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Posted 9/24/2008 9:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I went to my Ortho check up today.  The doc is sending me for another MRi on friday to see weather or not the first one missed something or if I have developed a new prob.  He also wants me to go and see a neurologist about the leg weekness and get some test done to test my nerves Emg and nerve conduction study.

Well come out of office to talk with his receptionist about making an appointment with the Neurologist and she then informs me that in the Charleston area there and no longer any neurologist taking any new medicade patients.  NONE! but one hospital and they are booked intil the end of Dec or beginning of Jan.  I asked why and she told me that medicade has cut back again what the docs are getting paid so the doctors are no longer taking any new patients.

I was shocked.  I asked what are people to do if they need to see a neuro or any specialist, she said wait or not get seen. 

What has our country turned into when people cant even get treatment any more.  They suffer or end up in the ER, which is costing the goverment even more money that way.  I was so mad and upset that this has what has become of our country. 

So the doc said he would send me to another pain management doc that also does the emg and conductiive test in his office and will take the medicade.  Im not so sure what I think of a pain management doc diagnosing me with or without nerve problems and not to mention I wont be able to see a neurologist at all now. Has anyone else had this test done and have any had it done with a pain management doc? And what do you all think about not being able to see a neurologist?  The doc told me he was worried that I am having nerve damage.  I dont understand this all.

I also asked this doc for stronger pain meds to use a night as I am still only getting 3 to 4 hrs of sleep because the pain is so bad.  He told me there is nothing else to give me for the pain but what I am on now...grrrrr....I dont get this either...I know there is stuff out there...I am on loritab and tramadole at night for the pain and it doesnt even touch it at all...I lay awake and cry intil i just pass out from the pain and then wake back up about 3 hrs later.  what does it take to get them to listen this is the second doc that has told me this...sighssss...i quess I will end up in the hosptial and then maybe someone will listen.

Thank all for listening

Lara

Posted 9/24/2008 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
your better off going to another doc and just keep trying them till you find one that works with you..if you have the time
Posted 9/25/2008 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
HI Lady,
My PM doc sent me to another PM doc who does the EMG testing. Her specialty was spine and pain management. My pain management doc is an anesthesiologist. Anyway she diagnosed the carpal tunnel in my right hand.
So yes I have heard of it..lol
best of health and hope you get your testing done quickly.
lynn~
Posted 9/25/2008 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
Sory to hear that. Now there are two things I would like to mention.

The fact that medical care is down the drain in the States has a lot to do with the American mentality. This is merely an observation, not meant as a personal crticism. Americans have this tendensy to file a lawsuit against everyone and everything that stands in their way. Problem is, doctors have to ask for large salaries because of their expenses due to lawsuits (amongst other things) and they become afraid to treat patients. The medical profession isn't an exact science, they often have to try to help you through trial and error or by just guessing. Here in Belgium, it is almost impossible to file a lawsuit against someone in the medical sector, but now we have a lot of doctors, relatively cheap, and universal health care. Malpractices happen here as well of course, but is not in our nature to file complaints or lawsuits (we talk out our differencies which is usually easier, faster and cheaper). The more you need medical help, the more likely it is a mistake will be made, you just have to accept that. Our general point of view is that doctors, just like nurses, firemen, etc. are all trying to help their fellow citizens, so we give them a break.

On the practical side of your sleeping problem. Once you take a certain amount of pain meds, and still fail to have a good sleep, there is no way more pain meds will do the trick. Then you'll need sleep medication which might very well render your life in the long run into an even greater nightmare. I tried it all and now I'm slowly quiting my sleep meds. I prefer less sleep and the occasional epileptic seizure it brings along then waking up every they like a zombie without knowing what I'm doing. Three to four hours of continuous sleep should give you enough deep sleep to recuperate. Try changing your sleeping pattern if this is possible in practice; 4 hours at night and 4 in the afternoon for example. Talk this oer with your doc. It could be co-ordinated with the time you take your pain meds so you benefit from the greatest possible pain-relieve effect just prior to going to sleep. Works for me.

Good luck and take care.
Posted 9/25/2008 8:42 AM (GMT 0)
Lady,I am sorry about the run around your getting . I wish you luck with the emg studies and find out what is going on.

Posted 9/25/2008 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
My PM doc had his collegue do an EMG on me. I was sort of uncomfortable but I wouldn't say it was the worse test I have ever done. If that doc has training in that sort of thing and can read it properly then it might be your best bet to have this done instead of having to wait to see a neurologist. But that is crazy that you would have to wait that long to see a doc. Usually when I need to see the specialist, it takes a couple weeks to sometimes a month - depending on the circumstances. I'm so sorry that you are in so much pain. :(
Posted 9/25/2008 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
There are other things out there that are stronger that can be prescribed, I know cause I'm prescribed them. But honestly, pain medications are not good for trying to induce sleep. The sleep that they do provide is usually not recuperative.

As Morgoth mentioned there is the option for sleep medication. (Please don't think that I'm trying to speak against you Morgoth) Sometimes they are a good option for people. I am one of them. I've always had an issue with trying to sleep, both because of physical pain as well as sleep issues in general. There are some sleep meds that are not as harsh. Originally my doc had prescribed Seroquel for sleep. Which was rather effective, but left me groggy if I didn't have enough time available to sleep. Personally I've had the best success with Ambien (the regular, not extended release). It will induce sleep, but doesn't leave me groggy. I'm able to sleep as little as 5-6 hours and still wake up okay. Some people (thankfully I'm not one of them) have found that with taking sleep medication on a regular basis, it disturbs the way that the natural rhythms of our bodies work. And once they stop the sleep meds, or if they miss a night, they have trouble sleeping without them. Personally I use the Ambien on an as needed basis. I don't take it every night but I do take it frequently.

Even if you want to avoid the prescription route, there are other alternatives. There's melatonin and valerian root which are both natural sleep aids. They can usually be found in the vitamin/supplement section of most large grocery stores. There's also things like chamomile tea - which smome people swear by. I personally would avoid doing things like OTC Benadryl, Nytol, or Sominex. They are notorious for creating a disturbance in natural sleep patterns.

Pain management is important, but to dose them for sleep is not the wisest idea. In my own opinion they are something that I use to allow me to function better in my day to day living. They are something that allow me to continue to work full time, to keep a clean house, etc. But most any doctor will balk at you asking for pain meds to sleep.

Take a look at some of the more natural options and then if those aren't helping I would suggest talking to your doctor about some sort of sleep aid.
Posted 9/25/2008 1:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all and thanks so much for all the info,

I really am grateful for all the helpful advice while nagavating the health care system here and just all the great advice.

I just wanted to let you all know that I have tried a sleep aid to help me at night but the prob was that I dont have trouble sleeping its the pain the keeps me awake..so when I would take a sleeping pills( trazodone) they made me tired but I still wouldnt be able to sleep due to the pain.  When I finialy did sleep I wouldnt wake up because I have to get up at 5 to get my son off for school, if I managed to get up then I was left with that hung over feeling and just so tired for the rest of the day.  So they werent working for me and my lifestyle...I even tried taking them at about 8pm still didnt work because like I said, its not sleep problems its pain.

I quess my thinking is that if i can get something to at least take the edge off at night when im ready for bed then the sleep probs would rectify themselves.  I am finding that if your asking the doc for something for at night then you do get blown off.  I dont like pills never have and up intil this point I havent been taking mine that much because I dont like them and the way they make me feel, but I have just been in so much pain sence this last shot day and night.  I feel into the cat. of those that get worse with the steriod injections.

Thanks for the input as well about the emg and nerve testing, I quess that we think that one isnt as good as another when it comes to your health.  I just want the best possible treatment available as we all do and I quess that I feel like I am being giving the run around because I am on medicade.  Which makes me mad as hell as I have worked all my life and up intil my accident I was making good money and paid a crap load of taxes last yr and then to turn around and be treated like this just pisses me off to no end! And I know im not alone and it just saddens me that others are there with me and this is what we have here in the USA.

Morgoth, I do so agree with you about the lawsuits here in america, we are a society that is prone to getting what we think we deserve or intitled to.  There are some with legit. cases but alot of fraud as well and it makes it hard for the rest of us.  When I got into my accident I have lawyers calling me left right and center wanting to take my case to get me the most moeny they could...it really was sickning.  I settled on a reputable lawyer because unfourtanly over here with out getting one you will get screwed.  With our health care system the way it is and the amount of people that dont have private health insurrance you have to make sure you are taken care of.

I do try and take naps when I have the time to do so, but I am a single mom with 4 kids and I have to work as much as I can in order to surrive,  so there isnt much time for me to try and slpit my sleep, but I do when I can...We do not get much help over here with assistance from our goverment and it takes a very long time to get dissablity if you qualify and that has to be proven basicly with blood. 

Piercings.. I am trying some natural rountes as well.  I quess im in bit of a disperate place right now as the pain has gotten worse and not sleeping on top of that has just worn me down to the bone as well as trying to manage 4 kids on my own and plan a wedding and work when I can.  So I was looking for something to try and get me some relief even if for a short time intil I can find something that does help. I will look into what you siad about the roots, so thank y ou so much for that.

You all take care and wishing you all a low pain day

Lara

Posted 9/25/2008 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Lara,
I just wanted to let you know I'm thinking of you and sending you warm hugs, which I know doesn't help much right now, but my energy has been low so I've not been writing as much on the forum.

It is sad but a fact that the type of insurance you have makes a difference, and once you get on a government plan for low income (and I may very soon be there myself) your choices are more limited. Doctors do have the right to not accept certain insurances; whether it's fair or not is another issue. We can't get political here, but certainly this is this time to make your voice heard about health insurance if you live in the US. That's all I'll say as rules prohibit this political topics here, and with good reason. This isn't the place.

I hope you can find some help sooner, Lara, especially for sleep. I still don't know how you do it with 4 children. I'd never make it!

PaLady
Posted 9/26/2008 12:47 AM (GMT 0)
Lara, I'm sorry if you felt like I was coming down on you regarding pain relief and sleep. I don't know if you took it that way, but If you did..I'm very sorry, that was not my intent at all. We all are miserable about pain here for various reasons and I know that pain control is important.

Personally Trazadone, Seroquel, and most of the other AP's that they prescribe to try and get people to sleep, all seem to have that same effect as far as leaving you groggy the next day. That was one of the reasons why I quit the Seroquel. I can't just say "Take Ambien!" I was only telling my experience with it because I know that you're concerned about the grog level the next day and it's something that for me has allowed me to get 5-7 hours of decent sleep without being all grogged out the next day. And with it now being in a generic form it makes my insurance company happy.

But yes, the more natural options are a good route to try as well. If you can get success with them then that's beautiful. And if they don't work for you, if you talk to your doc about some sort of sleep aid, ask him if he's giving you a sleep aid or a anti-psychotic as that's what Trazadone and Seroquel are. Their first use was not as a sleep aid, it's just that doctors found that sleepiness was a positive side effect and that's one of the reasons why they use them.
Posted 9/27/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)

 Dear Piercings,

I never thought that you intented to make me feel bad.  I know enough to know that we are all in the same boat here and I also know sometimes in post it can get a bit confusing to some but I just always assume that everyone here comes from concern and there own knowledge and experences.  So no harm done here with me, I also prefer the truth even if its not what I want to here lol...

I was just trying to fill in some blanks for those that didnt know the whole of my sitution.  I forget sometimes that we dont always get the whole story when posting and just vent:-)  Im just tired and worn out and looking for some relief and get a bit mad at the hoops you have to jump through. In some ways I think I would be better if they told me there was nothing and I knew there was nothing they could give me and just had to deal with it.  I know it sounds odd but I can deal with definatives, Its noing that there are things out there but they wont give them to you for what ever reason that drives me mad sighssss....Its a bit like having a plate of food in front of a starving man and telling him he cant have any while you gorge yourself to death. 

But no harm done and thanks for the helpful info like I said I will check into the roots I would prefer to handle it natural if its possible.

Take care

lara

Posted 9/27/2008 9:04 AM (GMT 0)
I appreciate the clarification. I try very hard to not be hurtful to people. Even though I am a very blunt person, I really try to at least have some tact. lol. And well, we're all susceptible to misunderstanding things due to not being able to hear voice inflections in written words. I hadn't thought that I grated on ya there, but also if I had, I didn't want to leave it unaddressed.

And really, I do hope that you find some relief one way or another. Cause sleep is so very important in our functioning.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you and wishing the best,
Lacey
Posted 9/28/2008 4:04 PM (GMT 0)

sorry Lara. That stinks! Sometimes I used to end up in the ER for pain manangement.  They would have to give me IV pushs. Have you tried hydrotherapy? I have heard a lot of people say it helps with the pain. This is just a suggestion or an epson salt bath and tea before bed.

kshields

Posted 9/29/2008 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have a pool in the neighborhood I live in and I was going but it getting colder now, I try and take baths but have a prob with my tailbone hurting like mad so baths have been out for the last 4 months sighss God I so miss my baths. 

Thanks for the imput though, I wish I had a sauna seems like heaven right now.   

Lara

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