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advice on pm dr.

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 1/27/2008 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I take 4 10mg percocets/day for a neuroma on right wrist . I also have fibromyalgia. My PM dr does NOT treat fibro (I was diagnosed with fibro just last year, have been going to the pm dr. for several years).

When I told him that I was so grateful that the percocets help with the fibro, he said "you're getting the drugs for the neuroma, we don't treat fibro". I calmly explained that hey, the percocets DO work on every pain in my body, not just the neuroma. Seemed quite logical to me, and he backed off.

The issue now is that the percocets just don't take care of most of the pain anymore. the fibro is horrendous. I walk, take hot showers, do whatever I can to relieve the symptoms. My hand hurts sooner from performing fine motor tasks . I'm just tired of hurting so much.

I'm hesitant to really talk to pm dr. about the increase in pain because I've already done that and he said no to an additional percocet, and didn't offer any suggestions.

. When I first went to him he put me on methodone which completely shut down my digestive system--constipation, stomach aches, etc.  I ended up telling him that I couldn't take that stuff anymore, so he put me on the percocet.  

 Should I again tell him about the increase in pain (even though he doesn't treat fibro?).  Would oxycontin be a viable alternative? 

Perhaps I just need to look for a new pm dr. who acknowledges fibro. I'm just so tired of the medical profession.

Any advice would be greatly welcomed.

 

Posted 1/27/2008 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Nasha
I'm so sorry your having such a hard time. My advice would be to yes-get another PM doc. You have what can be a painful condition. Fibro is real and if he does not treat it, then he is not treating the whole you. Is it that he doesnt believe Fibro exists or that he doesnt believe in treating it with pain meds? I know up until recently the medical community was at odds over whether fibro was a real diagnosable condition. I think it still is brushed off by many professionals. If he doesnt believe its real, then you dont need him treating your wrist. Can your fibro DR refer you to a new PM doc who is wiling to treat fibro? What does your dr who treats your fibro even say about your pm not treating it? Just tell you PM doc that the Fibro is very painful for you and you feel you need to be medically treated in a way that will allow you to function as best you can. That if he is unable or un-willing to treat a pain condition that you've been diagnosed with than you would like to see another Dr willing to treat the whole you.
I can defenitly relate, I have Interstitial Cystitis which up until recently was known as the crazy womans disease. And anyone who had it was seen as crazy or addicted to meds. But I also have endometriosis which is a known believed medical condition by every professional. There are times I still have to go to the EER because the pain gets soo very bad, and there are still docs who brush it off or think I'm just crazy. It still makes me so angry when it happens! Since I've found the Dr's I have, I've felt completly validated and have been able to function better than I had. Having Dr's who take your symptoms seriously can make a huge diffrence in how you feel even on a day to day basis. Making your pain easier to cope with.
I hope your able to get relief soon
Posted 1/27/2008 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
Nasha
I'm so sorry your having such a hard time. My advice would be to yes-get another PM doc. You have what can be a painful condition. Fibro is real and if he does not treat it, then he is not treating the whole you. Is it that he doesnt believe Fibro exists or that he doesnt believe in treating it with pain meds? I know up until recently the medical community was at odds over whether fibro was a real diagnosable condition. I think it still is brushed off by many professionals. If he doesnt believe its real, then you dont need him treating your wrist. Can your fibro DR refer you to a new PM doc who is wiling to treat fibro? What does your dr who treats your fibro even say about your pm not treating it? Just tell you PM doc that the Fibro is very painful for you and you feel you need to be medically treated in a way that will allow you to function as best you can. That if he is unable or un-willing to treat a pain condition that you've been diagnosed with than you would like to see another Dr willing to treat the whole you.
I can defenitly relate, I have Interstitial Cystitis which up until recently was known as the crazy womans disease. And anyone who had it was seen as crazy or addicted to meds. But I also have endometriosis which is a known believed medical condition by every professional. There are times I still have to go to the EER because the pain gets soo very bad, and there are still docs who brush it off or think I'm just crazy. It still makes me so angry when it happens! Since I've found the Dr's I have, I've felt completly validated and have been able to function better than I had. Having Dr's who take your symptoms seriously can make a huge diffrence in how you feel even on a day to day basis. Making your pain easier to cope with.
I hope your able to get relief soon
Posted 1/27/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Nasha and welcome to Healing Well. This is a really grewat forum with alot of caring people. We just try to be there for each other, pass along any tips that we think may help someone. Above all, we really know about CP, understand what it can do to a person mentally and physically and what goes along with it. Not everyone understands CP and that includes our families.

 I am so  sorry to hear of the problems you are having with the pm dr. I just don't think its feasible to see 2 pm drs, so I would start searching for a pain dr thats does treat fibro and your hand condition at the same time. Your guy does not sound like much of a dr. This is something us CP people run across quitely frequently, so believe me you are not in this boat alone, you have alot of people right there with you.

I would get my phone book out and call every pain mgt dr listed and ask if the dr treats fibro and this neuroma problem. Some people get care with a rheumatologist for fibro, so that is something to think about if you run into a wall finding a pain mgt for the fibro. What happened to the dr that dx'd your fibro? Is he/she no longer available?

There will be others that come along and put their 2 cents worth in. I do hope you will hang around and meet some of our peeps...Susie

I noticed you have had some surgeries for this neuroma. What caused this to happen and and why does it keep coming back?

Posted 1/27/2008 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've only seen my fibro dr. twice--once for the diagnosis and the other time for him to sign a medical leave form so that I could take a couple of months off from work. I told him then that I was so grateful I had the percocets to help with the fibro pain. I haven't gone back to him because what's the point? But maybe he could poassibly refer me to a pm dr who does treat fibro--thank you Hazel.

When I told my pm dr. about the fibro, gave him a copy of the report, he just said "this is serious". Then said he doesn't treat it. I'm going to start calling around tomorrow for a new pm dr.

The neuroma (it's a cluster of crazy nerves that didn't heal properly--that's how they explained it to me) was first caused by the kabob like skewer that was used to stabilize the wrist after the first surgery (I had fallen off a galloping horse and had torn a ligament --I was very lucky that was all that happened).

When they pulled the skewer out, I almost fainted from the pain. They tried to clear it up with 2 more surgeries but it keeps growing back.
I'm right handed --holding a pen is painful, doing just about anything hurts.

I so appreciate the responses---thank you!!

Natalie
Posted 1/27/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Sometimes doctors don't treat a condition because they don't know much about it or it isn't part of their specialty. If this is the case they should have a list of people to refer you to who do treat that condition. If they do neither its neglect and I would find someone else.
My primary doesn't treat RA-not even with a yearlly consult with my rhuemy-so I see the rhuemy every three monts-my rhuemy won't treat my sinus infections. My insurance company puts up with me seeing three doctors every three months.
Posted 1/27/2008 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't been to my new PM doctor yet, but when I stopped in to make my first appointment and make sure they take my insurance etc., they asked what my chronic pain is from, I told them my back and neck, and they said they were just making sure, because they do not treat headache patients.

I wonder if headaches and fibro kind of fall into the category of "cannot be scientifically proven by testing" so they don't like to treat what they cannot absolutely prove on paper. Heaven forbid they should believe the patient...you would have a better chance with the legal system since you are innocent until proven guilty.
Posted 1/28/2008 5:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nasha
I'm glad your going to look into getting a new pain doc. There are some really good ones out there, just harder to find. But there defenitly worth the search. I nderstand why pain docs are so careful about perscribing and arent willing to treat certain conditions, but it still burns me up to hear it. Does your fibro doc belong to a medical group. It seems to me that some docs are more likely to look into your case hwhen a doc from the same group is refering you. i dont know if thats defenitly the case, but iy sure seems that way in my experience.
Hang in there!!
Posted 1/28/2008 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
I found a new pm dr who DOES treat fibro, appt is Feb. 5. I wish it was today. I am grateful that it's just next week, since new patients typically have to wait weeks for an appt.

I'lm going to go in with my current sciript for percocets, xrays of wrist, fibro report. What I plan on doing is essentially interview this guy. I'm not expecting a script, I just want to know his posiition on really relieving pain, if I switch, will he give me AT LEAST what I'm currently getting from the other pm dr (whom I refer to as "THE ****" at home since he's so anal about the scripts)
Posted 1/28/2008 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Nasha - That is a very healthy attitude to go in with, you interviewing the doctor. I am glad you are in a position with your medications to be able to do so right now instead of not having something and having to deal with a jerk just because you have run out.

I wish you the best. I see my new PM doctor just a few days before you...I hope we both have good experiences.
Posted 1/29/2008 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
I hope the search will end for you both and you find that these pain docs are perfecy for you!
Good luck!
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