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Medications
Hi, I have L1/L5 and right now I am having sciatica. Well, I saw my Neuro doctor today for appointment. Ive been taking 7.5/750mg only take 2 times a day. Well, I've tried to ask Neuro doc if he does also prescribe Vicodin HP (10/650) I think. He said no. He only will write out Tylenol #3/4, Darvocet, or Vicodin 5/500 or 7.5/750. He refuse to write percocet or Vicodin HP. Right now I'm experiencing a pain and numbness on my left leg - its hard for me to walk or sit in long period. I've been seeing my Neuro dr since 2005. First, it was for my migraines. Then my back problems started around March 2006. Had MRI and results are L1/L5. I wanted to have lower APAP because I'm just concerned and don't want to harm my liver that's all, you know? I can't excatly freely open talk with Neuro dr what medications I wish to take or anything. Its only neuro dr around here where I live. If I want find other Neuro dr, it will be like 45 minutes or more ... further drive I can't afford it due to gas and my money situation. So,I don't know what to do. Oh, I have called around several pain management - but they only take few numbers of patients (kind of insurance I have) so there is no opening as of right now and other places that doesn't accept my insurance. Any advice or anything? Thanks.
Awww...that is terrible. He is a text book doc. with no compassion or realizing we are all different. If you were close i'd share my meds with you..lol...It is also bad you are in that situation, because you can't just jump around till you find the surgeon you are comfortable with. They don't like that. I feel you should be able to "shop" and be comfortable with all your docs. Especially the one thats cutting you open.
You might think about telling your new family doc. about all that and let them fefer you too a different surgeon...regardless of how far into they are. I was upset I was at first sent home from surgery with only one vike per 4 hours....I had to take 3 just for releif and then get them off the streets till my family doc. took over. Pain makes people do things they normally wouldn't do. I can't imagine you having to live with bad pain for long and can only take 2 pills a day.
You might think about telling your new family doc. about all that and let them fefer you too a different surgeon...regardless of how far into they are. I was upset I was at first sent home from surgery with only one vike per 4 hours....I had to take 3 just for releif and then get them off the streets till my family doc. took over. Pain makes people do things they normally wouldn't do. I can't imagine you having to live with bad pain for long and can only take 2 pills a day.
My neuro doc will NOT call in for refills or new medications, period. I will have to come in if I need more refills or new medications. He's not really flexible or understanding person. Its like he don't care and still won't allow you to take more than 2 times a day. I've asked before few times, he says NO, I won't increase, stay with 2 times a day. Even I have tried to be persistant with him, but he's still stubborn and won't do it or whatever. So, that's why Im hoping this new family dr will be better than my neuro dr... I need dr that are more understanding, more flexible, and etc. Ya know?
It might be worth your time to call and ask the neuro for permission to take more than the 750 2x aday. If you are out, maybe they will call in more. All they can say is "no". Make sure you let them know how much you hurt, and rub the fact in that you have NO QUALITY OF LIFE. Even being conservative they should allow 1 every 6 hours. The thing to keep watch of is that you don't take more than 4000mg of acementiphen (sp...tylenol) a day. That means allso watching for it in other meds you take.
The ibuprophen 800 is alot also. They work wonders for some, but not people like me. I got ulcers from them years ago so I can't even take them.
Hang in there and call your surgeon to ask before your new family doc. visit. When you see a new family doc. for the first time, they can be reluctant to give ANY pain meds because they don't know you. Make sure your med. records from your previous doc. and surgeon get sent to the new doc. before you go. Otherwise you may not get any help at all untill they get them. You will have to sign release papers from previous docs. Keep us informed.
If you call to ask your surgeon to call in another script AND to take more perday, make sure you stress the fact that you are in horrible pain and 2 pills a day is not helping much. I say that because your message is going from you, to who-ever answers the phone, to the doc. I was having a really hard time wih my docs office. They are busy and can't write "word for word", so they were writing the messages like "needs more pain meds"...instead of "called to say he will be out of meds in 4 days, can he pick up another script or should he come in"? So to my doctor, I was running out 4-5 days early and just wanted meds. It happened a few times.
The ibuprophen 800 is alot also. They work wonders for some, but not people like me. I got ulcers from them years ago so I can't even take them.
Hang in there and call your surgeon to ask before your new family doc. visit. When you see a new family doc. for the first time, they can be reluctant to give ANY pain meds because they don't know you. Make sure your med. records from your previous doc. and surgeon get sent to the new doc. before you go. Otherwise you may not get any help at all untill they get them. You will have to sign release papers from previous docs. Keep us informed.
If you call to ask your surgeon to call in another script AND to take more perday, make sure you stress the fact that you are in horrible pain and 2 pills a day is not helping much. I say that because your message is going from you, to who-ever answers the phone, to the doc. I was having a really hard time wih my docs office. They are busy and can't write "word for word", so they were writing the messages like "needs more pain meds"...instead of "called to say he will be out of meds in 4 days, can he pick up another script or should he come in"? So to my doctor, I was running out 4-5 days early and just wanted meds. It happened a few times.
I've called and made an appointment with new family dr, I'll be seeing him on May 7th. I hope this family doctor will help me better than my Neuro doctor, hopefully!! I'll bring x-ray film, results paper from hospital where I got MRI from. I'll be honest with him and let him know what medications I was given by my Neuro dr and tell him that those medications I'm currently taking isn't helping and need something stronger to control my pain. Neuro doctor will only allow 1 pill (7.5mg/750mg) every 12 hours! He gives me #60 that last for 30 days. No # refills on bottle - I have to see him every month which it sucks!! I hope my new family doctor will give me few #'s of refills on bottle and imitrex as well so that I don't have to see him every month or whatever, you know. I usually get new prescription of imitrex (for migraines) every 2 months - 9 pills which cost $230.00!!! but thank goodness my insurance covers it BUT it will only cover ONE prescription of ANY type of medication for migraines PER month though and I only pay $3 for co-pay plus $2 co-pay for Neuro office visit every month. I have 2 young kids so its not like I can just lay or sit around do nothing all the time. So, sometimes I'd cry due to pain and I can't take more that I have to take as directed. *roll eyes* Oh, he also prescribes me #60 Mortin 800mg, #60 Flexeril (doesn't help!!!), and #60 Xanax (it really helps for my muscle spasm and to sleep at night). When I told my mother about what medications I get from dr every month. My mother said..... Try not to take too much of Mortin 800mg because it'll be hard on my liver as I have other medications of Vicodin 7.5mg/750mg. Its like too much for me especially I'm slender (5'3 tall, weigh 115lbs) That's why I tried to get some stronger medication so that I don't have to take Mortin 800mg much, you know what I mean? I'll explain everything to my new family dr and hopefully he'll understand and help me better than my Neuro doc! Anyway, anything I should mention to my family dr when I see him on May 7th? Thanks in advance. :)
I forgot to mention that you didn't say how much 750 a day you were taking. Just that it was 2 x a day. Most docs will give 1 or 2 every 6 hours. It sounds like you may be under medicated if you are only allowed to take it 2x. They usually only work for people 4-6 hours. I know its hard not to take more than prescribed when in major pain...Its better to ask your doc. if you can take more than to just do it. I just had my own doc. threaten to drop me yesterday if I do it again...allthough he must not have got the message of when I called to ask. I was on percocet. All I know is even through his frustration, he see's mine too and I have been honest about everything all along. Even with his frustration and my "addict behavoir," he sees my pain and sincerity and trusted me for dilauded. If I would have lied or covered things up even when I knew what it looked like, I would be in unbearable pain and probley doctorless.
I know how frustrating it is. Keep reading other posts and you will know you are not alone.
Sounds like you have some sort of state insurance? I do. And I also know the $ situation, I had to quit work, college, ran out of my savings, my car is broke down and I had to drop insurance, had to move into a friends, have to ask for rides to go to many doc. and surgeon appts and my surgeon was an hour away. Now I have to go to another spine surgeon for a fusion and he is about 2 hours away. I have to go to my family doc. at least every other week, sometimes every week for meds. (Because percocet and dilauded can't be called in). I also have to borrow $ from people for my copays, which are only $1 for each med. and $3 for each doc. visit.
I was honest all along with my docs about the pain and me being a recovering addict. My surgeon was like yours..never gives out anything but 750's or less. After surgery, I was getting shots of dilauded and a vicodin every 4 hours, having bladder problems, and he sent me home on 1 vicodin every 4 hours and wouldn't change it. Then he cut it down to 1 500 every 6 hours. I was so upset, in pain. I somehow got another herniated disk within 2 weeks post-op doing nothing. Finally, my surgeon released my pain med control to my family doc. That is an option for you. Just because the surgeon feels a certain way, doesn't mean your family doc. will too. You can keep your surgeon for the other care and have your family doc. take over the meds.
I was going crazy 24/7 immense pain. No releif, catch 22. Laying down helped a few min. but still miserable, had to stand.....standing made my back hurt worse and pain shooting....so i'd sit. Sitting made my legs worse and back uncomfortable. It was no win.
Anyway...try to call your family doc. and explain the situation. Maybe something stronger could get called in. Tell them the $ is tight to be travel ing al the time. They still might want you to come in, but the visual of your distress and honesty can go far.
The amount of vicodin you are on is not much. Especially if you haven't taken much in your life. I know someone about 6'5" and allmost 300 lbs that a vicodin 500 allmost knocks him out.
I hope you get more help and know you are not alone. Seems to be my theme today....lol....call and see what your family doc. says or will do. If they come out and say they can't do anything because you are under the surgeons care....stick up for yourself and tell them "Look, I am not here to get high, I am not here to take my pills on the street, I am in pain and asking for help"....your surgeon CAN release the pain management to your doc. Good luck and keep us posted.
Sounds like you have some sort of state insurance? I do. And I also know the $ situation, I had to quit work, college, ran out of my savings, my car is broke down and I had to drop insurance, had to move into a friends, have to ask for rides to go to many doc. and surgeon appts and my surgeon was an hour away. Now I have to go to another spine surgeon for a fusion and he is about 2 hours away. I have to go to my family doc. at least every other week, sometimes every week for meds. (Because percocet and dilauded can't be called in). I also have to borrow $ from people for my copays, which are only $1 for each med. and $3 for each doc. visit.
I was honest all along with my docs about the pain and me being a recovering addict. My surgeon was like yours..never gives out anything but 750's or less. After surgery, I was getting shots of dilauded and a vicodin every 4 hours, having bladder problems, and he sent me home on 1 vicodin every 4 hours and wouldn't change it. Then he cut it down to 1 500 every 6 hours. I was so upset, in pain. I somehow got another herniated disk within 2 weeks post-op doing nothing. Finally, my surgeon released my pain med control to my family doc. That is an option for you. Just because the surgeon feels a certain way, doesn't mean your family doc. will too. You can keep your surgeon for the other care and have your family doc. take over the meds.
I was going crazy 24/7 immense pain. No releif, catch 22. Laying down helped a few min. but still miserable, had to stand.....standing made my back hurt worse and pain shooting....so i'd sit. Sitting made my legs worse and back uncomfortable. It was no win.
Anyway...try to call your family doc. and explain the situation. Maybe something stronger could get called in. Tell them the $ is tight to be travel ing al the time. They still might want you to come in, but the visual of your distress and honesty can go far.
The amount of vicodin you are on is not much. Especially if you haven't taken much in your life. I know someone about 6'5" and allmost 300 lbs that a vicodin 500 allmost knocks him out.
I hope you get more help and know you are not alone. Seems to be my theme today....lol....call and see what your family doc. says or will do. If they come out and say they can't do anything because you are under the surgeons care....stick up for yourself and tell them "Look, I am not here to get high, I am not here to take my pills on the street, I am in pain and asking for help"....your surgeon CAN release the pain management to your doc. Good luck and keep us posted.
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