Hello everyone, I am brand new to this site and have been reading so many post to hopefully help me out and try and get rid of some of my frustrations, so here is my dilemma and would love some feedback from anyone with suggestions.
Well, I have been on hydrocodone(off and on for 16 years) due to a car accident. It is due to DDD, and that I could tolerate the pain with the meds when that was my only ailment. Well, about seven years ago, after 8 months of daily, horrific pain, I was finally diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitus, and I have a very severe case, with daily pain even with meds. I also have also been diagnosed with Fibro, Sciatica, and Anxiety and i think that is all. I started with my PMP almost seven years ago with the back and IC problems and we went on a journey, which he did great at first doing everything needed to manage it. I have had blocks, burning of the nerves, and so many diff procedures from him and urologists for the IC. Well, the last year my pain has increased and I am on 5 mg Methadone, Hydros 7.5, Zanaflex 4mg and Neurontin. My tolerance is so built up that i can not keep my pain under control when it flrares up, like it is now. I can not get relief with the meds I have and I called the doc last friday, and they FINALLY returned my call yesterday and we went back and forth because my back is so bad that I can not stand up straight and I literally need a walker which I plan on finding one tomorrow. Well, I call about getting another injection in my lower back to help ease the pain, and the will not do it because 1. They are leaving friday for 2 weeks and can not fit me in until Aug. 15th, and 2. I could not come up with $360 today to go in(I live an hour away from the doc) and do it today. We live on a month to month paycheck and you all would die if I told you what we live on. So, I called the nurse back and asked what I could do and so he is calling me in a steroid to try and help with the pain. I called back and asked for something stronger to help get me through this and they refused. I could not believe it and I am furious. I have been telling my doctor that the meds are not working like they used to(built up tolerance to meds) and they do not care one bit. They said what will i use when I get worse, and I am worse, RIGHT NOW. I just don't understand, they use to call me in 30 to 40 Hydro 10's without any problem(never anything stronger than that and I really can't believe that) and now he keeps telling me, because we have discussed it many times, he is not going to change my medication. He has not changed the meds I take at all in 7 years. I used to at least get 10mg Methadone, but of course he changed that back to 5mg. I am at my wits end. He told me I have an addictive personality and I could not believe it. I did not ask for all these horrible things and he is treating me like a drug addict. I have always done exactly what he has told me, but I am so upset with him and his staff, all they care about is what I am paying or not paying on my account. I seriously need some advice from anyone that will chat with me about this. What would you do, I have to have a Pain Mgmt doctor because of all of these problems, but I feel so hopeless about everything right now, it really has sent me into a depressive state. I can not even get out of bed most days, and then has been going on for 2 weeks. I have 4 children, and one is 3, and my family needs me, and I can not function or accomplish anything right now. I really could use any help from anyone willing to read all this and reply.
Sorry this is so long and if you don't understand anything, please ask.
Thanks if you are still reading and hope to hear from you!