Help

Hello one and all,

As the rest of you, I am turning to HW for support and maybe ideas.

I have been a member awhile, but come and go. I have great pain in both legs that happened to occur right after I pulled my back. I have never been diagnosed, except with osteo-arthritis.

My lumbar mri does show moderate stenosis, bulging disks(I think everyone) and ddd.

Every doctor has said, the mri does not reflect the pain I am in. It will be 3 years. I will have periods that it calms down and I am thrilled. I was able to get away with taking ultram and not squarming all day with leg pains. Now I am back to squarming and more pain.

My doctor has not been helpful. It was others who told me about EMGs, so I asked for one. I have been the one asking for tests, he is a blank slate but since I wasn't too bad, dealt with him.

I asked for something stronger than ultram for pain and he gave me hydromorphine, which was prescribed by another doctor but gave me only 1 a day. I went back and asked for 2 and he said no, I would only want more and more. I told him that it wasn't that I was taking the one and it was working and I need more, the one was never enough. My husband was the one who forced me to take 2 just to get out of the pain. After that I tried taking 1 in the am and 1/2 later. He wouldn't go for that and gave me morphine sulfate er. He didn't tell me the side effects. Well, I took it and freaked out. My pulse was racing, I was dizzy, nauceous, headachy and scared!! My husband got a hold of him and all he said was that it was "normal"!!! To keep taking it!! After that experience I didn't want to go through with that. I called his office. He is only there 2xs a week, which I know is bad. I left 2 messages for his assistant and NEVER got a call back. I said I needed something else for the pain.

I can't believe that this is how we are treated. None of us want this pain! I HATE pills! I was an exercise nut for years, now I feel housebound and useless and can't even get help.

The ultram barely does a thing when you have a lot of pain. I had tried percocet in the past and it made me sick after awhile, that's why I figured if the hydromorphone didn't, let me have some to deal with this.

I don't know what to do, besides changing doctors, that is such a hassle and the thought you may get someone even worse is scary.

I just want something now that will allow me to function in the day, not lay round, which is what I feel like doing because I'm hurting.

Has anyone tried morphine sulfate er? I didn't think my request for 2 pills a day was so wild and am so surprised he said no, meanwhile he had given my husband 3 a day for fibro.

We are a mess. I know we all can tolerate different drugs and I've been told not to ask for anything specific, but that doesn't work with him--what he gave me, and never warned me about or followed up with, really scared me. So I am asking is there any known pain killer that is more helpful and tolerable than others?

Thanks for listening. I am so fed up right now. Having 2 people in your house not well is difficult and we are doing the best we can.

Thanks for listening. 

Thank you for your thoughts. To be honest, I do believe he was trying to help in giving me an ER and it is the lowest dose! The side effects were just so scary, I was afraid to go through it again, though I admit, the following day, I didn't take any, and I imagine it was still in my system, and my pain was definitely less. Maybe I'll have to rethink this. I had never heard of this drug and was curious if anyone here had used it. I thank you so much for your thoughts, you brought up very good points. I am used to and want easy, instant relief, but I know I felt pretty good the next day, so that just might be the effect of taking it. I am still scared of going through the side effects and putting my husband, who isn't well either through it too. But I do value your opinion.

I have to agree and I know that doesnt help you much but it looks as if he is at least attempting to help and at the same time avoid those drugs that might send a red flag to the authorities as would the hydromorp.

What you said you felt with the MS is not uncommon and it can occur with all narcotics if someone isnt use to it,simply it is that "buzz" all the folks addicted felt at one time. It sounds as though you just got too much opiate far faster then your body was use to and the reason the Doc said keep taking it as it should have gotten better after a few doses.

You didnt say what dose he started you on and it is possible a lower one would work better but getting him to write it with all the others still untaken might be difficult.

You are right finding a new Doc might be more of a pain then it is worth and you many get NO treatment whatsoever and severing the ties with the old one may make if impossible to return later.

You can however go to a specilaist for a second opinion and do NOT take any meds from him until when and if you properly discharge the other one.

I know exactly what kind of squirming pain your referring to as I have it as well during a flare and nothing helps for me. It is simply sciatica and dont let me convince you there is anything simple about it as it is horrible. Unfortunately many folks with back trouble suffer this and some with no time in between or remission.

There are other non-narcotic meds on the market that have been shown to help not with the pain but with the overall sensation and they are the cymbalta,lyrica,neurontin,just to name a few.

Maybe an internet search for meds use to treat sciatica or nerve pain will generate some material and idea's since your Doc does wait for your to treat you.

Good luck and a few things I have learned to do that help are to keep my legs really warm,apply pressure as in sitting in a chair and just putting my feet on the wall and pushing( I know sounds crazy) but there have been times I would try anything here,as well as nice long hot baths, I also have one of the hand messagers with all the little bumpy things on it and it helps the back of my legs for awhile or maybe it just takes the attention away who knows?

Best of luck to you and certainly sorry you are having such a time.

nvrthesame98, I didn't see your reply till now and thank you for your it. I did mention I was on the lowest dose. I do believe he was attempting to help, but he is a doctor and that is his job, lol, right? The med was not for me and he didn't help by all the reasons I gave. An emergency call without a follow up and having an assistant not assist, left me high and dry. I hear what you are saying and still think it is so lame with the hydromorphone. He has given my husband 3 a day w/o a problem. I didn't know what to ask for and he isn't great at giving ideas, or diagnosing, so I had been given hydro before and knew I could tolerate it,  so I thought for those times when I had extra pain, it would be a good idea. It seemed to be working ok, I was taking less of the ultram besides. I was never diagnosed with sciatica or anything, I think I mentioned that, but I always felt that it was a back problem and I think I mentioned not one doctor ever checked for nerve damage. I've had mri's but never even told about EMGs. It's been one huge frustration for almost 3 years, without answers. I don't think staying with a doctor who is unavailable is a good idea for me. I am not looking forward for searching, but this last episode was ridiculous. Thanks for all your thoughts, I really do appreciate this board and your replies. Oh, I tried lyrica, couldn't tolerate it and I am taking ultram and I believe I can't take cymbalta with it. First thing that needs to be done is to determine if it is a nerve problem, no one has even done that. Thanks for your well wishes and I wish you well also.

nvrthesame98 said...
As sad as it is when we ask for specific meds or keep having trouble with alot of the things they give us as an alternative to that which we know will work they see it as drug seeking behavior. Ridiculous to think we get lumped with addicts because something works better then something else isnt it?

Many times sciatica cant be diagnosed with anything other then the described symptoms but there are times EMG's show enough to back up what we are saying about the levels of pain.

Looking for a new Doc is a good idea if yours isnt great in taking the initiative in your treatment and all I was saying is hang on to him until you find one that works with you and isnt afraid to agressively treat your pain issues as there are not alot of them out there and some treatment is better then nothing right?

Just make sure you dont let your search look like a search for meds rather then answers as that can get you into a flagged stage easily as all it takes is one of those Docs to make a report to someone,thus my reasons for saying not to take any meds from a new Doc until you have discharged your old one.

I know we shouldnt have to do things this way to get help but sadly enough its there and it isnt going to get better anytime soon.

As to why your Hubby gets more pain meds then you can get? The numbers show they treat men better for pain then women as we are supposedly better at tolerating it at higher levels then men and before this goes awry they are NOT my numbers! What a crazy notion to think we dont feel pain as much as our male counterparts? Or that they dont tolerate it as well as us? Makes me wonder if this study was done on Labor and delivery! LoL.

I wish you the best anyway and hope you find a Doc soon with more experience in this area.

Thanks for your input. I know what you are saying, and I am not seeking drugs, well I am right now for the pain but I would like a darn diagnosis! This doctor actually shrugged his shoulders with no clues as to my pain.

Don't you think it odd in 3 years, I have never been offered an EMG? I am just frustrated. Am I really expecting too much from a doctor? His job is to diagnosis, is it not?

I hear you also, I wouldn't go to 2 docs and get drugs. I am looking for one intelligent doctor, period. Thanks again, Bless you! I hope I find a doctor also, who takes me seriously, with respect and has diagnostic abilities.  

To answer your question, I take percocet 10/650mg every four hours for the pain. It was just taking the edge off. Then I decided to go back on lyrica. I am taking 25mg three times a day and it is working beautifully for me. I am actually out of pain for the first time in one year. But you have to remember that I have fibromyalgia and lyrica is recommended for that condition.

I hope that helps.

Gentle Hugs,

Lindaloo

marthamae said...
I am a big advocate of changing doctors if your current one is not working for you. Two times a weeks...yuck! and they should return your calls. However, I also can see the whole "drug-seeking" fear, although it is ridiculous.

My dear MIL fell and broke her hip last week and when we were in the ER she needed pain meds and I swear they acted like she was an addict when they were doling out the pain meds. She is 82! I thought I had read or heard somewhere that there is a new movement toward doctors being more aggressive towards relieving people's pain appropriately and worrying less about addiction, becuase if you are a pain specialist you should be able to do things properly. Maybe I fantasized that!

When I had lower back pain and sciatica a few years ago, they did some kind of thing where they went in and put some pain meds in my spine...like an epidural. I can't remember what it was called. But it worked like a charm. I've been pain free since. I was lucky, I know.

Best wishes to you. I am so sorry you are hurting. :)

Wow, the epidural took away the pain for good, I would say that is a wonderful blessing, good for you!

The thing with changing docs, and I keep waying out the pros and cons is honestly, I don't know what to do, lol. I truely hate pain meds but I took what he prescribed and it did get me out of the pain. I just feel so limited in the choosing of doctors around here. There are only so many and they are all in groups. Personally I have a feeling many aren't good. Not to return calls is outrageous, I agree. I wish you remembered what they did to your spine. Now I have to tell them I need a neuro for an EMG--something they should have done. In the past, I would be the one making the calls to see if they did accept my insurance, etc., they can't even be trusted to do this right. Oh guess what, his assistant just called, a weekend later. Thanks for your input and kind wishes. I sincerely appreciate it.  

Please dont think I was even thinking you were drug seeking! I just have worked with these fine folks for so many years and then have had to deal with them on a pain issues for 10 more of those years and the things I saw and heard from some of them behind patients backs about their "drug seeking behavior" was well jsut rude and totally uncalled for in most instances.

It is horrible that we have to fear retribution from the law as well as the Doctors to get what they took an oath to give. They swore to try if humanly possible to alleviate human suffering for Gods sake. What more do they want from us as many of suffer silently for so long and far too many of us dont seek the help we need and deserve until we are at the point of ending the pain even if it means ending our lives! How could anyone NOT take that seriously?

You also deserve to know whats causing that much pain but getting any of them to help you find answers is like pulling teeth and I dont know if it is caused by the over booking of patients as many of the Docs that do treat pain have a load that is heavy to bear as word of mouth gets him many many referrals and requests for new appointments.

I know I see here over and over the folks who talk about their Docs being so busy and dont call back and having to wait for hours to be seen and months to get an appointment and if this is the case then you can bet this Doc is trying to help as many folks as he can but sadly it makes it difficult for those patients that cant get thru to him or cant get an appointment fast if need be.

I dont know if this is the situation with your Doc or not or if he is just one of those that is slack at his job as those are in any business and if this is the case I would definately be on the look out for a better one.

It matters also about the insurance coverage or lack of it that you have as this is always going to be a thorn in the side and many Docs are encourage NOT to use expensive testing until all alternative resources have been exhausted. Sad but oh so true. If you have state aid especially your going to have Docs who might not be agressively using the tests offered for a accurate diagnosis as he is thining about the cost tot he tax payers when they should be remembering that most us were a tax payer for many a year and never used any resources we paid into until now.

There could be many cuases as to why he is doing what he is doing but in the end none of them matters as you want answers and you deserve answers so I would get them if I were you.

I am not sure if you said what kind of Doc he is whether he is a specialist or a PCP but if he is your PCP you might find yourself needing a referral from him to see a specialist and this might prove to be difficult at best.

Almost all of the specialists like pain management require a referral from your treating Doc as well as a copy of your medical records. I know my Neuro and ortho both required referrals so that might also be a tight one to get if he thinks he is doing a good job and your looking for more meds versus answers. If there is a way to make this visiting another Doc his idea I would try to wean it out of him.

I am getting so mad each time I hear about your doctor and his pious opinions on pain medication. Yes, they can be addicting. What happened to relieving suffering that he was supposed to learn about in medical school?? I personally think you need a pain management doctor for your condition. There is no reason why you can't be on a extended release type medication (if that's what works for you) and another medication for breakthrough pain. My doctor did that with me when I was trying the Morphine and the Oxycontin. They really didn't work that well for me so I went back to my percocet after about two months of trying other things, and don't you know the percocet started working again. Unfortunately, it was not long until it only took the edge off the pain and I thought to try the lyrica again.

To answer your question, I had headaches from the lyrica for the first five days I was on it, but they abated after that. No weight gain or change in appetite so far. I was on it before for a year and I didn't notice any weight gain then from the lyrica either.

Anyway, I think you are being treated like a second class citizen with this doctor and you need to get away from him. I don't like to hear about you suffering and not getting proper treatment because of your doctor's personal biases. That's no good.

I look forward to hearing from you soon that you have gotten relief and that life is better.

My warmest hugs to you. I will pray for you and success in your efforts to relieve your pain, Denim.

Lindaloo