Going to doctor need advice

[jamlws]

I have nerve damage in my face. I am on Gabapentin 300mg 2 times a day and Amitriptylin 25mg at bedtime. I went to see my surgern and told him I am still in pain all the time and he called my nerve dr and he told him that and he said  I am on the  lowest dose and he wants to see me to up my doses. I see him on Thursday. My question is all my pain is not nerve pain, I know the difference cause the pain feels different and my gabapentin calms down the nerve pain but not the other pain I have in my face. How can I explain to the dr that all my pain isn't nerve pain and the gabapentin no matter how high of a dose he gives me it won't change it? My surgern told him that I wanted to go to a pain dr cause I know a dr like that can treat all my pain but he said he wanted to see me again. I don't feel that all my pain is taking care of and I dont think it is right I have to live like this everyday of my life. I am always in pain no matter what I do and nothing I take will calm it down. I just need some advice.
Thanks
Jamlws

[Tuckamore]

You are on a relatively low dose. Increasing it may help the pain in general.

TracyCee is correct, explain it to your physician just as you did here. Don't be afraid to be assertive and tell him you beleive he is not listening to you. As I am sure you have heard me say, our physicians work for us. They are not doing us a favor. If he doesn't meet your expectations than it may be time to find some one who will listen to you and take action.

I have found that if I do everything my PCP asks me to do she is more likely to listen the next time I have an appointment. You may want to put a time limit on the increase. You might consider informing him that you are willing to give the increase a few weeks to work but if it is not successful you are not willing to continue to live with this pain. Make a follow-up appointment for 2 weeks and report the results of the increase at that time. If indeed your pain is unchanged than insist on other options.

There is a fine line between assertive and aggressive. Be assertive. It's your pain and your body. No one cares about it more than you do. Our physicians go home at night to their families and activities. We go home to pain and the challenges that it presents. There is a huge difference. Paint a picture for him with your words when you describe your pain and what you are experiencing.

In the past I have reviewed all the different things that I have tried under my physicians directions. I finish with something like, "What now? Help me! I can't function like this anymore." My PCP listens to me and I hope that yours will also.

Best of luck to you.
Tuck

[jamlws]

lol thank you, I can try but it just seems drs won't listen to me. I am afraid he is going to say "well I think it is all nerve pain and I will up your meds and that will take care of it" But I know it won't and I am not one to just come out and ask for something to help with the pain, since this pain started over a year ago I have not once asked for pain meds, I let the drs give me what think will take care of it. Maybe that is my problem but I dont want him to think I am a drug seeker.
jamlws

[TrayCee]

explain it just like that!