Doctor Won't Treat Pain

Sorry to hear about your pain issues...

I see that you joined back in 2010 and I was taking a peek at a few previous posts to try and refresh memory of what your problems are...

May I ask what made them decide that you don't have Fibromylagia? And how long have they been trying to determine if you have Lupus or not? As I'm sure you know, we have a Lupus board that you can go on as well as this one to get information and support as well.

How about the cardiology issues...Have they finally pinpointed things after these last few years of seeing someone? I certainly hope so...

It sounds like they are trying to determine "what" is causing the pain and unfortunately many times until this is definitive, many Drs. won't just throw strong pain meds at it as with regulations getting so strict with controlled substances, they have to "prove" the reason they are prescribing certain medications.

I see that you tried awhile back some years ago but it may be time to try the nerve meds again..Not sure if you tried Savella or Nucynta....those have been having some good success lately.

Are they reluctant to even give you a muscle relaxer which would certainly help a little bit at least for that type of pain. This is either Flexeril or Amrix, Robaxin, Skelaxin, Baclofen, or Zanaflex. I would ask them if this is something they can do for now until you get a firm diagnosis.

The other issue with regulations getting tighter is that non PM Drs. are shying away from prescribing any type of controlled substance..So, you say that you have an appt. with an actual Pain Management Dr....this is going to be your best bet for them to work with your other specialists on finding a good plan to help with your pain which should include a lot more than just medication...

I'm not sure a walk in clinic will do much right now as you are seeing other Drs. and that is usually for an emergency situation and I know this has been going on for years for you which is really tough...but only you can make that particular determination.

If your Rheumatologist is leaning towards Lupus, I think there are specific meds that can help with that so going on that board too you can discuss and see what is helpful.

Again....we really do understand what it's like when you can get definitive answers and then that affects what type of treatment you will get. Please continue to reach out for support and keep us posted on how the appt. goes with the PM...

Still having the same cardiac issues.. that's how the lupus and collagen vascular disease came up. I've been very weak the past year, losing weight, not able to fight infections..ended up with staph in November. That staph became MRSA and then pericarditis, which sent me back to a new cardiologist last month after antibiotics weren't helping. He went over my history and agreed that no this is not fibromyalgia, I'm right, and I never fit the diagnosis criteria for it..which is why I argued it. It was wrongly diagnosed and I couldn't get a doctor to look past it until now. He believes I have collagen vascular disease.. likely Lupus which could be causing my issues with my joints, fatigue, my skin, my eyes, my heart, my lungs, my stomach..everything. I'm having a stress test in a couple weeks. I just had a surgery on my leg, so letting that heal a bit before I do the treadmill torture.

I realize the hesitance in prescribing narcotics, I don't want narcotics.. However, when the pain is at such an extreme level, as mine is now, it needs to be leveled out. I have been arguing for a treatment plan with this doctor for five months. My rheumy makes his treatment recommendations and my doctor ignores them.. He told me to go out and have a beer and smile. That it's up to me to find a way to fix my problems and get a diagnosis. This is what my last two doctors did, my case was too difficult for them, beyond their knowledge.. so I just fell through the cracks. It's enough to make anyone furious and I've handled it pretty well. I do research, I present facts and try to educate myself on the right course to take.. I'm just floating aimlessly in the water until I have a doctor willing to paddle the boat.

When someone is very sick or in immense pain, it's difficult to advocate or be articulate with a doctor.. so that may be a factor, but any good doctor would be well aware of that and able to work around it. I'm done providing this guy excuses, he's been my doctor over a year and he's not even trying.. It's unacceptable. I'm not willing to switch doctors either, he needs to do his job, he's a capable doctor..he just needs to get involved and stop treating me like a woman who comes into his office complaining, though I look pretty. I'm really sick of doctors expecting me to look like hell, just because I'm 'sick' doesn't mean I wear pajamas everywhere I go and can't brush my hair.

It's all very frustrating.
I've taken flexeril..doesn't touch the pain. I've tried savella and several other fibro and arthritic drugs, nothing so far has helped.. I need to try lupus meds.. there's one I was told about in the ER.. hydroxychloroquine I think.. I don't see my Rheumy until June, so I'm betting I'll have to wait until then! Ridiculous.

You and I seem to have quite a bit in common. I was diagnosed with JRA as a kid, but the dr feels there is more going on as well. He's mentioned Lupus and other vascular disorders.

I don't know where you are getting treatment, but a university hospital might serve you better. I was seen locally for quite a while. When the intersticial lung disease was found on a CT, I was referred down to Duke. I was the oddball at my old drs office, at Duke, everyone is an oddball. Nice to fit in for ounce.

My million drs all rely on my pain management dr to control the pain. The only time someone else steps in is when I'm inpatient.

Also-you can get a stress test done without the treadmill.  I've had quite a few done where they inject you to make your heart race.

It's hard to get help without a diagnosis. I hope they can figure it out quickly.

Even PCPs have their specialties. One doc I used to go to, it was always a bladder infection. One said it was always stress induced. One always claimed glandular (mostly thyroid) problems.

I could be wheeled in with a bone sticking out of my leg, and one of my old docs would send me home to eat his 3C diet - Coke, crackers, and chicken noodle soup, and take donnagel (phacktue, I still remember the taste of that stuff).

You can fire your doctor, he cannot hold your records hostage, and you have the right to a 2nd 3rd or 4th opinion if you want. And if that specialist can't see you for 5 months, try a different one. Or explain it's kind of an emergency, and you need some relief, as you are getting none from your current doctors.

Sorry to hear of your situation. The easy answer would be to run into the right type of doctor, but you said you have already switched several times. Don't know where you live, or what kind of resources you have. There's got to be a caring empathetic doctor out there for you.

I agree attitude plays a part, but that's not going to make anyone's pain disapear.

If you get a full blown verified lupus dx, I would hope that would make it easier for any doctor to take your pain issues more seriously.

You have to keep being your own first line and best advocate. You can't give up, there's always reason for hope, even in a situation like yours. You are not alone, that is for sure.

Just keep trying, perhaps the answers are just around the corner for you.

david

I have had to switch doctors, too many times now. I see a great rheumatologist, but because he's in high demand..I only see him every six months. My last appt I was sick with a staff infection, and what they thought was pericarditis..so that ended up being the focus of the appt. I'm hoping this new cardiologist and the stress test and echo will provide some answers. My PCP referred me to him, the cardiologist is sure of an auto immune disease..it took him all of ten minutes talking to me and feeling my arms and legs, etc. He asked some simple questions, one being.. Is it difficult to take blood? Yes. It takes forever to get a vein, I get poked repeatedly and they have to dig and search.. They apologize and someone else comes to try. When I was in the ER in November it took three people and two hours just to get an IV and take blood for labs. The 1st tech told me my arm was hard, like it was full of scar tissue and that it was odd. The cardiologist thought a while and told me, I know what you have. Collagen Vascular Disease. There are types that can affect your heart and lungs.. which would explain why I have had this chest pain and my lungs hurt and I feel like I'm not getting enough air.

I'm having the stress test on the 29th.. I don't have much hope for this pain doctor appt, they told me I have to choose one specific issue to be treated. Not just chronic pain, a body part.. The worst pain is in my neck, so I chose that..why do I have to choose? Is this normal?? -because it sounds really stupid to me!!!

Things that do work for me are strict diet, physical therapy, and relaxation techniques. I really want to try the lupus medication and something to help with my lungs if that doesn't.. I've used advair before, opens you right up. I'm on generic Topamax for the migraines. My neuro tried to get botox approved for the facial pain, but it didn't happen. I took tramadol for a few months in 2010/2011 and it was great for the pain, but I developed an allergy to it.. It makes me insanely itchy, I just can't handle it. I have insomnia due to the pain and anxiety, so if the migraine medicine doesn't knock me out I have Ambien. I try to avoid that though. I can't take NSAIDS because of my stomach and a lot of other medications I've reacted to really poorly. I'm not an easy case to treat and I understand that.. I don't accept a doctor telling me to grin and bear it with a beer. Smile more, appreciate that you aren't dying and just be happy with what you have. I will, I am.. Let's make what I have enjoyable, shall we?! What a ridiculous way to speak to a patient begging you for help. I cried. I cried all the way out to my car.

It's really hard. I appreciate all the responses, I genuinely do. The irony of my doctor telling me to smile more is I smile All The Time. I'd just like to feel as though my body might smile with me. That's all.

No one can change my life, but me.. It's exhausting.

Hi there...I guess I am still a bit confused on which Dr. is the one who is telling you to just smile and have a drink? Is this your PCP?

And as others mentioned, can you get on a cancellation list for the Rheumatologist to try and get in earlier? That seems so strange that if you have seen them previously and they are in the middle of testing you and trying to get a diagnosis to plan you to come back so far out at 6 months.....

I also agree that I would cancel and find another PM Dr. as I've never heard of one telling you to pick a body part to treat...Usually they treat all chronic pain no matter what is the cause. Yes, they will work with the specialists you have to not overlap on medications, but I would be not wasting a single dime or second on this Dr....

Not being too nosey but are you not near any type of large city in the state you live? It sounds like you are so limited on Drs. but I would even make up to a 3 hour drive if I had to to see my PM...So I would be looking within a certain radius from where you live.

So...if this is just a Primary Dr. that is telling you to buck up...I'm not sure why you are so reluctant to let this one go as you are not going to "convince" him to treat you the way you want and with what medication you want...Sometimes it is just not a match when it comes to Drs. and it's best to part ways...

Keep us posted..