Having a really bad day

I'm not having a good day at all.

I am so fed up and frustrated with doctors not understanding the amount of pain I'm in. I saw my doctor on Friday, the pain management doctor who said he would call my general practitioner and tell her she can prescribe my pain medication.

My general practitioner had not heard from the pain doctor. She said she doesn't feel comfortable prescribing anything but vicodin until she hears from the pain doctor. I told her my pain is nowhere near under control, but she said she wants to hear from the pain doctor first.
So now I sit at home crying out in pain with no one to help me and nowhere to turn. I really hate the fact that I have nowhere to turn for help, and these doctors just don't get it. Why can't I find a doctor who wholeheartedly understands. I am so fed up, it's easy for them to say, "let's wait", they're not the ones in so much pain.

I had an appointment with my pain doctor last wednesday, that was the day he said he would call my primary dr to let her know she can prescribe my med's. That was done because he is understaffed and busy, and my primary doctor said she would do that as long as they had communication. I guess I just assumed the pain doctor would do as he said and call my primary doctor, especially since he knew how much pain I was/am in. I saw my primary doctor on Friday morning to discuss the info that was told to her from the pain doctor, but she hadn't heard from him. She sent him a fax to get information about my care. So hopefully it will get taken care of sooner rather than later.

The whole thing is just frustrating. Time does slow down when you're in pain, and you should have the right to have your pain under control and listened to, quickly, as it affects your whole being, mind, body, and soul.

Thanks for the reply, it's comforting to know I'm not alone

 

     aaaahhh!....Ok!....I see now!

      So you saw the PM on Wed!....well hopfully the fax will be read Monday morning, and he will expedite it quickly for her.

    Yes many of have been there. I hope your not working this weekend, and can get some bed rest, and even then, a person can hurt just laying down. Is there any over the counter med you can take, that may take the edge off, just a little?

      SE

I don't understand why PC doctors are so loving of vicodin and it almost makes you wonder if they ACTUALLY think that it provides real pain relief for severe pain and that only exceptionally extreme pain requires stronger meds. Vicodin is the new replacement for Ibuprofin 800 ladies and gentlemen. Ever since ibuprofin has been ridiculed for causing stomach damage during middle to long term use, doctors have been looking for an alternative. And along came tramadol, but that proved to be only as strong as codeine and it worked well for some with neuro pain, but didn't even touch many with pain issues. Then there was bextra, but cardio risks canceled out the chance for that to be PC medication of choice. So over the past 5 years weve seen doctors turn to handing out scripts of vicodin to take over the place of Mr. Ibu. I mean afterall its stronger than codeine, and with 500 - 750 mgs of APAP or ASA in it, people would injure their liver before using an abusable amount so it "must be safe". Right?

Wrong. Vicodin is infact a very weak opioid. Its only considered slightly stronger than tramadol, and its only being given out as the DOC by PCs because its a schedule 3 (controlled and strong yet less abusable so the PC thinks).

Some doctors still prefer darvocet, even though there are massive warnings about its health consequences. This has actually caused a number of unfortunate deaths since 100 mgs of darvocet is less effective than 600 mgs of asprin at relieving pain. 30 mgs of codeine is usually only compared to about 400 mgs of ibuprofin. Therefore if vicodin is only a half step up from codiene, I don't see how its effective for anything on the pain scale above a 6. Just my opinion here guys.

Too many PCs are out of touch with their patients. PMs are over the past few years starting to become in better touch with their patients, but this trend doesn't seem to have bounced over to the PC side just yet. I love it when a doctor, especially a PC you've know for months or years "doesn't feel comfortable" prescribing anything beyond T3 or V-5. It shows they've been spooked by cases of the feds that prosecuted PMs that knowingly gave medications to "seekers". They were isolated cases and yet still, most docs don't quite grasp that ideal.

The medication I'm on is more potent, but it has a fair number of side effects at the max dose.....which is the dose needed to treat severe pain. Its "less addictive though", a slightly comforting thought. Sometimes, you have to take a small win as for what it is though, a 1 up on the common enemy, PAIN :)

southviewfgirl

I agree with straydog  maybe it is time to try and find another Pain Doctor that has the time to evaluate and treat (you) and their patients, or find a new PCP that is willing to treat (you) and their patients with respect and diginity and show them some compassion!  I don't understand these Doctors, if their patients are in pain and they are not willing to treat the pain properly, then the least they can do, is send them to somebody that will treat them! And then follow through with it to make sure their patients pain is being treated properly  and adequately controlled!!!  We are talking about PEOPLE here, not machines or cattle or what ever!  But real Human Beings that have feelings and emotions, and suffer needlessly with pain, and why? Just  because some doctor is not willing to do their job and adequate treat their patients that suffer with pain. Why the heck did they even go into medicine, if they do not want to practice it properly???! There are all these medications that were made specificly to treat pain, they were made available specifically to Doctors so they could be prescribed and administered to their patients!! And now you have a bunch of Doctors that will not use them, for what ever reason! Well if they are not going to use the tools they have available to them to treat a specific patient, then they should not treat that patient at all, and then at the least, they should refer them to another Doctor that will treat them! Sorry for venting but this really tightens my jaws!  You have southviewgirl suffering in pain for no good reason! Other than her PCP won't do her/his job and treat her properly! And then look at ElenorRigby's post, I honestly just don't understand that attitude, oh I know that that Doctors have regulations to follow and admistering some meds requires more work and it is a hassle for them, but that is part of the job! And they knew that when they started, it is part and parcel with being a Doctor! I know this is naive on my part to even say this, but I would like to think and  hope that the reason a person becomes a Doctor is because they want to treat people and stop their suffering. And no amount of hassle is going to deter them from doing that! I guess that is just wishful thinking on my part!!!  It seems more and more Doctors are happy and content with just only partially treating their paitients, and doing only part of their job, then leaving the rest for the patient to deal with! It just seems so wrong!

 

I am sorry for venting, but so many post from our members  in our family here are like this, and that is sad! They should not have to suffer with pain like that!

 

White Beard