New to HW

I am so sorry to hear of your struggles with pain, but I do want to welcome you to the group. You have found a wonderful group of supportive people who can offer words that will bring up your spirits and input from their own experiences with cp.

When you say "I look in the mirror and i see what i have always seen, a healthy looking woman. The reality is quite different." Many of us can relate - and because of this, we are often treated by those around us as if we are faking or exagerating - when we most definately are not.

So is the DEA telling your doctor what he can prescribe to you or did they scare him? What medications are you taking now? I have several disc issues in my back leading to all kinds of fun stuff...I have 3 broad bulges in my neck with one protruding - all causing significant nerve issues - and also in my low back I have 3 bulges and a tear in another disc...sciatica, etc. I can barely turn my head and have tingling in my left pinky and then on my right side pain running down to my elbow...and inside my right bicep it feels like I have been punched...as for my legs, I get radiating pain and tingling all the way down to my toes and then foot spasms - feels like a charlie horse in my toes. I have facet joint syndrome, osteoarthritis, sciatica, I could keep going. I am only telling you this so you can see I have the nerve crap going on too. I am currently taking skelaxin (muscle relaxer) 5mg oxycodone (I don't like taking more then 5mg at a time because I have to take it at work and want to limit the effects. I can always take 2-3 when I need more relief so I stick with the 5mg pill) 50mg tramadol 4x daily (another pain medication but gives me limited side effects so I can work) neurontin 900mg 2x daily (this is for nerve pain) and then ibuprofen as needed. My pharmacy of choice had issues filling at first but now they keep the medications I need stocked just for me. ;o) Nice of them.

I could tell you not to be bummed but I know that is not something I need to say - nor would it work. However, when I find myself getting depressed about my situation, I try to change my thoughts to positive...I even write down things to really put it in my mind....or I cll a friend or family member that understands and vent...or come here and read other peoples stories and try to offer my words...and this does make me feel better even to know I am not alone in this.

I hope you can find some relief for your pain, and welcome to the group although I am sorry for what brings you here.

I am also putting off surgery as long as possible...and believe that alternatives should be tried. I am getting a cervical esi next week for the neck stuff...I have had about 6 in my lumbar and they do provide relief for me to get the inflamation down...

Good morning Valerie & welcome to the chronic pain forum. Wow, talk about the domino effect hitting you in 2001 it really did. When multiple things hit like that, I call it the domino effect. I am sorry to read that you suffered with so many different things happening like they did. I had something similar hit me that way and it was just something else to try and bounce back from.

The DEA is in the middle of PM & they are enforcing the new rules & guidelines that the drs have to go by if they plan to treat someone with chronic pain. Because of the new stuff, pretty much no PCP will scripts for narcotics unless he has attended classes in PM. None of these drs want the DEA in their offices breathing down their necks and this what is happening to a lot of them. Don't get me wrong, I am all for closing down the pill mills & cash paying drs only. But I say leave these drs alone that are doing the right things, quit harassing them & get the bad ones out there.

You mentioned nerve pain. Has any of your drs ever put you on any of the meds used to treat nerve pain? I have seen a lot of people on here take these meds for nerve pain and get good results in reducing the pain. This may be something to talk to your dr about.

Anyway, I wanted to pop on & say hello & welcome aboard. Take care...Susie

Valerie, have you tried other muscle relaxers? There are many different ones...flexerel, skelaxin, and many many more. My on just prescribed me 2 different ones...a milder one that I can take during the day when I am at work that won't leave me feeling like gumby, and then another at might....flexerel...that will also help me sleep. There are just so many kinds that maybe your doc can find a different one for you? Or is he to freaked out? It sounds like they really rattled him but maybe he will calm down as time passes...so sorry you are dealing with this!

Thanks for the welcome! nvrthesame

I will ask my dr. about different muscle relaxers. I do need an alternative to the soma.

The large chain pharm's down here are next to impossible to get a prescription filled at. I had a good relationship for years with one pharmacist, he left the store a few months ago, and since then it has been a battle to get anything filled. I was lucky to find a small independently owned store that will fill, the only problem is that they are very expensive, i do not have insurance, so the cash price is a hardship, My husband got a 2nd job (part-time) to help pay for them. I am a very lucky girl to have him in my life. We have been married since '82. I am blessed.

Trying to get a script filled down here in fla is like climbing a mountain, with people judging and hurling insults at you while you climb. I have been told "I would never fill this.. for so many pain pills", "why would you ever need this much medicine in one month", "what is your diagnosis that you would need this strong of an opiate?", " you must be selling drugs to need this amount", "you need rehab" "what is wrong with you, you look ok to me" , etc... oh my lord, just sitting here and writing this down is bringing tears to my eyes. I have never told anyone about the abuse and horrible things employees at the pharmacies have said to me, in front of other customers, and other employees. They have made me feel just horrible about myself, I have never done anything illegal with my medicine, and it hurts to be judged and accused of a crime, when i am just trying to ease some of the discomfort and live my life. They don't understand how hurtful their comments are. They don't understand how impossible it is for me to have a "normal" life without pain medicine.

The average person i think just doesn't understand what it is like to suffer from severe pain most days, That when you are in such pain, the medicine does NOT get you high, it only takes the edge off the pain. That the pain is always there, you cannot escape it, you can only try to make it somewhat bearable. It interferes with every moment of your life. It is frightening sometimes just how horrible it can get.

Sorry this got so long, I know you understand, and probably deal with similar things. Thanks for being here, It feels really good to be able to speak about this. I never tell anyone, I just suck it up, and smile when someone asks how i am, "everything's great" is always my answer, no one really wants to hear about it.

take care everyone, hopefully today is a good day.
valerie

one thing i try to remember is "worrying is like a rocking chair, it will keep you busy, but gets you nowhere"

Flexeril is another muscle relaxer that is VERY cheap. I pay $8 for a two month prescription (60 pills) at Sam's club. You do not have to have a membership to use their Pharmacy.

Good evening Valerie. I'm sorry I'm a little late, but I just wanted to welcome you here to the Chronic Pain forum.

I'm lucky to have a chemist who's known me since I was maybe two or three years old so there are never any questions asked about my meds, and I'm sad to read the difficulties you're going through at the moment. I hope that you can get something in action to improve the situation.

Take care,

Laura

You need to get him to listen to you. If you need meds he should be giving them to you. I to am on the dilaudid. It is very good for most of the pain.