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New here and have feet,knee,hip,back pain + OA

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Posted 5/27/2012 4:42 AM (GMT 0)
  First I'd like to thank anyone who has offered their time reading/responding to this! I am 37yr. old and have been going to Podiatrist's about 7yr. I have very poor foot structure, flat foot,fallen arches,hammer toe,collapsing heel,out-toeing and crushed every bone to in my rt. foot except 1 and 4 toes in 5-2008. This + additional accidents in the past cause pains throughoutmy body. My podatrists didnt want to give me pain rx because I have hcv,cirrhosis. I kept telling my pcp about my pain and finally she asked to see my feet, after that she believed me and prescribed me lortab 10-500mg.

  I've been on disibility since Feb.2012 and recently had a kidney tumor removed end of April. Out of constant frustration with my pcp I had changed my pcp. Im now a little worried about the new dr. not prescribing the rx's! They're not helping like they used to but I really don't know if I can handle less rx anymore.

 The question is, do dr.s usually take up from the last dr.s treatments? Im also seeing an orthedic surgeon about reconstructive surgery on both feet in 9 days. I am wanting to do that this winter because I've lost last 5 summers due to sickness,injuries etc. Any advice?                                             THANKS!!!

Posted 5/27/2012 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Good morning Worthit!

I don't think there is any guarantee that a Dr will continue the same med's previously scripted by a former PCD, and it certainly would be a worry, so I sympathize with you on this. I'm quite surprised that your PCD only looked at your feet after much complaining by you. Rather odd to say the least!

I was wondering how many Lortab you are taking a day? Also,... I understand walking would be painful from what you describe, but are you still experiencing the same pain when your off your feet? One thing I might caution you on, is that if you believe that you may be having surgery anytime soon….I think it may be wise to stay on the lowest dose of pain med's possible. It may help you during post-opp pain med treatment. I went into surgery on a rather high dose of med's, and had a very rough time afterwards, and now believe it was due to the tolerance issue.

Hopefully, your new PCD will be compassionate about your suffering, and get you on a med that will be more effective for you.

Good luck!

SE wink
Posted 5/27/2012 4:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thats a good point about the dosage. I left the pcp beacause several problems with her and staff. I did leave on good terms but just couldn't put up with the 1 1/2hr-2hr. waiting times after appt. 2wk. to get a refferal to a new podiatrist, went wk ahead for a clearance for the kid. surgery only to get it at the last min! But I did leave on good terms and she is sweet and caring once you can get looked at so if it doesnt work out with the new dr. I'm sure I can go back.
Posted 5/27/2012 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I applaud for leaving a good bridge intact, incase you have to return back to your PCD. Have you ever been given the chance to try some of the Oxycodone products yet? or other med's?

SE wink
Posted 5/28/2012 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
Not sure if I have ever took those or not in the past, generics names through me off. I'm not changing dr. for more meds but if he offers to try something stronger or different I will fine with that, just hope that its not going to be less! Have spur on the bottom of foot that burns like I had a belt sander to it and throbs!!! I prop it up in a recliner and feels ok for about 5-10 min then it hits and HARD let it down and set normal and is ok for a while then its the same there and have to prop up again! Also my old dr. said that I couldnt have any antiflammatories, arthritis is rough too! Not sure what all I can take with cirrhosis.
Thanks Screaming Eagle!!!
Posted 5/28/2012 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Worthit

Welcome to our forum. So sorry to hear of your health issues.

You can vent here all you want.

hang in there

Betsey
Posted 5/28/2012 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Betsey! I dont mean to vent, mostly seeking advice but I think that's actually helped too! I have sleeping prob.s also, you can see me on comp. at all times. No drugs!lol Had prob. my whole life and getting worse. Ive' been prescibed Ambiens but they dont work much any more and dont really want to flood my system if they dont work anyway! Back is hurting now and has been giving me problems since my kidney surgery last month but I think its actually muscular.
Posted 5/28/2012 5:25 AM (GMT 0)
Worthit...

Hey... I'm sorry you are suffering so much.

My experience is that a new doctor will usually take into consideration what you are already on... what you've used in the past... and so forth. I would just be really honest about the pain you are in... and go from there.

As the others said, hopefully the doctor will be compassionate and help come up w/ something that helps your pain get under better control.... taking into account your other health issues, too. I think SE mentioned oxycodone (which is the med in Percocet, except it also has acetaminophen in it). But there are plenty of other meds out there.

Most of us here have some level of sleeping issues.... it's VERY frustrating.

When do you see the new PCP? Let us know how it goes...

--Tina
Posted 5/28/2012 6:06 AM (GMT 0)
I took Percocet and had a few sides from it but only took it a week after my surgery and have left overs. The sides were constipation 1 week without movement and thats with stool softener and finally laxative, other side effect was eyesight "blurred/light sensitive" but it helped with the pain. Could these be temp? Also I haven't set an apptoinment with the new pcp and I think Im good with the Lortabs until end of next month. The dr. is actually an old classmate, we werent actually friends but we did get along. Prob. wont matter one way or the other.
Posted 5/28/2012 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Worth and welcome to the chronic pain forum. Wow, it made my feet hurt reading about your situation. I just cannot imagine what you are going through because we need our feet constantly for anything we pretty much do.

Hopefully the new PCP will rx either the same medication or offer something different. One thing we see here a lot at the forum now a days is with the wonderful war on drugs, it has put a very negative impact on true chronic pain patients in being able to get medications they need to live a half way decent life. New rules & guidelines have been put in place by the DEA and we are finding fewer primary care physicians willing to rx pain meds for long term use. They do not like the DEA and they are afraid of them. They don't want them showing up in their offices at a moments notice wanting to do an audit and the dr has to comply on the spot they cannot ask them to come back at another time. These drs are not wanting to mess with all of the red tape, this is why most of us here at the forum see pain mgt drs. They are trained to treat pain since that is their specialty. If you see that you are going to continue to need pain meds long term do not be surprised if you get referred to a pain mgt dr.

I hope that your drs can come up with a solution for you to get your pain under better control. Is your appt with the orthopedic for your feet?

Anyway, I wanted to pop on and tell you hello and welcome aboard. Take care...Susie
Posted 5/28/2012 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Straydog, yeah the appt is with an orthopedic surgeon. I've had 3 podiatists tell me that I needed surgery. I asked my cuerrent Pod. if she could tell me what I might expect. She told me probably what I'd be told is they will break the bones on top of feet and move those in,put in an implant where the top of ankle is(sinus tarsi implant),stretch the achilles tendon and cut my heel bone's into and move them in. Even tho I need all this I still get around fairly good, I still do chores around the house "when I'm up to it" and hope to be able to put this off till winter. My problem is if I set to long I hurt so I have to get up and move around, do that too long I hurt and go back to sitting. Appt is 6/4/12 Thanks you!!!
Posted 5/28/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to welcome you to the forum! Everyone here is very supportive and alot are going through the same issues , I am fairly new here, but everyone has been great.
Posted 5/28/2012 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome! I'm sorry to hear you are in so much pain. I've had mixed results with switching doctors so can't say much there. As to the side effects. Drink a whole glass of water when taking percs. The blurry vision usually goes away after a while (at least it always did for me) Hope this helps :)
Posted 5/29/2012 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
I can hardly believe the responses on the chronic pain forum!!! Ive been on the Hep. and Cirrhosis forums for a while. I thought I'd try this to see if maybe I'd learn something and maybe some helpful advice, well I have! I will start a new topic for all who might want to see after the orhtopedic surgeon Jun 4th.I'm still eager to learn more!
I had bad luck with pain meds when I had a bad motrcycle wreck when I was 20yr. I gave up on my *** of a dr. and self medicated with alot of OTC's and drank alot in the eve. "BIG MISTAKE"!!! Cirrhosis was on me before I knew what hit me. I dont drink anymore since Aug.2009 and dont miss it! Thats one reason that I'm fairly nervous about changing dr.s is that I've finally found some relief. Thanks Ryobi,Kaely and everyone else!!!
Posted 5/29/2012 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
You have certainly been through a lot!...

I am shocked though that these Drs. keep prescribing you medication with Acetaminophen in it with your Cirrhosis and Hep. C!!...That is bordering on negligence if they have your medical information....

There are plenty of pain medications that do not have any Acetaminophen...

From short acting of OxyIR, MSIR, Nucynta, Roxicodone....to name a few...

And then all the long acting medications...

Hopefully this new Dr. will be of better help...Keep us posted..
Posted 5/29/2012 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I asked my Dr. when she prescribed the Lortabs if they were liver safe and she told me the type of lortabs prescribed had more of the Lortab drug and not Acetaminophen? Hydroco/Apap 10-500mg. Also what would these compare to and level of pain considered to justify them? I believe it's 60 pills for 90 days, so I can have 1/2 evryday sometime 1 whole.
Posted 5/29/2012 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Each tablet has 500 milligrams of Acetaminophen....

She doesn't make any sense by saying it has "more of" the hydrocodone than the Acetaminophen...They are completely different medications and aren't compared milligram to milligram...So that is a very strange answer she gave you:( She may have meant compared to another dosage of Lortab or Vicodin that has 750 milligrams of Acetaminophen.

I guess my main point is that there are so many other meds that have absolutely no Acetaminophen and would be much healthier for someone with your severe liver issues....

Obviously we aren't Dr.s on here....just commenting on how it just didn't seem wise to be on any Acetaminophen with Cirrhosis and Hep. C.
Posted 5/30/2012 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Worthit, Welcome to the CP Forum, I found that eating prunes or apricots regularly helps me control the constipation issue. I usually make them my evening snack. I don't remember ever having any vision problems myself. Good luck with your meds and new Dr.. I hope you find something that gives you relief.

D.
Posted 5/30/2012 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Snowbunny! My Dr. even told me that I didnt need anything with Acetaminophen it so I'm a bit confused now! In your opinion or anyone elses here, what could be an alternative to these? I really dont know much about the pain meds except it's nice to have less pain!!!
Thank you D. I appreciate the welcome and advice!

I have found something last night about lower back stretches and have decided to try them as daily routine. Im at the point were I'm also willing to try alternatives. I do achilles stretches and thought what would it hurt?
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