Tuck mentioned that you shouldn't be afraid of asking for pain medication and she is right. You are hiring them. It is a pain clinic and this is  what they are there for is prescribe medication. They are expecting you to do so. I think the better question is ........What to ask for. Was the medication with the previous clinic working for you? If so, then tell them that you would like to continue your regiment. If it has not been working so well then tell them that you would like to try something different. Be honest. Honesty will get you a long way with the Doctor. Well, I hope this all works well for you and you like the new clinic. Please take care and good luck.

Mollyrae

[Tuckamore]

Hello Kloe,

Welcome to our Pain Management Forum at MedHelp. I am glad that you found us but sorry to hear about the pain you have suffered for years. Many of us have done the same,suffered in silence for one reason or another. When left untreated our conditions often deteriorate or sadly become untreatable or respond poorly to treatment.

When you have true Chronic Pain (CP), as it sounds like you have, you should never feel or be made to feel "bad" or "guilty" for requesting pain medications. Should diabetics be made to feel guilty for requesting insulin? Many of us have been treated as or accused of being drug seekers at one time or another. I admit that this fact can cause us to be fearful of requesting opiates. Unfortunately there are ppl that attempt to deceive physicians every day to obtain opiates for recreational use or diversion. The physician must be diligent in prescribing opiates or they face sanction or worse by the DEA or medical board of licensings.

You apparently have documentation of required opiate use and the reasons for your CP. The new PMP should be less concerned with prescribing opiate medications or you. You have been treated by a PMP in the past which should be beneficial.

Rather than ask for a specific opiate from your new PMP I would discuss the past opiates and medications you have been prescribed. Be prepared to explain the effectiveness or lack of on each medication with the PMP. It is always best to ask his/her thoughts and suggestion for pain control. Based on your past reactions and experience with different opiates the PMP should be the authority in determining which opiate or combination of medications will work best for you and your condition. Let the PMP do what they do best, manage pain. If you approach the PMP with that attitude your relationship should begin on a good note. In my experience the patient that approaches the PMP demanding this or that drug is often viewed with suspicion.

We wish you the best during the appointment with your new PMP.  There are some compassionate and astute PMP out there. I am hopeful that your new one will prove to be both. Please let us know how you are doing. I will look forward to your updates.
Good luck and take care, Tuck

[nick30]

Hi kloe36

Why is it that taking pain medicines seem to be such an issue for doctor's to prescribe?  
there are many reasons, the main ones being addiction issues and diversion. if you are not involved in this then don't feel bad about asking for help.

Should I feel like a bad person for asking for pain medicines?  
NO

Is there something that others have been on that may be different or more helpful than what I have?
there are many other drugs apart from the ones you listed. some of them dr's don't mind precribing as much as some of the others. don't ask for anything specific. wait and see what this new doc suggests. he may be more helpful than your previous dr's.

you sound like me. many years of dr's doing nothing. you need to be your own advocate. suffering in silence will not help. if the dr needs a kick up the bum then you are the one who must do it. they will not throw medication at you(and if they do you should find a new doc)

msg me if you have any further questions or information.

good luck

nick