Please help. I need advise

Please, please comment with any thoughts at all.

I am new to PM. I want my life back. BUT, if meds are necessary, I do not want to be percieved as "doctor shopping" or "pill seeking." All I know is what has helped thus far. That includes being left on Percocet far too long, having my tolerance grow, and meeting a doc NP, that evidently over prescribed. I have to give her credit, as she did fully address my pain. I believe she was dealt a very difficult situation that should not have even gone as far as it did. Comment, please.

I am very interested to find out if Gabapentin helps. (my rheumatologist prescribed this). My reason for asking about shingles is from reading the information supplied with the medication, which I've become accustomed to. It states, "...used to treat pain from damaged nerves (postherpetic pain) that follows healing of shingles..." The records from my rheumatologist's office specifically are asking a question back to my old PM doc - asking if I've had shingles. My assumption is that this is somehow related to possible nerve damage. I also had a multiple sclerosis scare 6 years ago - 2 more MRIs, found "spots" on my brain, but not significant.... And was told in the end, "huh, must have been viral." I'll be calling his office today to inform and ask.

I do understand the comment about incorrect information in my records. But, there's nothing I can do to change that - is there? That same information will follow me to any doctor. I can explain, but, a new doctor (I would think) would trust more in the records than what a new patient is saying, especially if there is ANY mention of pain, or pain medication. And more so when the patient is saying things that are not congruent with the medical records. As I think I've already expressed, this presents a problem, and I'd assume would throw up some red flags.

Concerning meds that haven't worked and the idea of "experimenting": I'm open to the idea, but not for 4-6 weeks! I can say the ones that haven't worked in the past not only didn't help with pain, but the side effects were so pronounced that they nearly became more of a concern than the pain itself. Although I shouldn't use one prime past example as an expected outcome for "experimenting", it has stuck firmly in mind for good reason. I was "experimented on" for 2 months straight, 4 years ago, with a terrible bout of insomnia. I saw 3 doctors, and was prescribed 16 (yes, 16) different sleeping pills before I was finally referred to a sleep doctor. THAT doctor finally listened. I had educated myself via information on the web, diagnosed myself, presented the info to all docs (all stated they had never heard of the case), but the sleep doc listened. The very, very bad thing about this case of experimenting is that during a two month period, I had only 16 hours of sleep in total! And those doctors let me suffer! I became so incredibly desperate for sleep. I overdosed myself nightly on OTC sleeping pills - to the point of being beyond incredibly unsafe. The docs didn't seem concerned about that. They were more concerned that a patient was specifically requesting a controlled substance. They quickly dismissed my findings from the web, even though the info came from very legitimate sites.

Specifically what has worked for pain is narcotics. I do not know every other alternative. I'd actually like to hear from all of you what some alternatives are. But, again, the ones I've been prescribed in the past have caused serious issues. Concerning Percocet, I don't have any more of those, so can't take them. I'm currently prescribed oxycodone - which is virtually the same thing.

What about my doc's office stating that multiple referrals is perceived as "doctor shopping"? Don't most PM docs require a referral? 

Thank you all again for your input. I'm happy I've found you all. This is helping.

Hi NA....I just wanted to add that I know you are very desperate to figure things out right now and needing help as I can tell by your posts in the middle of the night...

Please know that you aren't going to get a lot of answers right away when it's 1 or 2 in the morning. It's not because we don't care or don't want to help...it's just that it's not a busy time for the boards...

We are all just other pain patients like yourself, even all the Mods...and the owner of this site.

Anyway...just wanted to share this info so you didn't think anyone was ignoring your posts:)

As far as Dr. shopping...as Susie mentioned, that is when someone is going from Dr. to Dr. or ER to ER and trying to get multiple prescriptions for opiates.

This is not what you are doing at all. Getting a referral to another Dr. is about going and meeting with them and seeing if they are a good match for you.

But you do need to realize that a lot of new Drs. won't prescribe opiates on the first visit. This is why it's very important to just state over the phone that you are looking for "a comprehensive approach to pain management that includes all modalities".

And I know you say you don't want to experiment with other treatments or meds for 4-6 weeks...but unfortunately that is pretty much the timeline that a Dr. asks for a patient to try a new med. Usually around a month unless there is an actual dangerous allergic reaction...it usually takes around that time for regular side effects to subside and for a good look whether pain control is acheived.

Now, a good Dr. will look at your records and see what you have tried recently...within the last year. But it's very likely that if it's been longer than a year, again, barring any type of allergic reaction to a previous med, the Dr. will want to try a medication again at perhaps a different dosage or with a combination of other meds/modalities.

This is just the way it goes sometimes with seeing a new Dr. so I think it's important to be open to everything if it could possibly give you better pain control.

In reference to the Gabapentin (Neurontin), they could be wanting you to try this for both your spine issues as well as there could have been nerve damage from long ago with Shingles....Either way, a nerve pain medication is usually the way to go to treat that type of pain. This is where an opiate doesn't really do the job.

I just caution you telling any Dr. that the only thing that works for pain is narcotics. This will not get you the care you need and most good PM Drs. won't ever use just one treatment for a patient. As you've seen, if that is done then your tolerance is so low that you keep needing more and more and even that doesn't help.

So....all of this is to say that chronic pain management is all about finding the best set of "tools" that will help get our pain down to about a 5 or so. This is using every single possible modality (medicinal and non medicinal)...

When are the appts. with the specialists? I hope they are soon...

Sending you some hugs (( ))

Post Edited (Snowbunny21) : 9/25/2012 10:47:37 AM (GMT-6)

Ok.. just a quick note... I took the Gabapentin last night. (I cannot think straight, so forgive me if this message is a bit weird.) I already have insomnia. MY GOD! It took more than 4 hours, Clonazepam, chamomile tea, OTC sleeping pills, magnesium... I COULD NOT SLEEP! I was as tired as could be, but my mind was racing like crazy! The Rheumatologist also mentioned Lyrica (Sp?) Does anyone have report about either of these medications? I know there are always side affects, and that *some of this might subside. But, even right now, I feel very, very anxious and weird in a kind of bad way. Does that make sense?

Need,

your symptoms sound far more like anxiety than a side effect of Gabapentin. I'm kind of surprised you take otc sleeping pills on top of clonazepam and gabapentin. Have you told your doctor you do that?

You should check with your doctor before taking anything, including herbal stuff and otc meds.

Does anyone have report similar to this with gabapentrine?

Does anyone have report about Lyrica?

Thank you all for your advise and concern. I actually already did call my doc. That was one of the first things I did.

The thing that sucks is I think it's actually helping with the pain. I have much more mobility. Of course, more turning and moving just makes other parts more painful. But, I did notice an improvement in some ways.

needadvice, I am sorry to hear of the troubles that you're experiencing. I am located in the same area as you IN, so please pull up m profile and send me an email. I have a pretty good idea of what practice this was, but I would also like to let you know of places that might be more receptive to your needs as a patient. Most doctors are so busy that when something troublesome happens like this, you have no leverage as a patient, which is troubling.

I'm a new member as well so I believe we cannot message each other through these forums but please, click on my name and send me and ail.

Stay strong and try and relax. I know this must be difficult for you time heals and you will be feeling better sooner the later hopefully.

You should be a me to see my email address now.

Thanks