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Chronic Pain
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Posted 11/17/2012 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, one and all for your replies and care and support

Last night, was another night from hell for her. She was still with level 8-10 pain from about 4 AM till sunrise, despite the stronger meds. She is going to try a different sleep position tonight as someone reccomended. Being flat on her back, with 2-3 pillows eleveating her legs placed under her knees. Her pain, for whatever reason, is severely worse late at night, never in the day.

She called twice to the WC doctor for advice and an update today, and we never got an answer. That is the part of WC that is frustrating, as they are now controlling her situation and optons. If they don't agree to let her see the neurosurgeon that she has an appt. with next Tuesday (this was made under her BCBS), then she might have to wait another 2-3 weeks to see one of their "approved" doctors.

I hope not, as no progress can be made until she is seen by a neurosurgeon, and a treatment plan agreed upon and implemented. Just don't want to see suffer for so long without treatment.

Today, I stayed home and spent most of the day doing housework all day that had piled up. Usually I spread out the housework during the week while she is working. Had to vacuum the entire house, and mop all the moppable floors, both jobs that are absolute killers for me. This was on top of taking care of her from early this morning on. By noon, I had taken some of my meds and laid down for 2 1/2 hours. This has not been an easy past 3 weeks for sure.

david
Posted 11/17/2012 4:31 AM (GMT 0)
Awe, sorry you have to wait on WC, can you possibly light a fire under them by having the lawyer you know call them, to see if that can get you your answers faster. That's about all I can think of and I'm sorry not to be of much help.
Your in my prayers.
Posted 11/18/2012 2:39 AM (GMT 0)
SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE

Poor girl had another rough night. As she is tapering down the prednessone, from a high of 6 pills per day, down to 1 now, we think that is why there has been a big increase in pain.

She has now left 3 messages with the WC dr's office, and not a single reply at all. I find that totally unacceptable. We may have to go back to the ER tommorw, but that is even complicated now that this is a WC case.

Putting the pillows up under her knees helped a little, but she has been in moderate to severe pain all day, despite taking the max. allowable meds she has been put on. I feel so bad for her, makes me feel helpless.

Meanwhile, this constant stress in my mind and all the physical part of caring for her is wearing me down fast. I am listless most of the time, in pain myself, and can't get enough sleep. I have to keep pushing myself hard just to keep up with her needs. Still not griping, just stating facts. With both of us being down and out, we are a miserable pair.

My boys have helped out some lately when they can, but to be fair, they have busy lives and families of their own, they do what they can. In a real emergency, they would be here in a heartbeat.

Until she can be seen by a neuro dr, there is no hope of improvement or recovery, and that part is dragging on and on. It's now been 3 weeks to the days since I first took her to the ER.

David
Posted 11/18/2012 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Is she behaving and staying off her feet? What works best for me is lying on my side with a pillow between my knees. The other option is to be up and walking. Do not sit! Do not stand in one place! if you climb a set of stairs wait an hour before going back down or climbing up another set. Also ice 15 min on 15 min off. Anti - inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and muscle relaxers. Narcotics help some but not as much as you would think.

gentle hugs to you both.
Posted 11/18/2012 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
kaely,

my wife is off limits to the downstairs portion of our house. our house is one story on the front, two story on the back (built on a hill). Unfortunately, the family room and her sewing room are downstairs. the only way to get down from the inside of the house is down a very steep and narrow staircase, that's not going to happen on my watch, lol.

we have used ice, dry heat, wet heat, topical pain creams - all of them do minor help, but not for long.

as far as real meds, the WC dr currently has her on Percocet, Valium, and 800 mg prescription Advils. For the degree of pain she is in, especially during the long nights, I don't feel its strong enough.

david
Posted 11/18/2012 4:46 AM (GMT 0)
Percocet is the default back pain med it seems. It's slightly more useful than a glass off water in my experience. The valium is good for muscle spasms. The advil probably does more to help the pain then the others.

You're right, she is way under medicated for the pain of a disk in the lumbar area. The first time one experiences it, it is just shocking. The pain is up there with childbirth. It's ugly awful pain and no position really helps much. It's pretty much if you're awake you're in pain.

Unfortunately she's stuck with it until she can get to the neurosurgeon. It sounds like they will want to operate. I'm assuming she has a high pain tolerance since she's a nurse. I have a huge tolerance for pain and it still took me out when my disk went at L5-S1.

So sorry this had to happen to you two when you are going through so much of your own pain :( Gentle hugs to you both.
Posted 11/18/2012 5:29 AM (GMT 0)
Skeye had some great advice about getting the doctor to call the neurosurgeons office. If you find out tomorrow that it is definitely workman's comp and they are not going to fight you on it, the quickest way to get her in even faster is to rush her into the emergency room as if the world is going to end. She is in pain so why not show them just how bad it is? Make a ruckuss and if they don't call one in, threaten the hospital that you will transfer to another one. They want your money, especially since they can jack it up on workman's comp. They will run extra tests. They will be at your beck and call. They wont let her leave without her seeing one and if she requires surgery, they will definitely want it done there and by one of their own doctors. Call around about the doctor they assign and if you don't like him, ask for a second opinion to get another one. You have that right.

I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes we have to fight for what we need so desperately. I have been there. Our current healthcare system treats us like they are herding cattle. Make them work for YOU!
Posted 11/18/2012 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
David,

Thanks for the update.... I'm sorry she is continuing to have so much pain at night. It really sounds like they need to get her on a stronger medication (oxycodone, instant morphine, dilaudid) - at least for at night when the pain is bad. Especially since they are having her taper off the steroids.

I'm so sorry that the two of you are going through such a low moment at the same time... :(

Will continue to pray that she can get in to see the neurosurgeon.... that she'll have some decrease of pain.... and many prayers for you too.

I think many of us here are very concerned for you. Being a caretaker is taxing on the body of someone who is healthy.... so I can only imagine how exhausted (physically, mentally, etc) you are, not to mention your pain and other issues.

Maybe one of your kids or a friend can come sit w/ your wife and help her for a day - so that you could catch up on sleep and so forth?? Just a thought.... I know it's hard to step back when it's someone you love - but, in the long run, you need to take care of *you* as well.... sort of the "put on your own oxygen mask first..." type theory. Hope you don't me saying all of that - it's really comes from a place of caring... hope that is conveyed!

Keep us updated when you can....and know we all care... --Tina
Posted 11/18/2012 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the update David. Sorry to hear that things are still a rough go for her. I sure hope you hear from the doctor by tomorrow at the least.
Do you have any close friends that could help you out at all?
Wish there was an easy solution to this but it certainly has me wondering if she may be needing surgery asap.

Take care
suzane
Posted 11/18/2012 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
SUNDAY MORNING

after tryin to reach the WC doctor's office 4x since Friday, she finally this morning, after great insistent, talked to the doctor on call. Bottom line: they aren't going to do anything for her at this point. No increase in her current meds, no new med to try, not even any advice about how to better alleviate her severe night pain. i am so angry i can't think straigt. its almost like they are viewing her as a "drug seeker".

she still has her exisiting appt. with a neurosurgeon on Tuesday, that was set up under her BCBS, before it became a WC case. we see no choice but to keep the appt. regardless, at least she will be seen and a possible treatment plan could begin. she will be out of pain meds by end of the day wednesday anyway.

i am not use to being treated this way by any doctor, so its killing me that there is nothing i can do or suggest to help her. this means she's guaranteed of having at least 2 more terrible nights before seeing the neuro doctor, and that kills me knowing that. we are talking about a 3-5 hour period of time with her suffering level 8-10 pain with no let up, until she can take her next pain meds at 6 AM.

we have other meds at hand, but none that are prescribed for her. but we know we cant use them, if it showed up in a drug test, she would be screwed for WC, would give them an easy way to dump her, and since she is a nurse, she can't risk doing anything to damager her nursing license.

we are between a rock and hard place. btw, they didnt explain or apologize for ignoring her previous 3 messages, which they never returned a call on. in my mind, they are just bunching her up as just another "back pain" patient desperately seeking drugs.

sorry, this is turning into a vent. i am very angry and upset

david
Posted 11/19/2012 1:43 AM (GMT 0)
oh gosh david, sorry all of this is happening, the two of you both need to catch a break eh!!
I sure hope she gets some answers at the appt on Tues.
In the meantime I am praying that you both can get some good rest tonight.

Thinking of you,
Suzane
Posted 11/19/2012 5:13 AM (GMT 0)
David just letting you know i am thinking of you both, take care.
Posted 11/19/2012 2:54 PM (GMT 0)
Get your lawyer and have him/her handle this as a WC case. As it seems thats the only way for you to procede. Hope your wife is doing a little better each day . Thinking of you
prayers
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