Aa
to anyone out there......
)o start...I guess at the beginning....in a car accident that put me in the hospital for 4 n 1/2 months.....over the years and now 10 of them on pain mngmt, at my highest (2 mos ago)....was on 3 1200 mcgs of Actiq....EVERY 2 HOURS!!!! Hubby lost his job, by the grace of God got another, but 4 hours south of my Doc of 6 years....now having to start the whole damn process over.......he said no one would take me with what I waqs on (and btw, HE PRESCRIBED ).....SO he puts me on 6 30 mgs Percocets a day.......besides the pain of 9 herniated discs, L1 compression fracture with 70% loss of height, total knee replacement frozen at 40 dgres AFTER 5 manipulation surgeries, fibromyalgia....bla, bla bla......I am now so depressed, anxious....I feel like life has no value anymore.....never seen anyone on my levels,...no one to talk to....great hubby, but alone all day (on disabillity)....to late to make this short.....does anyone relate???? God be with you all...xo
Pescade,
Sorry that I was remiss in addressing your expressed anxiety and depression, I meant to do so.
Chronic Pain often goes hand in hand with Depression... and Depression often brings on some anxiety. The mix gets murky as to what precipitates which but you are not alone.
If you are not consulting a Therapist that is knowledgeable in Chronic Pain and the calamities that it can bring into our life, I encourage you to locate one. I'm not big on therapy but I do appreciate the great things done by competent therapists.
I think most of us would be liars if we didn't admit that we have struggled with depression at times.... or continue to struggle with depression as Chronic Pain remains a huge factor in our lives.
Thank Goodness that you have a "great hubby." I do too.... however not everyone does so I count him in my blessings, as I am sure you do also.
There are also Support Groups that some CP patients find helpful. If there isn't one in your area you might want to consider organizing one. Activity is often Depressions biggest foe.
Just wanted to add the above.... We do relate.
~Tuck
Sorry that I was remiss in addressing your expressed anxiety and depression, I meant to do so.
Chronic Pain often goes hand in hand with Depression... and Depression often brings on some anxiety. The mix gets murky as to what precipitates which but you are not alone.
If you are not consulting a Therapist that is knowledgeable in Chronic Pain and the calamities that it can bring into our life, I encourage you to locate one. I'm not big on therapy but I do appreciate the great things done by competent therapists.
I think most of us would be liars if we didn't admit that we have struggled with depression at times.... or continue to struggle with depression as Chronic Pain remains a huge factor in our lives.
Thank Goodness that you have a "great hubby." I do too.... however not everyone does so I count him in my blessings, as I am sure you do also.
There are also Support Groups that some CP patients find helpful. If there isn't one in your area you might want to consider organizing one. Activity is often Depressions biggest foe.
Just wanted to add the above.... We do relate.
~Tuck
Hello and Welcome to MedHelp's Pain Management Forum. Your question was, "Does anyone relate?"... and Yes there are ppl that can relate to you pain and situation. You have been through so much and are facing many challenges. My heart goes out to you.
The journey through Pain Management is never easy. It's filled with many challenges. It seems just about the time we think we are on the right page something happens to change that.... such as your required relocation.
As Gilly wisely suggested, you may want to make the journey back to your PMP until you are able to locate a PMP that will treat your pain effectively. As said by Weathergirl there are multiple treatments that go hand in hand with opiates and treat Chronic Pain. If you are like most of that have been at Pain Management (PM) for years, you may have tried most of them. However a second "look" or another "shot" at treatments that may have not been effective in the past could prove beneficial. I assume like most of us you are open minded and will or have tried everything offered.
I won't recommend a specific treatment or medication as we are all so different and our pain and/or systems often responds differently. However please look into everything that is feasible in your situation.
I too was in a horrific MVA and spent the majority of 6 months hospitalized. Luckily I suffered no head trauma....but my injuries were huge. Because I am only one in three hundred in the world to ever experience one of the injuries I sustained, physicians just don't know how to treat me. Statistics say I should not have survived. I won't bore you. I just want you to know that I do have empathy with your Chronic Pain and the many challenges that it presents.
We are here for you even if you just want to vent. We'll look forward to hearing from you and the progress you are making in your search for PM.
My Best to You,
~Tuck
The journey through Pain Management is never easy. It's filled with many challenges. It seems just about the time we think we are on the right page something happens to change that.... such as your required relocation.
As Gilly wisely suggested, you may want to make the journey back to your PMP until you are able to locate a PMP that will treat your pain effectively. As said by Weathergirl there are multiple treatments that go hand in hand with opiates and treat Chronic Pain. If you are like most of that have been at Pain Management (PM) for years, you may have tried most of them. However a second "look" or another "shot" at treatments that may have not been effective in the past could prove beneficial. I assume like most of us you are open minded and will or have tried everything offered.
I won't recommend a specific treatment or medication as we are all so different and our pain and/or systems often responds differently. However please look into everything that is feasible in your situation.
I too was in a horrific MVA and spent the majority of 6 months hospitalized. Luckily I suffered no head trauma....but my injuries were huge. Because I am only one in three hundred in the world to ever experience one of the injuries I sustained, physicians just don't know how to treat me. Statistics say I should not have survived. I won't bore you. I just want you to know that I do have empathy with your Chronic Pain and the many challenges that it presents.
We are here for you even if you just want to vent. We'll look forward to hearing from you and the progress you are making in your search for PM.
My Best to You,
~Tuck
Ghilly has some great suggestions above...
Another one that I have is that you find a Pain Management Dr. that works with implanting pain pumps...I would think you would be an automatic candidate for this after being on the amount of pain medication..
I do agree with your Dr. that it will be extremely difficult to find someone to prescribe that same level...Actiq is not used very often at all by most PM's...(besides cancer patients)..
So...right now you should be getting copies of all your medical records from as far back as you can. Make sure that your Dr. helps with this so that it's crystal clear that you tirated up slowly over the years to that level...and that your Dr. had reasons for putting you on this. As well as get a glowing recommendation letter from him to give to another Dr.
As well as go and print out your Pharmacy records for as far back as you can...this will also show to a new Dr. that you have always taken your meds on schedule and never late or have any negative issues with this. (To show you are a trustworthy patient...it's sad we have to prove this..but you are a stranger to a new Dr.)
And showing that you actively use many other modalities each day/week/month to help with your pain besides narcotics...Dr.s do not work with a patient who says, "Only narcotics work...I can't and won't do anything else"...
NOT that you are saying/doing this...just a general statement...
I would think for your Fibromyalgia....it is known that narcotics are not the first choice....Nerve pain medicines are. This is either Lyrica, Neurontin, or Cymbalta....
As well as for your other modalities....there is daily exercise (approved by the DR.), stretching, aqua therapy, acupuncture, injections, muscle relaxers, nerve pain medicines, sleep medicine, anxiety medicine, depression medication,TENS unit, eating well, not smoking (this is key with disc issues), cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling to deal with chronic pain...etc.
Just to name some...but many patients unfortunately have the mindset of trying 'one' of these things...and if it doesn't relieve all the pain..they give up...
Chronic pain management is about using each thing to help lessen the level of pain..So the narcotic does a small percentage...and then everything else added on top will help keep it at a manageable level..
My PM Dr. considers a level 5 in pain to be a good marker...I live at a 4-7 depending on the day. I have always wanted to have a bit higher pain to keep my tolerance to medication down as this is a lifelong battle..
So...I think a Comprehensive Pain Mgmt. Dr. who does pain implants...should be your best bet in helping you with all the options that I mentioned...
A pain pump should help give you much better quality of life than having to buy and take so much medication...as well as give you more constant pain control through the day/night...
Among my 3 cervical fusion surgeries over 5 years, a brain tumor, and Fibromyalgia...I have to say that for the Fibro....where I was diagnosed back in 1995...I was blessed to have a great Rheumatologist. He is now known as the top Fibro Dr.s in the country.
He discovered that lack of stage 4 sleep/REM sleep is one of the things that is prominent in Fibro....When I started on Ambien...just one at night...I was absolutely shocked at how my pain level for this dropped from an eight to a two!!! I take a muscle relaxer once in awhile on my bad days...
Within a few weeks...I literally felt better than I had in years...So much energy...no more brain fog...and I could mentally handle my pain better each day since I wasn't so physically exhausted...It's an incredible blessing..
Now..I have pain with my other issues..but my Fibro is completely under control and an afterthought to me...
Anyway...I hope that you can get this all straightened out soon and get the help you need...
Another one that I have is that you find a Pain Management Dr. that works with implanting pain pumps...I would think you would be an automatic candidate for this after being on the amount of pain medication..
I do agree with your Dr. that it will be extremely difficult to find someone to prescribe that same level...Actiq is not used very often at all by most PM's...(besides cancer patients)..
So...right now you should be getting copies of all your medical records from as far back as you can. Make sure that your Dr. helps with this so that it's crystal clear that you tirated up slowly over the years to that level...and that your Dr. had reasons for putting you on this. As well as get a glowing recommendation letter from him to give to another Dr.
As well as go and print out your Pharmacy records for as far back as you can...this will also show to a new Dr. that you have always taken your meds on schedule and never late or have any negative issues with this. (To show you are a trustworthy patient...it's sad we have to prove this..but you are a stranger to a new Dr.)
And showing that you actively use many other modalities each day/week/month to help with your pain besides narcotics...Dr.s do not work with a patient who says, "Only narcotics work...I can't and won't do anything else"...
NOT that you are saying/doing this...just a general statement...
I would think for your Fibromyalgia....it is known that narcotics are not the first choice....Nerve pain medicines are. This is either Lyrica, Neurontin, or Cymbalta....
As well as for your other modalities....there is daily exercise (approved by the DR.), stretching, aqua therapy, acupuncture, injections, muscle relaxers, nerve pain medicines, sleep medicine, anxiety medicine, depression medication,TENS unit, eating well, not smoking (this is key with disc issues), cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling to deal with chronic pain...etc.
Just to name some...but many patients unfortunately have the mindset of trying 'one' of these things...and if it doesn't relieve all the pain..they give up...
Chronic pain management is about using each thing to help lessen the level of pain..So the narcotic does a small percentage...and then everything else added on top will help keep it at a manageable level..
My PM Dr. considers a level 5 in pain to be a good marker...I live at a 4-7 depending on the day. I have always wanted to have a bit higher pain to keep my tolerance to medication down as this is a lifelong battle..
So...I think a Comprehensive Pain Mgmt. Dr. who does pain implants...should be your best bet in helping you with all the options that I mentioned...
A pain pump should help give you much better quality of life than having to buy and take so much medication...as well as give you more constant pain control through the day/night...
Among my 3 cervical fusion surgeries over 5 years, a brain tumor, and Fibromyalgia...I have to say that for the Fibro....where I was diagnosed back in 1995...I was blessed to have a great Rheumatologist. He is now known as the top Fibro Dr.s in the country.
He discovered that lack of stage 4 sleep/REM sleep is one of the things that is prominent in Fibro....When I started on Ambien...just one at night...I was absolutely shocked at how my pain level for this dropped from an eight to a two!!! I take a muscle relaxer once in awhile on my bad days...
Within a few weeks...I literally felt better than I had in years...So much energy...no more brain fog...and I could mentally handle my pain better each day since I wasn't so physically exhausted...It's an incredible blessing..
Now..I have pain with my other issues..but my Fibro is completely under control and an afterthought to me...
Anyway...I hope that you can get this all straightened out soon and get the help you need...
How often do you have to see your doctor? Most states require every 30 days for a re-examination and prescription refill. If you can't find a doctor near you, is anything stopping you from making the trip back to your doctor until you CAN find one near you? Just make a concerted effort to find a doctor closer to you who will prescribe something that works for you, but for a couple of months you will just have to make the sacrifice and drive the distance back to your old doctor to get the Actiq.
The doctor that I see is a very well known neurologist in Houston and he has patients coming to him from as far away as the eastern side of Louisiana every month. Some of these people drive 8 hours one way to see him, but it's only every 30 days so it's worth the trip for them to get the pain relief they need. I am not saying that you shouldn't look for a doctor closer to you, but I'm just saying that it might not be such a bad thing to sacrifice a day each month to make the trip to see your old doctor until you can.
Ghilly
The doctor that I see is a very well known neurologist in Houston and he has patients coming to him from as far away as the eastern side of Louisiana every month. Some of these people drive 8 hours one way to see him, but it's only every 30 days so it's worth the trip for them to get the pain relief they need. I am not saying that you shouldn't look for a doctor closer to you, but I'm just saying that it might not be such a bad thing to sacrifice a day each month to make the trip to see your old doctor until you can.
Ghilly
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