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Chronic Pain
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Posted 1/21/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone.

I wanted to let you guys know that knew about my sick degu, she's much better now. She's eating and drinking now and at this very moment she's playing on her wheel, which I'm so thankful for. but the reason why I'm typing is becasue I'm in so much pain right now, my legs are cramped up from the pain in the lower back, and I cant find a doctor to help. Since I'm on Suboxone and I tell doctors that I have a tolerence and I'm dependent on opiods they treat me like I'm some addict. They wont help me at all. I have state insurance that's restricted cause I went to the hospital too many times 3 years ago, but because I cut my finger, and had a bad reaction to the tettanus shot then my finger kept getting infected, then I had a severe sinus infection, so I'm forced to go to one doctor's clinic, and it's a low income clinic and they treat me terrible. Everytime I make a appointment for my pain they end up calling me on the day of my appointment saying the doctor wont see me for any pain issues, one time they called me 20 minutes before my appointment. And when I ask them what I should do about the pain then, they tell me if it's that bad then go to the ER, and we all know that the ER has issues with people that come in there for chronic issues. The Suboxone helps, but not for severe breakthrough pain. I'm taking Cymbalta for the pain, but that only helps so much. I really want to try Lyrica but these doctor's freak out when I ask, they treat me like I'm asking for something illegal. I cant do Tylenol because it makes me vomit like crazy, NSAIDs give me very severe heartburn that lasts for a week even after one dose. I dont know what else to take for pain. I have Zanaflex but that makes me feel so weird, makes me heart slowdown too much, and when I cut it in half it's not as bad but doesnt help the pain at all. The other muscle relaxers dont help at all either, I wanted to try Soma but that too they freak out when I ask about it. I dont how to  convince these doctor's to help me. Am I asking wrong??? Should I ask for a referal to a specialist in back pain?? I refuse to go back to a pain specilaist, they are the ones why i'm in more pain now, if they would of treated my pain instead of covering it up with meds I wouldn't be in more pain now, they wouldn't even do a MRI. SO does anyone know what kind of doctor does back problems?? Thank you for listening.

-hellokitty

ps, does anyone have any Idea how much a low dose Lyrica costs out of pocket?? I know it's very expensive but I want to know a rough estimate incase I do convince a doctor to prescribe it.

 

Posted 1/22/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
Kitty,
I think Lyrica runs about $70 for Qty. 30 of either 25mg or 50mg.

Lyrica is a controlled substance (Schedule V) so perhaps that is part of the reason. It is pretty mild, though, so perhaps you get a second opinion as to whether it could help. It is not for muscle pain so maybe that's part of the reason.

Soma is scheduled in some states & can be very addicting. I can understand why they would be hesitant to prescribe it to someone with a history of addiction. My own PM, who is generally not especially strict even with lower doses of narcotics, is super strict about who & under what conditions he'll write Soma for -- even at the lowest possible dose he requires psych profiles, U/A & regular pill counts.

I am starting on a new insurance program that is partially subsidized by public funds. Their rule is that only preventative care & acute care costs are covered by the program. If your ER's are like the ones in my area, they do not treat pain or other non life- or limb- threatening conditions. They diagnose & discharge with instructions to follow up with your regular doctor, even for patients who pre-pay or have top of the line insurance.

One thing I did find out was that this new insurance will pay for physical therapy if prescribed by my assigned PCP (pain specialists are out of the question -- they never cover them). If you have muscle pain, and I'm guessing you do since you want Soma, physical therapy - as long as it is done right & you're not pushed too fast - can do a lot to help decrease muscle pain. Plus, physical therapists can provide treatments like ultrasound or massage to help even further. I would think that would be your best bet of actually resolving the underlying problem (assuming it's muscle pain), but your doc could tell you better. Maybe it's worth a try?


peace,
frances
Posted 1/22/2009 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the respond frances,

I have back pain ,fibro, migraines/headaches, and pain from my pancreas cause it isnt form all the way, so my pain is muscle, nerves and everything else inbetween. i dont have a history of addiction, my body just got too tolerent to pain meds so I, myself, choose to come off of pain meds because I dont think pain meds are the answer to everything that I have going on. The doctor's know this, but where I go they treat everyone bad. They did have this one internist that was wonderful and really listened and treated my pain but he got mad at the other doctor's there and left to start his own bussiness, where of course my insurance wont pay for me to see him. I tried soma about 5 years ago and I dont rememeber if it worked or not, but I know that the other's I've tried (zanaflex, flexeral, and one I cant remeber the name of but it's like a huge horse pill that I ALWAYS choked on) and none of them are working. Actually I havent given Zanaflex too much of a chance cause the side effects are terrible.

Actually after I wrote this today, about 5 minutes later the nurse from my neoroligist's office called and said the doctor would be willing to finally predcribe Lyrica to me. I told her that my pain is getting worse and I cant take pain meds so I dont know what else to do. So she left me 3 samples bottle of the 50mgs and told me to take one at night for 2 weeks then increase to twice a day, and by that time I will have my next appointment with her. I like that doctor, but sometimes she makes me nervous cause she never looks at me when she's talking, she's always typing on her computer. so I will see if this works, but I dont have too many high hopes cause I remember neoronitin not working very well, which from I read is basically the exact same thing, I guess I will find out.

Truthfully I really hate going to hospitals for pain issues, or any issue. I get this very cold feeling of knowing that people are dying and suffering somewhere in the building, and knowing that so many epople have died there, especailly more then likely in the room I'm in. It makes me panic and feel like I have to get out asap cause I cant breathe. And no I'm not crazy, I dont see or hear things, I just dont like suffering. So going to the ER is aways a last resort, like last week I had strep, but I was put in the urgent care part of the ER. When I was diagnosed with pancreatitas at 17 years old, I remember telling the ER doctor I wanted to leave before they would treat me, and I told them no cause my dad had to be a work the next morning (this was like 3am) and the doctor had to threaten me, saying if I left I would die, to make me stay to get the IV antibiotics, I just didnt want to stay, but I did. And I remember once when I first started having migraines, the doctor ordered morphine IV and nurse said she was going to hold onto it, and when the doctor came to check on me I told him that the nurse still had it and he went to ask her and she said I was lying and I just wanted more meds, which I didnt even ask for them, it just made me feel worse about going to the ER (and I still wonder what she did with my meds). So I stay away as far as I can. SO my doctor's office is terrible, my hospital makes me sick, I just have bad luck all aorund. Teh only doctor I like is the one that prescribes my Suboxone, too bad he isnt my regualuar doctor, and a hour closer to my home. Well I better stop rambling, for some reason I can't get motivate to do anything the past 2 days. I dont know whats going on with me.

-hellokitty
Posted 1/22/2009 4:27 AM (GMT 0)
That's great news about the Lyrica. I sure hope it works for you. For me Lyrica was definitely better than Neurontin. Not only did it have fewer side effects, but it also works better.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. smilewinkgrin
Posted 1/22/2009 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hello~Kitty,
Did the Lyrica help? I just read your post. Have you found anyone to help you yet. It's horrable whats happening to you!
Pete
Posted 1/23/2009 10:37 AM (GMT 0)
Well I took the first dose on the night of the 21st, and the next morning I couldn't wake up for the life of me. My kids got them selfs ready for school which freaked me out, I'm very picky about what they wear and that they are dressed right for how cold it is outside or else they'd go in their swimsuits. But they did just fine, except my daughter still had spray on pink hair dye from the day before cause it was "wacky wendseday" at school. So I woke up a half an hour before my kdis got out of school, at 2:30, and I freaked out, casue I had laundry to do (my kids are out of clean socks and underwear), and my son had to finish his derby car for cubscout that we havent even started on that had to be done in 3 hours (thank God my dad got off work early to help him cause I was doing a terrible job) And my daughter needed cupcakes for her school cause her birthday is today, and I realized I ahvent even ordered her b-day cake or anything..ahhhhhhhh, I feel so overwhelmed. I got he laundry, derby car, and cupcakes done. but I'm so behind on my daughter's b-day plans. I havent even got a chance to buy her presents, which I'm going to do while she's at school tomorow. I'm planning on doing her party this sunday and she doesnt like that, but everyone is working and it is easier for them to show on Sundays. She really wants a pinata but its too cold outside, but maybe it wont rain that day and it wont be too bad. If anyone has any advise on throwing a fun, easy, quick, and painless 7 year old girl Hannah-Montana Birthday party, please tell me. Thank you.

-hellokitty
Posted 1/23/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Kitty I am sorry this is happening to you . I hope you can find a doctor to help you soon.
Posted 1/23/2009 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
HC,
I don't know how you do it all! You're a saint! I should have warnd you about the Lyrica, I'm 300lbs and it knocked the crap out of me too. I couldn't get up the 1st morning after I took it too. I was late for work! (I'm never ever late!) I stopped it after a week, my pot & 1/2 of coffee didn't help at all! Good Luck, I hope it helps you and is worth it!
Pete
PS>>> It also can make you gain weight!
Posted 1/23/2009 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry, I ment HK!!!!
I'm trying to post too quickly at work!
Pete
Posted 1/23/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
I had a daycare ~ used to wake up at 3AM and bake birthday cakes and clean house.
It's easier with grown up kids.

Hang in there, Hello~Kitty.

Pamela

Of course I didn't have Chronic Pain when I was doing the AM baking & cleaning. wink
Posted 1/23/2009 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
You know, I miss those cakes and the little car for Cub Scouts. Those painfree
days when I had little kids. It's not fair for you, Kitty. You got pain AND little
kids.
I glued a penny on my son's car to make it go faster. Called it "The Penny Pusher"
He won!
Pamela
Posted 1/24/2009 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitty,

Sorry to hear about all your troubles! I hope things end up working out for you & the Lyrica helps. I'm glad to hear your Degu is doing much better! Sorry I don't have much more to say, I'm running on no sleep, not to mention pain & side effects from nasty prednisone, among others.

Skeye
Posted 1/26/2009 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear how things are going for you. Im on opioids for pain and lyrica as well, lyrica definatley helps me and your doc sounds terriblle, my doc has no prob with the lyrica, and ive seen two others for dif probs but they also have said no prob with lyrica if I were to change to them. Wish I could be more help to you. I worry about dependance and a tolerance to the drugs also. How long did it take to get a tolerance for you??
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