Aa
where can i get pain relief for my mother.
My mother recently developed back pain. It started rather slowly two weeks ago, she would leave the house but complain and built up until she almost passed out at the grocery store. It has been a fairly high level of pain for over a week now.
Last week, we went to her ocologist, she has metastatic lung cancer, because the back pain was unusual for her. It was bad but not really bad yet and the dr ordered a bone scan and a ct scan, then went out of town for ten days (she comes back tomorrow). We ended up in the emergency room last wednesday where my mother told the er dr she didnt need pain medicines but she also told him that her pain level was an 8 and believe me when i say this is a tough lady, the eight was extremely high....her ten is likely when she had a ruptured fallopian tube in teh sixties, she hasnt had pain medicine since then....she thinks people should tough it out. I told this dr she thought she shouldnt take pain meds but he seemed to think her saying she didnt need them was right.
We couldnt get into her regular drs office until monday since the ct scan blocked the only available appointment time, so i begged the replacement for her ocologist to see her and give her pain medicines. I explain to this dr that my mother was under the impression people should not take these things and he explained to her that indeed, they should be made comfortable....and he gave her some vicodin to last til we could see regular dr. My mother was getting extremely constipated since she would not sit on the toilet to evacuate since it was too damned painful. The vicodin was most helpful and my mother for the most part was comfortable several times a day....but i was made slave to her pain. I had to watch the clock and give her what she needed because it got uglier and uglier when it wore out, i do think the pain keeps getting worse.
Finally on monday, we get into her regular dr. This woman sees that my mother was given vicodin and she does not ask about the extreme weight loss, likely much of which was because she was no longer constipated, she does not ask about the pain. The dr wizzes into the room stating she doesnt need vicodin, she needs pain management at her age. I was stunned, i blurted out....so u think we should worry bout the pain pills and not the cause of all this pain? not one damned question about the pain despite the fact my mother was dizzy in her examination room from pain.She refers my mother to a pain clinic, which she states is quite busy and wont be able to get her in right away and gives her a prescription of trans dermal local anesthesia for the back. My mother has been seeing this hack for 16 years and has never once asked for pain relief.,,,of course this is the dr who missed my mothers cancer totally.
When i went to get the patches, i almost fell over they were almost 300 dollars. In all honesty, she couldnt afford that, I called the dr back and stated how much they were. The nurse told me the dr said then do what the pain clinic says. I broke down and paid for the patches....i am desperate not to watch her in so much pain all the time. They work bringing the pain from an 9 to a four....and four is still uncomfortable. I also found that they can only be worn for 12 hrs a day...i mean wtf is she suppose to do with the other 12. I call the dr again and i tell the nurse, i decided to buy the patches and not eat this month and yet there is still this gaping hole of no pain relief. She says...oh she can still take the vicodin....omg i got three days of vicodin. She was suprised to know we were not already going to the pain clinic and it was this dr who prescribed this patch.....i am most definately under the impression the dr called us drug seekers. She is going to speak to this dr again in the morning but....
Next week i have appointments for the pain clinic, oncologist, a new primary dr since this one is too stupid but the ONLY thing i can think to do to get my mother pain relief until the pain clinic can take over is to call the oncologist back and beg stating the regular dr wont give it....now i really would be a drug seeker. I am lost, one bad doctor and we are screwed....cant take her to the er...there too i am drug seeker ignoring her regular dr. What can i do....where can i go please this is not long term problem for her, yet i guess it could turn into one, where can one go for this when the drs choose to ignore it.
she is over seventy with stage four cancer....for all i care they should give her some heroin...if she survives the cancer we can put her in detox!
Last week, we went to her ocologist, she has metastatic lung cancer, because the back pain was unusual for her. It was bad but not really bad yet and the dr ordered a bone scan and a ct scan, then went out of town for ten days (she comes back tomorrow). We ended up in the emergency room last wednesday where my mother told the er dr she didnt need pain medicines but she also told him that her pain level was an 8 and believe me when i say this is a tough lady, the eight was extremely high....her ten is likely when she had a ruptured fallopian tube in teh sixties, she hasnt had pain medicine since then....she thinks people should tough it out. I told this dr she thought she shouldnt take pain meds but he seemed to think her saying she didnt need them was right.
We couldnt get into her regular drs office until monday since the ct scan blocked the only available appointment time, so i begged the replacement for her ocologist to see her and give her pain medicines. I explain to this dr that my mother was under the impression people should not take these things and he explained to her that indeed, they should be made comfortable....and he gave her some vicodin to last til we could see regular dr. My mother was getting extremely constipated since she would not sit on the toilet to evacuate since it was too damned painful. The vicodin was most helpful and my mother for the most part was comfortable several times a day....but i was made slave to her pain. I had to watch the clock and give her what she needed because it got uglier and uglier when it wore out, i do think the pain keeps getting worse.
Finally on monday, we get into her regular dr. This woman sees that my mother was given vicodin and she does not ask about the extreme weight loss, likely much of which was because she was no longer constipated, she does not ask about the pain. The dr wizzes into the room stating she doesnt need vicodin, she needs pain management at her age. I was stunned, i blurted out....so u think we should worry bout the pain pills and not the cause of all this pain? not one damned question about the pain despite the fact my mother was dizzy in her examination room from pain.She refers my mother to a pain clinic, which she states is quite busy and wont be able to get her in right away and gives her a prescription of trans dermal local anesthesia for the back. My mother has been seeing this hack for 16 years and has never once asked for pain relief.,,,of course this is the dr who missed my mothers cancer totally.
When i went to get the patches, i almost fell over they were almost 300 dollars. In all honesty, she couldnt afford that, I called the dr back and stated how much they were. The nurse told me the dr said then do what the pain clinic says. I broke down and paid for the patches....i am desperate not to watch her in so much pain all the time. They work bringing the pain from an 9 to a four....and four is still uncomfortable. I also found that they can only be worn for 12 hrs a day...i mean wtf is she suppose to do with the other 12. I call the dr again and i tell the nurse, i decided to buy the patches and not eat this month and yet there is still this gaping hole of no pain relief. She says...oh she can still take the vicodin....omg i got three days of vicodin. She was suprised to know we were not already going to the pain clinic and it was this dr who prescribed this patch.....i am most definately under the impression the dr called us drug seekers. She is going to speak to this dr again in the morning but....
Next week i have appointments for the pain clinic, oncologist, a new primary dr since this one is too stupid but the ONLY thing i can think to do to get my mother pain relief until the pain clinic can take over is to call the oncologist back and beg stating the regular dr wont give it....now i really would be a drug seeker. I am lost, one bad doctor and we are screwed....cant take her to the er...there too i am drug seeker ignoring her regular dr. What can i do....where can i go please this is not long term problem for her, yet i guess it could turn into one, where can one go for this when the drs choose to ignore it.
she is over seventy with stage four cancer....for all i care they should give her some heroin...if she survives the cancer we can put her in detox!
Thanks for the update Laura.
....And of course you did the right thing by firing her Internist. I hope you obtained great pleasure from doing so... what an idiot!! It's difficult to beleive that there are still Physicians that are so uneducated in Pain Management, especially with Cancer Pain. He should be reported and I rarely say that!!
I hope your mom has found good pain relief with the Morphine. If not don't be afraid to speak up. We don't all respond to medications the same way... and what is effective for one may not be for another.
Please keep in touch and let us know how your mom and you are doing.
My Best to you Both,
~Tuck
....And of course you did the right thing by firing her Internist. I hope you obtained great pleasure from doing so... what an idiot!! It's difficult to beleive that there are still Physicians that are so uneducated in Pain Management, especially with Cancer Pain. He should be reported and I rarely say that!!
I hope your mom has found good pain relief with the Morphine. If not don't be afraid to speak up. We don't all respond to medications the same way... and what is effective for one may not be for another.
Please keep in touch and let us know how your mom and you are doing.
My Best to you Both,
~Tuck
This is criminal. I just want to second Tuck's suggestion of hospice. So many wait too long when they can bring so much to the patient and family. And like Tuck said, many people come off hospice ... or come off and go back on. I'm happy to hear your mom has better pain relief.
since tuesday, she has been on morphine. i think those who have chronic pain Fired her internist, of course.
Hi Laura,
I am so VERY sorry to hear about your mother's pain. My heart goes out to you and her! Please excuse my tardy response.
Cancer pain is one of the very reasons opiates were developed. No cancer patient should have to ask.... let alone beg for pain relief!! Never, ever!
I assume your mom is on Medicare. There are agencies and/or programs that will help your mom. I believe she should be referred to a Home Health Agency. They will see to it that she has good medical care and proper Pain Management. Sadly her PCP needs to make this referral. Contact his office and insist on it!!!
The Home Health Agency may suggest Hospice. Please don't despire when if they say that word. Among other things, Hospice is for most ppl with a stage four cancer. Ppl do recover and are discharged from Hospice. Some ppl are in the program for years.... so don't think that this means the end of the line. It will provide you/her with support and make her life easier and more importantly comfortable. They will "fight" for her rights and see to her she has proper pain control.
Managing her pain or health care should not be your job at this point... Your job is to be her supportive and loving daughter. Let ppl that know how to work the system do it. Sorry but her current Physician sounds like an idiot!! Shame on him for even making her ask for pain medication!!
I lost my father 18months ago. He resided with me for years. With the help of a Home Health Agency and than Hospice I was able to be a daughter. Hug him lots and let the agencies oversee his healthcare.... of course I was involved and making sure things were right for him. However it was the agencies that made the calls to the PCP/PMP and kept my father comfortable, among other things. Don't take this on alone. Physician's respond better and quciker to Home Health staff.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you and your mom are doing. Your mom needs you right now so please don't forget to take care of you!!
I'll look forward to your updates. Best of luck!!
Warm Regards,
~Tuck
I am so VERY sorry to hear about your mother's pain. My heart goes out to you and her! Please excuse my tardy response.
Cancer pain is one of the very reasons opiates were developed. No cancer patient should have to ask.... let alone beg for pain relief!! Never, ever!
I assume your mom is on Medicare. There are agencies and/or programs that will help your mom. I believe she should be referred to a Home Health Agency. They will see to it that she has good medical care and proper Pain Management. Sadly her PCP needs to make this referral. Contact his office and insist on it!!!
The Home Health Agency may suggest Hospice. Please don't despire when if they say that word. Among other things, Hospice is for most ppl with a stage four cancer. Ppl do recover and are discharged from Hospice. Some ppl are in the program for years.... so don't think that this means the end of the line. It will provide you/her with support and make her life easier and more importantly comfortable. They will "fight" for her rights and see to her she has proper pain control.
Managing her pain or health care should not be your job at this point... Your job is to be her supportive and loving daughter. Let ppl that know how to work the system do it. Sorry but her current Physician sounds like an idiot!! Shame on him for even making her ask for pain medication!!
I lost my father 18months ago. He resided with me for years. With the help of a Home Health Agency and than Hospice I was able to be a daughter. Hug him lots and let the agencies oversee his healthcare.... of course I was involved and making sure things were right for him. However it was the agencies that made the calls to the PCP/PMP and kept my father comfortable, among other things. Don't take this on alone. Physician's respond better and quciker to Home Health staff.
Please keep in touch and let us know how you and your mom are doing. Your mom needs you right now so please don't forget to take care of you!!
I'll look forward to your updates. Best of luck!!
Warm Regards,
~Tuck
I'm glad you found the refill on the bottle. I've never heard of that kind of patch but I'm glad it gives her some kind of relief. All you can do in the meantime is try a heating pad. I know it helped me and keep calling the clinic every day. You have to be persistent even though it's a pain in the ***. These people they got working in the medical field are a bunch of morons. It wasn't like that when I worked in the field ( at least not as bad) I had a lumbar fusion so I'm not able to work any longer. If you need any help or would like to cent I'm here for you. Some pretty amazing people have been here for me on this site. Take care.
omg i feel like an idiot, the oncologist gave a refil on the vicodin. I think i can make it last til we can get to the pain clinic, still her primary dr is not particularly on the ball.
I guess if i were drug seeker, i would have immediately checked for a refill.
It is so hard to see her in such pain and have her dr so antipathetic. I read the drs reviews on the web and both reviews say she has no bedside manner, doesnt listen and doesnt do diagnostics. I cant wait to change drs.
I guess if i were drug seeker, i would have immediately checked for a refill.
It is so hard to see her in such pain and have her dr so antipathetic. I read the drs reviews on the web and both reviews say she has no bedside manner, doesnt listen and doesnt do diagnostics. I cant wait to change drs.
i have called the hospital daily to see if there is cancelation, there is no list.
The medicine patches are NOT opiods or whatever they are called it is lidoderm, lidocaine patch 5%. The instructions on them are clear, 12 hrs on the patch 12 hrs off. Since the only time she is relatively comfortable is when she is flat on her back, i have chosen the 12 hrs of day time in hopes of getting her moving...or at least sitting up more than a few hours each day.
The medicine patches are NOT opiods or whatever they are called it is lidoderm, lidocaine patch 5%. The instructions on them are clear, 12 hrs on the patch 12 hrs off. Since the only time she is relatively comfortable is when she is flat on her back, i have chosen the 12 hrs of day time in hopes of getting her moving...or at least sitting up more than a few hours each day.
Maybe you could have the dr who gave your mom the Vicodin call the one who gave her the patch and they could tell them your mom only had one ex for Vicodin from them. In regards to the patch what medication is it? I know they make patched that are supposed to work for three days. Be careful though, those patches are for patients who are opioid dependent , make sure you read the information well. I'm sorry your mother is in such bad pain. I think she will get the pain relief she needs from the pain management doctor. You could ask to be put on their cancellation list if something opens up sooner and tell them about the situation you are in and see if they have a solution. it's hard to watch a love one in pain. I hope one of these suggestions help you. I hope your mother gets to feeling better soon!
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