Back pain is back :(

[runitskat]

As many of you know I had a series of 3 ESI's a little over a month ago. They worked great for about two weeks and then my pain started to creep back in. I saw my PM last Tuesday and told her about it and she just prescribed me more anti-inflammatory medicine (mobic) which does not make any bit of difference and I've told her this but for whatever reason she wants me to keep taking it. Possibly to see how long it takes before I get an ulcer! She said she was going to order me a TENS unit and gave me information on a SCS because she said it's "one of the coolest things they do in PM" haha. I think she was trying to make it sound super awesome but the more I read about it the more I don't want it.

She did not give me any pain medicine and I didn't ask for any. My pain levels were at a point that I could manage with Tylenol, can't take advil because of the NSAID I'm on. But for the past few days the pain is back just as strong as before the ESI's. I want to call and ask about the TENS unit to see how that's going. Knowing my insurance it wont be approved. I didn't know Blue Shield sucked so badly. I just want to know if I should mention that I have no pain meds and ask if I could be prescribed something. It doesn't have to be a narcotic. Just something stronger than Tylenol. My PM doctor already told me she does not like prescribing narcotics to me because of my age. I've been in PM for two months and she's written me a script for 90 Norco 10/325 and then 50 a month later. Because I was doing so well I didn't want to accept that the pain I felt at our last appointment was my pain coming back. I thought maybe I had just aggravated my back doing something and it would go away. When I first signed my contract she told me that she did not do refills and that I could not call in saying I "lost or had stolen" my prescription. So I'm not sure if that means that if I call asking for something for the pain, if she wouldn't do it.

I'm taking the max does of Tylenol and it's not even making a dent. It's hard enough to deal with the mental pain of thinking that you were fixed forever and then going back to the same pain in a matter of weeks. And having to consider having a SCS put in. I've never had any kind of surgery before and the ESI's were the most invasive medical procedure I've ever had done.  

[runitskat]

Yay L6 club! I actually didn't know about mine until I went in for my first injection. I was laying on the table with the xray on and the doctor walked in and went "ooooh lets count!" he was really excited. I was like what the heck is going on and he told me I had an extra vertebrae. Then I looked it up and saw that it was pretty cool. I'm not sure if mine is causing any of my problems since they never reported it on my MRI so for all I know my problems could really be at L6/S1

[mummy3too]

I also have an extra vertebra L6. I always say my surgeries were at the L5/S1 - but really it's the L6. My disc is herniated for the 3rd time. I have 3 other herniations above it. 2 herniations in my neck, an incredible amount of scar tissue encasing the nerve S1 and Arachnoiditis... My doc gives me Hydro 7.5/325 - so hopefully that will work for you too along with your mobic...

Good luck and let us know how it's working...

[runitskat]

Well when I'm on my normal meds (norco and mobic) they seem to work well together. The mobic helps a little with my arthritis so that's why I still take it. It does nothing for the nerve pain.  I wont get any more norco until tomorrow afternoon and I know it works so I'll be so relieved to get it. Yes I will literally do anything. If they wanted to burn the nerves I'd do it in a heartbeat. If there was a way to permanently implant a heating pad in my back I'd be all over that! If they wanted to give me more steroids i'd do it even with the side effects. Temporary relief is still relief.

[jamlws]

How are the meds working? I have been on TENs. I hope it helps with your pain. You are like me you are willling to try anything to get rid of the pain. Living with pain like this is not fun and when your not on anything it is so much worse.
Hang in there and I Hope your insurance comes thru for you.
Jamie

[designgyrl]

Kat,

Yes, I'm so happy that she was able to give you something to help you until you are able to see her in five weeks.  I know it's not the same amount, but like you said, it's something to start getting you through the pain (and she didn't say no) I know you were concerned.  Good for you.  Hope this evening finds you a little more pain free.

Karen

[runitskat]

Thanks! I'm open to anything and everything to try and get rid of this pain. Hell I'd even take more steroid shots if it would last a few weeks like the last one. But maybe not since I gained 10lbs since I started them! I hope my insurance approves the TENS soon, I really want to try it. I hated it in physio therapy but I'm really hoping it will be different this time.

[Sarajmt]

Hi!  That sounds like great news.  TENS can help but not all the time.  And some people really like the SCS.  It may work for you.  Don't count anything out.  The SCS didn't work for me but I don't have back pain.  Just neck abdomen and hands.  But it may work for you.

I'm glad she gave you some Norco.  I hope it helps.   Good luck sweetie and hang in there.
Sara

[runitskat]

Just an update my PM office called back. They are still waiting for my insurance to approve my TENS, big surprise there. My insurance *****. And she's going to write me a script for Norco 7.5/325 to get me through to my next appointment in five weeks. That's a step down from the 10/325 I was on but I don't care at this point. They could have given me Tylenol 3 and I would have been fine. So good news.

[runitskat]

Thanks! I rode my bike yesterday to the store and my back is not liking it today. I was going to ride again today but I just cant. The reason I'm not fond of the SCS is because I've never had any type of surgery before. I even still have my wisdom teeth and tonsils. I've had 2 teeth pulled and the injections but that's it. So it's a little scary to me. But like I said, I would give the trial a try because I'm willing to try anything. I hope I get my TENS soon so I can try that out. Hopefully it will help with sitting at my desk at work and driving. I'll keep everyone posted when they call me back.

[namnam46]

Kat,

If you try the SCS and it doesn't work, I'm sure that she WILL give you something that will help you. We all have to try the Therapies that our PM Dr.'s suggest and then if all else fails they will take care of the pain for you!!

Good Luck, Sweetie....Sherry

[namnam46]

Sweetheart,

The difference is that you won't become immune to the SCS Unit.  But your body WILL become ummune to the meds. She's REALLY trying to help you here and I do hope you'll give her a chance. I'm not sayaing you SHOULD use the SCS but I AM hoping that you give the PM Dr. a chance.

I really would be careful about switching again if you have already had to different PM Dr. in a year's time. It's just, UNFORTUNATELY, something that we CP Patients have to REALLY be concerned about and CAREFUL about!!

I'm glad that you called and left that message and maybe she'll give you something that's stronger that can give you relief so that you can enjoy your bike AND all of the things that you like doing!!!

Please let usknow what she said!!  Keeping my fingers crossed for you...Sherry

[jamlws]

I am sorry your pain has gotten worse. I have been told also that I am to young to be on pain meds and that is the only thing that helps my pain. I don't understand it cause chronic pain does not effect only older people it effects us too. I really don't understand it.
I hope your dr is going to give you something stronger so it will help your pain or come up with something that might help.
Jamie

[runitskat]

If I could just take Tylenol and have it take away my pain I would have no problem with that! I wish that were the case. I called and left a message asking about my TENS unit and said that I'm taking the max dose of Tylenol a day and that at my appointment I didn't ask for pain medicine because Tylenol was doing the job, but now it's not so I asked if there was something stronger than Tylenol I could take. My next appointment is not for five weeks. So if I have to I'll continue with Tylenol, Mobic and heating pads.

I don't know if I explained this right but I havn't switched pain doctors twice, I've switched HMO groups twice. The first one I was in, I did not like my PMP at all so I switched to the group my boyfriends PMP was in. That's where I am now. He's the one that referred me to my PM doctor which is the only pain clinic in my HMO group. I don't want to loose my PMP or my psych so that's the reason I don't want to switch. Plus I do like my PM she just seems really against prescribing pain meds for me since I'm so young. But I find it weird that she's willing to have me put a SCS in my body. Especially since those are usually a last resort.

I'm just going to wait this out. I need to at least try the TENS and do the trial for the SCS if it gets to that. I want to try all non invasive non medication ways to get rid of this. Then if all else fails I'll insist I get treated with medication. One good thing is she said that steroids were not for me and they wont try them again so that's good. Thanks for all the advice guys. It's good to talk to people who understand what I'm going through!

[flower12345]

I'm glad you're going to call your PM and tell her how bad your pain is. It may not look great to switch doctors again since this will be your third time, but it's not easy to function in severe pain. I think that you should see what she says and go from there. When you're in severe pain, basic day to day activities can be almost impossible to handle.

I read all of the posts two times, but I can't remember--can you call to get an earlier appointment? I would try a face to face appointment., instead of talking to her over the phone.

I know that many doctor's don't want to prescribe medications to people who are younger. It's great that you're so willing to try alternative treatments, but sometimes medications work very well. I take them, but I also do so many other things to be able to function, so I see them as a part what helps control my pain.

Even though you are young, you still need to live life! I think that doctors should be cognizant of your age in regards to how often you get dose increases, but I don't believe that you shouldn't take pain medication when medically needed because of your age. I really don't. For example, when is the right age to start taking stronger pain medications? If you wait until your 40s or 50s, then you will be in pain for 15-25 years! That seems wrong to me. Personally, I'd rather be young and have my pain under control, than wait until I'm older to be able to have lower pain levels.

I think that it's more important for a doctor to find the lowest level of medications that work for you, and to try not to do dose increases often. Does that make sense? So, I think it's good to find the right dose for you, and titrate up until you find the dose that works for you, even if it is on the higher side, then try to stay at that dose for as many years as possible. I have read that many people, when on the right dose, will stay on that dose for years. So, I think that it's better to be very careful with increases and have your pain under control, regardless of age. This is just my opinion though, and I'm (obviously, lol) not a medical professional, so maybe I'm wrong...

Flower

[mummy3too]

I agree with Sherry - don't jump ship just yet.

If you cannot wait until your next appointment, call them to inquire about the TENS and how soon it will be in. Mention to them that your pain level has continued to increase and ask them what the safest levels of Tylenol are on a daily basis (I know you already know the answer... but when they tell you, you can explain you are at that level and still unable to get pain relief - do they have any suggestions for you while you wait for the TENS unit to come in?)

I also have BC/BS - but not an HMO. My insurance covered my TENS.. HMO's might be different.

Good luck and please don't give up yet - I really think it's in your best interest to stay with this doctor right now. If you hadn't already switched a few times in the last 12 months, it might have been an option. It took me well over a year for me and my doctor to really feel comfortable with each other... It really takes some time but once you have finally built that relationship - you find it is well worth the wait.

Let us know what you decide - and I really hope you can find some relief soon.

Mum

[namnam46]

Kat,
I meant to add, the REASON they DON'T like prescribing Narcotics to someone so yong is that you won't have ANYTHING left to go to in about 10 years from now, MAYBE even sooner as your pain increases, if you can't hold off from the Narcotics as LONG as you can there will be NOTHING that they can do for you!!

Please try to work with her IF possible a little longer. Give her suggestions a TRY!! You won't know what the SCS can do if you don't TRY it. YOu can ALWAYS remove it. BUT it JUST MIGHT WORK!!!  :)

Sending you (((HUGS!!)))......Sherry

[namnam46]

Oh Kat,

I'm so sorry that your pain is returning!! I remember how excited you were about the
3 ESI's as you were getting them.

Please give your  PM a try for a little longer. You haven't been with her that long and if you switch again (3 times in a year already) one of your Dr.'s is going to take notice and you might get flagged. You DON'T want that at your age.

I think she's REALLY trying to help you.  Kat, she's LISTENING to you and what you told her. That's ALL you can ask.  She hasn't told yo NO to anything. I think she's doing an EXCELLENT job given the things that you have asked her about.

I really think you have a GOOD  PM Dr. You need to wait until your next appointment and see what she has to say. Don't get upset if they WON'T switch your  meds in during the month. MOST Dr.'s will have you wait until your next appointment so that they can see you in person.

I hope that EVERYTHING works out for you. As I said from EVERYTHING that yo wrote in your Post she did EVERYTHING that you have asked of her. AS you said you DIDN'T request ANY Pain Meds from her at all. She gave you what you had because you didn't REQUEST anything else.  This isn't the PM's fault at all. I'm glad that  you REALIZE that Kat. I think that you like your PM don't you? I, also, think that your PM likes you and that goes a LONG way when it comes to getting GOOD PM.

Looking forward to your update, Sweetie!  Good Luck and I hope you feel better.Sherry

[designgyrl]

I had a tens unit for awhile. It can work, yet the problem for me was the fact that the tens pads and the electrodes had to be stuck on my back in a certain order, they would fall off, disconnect, and stop.  The wires would be hanging outside of my clothing so it didn't look very professional either.  So, it worked some. but not the whole situation that I thought and I ended up having to stop using it and went on to have the Norco/hydrocodone.  I think the doctors using age is just a way for them to get out of having to write a prescription.  I think it's sad that a doctor has your MRI (my doctor also has mine and told me I'm not a candidate for the surgery but am to be kept comfortable at all times)so she knows what's going on with your back and that you have a true , debilitating injury.  I hope that you'll be able to get some more assistance or at least get another person, I know you said you've changed a couple of times but it's not right to not get any treatment.

[runitskat]

She did mention that it was used for people who had fail surgery or people who are not a surgical candidate, which is me. She made it sounds really fun and existing but all the research I've done is the complete opposite. Plus I hated TENS in physio therapy so I'm not sure how I'd deal with that in my spine all the time!

I think maybe she is taking this approach because i told her I'm young and don't want to feel like this forever. She's try all the ways she knows how to take  the pain away. But I'm starting to see that it probably wont go away. She wants me to be a normal 26 year old but that's never going to happen. It's just so frustrating.

[runitskat]

Sorry for all the typos. I was just woken up from horrible back pain. Probably from riding my bike to the store yesterday. It was only a five minute ride too! So I'm half asleep and on my way to microwave a heating pad and pour some coffee!

[runitskat]

Thanks guys. I tried to look up another PM doctor in my group and there is not one. I'm on an HMO so I'm sort of stuck with what I have. If I want to change PM doctors I have to change all my doctors. Including primary and psych. My boss keeps telling me how wonderful her doctor is so maybe its worth a shot to switch everything. But this would be the 3rd time in a year that I've done this. My first doctor didn't think I had a problem at all and would not even give me an MRI. So I left for the HMO group I'm in now, which is my boyfriend primary doctor. I just don't want that to look bad on my part.

I know the Norco is a narcotic. And that's the reason she wont give it to me anymore. The 50 she gave me last time was "just in case" I was going  on vacation the week I saw her so she gave it to me because I was going a lot of walking and was scared of the pain.

I'm going to call today and see about the TENS and ask for some medicine. Heck they would give me one step up from Tylenol and I would be happy. If they refuse than on Monday I'll switch my HMO group.

[troubleinohio]

your doctor sounds a lot like my first PM dr! This was quite a few years ago and all he would ever give me was Darvocet. I HATED that medicine, it didnt help my severe pain at all and made me feel nauseous and at every appt I would ask him to change my medicine and he never would budge. I finally left the clinic and my primary care dr. took over PM for me for quite some time in the form of vicodin and occasionally switching to percocet. I then had to go back to PM clinic after a few years because reg. dR didnt want to keep doing long term treatment. I went to same clinic, but when I called to make my first apt back again with them, I requested to be seen by a different Dr this time which they did. This one was much more empathetic to my situation, looked at my MRI's saw my problems in my spine and discs and gave me the ok for 90 vicodin a month.  THen i started seeing just the nurse practicioner every month after that, and she recently bumped my dose up even more and I walked out of there with scripts for 240 vicodin, I was shocked. I didnt even know a NP could change your dose but she did.  ANyways, you should definitely see if you can have another Dr. see you. I Had the LESI's as well and they didnt help me either.

[JadedSweetheart]

I started PM when I was your age and I'm not much older now.  The biggest thing is getting them to understand that you need pain control because you have responsibilities like any other person.  It's not our fault we became injured at a young age.  Maybe having your boyfriend go with you would help?  I know bringing my husband to appointments seems to make all the difference in the world.

BTW, the Norco is a narcotic medication, it's not a big one, but that's probably why they had her sign the contract.  Did she tell you to make the Norco that she most recently prescribed last the month or was it just for an acute problem?

[designgyrl]

I've been following your posts about how well you've been feeling and how you thought you had this thing handled and now it's creeped back up on you.  I'm sorry to hear your in so much discomfort.  Your doctor told you that she doesn't do lost, or stollen meds, but what about just trying to make one more appointment with her, while possibly looking for another doctor, to see if there is anything else that she would be willing to give you.  I also agree that it should not matter what  your age is when your an adult, pain, is pain, and I've never understood why doctors are so sensitive towards it, and I'm 39 and my doctor prescribes medication but doesn't get into the really strong dose, I've never needed it and we've only talked a few brief minutes about it and I could tell he wasn't comfortable either.  So, maybe if you could call and make an appointment, showing her how much pain your in, that mobic isn't doing anything but putting a hole in your stomach, maybe she will do the right thing and prescribe something to help you through until you can find someone who is willing to treat your pain appropriately.  Until then, hang in there, sorry it's been so bad.

Karen