total pain

[snoopy_casey]

everyday i have pain. i wake up with bad thoughts of maybe cutting my ankle off.  i just recentaly had surgery and they took out my tightroop system to hopefully stop the pain. i broke my left ankle about 2 years ago, and i still have sever pain. i have seen many doctors and no one seems to help me. i get accused of being a dug seeking addiction, when i just want the pain to stop. in the middle of my left ankle it hurts, like i can rub the nerves and it makes it feel alittle better, but it hurts. doctors keep telling me to go to pain clinics and i dont want to go, and just get pain pills. i want it to stop hurting. what can i do, or what treatment can i get. iam even open to cutting my foot off to stop the pain, but will that give me more pain? can cutting a few nervers help? if they are cut, what will happen, can i still walk? i even hiked many miles in yosemite national park last summer, and i have done alot of working out with my foot. and it still hurts. what are my options???

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

Well, pain management isn’t just about pain medications. A pain management team consists of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and clinical psychologists. Depending on the cause and the severity different therapies can be tried to manage pain. Aside mild to strong pain killers, other options include interventions such as intrathecal medication pump, temporary or permanent nerve blocks, pulsed radiofrequency, neuromodulation, nerve ablation, spinal cord stimulator, acupuncture etc. Before a therapy is advised, it would need to be evaluated as to which would suit you the best. I would sincerely advise to consult a pain clinic to decide upon a management plan that would suit you the best.
Hope this was helpful.

Take care!

[bigsissie]

What is a tigthroop system? There are many options other than cutting off you foot or your nerves that could leaving you unable to walk.  The pain clinic will be able to give you nerve blocking shots they are not there just to give you pills. They should also be able to give you therapies that will help with the pain. If you cut your nerves you will no longer have control of your foot btw. What type of pain are you having? Is it dull, stabbing, sharp, throbbing, electrical. shocking, ect? You may want to talk to your doctors about gabitril. It is a medication that helps control nerve spasms and it sounds to me like that is what you are having. Pleas give more info as to why you had the surgery and any other health problems you have. Thanks and best wishes.

Sissie