PM appt.today

Hi friends, I have my PM appt this morning. I need to make this quick(nice change,hunh?) so  that I can get ready to go. I am on Percocet 7.5mg, Flexiril, and mobic. I hope that he will either increase the dosage or the amount to take a day. I do not think this is helping me. I hurt still. It is my lower back (left side), left hip and left buttock. It seems like I am hurting all the time. The tens unit is helful, but as soon as I turn it off, pain levels go back way up. I know this is nerve pain I'm dealing with. I do hope that one day it will "vanish", but now I am not so sure anymore. I think it is pretty much here to stay. I haven't given up on the possibility, as I have learned ( from you all), that it can take 2 years for the nerve to heal after surgery. I will let you know later what happens at the appt.

Anice

Anice, another thought they are claiming pain meds do little for nerve pain, you may need something like Neurotin, Lyrica or Cymbalta to get it to settle down. So many others on the forum are on these meds for nerve pain.

 

 

     Dear Anice,

 

     Good Morning! *huggs* It is good to see you. I do hope you were able to get a lil bit of rest last night? I ended up going to bed at an odd time myself.

 

      I am so glad to hear your going to your PM today. I hope he can help. But real quick I wanted to tell ya..

The tens unit is helful, but as soon as I turn it off, pain levels go back way up.

So, when I am in severe pain, and am using Mr. T, I have to decrease the level on each side by 2 points for last 5-10 mins of my treatment.  Makes the transitions easier for me, maybe for you too?

 

*huggs*

dani

Someone mentioned that opiate pain medications don't work for  nerve pain and she is correct. They don't. Increasing them is not going to ease that type of pain. You  need to try something like Lyrica, Neurontin, Topamax, or they have also found that the old SSRI type anti depressants work well for nerve pain. Cymbalta is another one that is used commonly and they seem to get good results with.

Sandi

My PM appt. went well today. He changed the dosage for the percocets from 7.5 to 10mg. He mentioned Cymbalta but I think he said it is expensive. He said he could give me samples but wasn't sure for how long it could last. I declined since money is tight right now. I could have taken him up on the offer of samples, but if I didn't have the money to get the rx filled, then I would have to stop. I will try it when the money situation is better. I have tried Neurotin before and had horrible results with it. I had the most violent, just horrible nightmares. I woke up each night before I died in the nightmare... I would wake up screaming. I just couldn't take that. I did notice an improvement with the nerve pain though. But I was scared that I would have a heart attack in my sleep, waking up that way night after night. I tried it for as long as I could then had to quit!!! I know the percocet isn't going to help alot. He mentioned oxycontin but said it also doesn't have a generic... So there really wasn't alot more he could do because of my limited source of income. He did say that at some point and time, a stimulator may be a difinite option for me. I don't think I am ready for that at this point. I just don't know enough about it right now.

He said to continue the meds, PT and the tens unit. I will. Now, again, do you use the tens' unit at high numbers. I have done that, but it caused a increase in the muscle spasms for me. I turn it on until I feel it and it is at a comfortable number. Sorry to ask this again. But I have forgotten what was said on this... too many things going on with me. I use numbers between 4 and 8 usually.

I was drug tested today. I wasn't expecting that and it caught me off guard a little. But I did it and I am sure it will be just fine. I haven't taken anything additional to worry about. I am a little nervous due to the false positive post the other day... And then I go back in a month.

Sorry to ramble on but I just wanted to let you all know what happened. I got my check today. And we went and bought groceries. It sure is nice to have them in the house again. We were about out of everything!!! Oh, and my request for food stamps was declined. It would have been nice for a short time though. And I bought my meds. Now I need to figure out the bills. That should have been done first, I know. but we needed food and I needed my meds. Whichever you do first doesn't matter. It isn't enough for everything anyway. You can only stretch a dollar soooo far!!! I am sure there are others in the same boat or have been there before... I'll be so glad when that part is over, too.
Anice

Hi Anice, sounds like the appt went well. So terrible what happened with neurotin, but everyone is so different. I think its awful that we have so many good drugs available and no generic and then people cannot afford them. The meds I need for my crohns no generic available, so I know what you are saying. Perhaps later on your money gets better if still needed your dr can try you either Lyrica or Cymbalta. These drugs can work on nerve pain where pain meds do not.

You are too soon postop to think of a stimulator. I would have dug my heels in on that one too. You haven't even been given the opportunity to try medications for nerve pain.

Like you said, you have to eat and you need your meds. You cannot do without either. So sorry to hear about the food stamps. I am not going to get started on my high horse on that one, I just think its unfair for us that need help can't get it. We are talking something temporary not for our life times. Ok, will shut up on that one.

When I was given my Tens by the rep I was told to turn it up a little high then back it off till it was  confortable. No, turning it up to high is not the way to go. You are trying to help reduce spasms not create more, so do not turn it up high, thats defeating the purpose of the machine.

Have a good weekend.

Hi, Anice,
I'm glad this appointment wasn't as upsetting as your NS, but sad about the meds. I sure do know $$ issue. One suggestion I have (that I'm also currently doing) is searching for coupon and discount programs for the cymbalta and/or lyrica. I'm searching through the www.pparx.org site (the one Montel Williams promotes) and it gives lots of different links for different meds. Some of the companies offer you even free meds if you don't have any insurance, and some even substantial discounts even if you do have insurance. So it's worth a shot. That's how I'm hoping to be able to get a couple of my more expensive medications, especially the nexium. I think the percocet and other narcotics are a little tougher to get, but sounds like your insurance is covering that.

I'm with everyone else about the stim. I know my PT even lets me adjust his machine when I'm in his office. He leaves it close enough for me to adjust. It takes me a couple of minutes to get used to it, then I slowly increase until it feels uncomfortable or painful, then back down a notch. To me it sort of should feel like a vibrator. If it's causing muscle spasms it's probably too high.

I can't believe you were denied food stamps, especially with children. Make sure you keep updating your information and reapply - like with your husband being out of work, if your benefits decrease, etc. I am afraid, though, that with many state governments as well as the federal being stretched they're going to be cutting back programs, just like in California. They're even cutting back children's health insurance programs there.

You're right, you have to buy your food and medicine first. I had to get my car inspected today and even though it cost me $200 I kind of knew it as I needed brakes. Thankfully, there was nothing else wrong as the car is nearly 12 years old! But my dentist wants at least part of the money for the root canal on Monday, and that wasn't in the budget. It does get scary.

I'm glad I got to meet you even briefly in the chat last night. I hope you can get a little relief and at least maybe try to relax over the weekend. Maybe do something like watch a silly DVD with your family. Keep it simple.

Hugs,

PaLady

White Beard,
We are all going to remember your advice to Anice should you ever try to build another porch by yourself!

PaLady

Susie
I have a feeling that I better never!, ever!,   Build another porch in my life!!!!, or at least not let PALady ever know about it!    I  had a feeling I was treading on "Thin Ice" when I posted that to anice! Little did I realize PALady was waiting in the wings!     I  swear you just can't get anything past her!

White Beard

Anice,
I hope you don't mind a little humor thrown in here! I sure don't want to hijack your thread or make light of your problems. Just had to say that. And I'll let Pete be the geezer but I know we're all concerned about your BP.

As far as White Beard and Pete and Florida porch building activities, I have my spies ya know!

PaLady