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Need suggestions/advice on how to request additional pain medications

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 10/21/2008 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all,

  I am going out  of town on Friday for my daughters wedding.  I told my doctor several months ago that I would like extra pain medication for the trip, photos, wedding and reception.  Now the time is here.  Should I make an appointment and waist both of our time, I have my monthly script I can take in for count if he chooses.  My goal is to be able to stand longer then approx 5 minutes for photos, be able to put on pantie hose, and have non-rabid behaviour.  I  would love an epidural as needed, lol.

What would someone need in my situation and how should I go about asking for it?  Anyone, please?  Cloe

Posted 10/21/2008 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Well Cloe, first of all, I don't know if you could resolve this situation of asking for extra medication over the phone, so I think you have to make an appointment. Now, can you get in before Friday?

If so, just simply describe the situation as you have described it here. You need to be able to stand and move and the event is going to be more taxing than your usual day to day activities. An extra pill or two for ten days or so is not unreasonable, if that's what you are asking for. Let the doctor ask you questions as to your pain, as I am sure he will to try to ascertain what your needs will be. As I said, I don't think what you are asking for is out of the question, so give it a try. I really think he will accomodate you, especially because you are an established patient and he knows you already.

Good luck and enjoy the wedding. Don't forget to come back and tell us all about it, too.

Lindaloo
Posted 10/21/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
TY for your reply Linda.  I don't even need 10 extra days(I would take them) But in all reality I only need Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  The pain pills I take now are Vicodin 7.5/500APRP 2x day and this gets me out of bed but dosen't even cut the pain, I am sure you know what I am talking about.  I want something that will work. Just for my daughters wedding and then come next May of 09 I will want the same for my sons wedding.  Other then that I submit to the doctors cruel regime for the rest of me days. Cloe

Posted 10/21/2008 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
Well that's ridiculous that you suffer. Is the doctor you go to a pain specialist? I take percocet 10/650 along with Lyrica thoughout the day. Before the Lyrica, I was in pain with just the percocet, but since I started the Lyrica, I can control the pain quite nicely.

Please please please see a pain specialist and try to get on something that will help you. There is no reason to suffer these days. I know that some people do suffer with pain even on pain medication, but they have exhausted all the combinations of meds out there. Have you done that??

Good luck. Let me know how you do.

Lindaloo
Posted 10/21/2008 6:01 AM (GMT 0)

Cloe - Just wanted to 100% agree w/ Linda - I would make an appt.  This is a completely VALID reason to request additional pain meds.  But it's also valid to request additional meds IF your currents meds aren't working. 

The immediate concern is getting pain relief for your daughter's wedding (BTW, congrats!).  Like I said, I'd make an appt and go in w/ your needs.

But it seems like you are suffering quite a bit, and at 2 Vicodins per day (even the extra strength), you are still at the low end of the spectrum, in terms of pain meds.  As Linda said, people still suffer on pain meds (I'm raising my hand high!)...but, nowadays, there are so many meds to try.  Both opiate and otherwise.  Yes, some have side effects, so it is a "trade off" in some regards.  But I'm a firm believer that meds have their place and work for many people.  Just my opinion, but I really hate to hear of someone suffering....

Let us know if you have a supportive doc, if you've tried other meds, etc.  But I absolutely would encourage you to just explain your pain needs to your doctor...remember, your doctor WORKS for you.  (Can you tell I'm passionate about this subject!!).  I'll stop, but let us know what happens!

Wishing you well, Tina


Posted 10/21/2008 12:05 PM (GMT 0)
There are better and safer meds than Vicodin.
Yes, Make that appointment.
Before I knew about chronic, intractible pain, I went to my daughter's huge baby
shower. I saw people I hadn't see for twenty years. The Adrenalin flooded in and
I didn't feel too much pain.
The pain came when I looked at the photographs later. OHHHHH. I looked awful. The
pain really showed. This was not my intention at all.
Still reeling over this and it happened 5 years ago.
Pamela

Huge Baby Shower? HA smilewinkgrin
Posted 10/21/2008 3:03 PM (GMT 0)

Huge baby shower, Ha!  I am thinking just how big is was this baby?  J/K.

Anyway I have been on it ALL and taken off it all.  You name it I was on it.  I was so stoned at Christmas time last year that my family has thrown away all my pictures!  That was my morphine days(Hate morphine!)  Now my 3.5 yrs of fentanyl was OK but I slept 14+ hours a day.  Then my methoadone days when I was kicked out of pain clinic for being 6 or 8 pills shy at med count. I have gone med free for approx 6 months and was bed ridden.  I have an appointment with the pain clinic but not until Feb 09. I will call doc and see if he wants me to come in or what. TY all for replies. You can count on me keeping you updated. Cloe yeah

Posted 10/21/2008 9:33 PM (GMT 0)
Cloe~

I lolled over your post. Someone should have had a camera and shot me.

Actually I don't think I've been photographed since THE HUGE BABY SHOWER.

Yup, stay in touch Sweetie Pie.

Pamela
:-)
Posted 10/22/2008 12:16 PM (GMT 0)
I totally agree Cleo
Make that appointment and see what your doc will do
YOU do not need to be in pain
Lindaloo has given fantastic advice as have others

I hope you will be enjoying your daughter's wedding

........LYN
Posted 10/22/2008 4:46 PM (GMT 0)

I just got my return call from my doctors nurse.  I can take my vicodin up to 4x day during this weekend.  I am OK with this.

Cloe

Posted 10/22/2008 4:53 PM (GMT 0)
Cloe,
Great news! Now try to relax and enjoy the event!

PaLady
Posted 10/22/2008 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you I will.  I can't wait to have all the family together.  My nephew and niece who are both 12yrs are junior attendants.  So the whole famn damily will be there scool !

 

Post Edited (~Cloe~) : 10/22/2008 2:51:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/24/2008 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
I am dealing with a couple of herniated and bulging disc in my upper and lower back. Because of them being in the upper thorasic the spine specialist says noone will risk a operation. I have ben to a pain management doctor and he gave me the spine injections of steriods, they only made me feel better for a month and a half. Physical thearpy made it worse and none of my current doctors(personal,spine,pain management) will perscribe me anything more than 7.5 vicoden. I'm a laborer and do very physical work and my pain is extreem to say the least .I don't know wat to do or where to go.Can someone please steer me in the right direction before I go insane??? St.louis MO  I have exellent insurance.
Posted 10/24/2008 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Big-hungry,
Welcome to the HW forum. I'm not a doctor and neither are the others here (that I know of), so we can only give support and share out experiences.

I've had a lot of steriod and epidural injections, and most had no effect. I think if you got about 6 weeks worth of relief from the injection, that's a good sign. I've heard it can take a series of about 3 injections to work, so I'd discuss more injections with your doctor. And also ask what the prognosis is re: your condition, and how much you can expect injections to help. Your activity may also aggravate your condition.

What do your doctors recommend? If they don't recommend more injections, why does your pain management doctor not want to change your pain medication? Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right pain management doctor. But I'd ask about more injections if I were you, and whether you need to take some time off work.

Hopefully, others will add their opinions.

PaLady
By the way, you may want to start your own thread, introduce yourself and ask for the advice you're seeking.
Posted 10/24/2008 2:47 PM (GMT 0)

Dear big hungry, :-) Welcome to the board.  I am so sorry that you are not able to get any relief from pain management clinic.  Never forget you are not alone with your suffering, chronic pain is huge problem in my opinion.  Have you spoken with your doctors about taking a bit of time off work to assist in getting some relief or even a muscle relaxer to stop spasms?  I remember when I was first injured and diagnosed with DDD (my pain culprit), I was working over 40 hours a week in health care. As soon as I got home I was in bed until the alarm went off the next morning.  At one point my doctor gave me a work excuse for 10 days or so.  Just to rest.  Other then that I agree with what PaLady said about more injections and the possibility of a different pain specialist is always an option.  Keep us posted, keep calling the doctors office and let them know your not getting any relieve.  There is a pain journal around here somewhere but I can't find the one I saved, keeping a journal is what I have found helpful when communicating with my doctor.

Cloe

Posted 10/24/2008 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
big hungry,

That's a great sign - just as PALady indicated - that your injections lasted so long. You'd have to check with a pain specialist or neurosurgeon, but maybe you could try Radio Frequency Nerve Ablation. Often that is a "next step", but it really depends on your case, so you'd have to check with a doctor. They would do a few rounds of test injections under a type of x-ray called a flouroscope. If those worked, they would burn lesions on your nerves (no worries, you're all numbed up & can't feel a thing). Usually that procedure lasts for a few years -- sometimes longer. Mine lasted for 5 years.

best of luck,
frances

Cloe - wishing you a wonderful weekend at the wedding! Glad you got things worked out with the meds. :)
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