Aa
Update
I went to PM yesterday and thought I'd update everyone. I had an appointment on Tuesday but they called and said my doctor was out sick. So they scheduled me for the next day with the doctor who did my injections. It was a mad house when I got there. They had all the doctors from both practices there plus 2 PA's. So there were a lot of people there. The doctor had to read over my records because he had never seen me except to give the injections. He asked me standard questions and mad me bend backwards and all of that asking me where it hurt. I basically cannot bend backwards at all now and I told him that as well as where my new pain is at. He told me he was going to order an xray of my knee. And that they are going to have me to the diagnostic facet joint test. And then probably the nerve burn. He also said that the SCS is probably not a good idea for me since I'm young and active and the leads would probably move. He then mentioned surgery. I was stunned because no one has ever said surgery was an option. But since I will probably never see him again I don't think it really matters what he suggested.
He told me he wants to try to authorize Celebrex with my insurance again and when I asked about refilling the Norco he said "I thought that you were going to use Celebrex as pain medicine" I said uh no. So he cut me down to 2 Norcos a day and told me not to take Mobic anymore. I have a feeling that the insurance will not approve the Celebrex and that when I see my normal PM doctor she's going to be mad at me for not taking Mobic. Ugh. So I've had my medication cut down to almost nothing at a time where my pain is the worst it's been and its now pretty much all over my body :( I can't even imagine what it would have been like if I just waited for the insurance to approve the Celebrex. It would have never of happened and I would have been on no meds!
I'm so glad my Rheumy appointment is next week. I'm taking my boyfriend with me so that he can remember things that I would forget and be there for support. He actually suggested he go with me to make me feel better. I still have no gotten my TENS until because I can't afford the $150.00 copay. I will be able to get it in about a month though. Just wanted to let everyone know what's going on.
He told me he wants to try to authorize Celebrex with my insurance again and when I asked about refilling the Norco he said "I thought that you were going to use Celebrex as pain medicine" I said uh no. So he cut me down to 2 Norcos a day and told me not to take Mobic anymore. I have a feeling that the insurance will not approve the Celebrex and that when I see my normal PM doctor she's going to be mad at me for not taking Mobic. Ugh. So I've had my medication cut down to almost nothing at a time where my pain is the worst it's been and its now pretty much all over my body :( I can't even imagine what it would have been like if I just waited for the insurance to approve the Celebrex. It would have never of happened and I would have been on no meds!
I'm so glad my Rheumy appointment is next week. I'm taking my boyfriend with me so that he can remember things that I would forget and be there for support. He actually suggested he go with me to make me feel better. I still have no gotten my TENS until because I can't afford the $150.00 copay. I will be able to get it in about a month though. Just wanted to let everyone know what's going on.
I'm so sorry that they are not taking your pain as seriously as they need to. I'm very glad that you have the rheumatologist appt soon. I'm also glad that your BF will be there with you. It always helps me to have my husband go with me to any appt.
I really think you should find a new PM office. I know it's hard to start a new relationship with a new PM, but they are not adequately treating your pain and their excuse that "you shouldn't be in so much pain at your age" is absolute BS. The fact of the matter is that you should HAVE TO be in so much pain at your age so they need to do something about it. No one should expect you to suffer. Ever. Period.
I hope that you get some relief from all this pain soon. I know how upsetting, tiring and depressing it is to deal with terrible pain day in and day out. There is hope and you will get some relief eventually.
I really think you should find a new PM office. I know it's hard to start a new relationship with a new PM, but they are not adequately treating your pain and their excuse that "you shouldn't be in so much pain at your age" is absolute BS. The fact of the matter is that you should HAVE TO be in so much pain at your age so they need to do something about it. No one should expect you to suffer. Ever. Period.
I hope that you get some relief from all this pain soon. I know how upsetting, tiring and depressing it is to deal with terrible pain day in and day out. There is hope and you will get some relief eventually.
Kat - DON'T be afraid of the "nerve burn". That's what took care of ALL of my lower back pain!!! I can't begin to tell you the DIFFERENCE that I feel with my lumbar area now!! ALL the pain that was radiating down my leg from it has LEFT!! I had it done on BOTH sides of my back - it was the BEST thing I've EVER had done. I'm HOPING that it will last AT LEAST for the 18 months BUT if it ONLY lasts until tomorrow it will have been the BEST five months in a VERY long time. Especially since I've had the complications that my Hip Joint has caused. I wouldn't have been able to even get out of bed IF I hadn't had the RFA done. (Radio Fractory Ablation) So PLEASE don't be afraid of it. It didn't hurt at all and I would HOPE and PRAY that yours will work AT LEAST as well as mine has. I MEAN to tell you that 100% of my lower back pain IS GONE!!
You DEFINITELY need to get at LEAST and XRay of your ENTIRE back. I'm HOPING that your Rheumatologist can FINALLY Diagnose where ALL of your pain is coming from and document it for you so that you can get the relief that you need.
You are correct that your DDD WILL get worse over the years. It will take a LONG time (fortunately) BUT it WILL get MUCH worse as you get older. My Doctor figures that I've had mine for AT LEAST 25 or 30 years - IF not longer!! It's possible that I've had it since my 20's (as you) BUT my Ruptured Disc Surgery made it escalate. I originally thought that was what had caused BUT I was told differently by my Doctor at my last appointment.
My Rheumatologist was the one that sent me to My PM Doctor. I'm HOPING that YOURS will be sure that your get the Pain Meds that you NEED for your pain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!!
I PROMISE you that I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you are at your appointment!! I'll be at My Cardiologist getting my 2nd EKG at the time that you are at your "long awaited" appointment.
GOOD LUCK........Mama Sherry
You DEFINITELY need to get at LEAST and XRay of your ENTIRE back. I'm HOPING that your Rheumatologist can FINALLY Diagnose where ALL of your pain is coming from and document it for you so that you can get the relief that you need.
You are correct that your DDD WILL get worse over the years. It will take a LONG time (fortunately) BUT it WILL get MUCH worse as you get older. My Doctor figures that I've had mine for AT LEAST 25 or 30 years - IF not longer!! It's possible that I've had it since my 20's (as you) BUT my Ruptured Disc Surgery made it escalate. I originally thought that was what had caused BUT I was told differently by my Doctor at my last appointment.
My Rheumatologist was the one that sent me to My PM Doctor. I'm HOPING that YOURS will be sure that your get the Pain Meds that you NEED for your pain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!!
I PROMISE you that I will be thinking of you tomorrow when you are at your appointment!! I'll be at My Cardiologist getting my 2nd EKG at the time that you are at your "long awaited" appointment.
GOOD LUCK........Mama Sherry
Kat,
I'm a "Kat" too! :)
We sound like we have somewhat similar situations. I actually go see a Rheumatologist for the first time in years tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous about it....as I always am. I'm always thrilled to write down all my meds and have that "talk". (I'm on psych meds too so that is always fun) At the same time I'm cautiously optomistic that maybe...just maybe he'll finally find something that will explain the cause of all this pain so they will finally medicate me properly. I, too, only get 2 pills a day for pain and so I have to basically choose what part of the day I want to be comfortable and functioning and what part of the day I want to suffer through. OR...I can break them in half and only have partial relief all day and still suffer. Nice choice. Enough about me...just wanted you to know that you are not alone out there. :)
I'm a "Kat" too! :)
We sound like we have somewhat similar situations. I actually go see a Rheumatologist for the first time in years tomorrow. I'm pretty nervous about it....as I always am. I'm always thrilled to write down all my meds and have that "talk". (I'm on psych meds too so that is always fun) At the same time I'm cautiously optomistic that maybe...just maybe he'll finally find something that will explain the cause of all this pain so they will finally medicate me properly. I, too, only get 2 pills a day for pain and so I have to basically choose what part of the day I want to be comfortable and functioning and what part of the day I want to suffer through. OR...I can break them in half and only have partial relief all day and still suffer. Nice choice. Enough about me...just wanted you to know that you are not alone out there. :)
My MRI shows arthritis in the facet joints (pcp said it's osteoarthritis) in the lumbar area (I've only had a lumbar MRI, not one on the whole spine which I think I need) I have early DDD, mild stenosis that will get worse and a herniated disk. I also have an L6 that is fused with the tailbone. I'm pretty sure I also have arthritis in my knees. I also have what is called Osgood Schlatters Disease on both of my legs and that used to cause a lot of pain when I was younger and it may be contributing to my knee pain now.
I've only had a lumbar MRI and an xray on my lumbar spine. When I was taking Celebrex it did not help. None of the NSAIDs that I've taken have done anything I just take them to please the doctors. I'm going to the Rheumy to basically rule out all the possibilities for my pain and what is causing me to feel like complete crap all the time. I'm basically a walking zombie because I'm so fatigued all the time and cloudy headed and I need to know what's going on.
If nothing comes of my Rheumy appointment than I'm going to probably look for another PM doctor. I'm not sure if I can handle the diagnostic test in the facet joints and then the nerve burn. It all sounds horribly painful for a temporary fix.
I've only had a lumbar MRI and an xray on my lumbar spine. When I was taking Celebrex it did not help. None of the NSAIDs that I've taken have done anything I just take them to please the doctors. I'm going to the Rheumy to basically rule out all the possibilities for my pain and what is causing me to feel like complete crap all the time. I'm basically a walking zombie because I'm so fatigued all the time and cloudy headed and I need to know what's going on.
If nothing comes of my Rheumy appointment than I'm going to probably look for another PM doctor. I'm not sure if I can handle the diagnostic test in the facet joints and then the nerve burn. It all sounds horribly painful for a temporary fix.
Kat
I hope you got my PM. I'm so sorry honey! I hope your appointment next week goes better! Maybe he'll have some better ideas for you. I know how frustrating it is to b young and in pain and I really hope things turn around for you soon!
I hope you got my PM. I'm so sorry honey! I hope your appointment next week goes better! Maybe he'll have some better ideas for you. I know how frustrating it is to b young and in pain and I really hope things turn around for you soon!
Hi Kat,
I meant to mention that I ALSO take Celebrex and it DOES help my Arthritis and even though I have Heart Trouble they haven't given me ANY problems at all. As Karen was saying this SAME type of Drug was removed from the market a couple or three years ago BUT they left Celebrex. I take a VERY high dose of it BECAUSE my Arthritis is so bad and my Cardiologist is FINE with it. I take 400 mgs a day. That's one pill in the morning and one pill at night. I hope that you will be able to try it. I think that you will need more help than JUST the Celebrex though. However, REMEMBER I'm NOT a Doctor. :)
That's why I'm SO anxious that you have an appointment!! I've forgotten, also, what your different tests said about your condition. Is it DDD or just exactly what that you are having to deal with BESIDES the Arthritis? What different tests have they done? XRays, MRI's, CT Scans???
Thinking of you....Mama Sherry
I meant to mention that I ALSO take Celebrex and it DOES help my Arthritis and even though I have Heart Trouble they haven't given me ANY problems at all. As Karen was saying this SAME type of Drug was removed from the market a couple or three years ago BUT they left Celebrex. I take a VERY high dose of it BECAUSE my Arthritis is so bad and my Cardiologist is FINE with it. I take 400 mgs a day. That's one pill in the morning and one pill at night. I hope that you will be able to try it. I think that you will need more help than JUST the Celebrex though. However, REMEMBER I'm NOT a Doctor. :)
That's why I'm SO anxious that you have an appointment!! I've forgotten, also, what your different tests said about your condition. Is it DDD or just exactly what that you are having to deal with BESIDES the Arthritis? What different tests have they done? XRays, MRI's, CT Scans???
Thinking of you....Mama Sherry
Kat,
That's ridiculous that your pain management doctor is doing that to you. He is completely making you suffer for absolutely no reason. By the way, does the celebrex really help you? Be careful on that stuff, I heard there was some bad stuff from it, causing some problems I think with the heart. Do you really like your pain doctor? I'm just thinking that you can't live on two or three Norco's a day, especially with the pain that your in on a daily basis. I'm telling you, it does seem some of these pain management doctors are being really careful with the meds that we are being put on. I know the stuff I take has very little side effects, which I'm grateful for, but he did find one of the medications is the most expensive. Can you talk to the Rheumy about the medication that they are giving you. My Rheumy never gave me vicodin or anything like that but he did give me ultram that helped until I had the issue with my eye. I know some people do say their rheumys are very helpful so I hope it works out for you. I do think 2 pills a day is not enough to cover your pain. I"m so sorry!
That's ridiculous that your pain management doctor is doing that to you. He is completely making you suffer for absolutely no reason. By the way, does the celebrex really help you? Be careful on that stuff, I heard there was some bad stuff from it, causing some problems I think with the heart. Do you really like your pain doctor? I'm just thinking that you can't live on two or three Norco's a day, especially with the pain that your in on a daily basis. I'm telling you, it does seem some of these pain management doctors are being really careful with the meds that we are being put on. I know the stuff I take has very little side effects, which I'm grateful for, but he did find one of the medications is the most expensive. Can you talk to the Rheumy about the medication that they are giving you. My Rheumy never gave me vicodin or anything like that but he did give me ultram that helped until I had the issue with my eye. I know some people do say their rheumys are very helpful so I hope it works out for you. I do think 2 pills a day is not enough to cover your pain. I"m so sorry!
Celebrex does not help but Ive only taken it for a few weeks from samples I was given. I've been on NSAIDs for almost a year and have tried relafen, voltaren, mobic and celebrex with little to no results.
Before i was in pm I was on 6-8 norcos a day as prescribed by my pcp. When I was put in pm she cut me to 3 a day and now this other doctor cut me down to two. I've been taking them for almost two years. But pm does not have me on a monthly script. They prescribe them as needed whenever they feel I need them. So every script I've gotten from them has been for different strengths and amounts. It's pretty frustrating. Especially since I've been on the same dose strength for two years and am pretty much imune to them now. I might as well be taking asprin. My doctor feels that I'm not or should not be in this much pain so they don't give me near what I need to controll the pain. I tell them how much pain I'm in and that the meds are not working but they just keep cutting my dose
My appointment is in Wednesday at 9:30am. I'll keep everyone posted.
Before i was in pm I was on 6-8 norcos a day as prescribed by my pcp. When I was put in pm she cut me to 3 a day and now this other doctor cut me down to two. I've been taking them for almost two years. But pm does not have me on a monthly script. They prescribe them as needed whenever they feel I need them. So every script I've gotten from them has been for different strengths and amounts. It's pretty frustrating. Especially since I've been on the same dose strength for two years and am pretty much imune to them now. I might as well be taking asprin. My doctor feels that I'm not or should not be in this much pain so they don't give me near what I need to controll the pain. I tell them how much pain I'm in and that the meds are not working but they just keep cutting my dose
My appointment is in Wednesday at 9:30am. I'll keep everyone posted.
Hi Kat,
I'm so sorry to hear that he cut you back on your Norco and stopped your Mobic. How many Norco had you been on and how long have you been taking them? I'm sorry, but I don't remember. :( Sometimes my memory JUST won't work - :(
Kat, I'm SO EXCITED about your Rheumatologist appointment next week!!! You've waited for SO long for this and I'm HOPING that this will be your answer!! What day and time is your appointment as I will be on "pins and needles" until we get that update on your appointment!!!
GOOD LUCK........Mama Sherry
I'm so sorry to hear that he cut you back on your Norco and stopped your Mobic. How many Norco had you been on and how long have you been taking them? I'm sorry, but I don't remember. :( Sometimes my memory JUST won't work - :(
Kat, I'm SO EXCITED about your Rheumatologist appointment next week!!! You've waited for SO long for this and I'm HOPING that this will be your answer!! What day and time is your appointment as I will be on "pins and needles" until we get that update on your appointment!!!
GOOD LUCK........Mama Sherry
Thank you for sharing your update with us! I'm sorry to hear you are hurting and that your doctor cut your meds. I just don't understand that. Especially when he doesn't even know if the Celebrex will be approved or not! Does it work for you? My insurence wouldn't approve it for me either....they ended up putting me on relefen (I'm not supposed to take NSAIDS mind you) and that stuff made me sick as a dog.
Going to the doctor is so hard....you never know what they are going to do, or if you are going to leave there relieved or in tears. Hang in there!!
Going to the doctor is so hard....you never know what they are going to do, or if you are going to leave there relieved or in tears. Hang in there!!
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