How do u ask for a stronger pain med (w/out sounding like a pill seeker)?

[jennifer567]

Hi everyone! My question is how do I ask for something stronger without sounding like a "pill seeker" or drug abuser? My Lortab 10mg is like regualr tylenol to my pain. They already have me on Cymbalta, Lyrica, Lortab10mg, Soma, Xanax and Ambien BUT I AM IN SUCH PAIN! It is unreal!

I know it's not a good idea to double up or whatever but I have in desparation- it does not help! My legs give me the worst trouble. I take magnesium, calcium and a few other natural things. I do swim exercise religiosly now BUT the pain is beyond any pain I've ever been through including natural childbirth!!!

How do I ask a doctor to put me on something like Percocet or Oxycodone? Or just anything that will be wotrth taking?? This Lortab is USELESS!! But I've been told if you ask for something specific they think you are just there to get pills for the wrong reason. HAS ANYONE ASKED THEIR DOCTOR FOR SOMETHING STRONGER, AND HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT IT????

By the way thanks in advance for any ideas, thoughts, suggestions or sharing.
Jennifer

[Cally5464]

I think it comes down to how much your doctor likes you. I was in severe pain and my doctor told me he couldn't give me anything stronger than lortabs...I just had to have surgery. I had the surgery which lead to me nearly dying from an infection setting in. Had to learn how to walk again and spent 2 months in the hospital. I'm in more pain now but he upped me to percs. My boyfriend went today to the same doctor and told him the Lortabs weren't working and the doctor said no problem and put him on percs. Guess I don't ******** good enough.

[Drsneedtohearus]

You do have ti have a good relationship with your doc and trust on both sides. The antidepressant/antiepileptic meds did nothing for my pain. Actually, made it worse bc I was soooo tired (falling asleep at red lights with children in the car) that I gained a bunch if weight which was more pressure on my body. This also lead to depression bc I felt terrible about myself, worthless, a danger, and became angry. How is this safer than narcotics? I quickly adjusted to them and when timed so I'm not driving while it's at it's peak, I'm able t drive safely. I was prescribed both at same time along with NSAIDS and muscle relaxers for at night only (which all the a-depressants/a-epileptics made me just as drowsy). Anyhow, after a couple years of trying various i.e Amitriptyline, Cymbalta,Gabapentin, Lexapro,Effexor, Topirimate, and others I decided no more. I c an no longer take Nsaids so just the Narcotics and occasional muscle relaxer. I have been suggested that pain was in my head to a degree despite obvious MRI results. It's just after so long, people with chronic pain learn to move thru it to get thru their day. I wish docs relized this. We have to find ways to take care if daily needs/duties no matter the pain and learn not to cry even when pain is severe. Just bc we don't appear as someone recently injured with new pain does, doesn't mean we're not equally, or worse, in pain. They all think we're trying to get more meds when really we've become tolerant to current dose and the pain level is increasing and it's becoming more difficult to make it thru the day. I break down almost daily bc I just can't take it anymore. How can I be a sufficient mom when I can barely make it thru dishes or cooking a meal (frozen usually bc I can't do much more). Done PT, injections, chiro, all of it. Finally they are considering surgery. Over the course of time, I did inquire about my tolerance and ways to address that. I suggested trying a different narcotic of same level as my theory was that a slightly different chemical makeup might make my body respond. They agreed to that. The one they gave me was too expensive as name brand only and wasn't good enough (there was a difference in my response) to warrant the cost. So after trying that I was switched from Norco to Percocet. I'm again running into the tolerance issue but with surgery now an option, I don't want to be on dangerous meds, at least at this level, indefinitely. But for others, be honest with doc. If they tell you it's in your head, stick up for yourself. We're paying them and if you don't like your doc, find another and start with clean slate so they don't come in with any prejudgement. Ask for MRI if they don't offer. I've learned you have to ask for things. I bet that with some docs, if you're in so much pain you're asking for expensive tests to find the issue, they may believe you more. Remember, they have to protect themselves and their patients from overmedicating as well as addiction. Also they have to protect the public from giving a combo that can make yoy a danger. Tell them what works and why as well as what hasn't worked and why. Lastly, depending on your state, you can look into medical marijuana as an option. Some docs will continue seeing patients who are taking it; however that may change medications prescribed.

[Drsneedtohearus]

You do have ti have a good relationship with your doc and trust on both sides. The antidepressant/antiepileptic meds did nothing for my pain. Actually, made it worse bc I was soooo tired (falling asleep at red lights with children in the car) that I gained a bunch if weight which was more pressure on my body. This also lead to depression bc I felt terrible about myself, worthless, a danger, and became angry. How is this safer than narcotics? I quickly adjusted to the narcotic pain meds and when timed so I am not driving while it is at it is peak, I am able t drive safely. I was prescribed both at same time along with NSAIDS and muscle relaxers for at night only (which all the a-depressants/a-epileptics made me just as drowsy). Anyhow, after a couple years of trying various i.e Amitriptyline, Cymbalta,Gabapentin, Lexapro,Effexor, Topirimate, and others I decided no more. I c an no longer take Nsaids so just the Narcotics and occasional muscle relaxer. I have been suggested that pain was in my head to a degree despite obvious MRI results. It is just after so long, people with chronic pain learn to move thru it to get thru their day. I wish docs relized this. We have to find ways to take care if daily needs/duties no matter the pain and learn not to cry even when pain is severe. Just bc we do not appear as someone recently injured with new pain does, does not mean we are not equally, or worse, in pain. They all think we are trying to get more meds when really we have become tolerant to current dose and the pain level is increasing and it is becoming more difficult to make it thru the day. I break down almost daily bc I just can not take it anymore. How can I be a sufficient mom when I can barely make it thru dishes or cooking a meal (frozen usually bc I can not do much more). Done PT, injections, chiro, all of it. Finally they are considering surgery. Over the course of time, I did inquire about my tolerance and ways to address that. I suggested trying a different narcotic of same level as my theory was that a slightly different chemical makeup might make my body respond. They agreed to that. The one they gave me was too expensive as name brand only and was not good enough (there was a difference in my response) to warrant the cost. So after trying that I was switched from Norco to Percocet. I am again running into the tolerance issue but with surgery now an option, I do not want to be on dangerous meds, at least at this level, indefinitely. But for others, be honest with doc. If they tell you it is in your head, stick up for yourself. We are paying them and if you do not like your doc, find another and start with clean slate so they do not come in with any prejudgement. Ask for MRI if they do not offer. I have learned you have to ask for things. I bet that with some docs, if you are in so much pain you are asking for expensive tests to sincerely find the issue, they may believe you more. Remember, they have to protect themselves and their patients from overmedicating as well as addiction. Also they have to protect the public from giving a combo that can make yoy a danger. Tell them what works and why as well as what has not worked and why. Lastly, depending on your state, you can look into medical marijuana as an option. Some docs will continue seeing patients who are taking it; however that may change medications prescribed. Oh, I have also discovered that pain meds work better with lower carb and low sugar diets as sugar and processed carbs lead to greater inflammation in the body. Naturally reducing inflammation decreases some of the pain allowings meds to feel more potent on an uncontrolled pain source i.e. compressed nerves, bone spurs, vertebrae, etc.

[tandreanna72]

I have recently become completely frustrated by my fibro. I work as a CNA and get told to change jobs, not gonna happen. I recently saw a thing about Inflamactin? Anyone else try this? Does it help. The meds Dr's prescribe don't work at all. I just am done with that mess. My primary wants me to go to a pain management dr but I just have given up on it.

[kimbermezz]

have to go to pain management dr

[bridgettebarto]

dear kathy...i just saw your post.  how frustrating it must be.  it is either your doctor or where you live to makes it so hard to get answers, etc. for you.  you are in Canada?  well, anyways...there are solutions...you just need to find the right doctor, and dont let ANYONE tell you the pain is in your head!  It took me 2 years to find out about this burning pain in my mouth and gums!  they want to tell you  (cant think of the word now)...but this turned out to be something called Burning Mouth Syndrome...very rare.  But i had to research for 2 years to find out about it...and I HAD an injury that had caused a tooth nerve root to be damaged...which is what caused it!  Neither the dentist nor doctor knew about the disorder.  anyways...let me know if you receive this post and i maybe can find something to help you out...i mean a solution or idea.  I have Nerve damage, which causes my problems...not just talking about the BMS.  It is Peripheral Neurology with damage to Autonomic nerves.  i have appt. for Neurology test, but it sure as hell did not take 8 months to get the appt.  less than a month wait.  and that is not soon enough for me, with my problems!

[bridgettebarto]

dear Jennifer..not sure if you are still seeking answers..it was 2008 when you asked.  let me know if you are still having problems..i will try to help u with an answer.

[Marialov]

I have been in pain for over2 years and just yesterday I was diagnosed with fybromalgia, I have been taking lortab for my pain for 2 years and now this doctor wants to take them away. How do I convince him I need them for my pain I can't function without them! Please help! Thank you in advance.

[Vampiress]

Im having problems my name is Patty and I have similar issues and need help an dadvice. And I'm not sure how or what to say to make sure that somebody can get back with me but let me just say thank you in advance for any buddies input it is very serious I do need help no one seems to do anything about it it doesn't matter and if you ask for something that you know that help before which I do know because I had brain surgery but this is another kind of pain and I need something like what they give you the hospital I don't know how to get them to do that this Tylenol stuff is a joke along with or like if you can't sleep cuz they're going to give you trazodone or anything that's an antidepressant not because you're depressed but because it was supposed to cause drowsiness a really doesn't keep me asleep because it's not a real sleeping pill or you know something for anxiety Tizanidine know that doesn't help it's a weird feeling and it's not it just kind of hangs over not like if you were taking Xanax or valium or something which is good or relaxes the muscles calls you down you don't have the hangover facts and it gradually just wears a pretty nice day and if you need it you can take it again you know one another for you know four or five hours or whatever if you have a panic attack or anxiety attack or whatever but I can't afford to go to these different doctors I don't have any insurance and I still have stuff from the brain surgery along with two car accidents in the last month-and-a-half that were not my fault but nobody wants to help you they just want to give you little stuff even the pain management doctor say oh well you know I don't want to give you some for pain cuz it'll make you sleepy first of all bull crap I've had brain surgery right now it makes me sleepy second of all if it does great cuz I never sleep I have insomnia so bad and now I haven't even more because of all the pain so I never sleep and that cause a date anxiety even worse that I normally just have aside from having the car wax so can someone help me I would greatly appreciate it I don't know how to get back to this site but I'll try thanks for anyone's help I'm in the Dallas area but I'll go wherever it takes I even saw thought it was someone Ohio hospital that if you walk in there they're tired of messing with people so you going to tell him what you want or what's going on or what you need to give it to you and you leave they don't waste your time no more they don't waste your time with people trying to get whatever you know there's bad people trying to get stuff for drugs as people that know what helps them because they're hurting so bad and they can't afford to go to the doctor so you just go in there that gives you and you're gone I think it was Ohio I don't know somebody shut it to me I was like what they said no more problems no more waiting Lines no crap they get to see real people that need real help they give people their regular medicine that they know it works warm and it's done anyway have a blessed day everyone

[kathieporter]

Sept. 1, 2015.  I have just come back from a doctor who told me that the two types of pain I have might all be in my head--very real to me, but psychsomatic!  
I told her my pain (lower and mid-back pain and fibromyalgic-like symptoms) are very REAL, that I NEVER see a doctor unless I can't stand it anymore, and that I HATE taking medications.  I need to regress to an emergency department visit July4 (my back, in particular, had suddenly become acute after being painful from the end of June, and my fibro symptoms were steadily moving up my arms and legs from the extremeties towards my core since mid-Feb; these two types of pain seem to be working in concert, each aggravating the other).  I was prescribed Cymbalta 30 mg, threw up for 3 days, and stopped (NO one is going to convince me to stick with it--if it causes that reactive a response, then it must be a poison, as far as I'm concerned-glad it works for many, but I'm not willing to throw up for 2-3 weeks if I can find another remedy.).  July 6, I visited my clinic, and was prescribed Lyrica 25 mg, which did nothing for back or neural pain, and which I stopped after 2 1/2 wk trying and saw my family doctor, July 22.  This was when MY OWN FAMILY DOCTOR told me that there might not be a name for my 'pains'.  I felt she had told me that she didn't believe me.  I left her office devastated, and realized that she had not given me something else to try.  Retrospectively, she prescribed amitriptyline 25 mg (has done nothing for either pain, and made me 'drugged' during the day, even when taking 1/2 dose). TODAY I saw a clinician again and was prescribed Effexor 37.5 increasing to 75 mg after a week for back pain.  [Interestingly, I had been on Effexor, the lower dose, for 20 years for mediating hot flashes associated with menopause, which worked very well, but which I voluntarily discontinued 19 months ago, as I am certainly now through menopause at age 65!]  I KNOW I tolerate Effexor well--BUT what I am trying to convey is that, here in Ontario, Canada, when I asked that there must be SOMETHING out there to try besides Cymbalta for specific back pain, she began this thing about my two types of pain might all be in my head!  itold her I was willing to persue any and all avenues to get relief, and AGAIN said that there must be SOMETHING out there that is non-narcotic that can help, at least, with the back pain. I had already told her that I had very little relief from taking 2x500mg acetominiphen every 4 hr [Tylenol] also with the maximum dosage of 6 muscle and back pain relief during the day [Robax Platinum=200 mg ibuprophen [Advil] + 500mg methocarbamol].  Hence the prescription for Effexor.  I don't know yet, obviously, if it will help.  But when the medical community accuses you that it might all be in your head because I don't 'present' like 95% of patients--that's just cruel.  I blatantly asked her, 'What if I'm the other 5%?', to which she gave no answer.  I have only ever had x-rays on my back, again because I don't 'present' abnormalities that 95% of the population would show.  So, AGAIN, what if I'm one of the 5%??  What do I have to do to get an MRI to see if there is something EVERYONE is missing????  As I have found, I'd have to LIE and say that the pain I have from the back is going down one side of my body (which it doing only slightly and only recentll) to get an MRI to check!!  Can't see a neurologist for 8 months!!  HOW DO WE GET THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS (this is now 5 different doctors-family doc, 2 emerg docs, 1 doc-associate, clinic doctor) to BELIEVE you??  And IF they believe you, why does it take 8 months to see a neurologist, who likely won't have any better answers?  There are no pain management centres near here. Now what????