Pain Pump questions

[Ferrkits]

My doctor is basically forcing me to have one put in. I have had so many major operations in the past few years I did not want to have this pain pump put in. I wanted to wait awhile to have this done. The doctors office already took away one of the pain meds I take late night into the am hours when my other pain meds wear off and I don't have anything to take. They wont increase the amount of morphine I can take, they wont increase the amount of lyrica I take. I asked what I am supposed to do and I am told I have to deal with it! I feel this is a way for this doctors office into forcing me to have this put in even if I don't want it right now. I am made to feel like I am a drug addict every month when I go there. I have never had a Bad drug screen my levels are always where they should be. I have never had a wrong pill count either. I do not take anything I am not supposed to take. I feel this is another way for them to force me into doing something I dont want to do right now and I do not want the same drs office that did my back and neck operations to touch me again. This is what will happen if I let them put this in! I magically came up with Permenant nerve damage after both back and neck operations from this same doctor. I did not have any pain from any nerve damage before my operations. I am not sure where it came from. I am not saying the Dr caused it in any way. I am saying I was not this bad before my operations to fix my back and neck problems. I just do not trust this doctors office to put this pump in . I am stuck I cant find another doctor to take me with this chronic pain and the prior operations. What should I do. I am always made to feel like a druggie when I go in for my pills. The P.A that I see every month talked to me like I was a pile of dog crap this month and would not discuss my meds and why they took one away from me. When I asked about what I am going to do, she said I guess you will have to deal with the pain wont you. The dr and I have decided to take this medicine away and thats it. Where is my input on my care? do I have a say in this? Even though my insurance company pays them good money to see me every month! what can I do and is there any place to report this besides to the Drs office where nothing will happen? I have not seen the actual doctor in over a year. I have had no MRIs done no Xrays done. No tests at all in over a year . They are mad that my pain meds are not keeping me comfortable but they will not increase anything. I have NOT asked for an increase on anything but the Lyrica. I have had increased pain in my lower back and it is now going down my right leg also. I am not sure what to do at this point. I Will consider another doctor to try the trail pain pump but I will not let this office do it. What should I do any help on this would be great if anyone knows of anything I could do maybe???? I hope I gave enough info for a reply.Thanks all.
Also any input on the pain pump from someone that has it would be nice. Does it work well? how was the surgery to have it put in? how is it working now? does it take all the pain away? how was the withdrawal from the pain meds? If any after the pump was put in? My biggest question is with lower back and neck pain will I have to have 2 pumps put in for both or will one pump take care of the pain from both? Is there any draw back to having the pump put in? any problems or pain from it?
sorry the doctors office wouldn't discuss this with me. Told me to look up info on here if I wanted to know about it. But gave me 2 DVDs to watch but told me I wouldn't get any info from them. so I threw them away. do you have to see a psychologist before you have one put in?

[Ferrkits]

I went back to the Dr s office yesterday about last months visit. I spoke to the Dr and NOT a P.A this time. I found out that the P.A lied about something I didnt say. That does not suprise me as this is the second time words were put in my mouth at this office. The whole thing with last months visit was swept under the rug like any complaint you ever bring up to them. Any way talked to the Dr about this Pain Pump just to see what it is all about. The meds he wants to use in it are Non Narcotic He says it will not only take care of the pain in my lower back and leg it will help the nerve pain and the pain in my neck and left arm as well. There is one Big catch to this Med. My insurance deductable for this every 3 months could be as high as 500 dollars to have it filled the lowest would be 200 dollars This does Not include his office visit cost. I am on a Limited Income and can not afford to pay that. so now what?  I live in a small town in East Tenn. There is  a lot of people here that sell their pills and only get pills for that reason. There are some people like myself that do Not do that.  I am tired of being looked at like I am a drug addict when I am not. The doctors have tried the Lidocaine patches on me they did not work. They have tried the epidorals and nerve blocks they did not work. They even tried to put me on Opana and I didnt like the way it made me feel. I told the Drs when they first operated on me and I was asked about trying the Oxycontin for pain I said No give me something else. I am not in this for the pills I just want to be able to sleep at night and be able to live some what of a normal life during the day. Thats what I want! there are so many strict regulations here for pain meds,, Then you try to consider another way and find out you cant afford it, what happens now? I am stuck!.I now take Morphine sulfate 60 milligrams 3 X a day Also Lyrica 150 Mill 3Xs a day and I was taking Lore-tab 7.5   2 Xs in the A M hours when my other meds would wear off  to hold me over till I could take the Lyrica and Morphine. They have taken the lore-tab away and I went to bed at 12. am got back up at 3. Am and In A Lot of Pain with nothing to take! Now what?  I am the one sitting here suffering!If anyone knows of anything else I could do or look into... I would consider travel but cant go real far to look for another Dr. I just wished I lived some place else.... Stuck In Tenn is what I am and it Stinks to be me!

[caregiver222]

The article on new treatments for Chronic pain and the role of glia cells is in the November 2009 issue of Scientific American magazine.

It is a "must-read".

[caregiver222]

I suggest you obtain a prescription for a 5% transdermal lidocaine patch, and place it over the spinal area causing the problem for no more than 12 hours a day.

There are other alternatives to dealing with gloial cell inflammation including third generation tetracycline. Scientific American had a good issue on new alternatives to chronic pain a year or so ago.

Opiates are not very effective because the problem is with glial cell inflammation - and the glial cells do not respond to opiates.

One of the problems with the morphine pump is that the drug inhibits peristalsis, and a blockage can end up with a bowel resection and you wearing a colostomy bag.

[kenonurse]

Wow. First of all I can tell you that no Dr. can make you do anything you do not want to. You do have rights you know. You have a say so in all aspects of your medical care. If you don't want this pump you don't have to get it. I only know one person that had a morphine pump and it didn't cause her any problems. Anyway, you need to find another Dr. right away. I'm gonna assume you live in the midwest possibly in a smaller town. Or in the southwest. These areas are notorious for being overly concerned about giving pain medication to patients. The West coast is much more relaxed about it and are less concerned about patients becoming addicted. If you live in a smaller town and can travel, I would consider finding a doctor in a nearby larger city. The doctor you are seeing needs to be reported to the state for his behavior toward you and his staff behavior. I would also consider finding a lawyer and suing the doctor that did your surgery. Also, if you are on disability you should be able to find an medical advocate that will help you with your rights as a patient. Good luck.