Didn't go to work today

[designgyrl]

Too upset with what's happened over the weekend.  I told my family that I no longer consider them family and that I've found some sisters and brothers, and a mama on this site who have listened and supported me more than anyone in the world.  I did go to work today because I couldn't move my neck, fun, fun.  I'm not taking anything for pain except tramadol, I want to show the pain management doctor that I still have the two other medications that are almost full from 4/20.  I'm not sure why he would be so mad, but he was.  

[namnam46]

Karen,

I have to make this short as I have to feed my Granddaughter, but you MUST really consider what you say to your Dr. today or he WILL think that you don't need your pain meds anymore just as Tuck had stated. So PLEASE be careful in your reply's. You sure don't want to be without your meds!!.

What time is your appt. today ?....Sherry

[jamlws]

Family just don't understand but I know when I am off my meds my husband does understand cause he does see how much pain I am in. My friend is in pain all the time and her way of dealing with it is to not do anything at all but sit around. I don't agree with that at all. But she says she don't want to be drugged up but if you find the right dr you won't be drugged up you will be treated to the point you can get out and do stuff. Anyway I can see how her family is dealing with her stopping everything.
I agree if you have the meds then take them cause it is no fun being in pain all the time. And if your not taking the meds you are showing your dr that you can go without them and that would NOT be a good thing right?
Best of luck,
Jamie

[RunningMom]

I completely understand how you feel about your family.  Tuck nailed it on the head that people do not understand chronic pain and lable CP patients as lazy, drug seekers, and wimpy.  That is exactly what my mother and my aunts/uncles call me.  They think I'm faking the herniated discs in my neck along with a spinal cord injury that resulted from moderate spinal cord compression from my neck.  My mother told me that I'm not educated enough to read the MRI and that I don't know what I'm talking about.  Even my neighbor across the street has mentioned that I "look fine" and not hurt.  I don't even leave my house because the pain is so bad and I sit here 24/7 with an ice pack on the back of my neck.  

I honestly don't tell my family exactly what medications I take.  Only my husband knows, because he bring in my precription forms and get them filled for me.  

Your doctor is not going to see you as drug seeking behavior if you take your medications properly.  When you take your medications, he will see that you are in pain.  You don't have to prove to that your not a seeker by suffering and holding off of your meds.  The side effects of your pain medicine wear off after you take them for a while.  

You don't need to tell your family either that you take pain medicine.  I sure don't.  I know for sure they will judge me.  

[dame_wilbur]

I'm very sorry that you feel that you've had to cut off your family. I've done that to a lesser degree (I just avoid him like the plague) because my father has admitted that he's embarrassed by my disability. (Like it's my fault that I have migraines?) I don't get it, but I just tend to ignore his existence for the most part. The weirdest thing was that my grandmother, who I loved and respected very much, and who also lived with chronic pain, didn't understand what it was like for me, as she refused to accept the reality that she was in pain and fought it to the end.

As for your meds, I'm not sure what to recommend. Part of me understands that you don't want to deplete your reserves until you've proven to your doc that you're not abusing them. On the other hand, you need to take care of your body, and if that means taking pain meds, then it's better to do that as needed as it'll be healthier for your body in the long run.

*hugs*

~Dame

[skmedlin27703]

I agree with the statement about taking your meds. If you didn't need them the doctor would not have prescribed them to you.  With chronic pain it is important to take the medication as soon as you start to hurt because if you wait then it won't work properly.  I know its frustrating that you have to take them to begin with but I am sure you will feel much better once you do.  These medications are what allow us to function in the world! Without my pain meds I surely would not be working.

And I understand how you feel about your family not understanding.  My mom never understood my dad's pain all the years that they were together.  He is an orthopedic mess! And the methadone he is on makes him sleepy.  She never understood it all.  And now, I cannot expect her to understand my pain.  I hurt most all the time.  Who wouldn't with 8 bolts and a rod in their foot.  And even with all that she doesn't understand.  I understand.

[JadedSweetheart]

If you are in pain, by all means, take your meds!  Don't be a martyr!  I don't mean to be forceful with my opinion, but you are in pain,  so you need to take your medicine.  It's like not taking insulin and letting your blood sugar get out of control.  We take meds for a reason.
I have to say that with everything I'm going through I feel no guilt when I take my meds.  Other women have told me that they had so much guilt when they took their meds while pregnant, and I think that is a personal thing for everyone.  Personally, I feel no more guilt when I take my meds than when I eat food.  Both are neccessary to life for me.  It's my medicine and I would get on my kids for not taking thier medicine while sick or my grandfather for not taking his insulin.
I care about you and know you're in real pain.  I want you to know it's okay to take your meds.  I hope you feel better and that I'm not coming down on you too hard.  I know you've been through a lot lately.  I just don't want to to put yourself through unnessesary pain.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Sunkitty,

I responded on your other post today.

First let me add that your family just does not understand chronic pain. It's normal for them to not understand. Unless you've been there how can you have any concept of chronic pain? Although I was empathic with chronic pain patients I did not have any real understanding of what they were going through. If you have no life experience to compare it to it can be very difficult to comprehend. It's easier to beleive that someone is drug seeking, lazy or even weak.

Education is greatly needed in our country. However when the media is full of drug dealer and drug deaths and abuse that's what is remembered. Where are the media with stories of ppl facing the challenging journey through chronic pain, seeking releif and treatments? There simply are none to speak of.  So always consider the source when a family member is unkind or seems uncaring. They simply are uneducated.

Your statement about the PMP being "mad" I must have missed the story behind that one. I apologize. Take your meds and take in your bottles. If they are full he may not think you require them. Give some thought to your response to his statements.

My Best to You,
~Tuck