Pain Medication Problems...

[Jake_T]

I've had pain from my left lower abdomen to my left testicle for close too 2 years now and i take 4 norco 10/325 mg a day. which does not fully help my pain but i really do not want to be on any stronger meds (don't even want to be on the norcos). My doctors can't find out what the cause is but i am in pain 24/7, I've seen a urologist 5 times in under 2 years, and any test under the sun they can think of. My current doctor last month started to lower my dosage from 4 tablets a day to 3, which isn't that big of a deal. But this month she lowered it again to 2 tablets a day, which puts me in a great deal of pain and I have to submit a drug test before every refill. Now last year I was forced to drug test 13 times!!! all of which came up positive ONLY for the norco I'm prescribed. So i ask my doctor why she is doing this and she said that its time to get off of the medication. Which is fine by me but I want to know why I'm in constant pain and also something non-narcotic to manage that pain if cannot be fixed. I don't feel as though i deserve to be treated this way and i don't really know who or where to turn for this type of thing. I would appreciate some advice
-Thanks.

[Totie]

Glad to hear about you trying to see if the exploratory surgery would benefit you.

I was having pain in my pelvic area & all the mri, ct scans, gi tests revealed nothing. Even had urology tests done & they just could not figure it out.

My gyno finally suggested the surgery to make sure the tests are not missing anything. I agreed, the surgery revealed all good, however I was still in pain. My gyno finally told me to explore the issue more with another urologist because she just new it had to do with the bladder sling that was put in 3yrs earlier. I told her but they checked all that & no issues were find. She said it does not mean it could not have been missed.

Much to my reluctance I found another urologist. When he did his exams he immediately notice the problem. I had another surgery & come to find out the device was put in wrong...Needless to say it was taken out & no more pain.

I guess what I am trying to say is don't give up and try all avenues..But you must have a doctor who believes in your pain. If it was not for my gyno I would have given in & just dealt with it because I was thinking it was all in my head...She encouraged me to continue trying to find out my pain problem. I am so glad she gave me confidence to keep searching...

No pain....The exploratory surgery was good because it eliminated other issues.

Let me know how your appt. goes...

[Jake_T]

Sorry for responding after this long, been very busy.

I am willing to have exploratory surgery, I want to know whats wrong and I also do not want to be on these meds for a second longer then needed.

I'm going to speak to my new pcp about the surgery as well as other treatment options other than medication.

Thanks Again for the advice
-Jake

[femmy29]

Hi Jake,

I wish you the very best with your new PCP.  Think positive!  I truly hope a diagnosis comes your way along with treatment options that will get you back on your feet again.  It makes me feel very good inside knowing that you considered my advice and others' advice here helpful.  Please don't be a stranger.  Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.  Take care.

femmy  :)

[Totie]

Just a thought, but could exploratory surgery be an option?

[Jake_T]

Thank you. So many people have helped me so it's only natural for me to try to pass that on.

Thanks also for the ideas that you have brought up and I will discuss them with my new doctor as soon as I change from the "doctor" I have now.

Hopefully my PCP will be more compassionate and actually try to figure out the diagnosis and the appropriate solution. But I'll just have to see how it goes.

-Jake

[femmy29]

Hi Jake,

I am so happy to hear that the note stating that you engaged in drug seeking behavior has been removed from your medical record!!!  This is excellent news!!

I have noticed that you have been helping out other members and your writings to them are wonderful and truly motivates us to keep on trying each and every day in hopes of a better tomorrow.  Just wanted to thank you for your support in our community.

Thanks for keeping us up to date with how things are going with Kaiser.  It is just awful that you have to keep enduring this type of treatment from Kaiser but I believe peseverance prevails.  I had a long spat with Kaiser before my needs were adequately met.  Try to be calm and not let them get to you.  I know that is easier said than done but you have a lot going on right now and adding more health problems like high blood pressure would not be good.  Be sure to express that to them, tell them that you are in a lot of pain and struggling each day to handle your personal responsibilities and that this additional stress regarding your medication adds unnecessary stress and pain to the stress and pain you are already experiencing.  

A good idea would also be to bring in an article discussing how patients are typically treated in pain management (i.e., an article discussing the benefits of a long acting opioid with a short acting opioid for breakthrough pain).  There are many reputable resources on the internet.  Let them know that you are also interested in an anti-depressant and muscle relaxer as you have also researched that adding adjuvant medications to the opioid regimen can provide additional pain relief which may require less of the opioid component over the long term.  I think one of the goals is to get the doctor to understand that your primary goal is a diagnosis and not opioid therapy for the rest of your life.  If you are still planning to switch insurances at the end of the year, tell them that.  They may cave in and give you some additional medication as they now know you will only be a patient for 6 more months.  This scenario played out well for me during my last year at Kaiser.

You're making great progress.  Don't give up and I'll look forward to your updates.  Take care.  :)  

I'm going to lay down soon...this cold virus is trying to kill me (figurately)...ugh!  :(

femmy