Ankle Surgery & Pain

[Curtis999]

My girlfriend broke her right ankle and shoulder in an ugly fall back in November.  The surgery required two pins in the shoulder (not too much pain there anymore) and a metal rod with six screws in her ankle (constant pain with no end in sight).  Her doctor provided some pain meds during the operation and for about four of five weeks after.  Since then she has progressed from wheel chair to cane to walking but the pain never ends.  Since her doctor doesn't help with pain meds, what can she do?  She ices it and rests it when she can but Advil just doesn't cut the pain.  Recently, she has started to get depressed and I don't know what options are available...  Really difficult to endure pain allllll the time....  Thanks for your time!

[Katobow]

Pain meds are very addictive after time so the doctor doesn't seem to want to keep her on them for some reason.  Does she go to therapy?  Most patients such as her have to after those sort of injuries and how about asking the doctor about a pain management clinic?  If she is not happy with the doctor it is time to find another but pain meds may not be the only answer.

[Sazza1979]

Poor thing! Please get her to see another doctor if her current one won't listen. She should not still be in pain. It's not just about getting pain medication but finding out if there's anything they can do to stop the need for medication. Good luck.