Aa
where do I go now?
Hello everybody heres my 10 mlg worth of sense. Hit by an uninsured motorist while riding my ninja after work one day and broke my back and got an unstable pelvic fracture. 2 screws in sacro illiac joint aka lumbar fusion and a herniated l4 to l5 with a never ending backache. I made it 3 weeks without narcotics 6 months after surgery and couldnt stand it no more and went back on norco 10/325 4 to 6 a day . After 8 mos went on percocet 10/325 at 4 to 6 day and got to the point where they dont work and now the last 2 months Ive run out 5 days early and spend 3 days in bed in miserable w.d. I seen an ortho doc last week and he added 100 mg of ultram er to my arsenal that doesnt help and told me I wasnt a candidate for back surgery . would be in bed sick now if my friend hadnt gave me some 10 mg methadones to get by with. Not to metion the zoloft, paxil, cymbalta that has screwed my head up. Last month I almost checked in to rehab but Im taking care of a wife and 3 kids and trying to make endsmeat. They recomended I see pm doctor but there arent any here. I want to ask my pcp for methadone because it works better than anything for my pain without the up and down you get with hydro and oxy but after what Ive read about it from you guys I dont know. i would honestly rather inject Jack Daniels to work than give up and lose everything ive worked 15 years for to get starved out for a disability check. Can any one offer some advice?
I'm glad someone took mercy on you and helped you. I definetly recommend getting into a pain clinic. There's nothing wrong with taking methadone for pain. I took it for a while myself and was on that when my doctor decided to switch me to something else because the methadone just wasn't cutting it.
I was saying that if you went to the methadone clinic.. like for people addicted to herion, which I believe is what you meant when you said you had thought about going there, that that is the only downside of having to resport to that.
I really hope your pain has eased as well!
I was saying that if you went to the methadone clinic.. like for people addicted to herion, which I believe is what you meant when you said you had thought about going there, that that is the only downside of having to resport to that.
I really hope your pain has eased as well!
Hello Everyone thanks for your advise. I got some dones to get me threw last month and keep from w.d. They make me feel like a zombie but atleast Im able to work and not lay in bed for 3 days in misery.
I have ran out early before and called my doctors office and they said there was nothing they could do. I went to the ER and they said the same thing. I went to the walkin and the doctor there had some mercy on me after calling my pharmacy and testing my blood.He told me not to come back for more and consider this a lesson. Living in chronic pain is HELL. I have a friend in the same position who takes the 10mg methadone so thank god for friends. I was scheduled for therapy and traction 3 times a week for 6 weeks but after the first week Ihad to back off to 1 a week on friday so I could rest a couple days after . It seems to help my lower back pain but makes my hip and leg hurt worse. imreally hoping my disc will go back in so I can get away from these pills and doctors.
Godbless you all and may your pain be eased.
I have ran out early before and called my doctors office and they said there was nothing they could do. I went to the ER and they said the same thing. I went to the walkin and the doctor there had some mercy on me after calling my pharmacy and testing my blood.He told me not to come back for more and consider this a lesson. Living in chronic pain is HELL. I have a friend in the same position who takes the 10mg methadone so thank god for friends. I was scheduled for therapy and traction 3 times a week for 6 weeks but after the first week Ihad to back off to 1 a week on friday so I could rest a couple days after . It seems to help my lower back pain but makes my hip and leg hurt worse. imreally hoping my disc will go back in so I can get away from these pills and doctors.
Godbless you all and may your pain be eased.
If you buy them off the street you never know WHAT you are buying so that is never a good idea. Just try your best to find a good pm dr. I have been looking for one also. I found a great one but before he was able to treat my pain he went on vacation so I have to wait til the end of july to get in to see him. I went to another pain dr and he treated me really bad and I will never go back there. Hang in there and please keep looking for a dr that will help you, it is the best thing that you can do.
Jamie
Jamie
You definitely need long-term pain meds. I know someone said if you go on the methadone, no legitimate pain doctor will take you on. Maybe that's true in some areas, but it was one of the options given to me by my pain clinic, though for me that's not an option. If you ever want to get off it, the taper is really long, months, maybe even a year.
I've had my Fentanyl patch on since Thursday. I do have to take my BT medicine but I'm finding this patch to be (so far) the best med I've been on since I started this journey. I was initially very reluctant to go on it, as I felt like it was too extreme and too strong. I am getting some headaches, but they're fairly mild.
There are so many options when you're with a pain clinic. Granted, we all still have our struggles and flare-ups, but at least (usually) if one thing fails, there's usually something else to try, be it a procedure or a medication. These are not options with a primary care doctor.
My boyfriend has a serious neck injury. He went to one pain clinic and hated it; so he has refused to go to any other. He had one primary care doctor who was following him but then abruptly decided she wasn't comfortable filling his prescription. He found out when he called for his regular refill. No reason for her to do it at the time but it left him in the lurch.
I convinced him to switch to my primary care for a start. She's amazing. It's a bit of a hike for him but well worth it. She listens and is very patient with him, especially with his reluctance to go the surgical route and/or the pain clinic route. She fills his prescriptions every month with no problem and has even increased the dosage and number of times he takes it.
But I finally made progress with him and last night he's agreed to check out the pain clinic I'm with. I feel like it will give him more options.
Make sure when you do sign up for a clinic, that you find a good one. There are some horror stories I've read. You have to be compliant and some have contracts and testing (mine does not.) If you break the rules, they'll drop you and red flag you. Most importantly you want a clinic that is willing to go the extra mile for you. To keep searching and trying until they find what works best for you.
Keep coming here for support. Not only will you get support from others, you will also help others with your knowledge ... this forum for me is a life saver!!
Good luck and let us know what's going on.
I've had my Fentanyl patch on since Thursday. I do have to take my BT medicine but I'm finding this patch to be (so far) the best med I've been on since I started this journey. I was initially very reluctant to go on it, as I felt like it was too extreme and too strong. I am getting some headaches, but they're fairly mild.
There are so many options when you're with a pain clinic. Granted, we all still have our struggles and flare-ups, but at least (usually) if one thing fails, there's usually something else to try, be it a procedure or a medication. These are not options with a primary care doctor.
My boyfriend has a serious neck injury. He went to one pain clinic and hated it; so he has refused to go to any other. He had one primary care doctor who was following him but then abruptly decided she wasn't comfortable filling his prescription. He found out when he called for his regular refill. No reason for her to do it at the time but it left him in the lurch.
I convinced him to switch to my primary care for a start. She's amazing. It's a bit of a hike for him but well worth it. She listens and is very patient with him, especially with his reluctance to go the surgical route and/or the pain clinic route. She fills his prescriptions every month with no problem and has even increased the dosage and number of times he takes it.
But I finally made progress with him and last night he's agreed to check out the pain clinic I'm with. I feel like it will give him more options.
Make sure when you do sign up for a clinic, that you find a good one. There are some horror stories I've read. You have to be compliant and some have contracts and testing (mine does not.) If you break the rules, they'll drop you and red flag you. Most importantly you want a clinic that is willing to go the extra mile for you. To keep searching and trying until they find what works best for you.
Keep coming here for support. Not only will you get support from others, you will also help others with your knowledge ... this forum for me is a life saver!!
Good luck and let us know what's going on.
My husband was killed and revived on the scene when the saturn he was parked on the side of the road in, sleeping, got hit by a drunk driver in a Durango going 65mph. He was in a coma for a month and woke up to find his back and nearly ever bone in his body was broken. He was discharged from the hospital after they fused his back, with only a back brace for comfort. He went down a long road of trying to find someone to treat his pain and eventually got into a PM. He considered the methadone clinic and buying street prescriptions, but he never did. When I have been at my worst, I have thought the same thing. The methadone clinic isn't the worst idea, and it was even recommended to me in pregnancy, but I'm pretty sure that once you go to that clinic, you won't be able to get a legitimate pain management doctor to prescribe anything for you because they will consider you an addict. (We all have to walk the fine line between finding pain relief and not being called addicts)
My husband doesn't have to take anything now, though at times he considers going to a PM, when it gets really bad. He just takes Goodys powders like they're going out of style.
He's the one who has helped me on my road of CP and I wanted to share some tips:
When you go to any doctor, always bring a copy of your MRI films, reports, xrays, etc. You usually only need the ones that are most recent and relevant, but walking in there armed with proof of condition always helps.
Tell your doctor what has worked for you in the past and what hasn't, and never ever, (even though we all want to) put on a "brave face" for the doctor. I have had to learn not to do this as they will be moving me all around and putting me in agony and I'll just squint and hold my breath. He looks at me every time and says "Does that hurt? Then say 'oww'!"
He also goes to my appointments with me and tells the doctors what home life is like, how he has to cook dinner after working a 10 hour day because I'm laying in bed crying, etc. It may help to bring your wife and have her explain the things you can no longer do.
Lastly, he always encourages me not to give up. He helps me make appointments and when I have a really bad appointment he just says "We'll do what we have to to get someone to deal with your pain".
And we, on this forum, are here give you that support too. Don't give up! We'll all stick by you to help you get the relief you need.
My husband doesn't have to take anything now, though at times he considers going to a PM, when it gets really bad. He just takes Goodys powders like they're going out of style.
He's the one who has helped me on my road of CP and I wanted to share some tips:
When you go to any doctor, always bring a copy of your MRI films, reports, xrays, etc. You usually only need the ones that are most recent and relevant, but walking in there armed with proof of condition always helps.
Tell your doctor what has worked for you in the past and what hasn't, and never ever, (even though we all want to) put on a "brave face" for the doctor. I have had to learn not to do this as they will be moving me all around and putting me in agony and I'll just squint and hold my breath. He looks at me every time and says "Does that hurt? Then say 'oww'!"
He also goes to my appointments with me and tells the doctors what home life is like, how he has to cook dinner after working a 10 hour day because I'm laying in bed crying, etc. It may help to bring your wife and have her explain the things you can no longer do.
Lastly, he always encourages me not to give up. He helps me make appointments and when I have a really bad appointment he just says "We'll do what we have to to get someone to deal with your pain".
And we, on this forum, are here give you that support too. Don't give up! We'll all stick by you to help you get the relief you need.
Hi Sukker,
I want to Welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know how very happy I am that you have found us here.
I'm so sorry for the pain that you are having to endure. You have been thru so very much.
I'm originally from Tulsa and I was very sorry to hear that you have had trouble finding PM Dr. in the Fort Smith area. So I went on Google and typed in "Pain Management Dr.s in Fort Smith, AR" and a whole slew of them came up. If you will google it you will get the same results. Then you can have your PCP refer you to one of them.
I hope that this will help you and get you the results that you so desperately need and deserve.
Best of luck and PLEASE keep us updated on how everything goes....Sherry
I want to Welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know how very happy I am that you have found us here.
I'm so sorry for the pain that you are having to endure. You have been thru so very much.
I'm originally from Tulsa and I was very sorry to hear that you have had trouble finding PM Dr. in the Fort Smith area. So I went on Google and typed in "Pain Management Dr.s in Fort Smith, AR" and a whole slew of them came up. If you will google it you will get the same results. Then you can have your PCP refer you to one of them.
I hope that this will help you and get you the results that you so desperately need and deserve.
Best of luck and PLEASE keep us updated on how everything goes....Sherry
Please keep looking and don't buy off the street. Doing that is going to add other problems to the ones you already have. Everyone here can understand what you're going through as we all have severe chronic pain. I just started the Fentanyl patch with oxycodone 20 mg. to help BT pain. It's certainly a roller coaster. I've been dealing with this for 3 years now and there have been times that I thought it would never get any better.
Use this site for support; you'll get loads of that here. Also, you may want to check out the Addiction Abuse forum on here. I check in there because it helps keep me in check with my medications. It's a very slippery slope when you take strong narcotics for pain, and you don't want to have to deal with that. You've already experienced w/d. Happened to me once and I hope it never will again. It's brutal. Becoming tolerant and dependent on narcotics when being treated for CP is not unusual, but you still need to be cautious.
I hope you can find a pain clinic or pain management physician. Try calling your local hospitals or hospitals in a city near you. I know there are several near me (an hour or so) in some of the hospitals. Pain physicians really are the way to go. They are used to dealing with high doses of meds with their patients where the primary care doctors are not. Many primary care or orthopedic doctors get very uncomfortable about prescribing medications for their patients. But the fact remains, pain patients like us deserve to get treated and be able to live our lives with less pain.
None of us will likely get to zero pain, but the key is getting it to a manageable level. It's not easy. Best of luck and let us know what happens.
Use this site for support; you'll get loads of that here. Also, you may want to check out the Addiction Abuse forum on here. I check in there because it helps keep me in check with my medications. It's a very slippery slope when you take strong narcotics for pain, and you don't want to have to deal with that. You've already experienced w/d. Happened to me once and I hope it never will again. It's brutal. Becoming tolerant and dependent on narcotics when being treated for CP is not unusual, but you still need to be cautious.
I hope you can find a pain clinic or pain management physician. Try calling your local hospitals or hospitals in a city near you. I know there are several near me (an hour or so) in some of the hospitals. Pain physicians really are the way to go. They are used to dealing with high doses of meds with their patients where the primary care doctors are not. Many primary care or orthopedic doctors get very uncomfortable about prescribing medications for their patients. But the fact remains, pain patients like us deserve to get treated and be able to live our lives with less pain.
None of us will likely get to zero pain, but the key is getting it to a manageable level. It's not easy. Best of luck and let us know what happens.
I'm pleased that you looking for a PM doc. But PLEASE do not buy it off the street. Besides not knowing where it came from and its actual chemical content, if you get caught, no pain management doctor in this country will come withing a hundred yards of you!!
Keep looking for the doc. Skip the street drugs!
Sara
Keep looking for the doc. Skip the street drugs!
Sara
thankyou all for your post.
I realize now I need a PM Doc . i guess untill I get one who can treat my pain I will buy them off the street.
Good luck and Godbless
I realize now I need a PM Doc . i guess untill I get one who can treat my pain I will buy them off the street.
Good luck and Godbless
There has to be a pm dr somewhere around you.. I would keep looking and not give up on it. Methadones is a big time drug that alot of drs won't give out. It can be really hard to find a dr that will give it to you. Also it is NEVER a good idea to take someone elses meds but I am sure you know that.
I would just keep looking for a pain dr and try to get on some meds that last long. Don't give up you really need to get this pain treated so you don't have to live like this.
Best of luck to you,
Jamie
I would just keep looking for a pain dr and try to get on some meds that last long. Don't give up you really need to get this pain treated so you don't have to live like this.
Best of luck to you,
Jamie
This is awful. Untreated chronic pain can lead people to desperate measures. And having your pain untreated is not acceptable. You have a life to lead and responsibilities. I wish I had some wise great answer but I don't.
The only thing I know to do is for you to search in neighboring towns for a pain management physician. Someone out there will treat it. It's just a matter of finding them. Can you ask your insurance carrier to give you a list of doctors within driving distance? I'm really not sure what else to do.
Someone will probably be on later or certainly tomorrow. Check back. I'm sure someone wise soul here can help you.
The only thing I know to do is for you to search in neighboring towns for a pain management physician. Someone out there will treat it. It's just a matter of finding them. Can you ask your insurance carrier to give you a list of doctors within driving distance? I'm really not sure what else to do.
Someone will probably be on later or certainly tomorrow. Check back. I'm sure someone wise soul here can help you.
Well I told the doc about my issue with perc and that I wanted to change med and I got a frown and told that the traction and therapy should solve my problem. She holds my pain contract and I have seen 3 docs besides her that told me I was lucky to have that and there was no way they could prescribe medicine like that. Ever feel like giving up?
I guess these docs are so calused from the daily grind, with patients lined up for 6 mos, they could really care less. Im thinking about going to the methadone clinic just for some pain relief.
I guess these docs are so calused from the daily grind, with patients lined up for 6 mos, they could really care less. Im thinking about going to the methadone clinic just for some pain relief.
I know it sounds dismal. But there are some wonderful PM doctors out there who genuinely care about paitents in pain and really want to help.
If your doctor is not helping you then it is time to stop wasting your time and money and find one that will help you.
We have all been there and have had to find the right doctor for us.
It may take some time but worth it in the need when you have a doctor you can count on.
If your doctor is not helping you then it is time to stop wasting your time and money and find one that will help you.
We have all been there and have had to find the right doctor for us.
It may take some time but worth it in the need when you have a doctor you can count on.
Im sorry you all have to suffer too guess its easy to get wrapped up in your own little world and feel like no one knows what kinda hell your going threw. Some one told me once that pain is nothing but fear leaving the body.
They honestly never felt our pain.
Im at a crossroad and not sure if I should ask for stronger meds or just suffer. I hate waking up to a pill bottle every day or counting on someone to scribble on a peice of paper for me to get 15 minutes of relief 4 times a day or counting pills all the time trying to decide if I want to hurt now or later. Oh and dont let me forget the cotract that states Ill pay whatever price you want plus a 25 dollar tip every time I come in and make payments every month so you can guess at what medicine will help me and if it doesnt I will just suffer till next month and come back and give you some more money and if I run out early I can always check into rehab and get locked into a room while I suffer for another week and pay a few more thousand dollars to be more miserble.
They honestly never felt our pain.
Im at a crossroad and not sure if I should ask for stronger meds or just suffer. I hate waking up to a pill bottle every day or counting on someone to scribble on a peice of paper for me to get 15 minutes of relief 4 times a day or counting pills all the time trying to decide if I want to hurt now or later. Oh and dont let me forget the cotract that states Ill pay whatever price you want plus a 25 dollar tip every time I come in and make payments every month so you can guess at what medicine will help me and if it doesnt I will just suffer till next month and come back and give you some more money and if I run out early I can always check into rehab and get locked into a room while I suffer for another week and pay a few more thousand dollars to be more miserble.
I agree - you need a long-acting pain medication instead of the short-acting stuff you've been prescribed. If you truly want to detox, you'll need to go to a detox physician. I've heard that suboxone not only helps with detox but with pain management as well. It's only FDA approved for short-term use, but as with any medication, once it's on the market it gets used for off-label purposes. Some pain docs prescribe it for pain management thinking that it lowers abuse potential.
This is the danger of relying on narcotic pain meds for pain management: physical dependence and sometime outright addiction. That's why it's better to have a pain management doc deal with these cases instead of a primary care doc. Safe detox is part of a PM doc's scope of work.
Have you tried tapering off on your own? I think you already know you can't just keep increasing the dose of pain meds and expect any good result. It's obviously not working now, and you're on some pretty stout meds.
The sad (and harsh) thing about chronic pain is realizing that many times the only choice is to learn to live with it. Many times it can't be treated at all. There's your choice: keep taking more pain meds that aren't working, or taper off and see where your pain levels really are and determine if you can live with it.
This is the danger of relying on narcotic pain meds for pain management: physical dependence and sometime outright addiction. That's why it's better to have a pain management doc deal with these cases instead of a primary care doc. Safe detox is part of a PM doc's scope of work.
Have you tried tapering off on your own? I think you already know you can't just keep increasing the dose of pain meds and expect any good result. It's obviously not working now, and you're on some pretty stout meds.
The sad (and harsh) thing about chronic pain is realizing that many times the only choice is to learn to live with it. Many times it can't be treated at all. There's your choice: keep taking more pain meds that aren't working, or taper off and see where your pain levels really are and determine if you can live with it.
Sorry to hear what your going through. I am going through something similar myself. I was hit by a car on my bike last June which left me with a plate/screws in my leg/ankle and RSD, which is a chronic nerve condition that keeps me in severe pain 24/7.
Ask your doctor about extended release pain medications like oxycontin, ms contin, opana, etc. I take opana and it's worked pretty well for me.
augy
Ask your doctor about extended release pain medications like oxycontin, ms contin, opana, etc. I take opana and it's worked pretty well for me.
augy
P.S. Forgot to ask... have you tried asking for an increase in pain med quantity? Explain to your doctor that your current meds are no longer working for you the way they should.
P.S.
This really hits home for me because I too used to enjoy riding motorcycles (supermotard to be exact) but no longer can because my pain is only worsened by riding posture and the weight of a helmet; even a carbon fiber one. My avatar picture is the last memory I have of me being able to ride without having to feel like complete crap.
This really hits home for me because I too used to enjoy riding motorcycles (supermotard to be exact) but no longer can because my pain is only worsened by riding posture and the weight of a helmet; even a carbon fiber one. My avatar picture is the last memory I have of me being able to ride without having to feel like complete crap.
Do you have medical insurance? That would obviously help a lot financially.
I would just try to see every pain management doctor in your area and find which one works best with you. Be honest and explain everything to them. Do not let them know you were taking medication not prescribed to you, but rather hint that you think it would work. Don't give up. We're all suffering in one form or another and understand what it's like.
God bless you, sir.
I would just try to see every pain management doctor in your area and find which one works best with you. Be honest and explain everything to them. Do not let them know you were taking medication not prescribed to you, but rather hint that you think it would work. Don't give up. We're all suffering in one form or another and understand what it's like.
God bless you, sir.
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Unfortunately, you're on the never ending roller coaster of opiates. I believe that everyone has been in your shoes. I know that I have. I only let myself run out early once a long time ago and I will never let myself be in that position again.
I know that you said that there were no Pain Management Clinics in your area and it sounds like your Doctor is willing to treat you at the moment. My OMG experience was when I was prescribed Fentanyl. I wear the Fentanyl Patch and change it once every 48hrs. The medication lasts up to 72hrs. and works around the clock. Maybe this is an option for you.
You are less likely to use too much of the Fentanyl because it's a Patch. No pills to take, therefore, harder to run out. In my opinion, you will need long term Pain Management care and I recommend the Patch.
Also, I have only had one increase in 2 years. My tolerance doesn't seem to rise as quickly on the Fentanyl.
I hope you find peace soon. Have that chat with your Doctor.
My best,
Mollyrae