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Posted 6/19/2009 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
Hey everyone, I'm here with another question for you all. How do you deal with your pain? I'm having severe issues with it lately, especially since it's been rainy and that just makes everything worse. My doctor refuses to prescribe me any pain meds, he's afraid I'll get addicted or something, idk. And I understand to some degree, but c'mon, I'm in so much pain! As for OTC things, I can only take tylenol, which doesn't do anything for me at all. I can't take Ibuprofen/Aleve/Aspirin because I'm on another NSAID and if I have more my stomach will bleed. I've tried things like icyhot, biofreeze, etc. I've tried massages and such, and those only help short term, same with warm baths/showers. I guess you can say I'm at a loss. Anyone have any advice/ideas? Thanks so much!
Posted 6/19/2009 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Sarah!

You sound absolutely miserable but the good news is there is hope. First of all do what you can on your own like warm baths, heat pads, etc. You already know that stuff so I don't really need to tell you. Then it's time to do something about the doctor thing if your quality of life is being destroyed.

First off keep a pain journal. Here's a link to a free one that I use.
http://www.painfoundation.org/Publications/TargetDailyLog.pdf Print off one page for each day and use it faithfully! I staple a week's worth of pages together and keep it handy. Mine is by my recliner. Then each and every time you have a doctor appointment take all of your journal pages and ask your doctor to look at them. This will show him 2 things. One that you are very serious about needing help with pain control. Who would take the time to fill out all of those pages as a joke? And them it will show him exactly what your life it like by the hour... your pain, what your activities are and maybe how they affect your pain, your sleep or lack of it...everything!

You might also explain to him that you do know the difference between addiction and dependence. You can take this article to him to show you understand.
http://www.painmed.org/pdf/definition.pdf
Here's a quote:
"Most specialists in pain medicine and addiction medicine agree that patients treated with prolonged opioid therapy usually do develop physical dependence and sometimes develop tolerance, but do not usually develop addictive disorders."

The more you educate yourself and advocate for yourself the better you will feel and you will get much better treatment when the doctors see that you are not someone who's in there to get drugs that get you high. It's a shame that it's come to this but unfortunately the druggies and thieves have pushed legitimate pain control nearly out of the reach of honest people.

If your doc doesn't care to help you after doing this then look for a new doc. You can also ask for a referral to a pain clinic if you know of one you trust. Always interview a new doctor/clinic before becoming a patient. You are the boss.

Chutzie
Posted 6/19/2009 5:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sarah!  Would it be possible to find a new doc?  My primary care doctor manages my pain meds because the pain clinic refused to prescribe narcotics.  Thank God for her because she has saved my life!  Yes, I am on a lot of medication, but it allows me to function and for that it is worth it.

A good doctor is a MUST when dealing with this frustrating disease.

JennyB

 

Posted 6/19/2009 5:07 PM (GMT 0)
Sarah,
I suppose this is true what my doc said: it is impossible to get rid of all of the pain. Meds can only take care of it to a point - maybe down to 40% or so. Then we have to manage it ourselves with ice, heat, pacing ourselves, stretching, moving, resting, etc. And it never goes away completely. bummer

When you are in pain, do you tense up and it hurts worse? I do that. My doc gave me a mild muscle relaxer and that helps. I can only take it at night cuz it makes me sleepy. But at least it helps me not tense up at night and I wake up in less pain than before. It is not a "pain" med, but it helps a lot.

Hope you feel better,
Sue
Posted 6/19/2009 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not on narcotics for pain but that is my choice because of so many side effects and stomach issues. I do have vicodin in the cabinet if I ever choose to try it. I also have a very bad medphobia so I will probably never try it. I do envy those sometimes that are on pain meds and today is one of those days. It is so hot out and the air is so thick you can just feel the storms coming and even though I have only been out a few times to take the puppies potty my body knows the storms are coming. I don't get how our bodies know when we are setting in air conditioned houses but they do. So take the advice of other's and keep a pain journal and find a new doc that will work with you on being comfy or at least more comfy. I do feel that the amitriptyline I'm on helps with the pain some.

 

I have been on xanax for 11 yrs. Am I addicted, not as far as I'm concerned cause I don't take over what my doc rxs??? I am dependent on it for quality of life cause I have a terrible anxiety problem, there is a difference. It may also help some with the pain by relaxing me more. Tense muscles hurt.

 

Hi Jenny and welcome to our family. I'm glad you have a doc that understands your pain. Read and ask questions and we will be here for you.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

 

 

Posted 6/19/2009 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. I really like my doctor for most everything, he is the only one who has truly worked with me to find out what was wrong with me, instead of just dismissing it. He doesn't believe in pain meds, and as far as I can tell, doesn't prescribe them to anybody. I think I will try the pain journal idea (thank you!) and see if that works, and if it doesn't, I'll see if I can get a referral for a pain management doctor. Unfortunately, my insurance requires a referral from my PCP for anything. Hopefully he'll be willing. It's just so frustrating...I feel like I'm gonna lose it. It's supposed to rain all weekend, and man am I feeling it. All I can seem to do is lay in bed, even being on the computer right now seems like work. I'm only 20 for crying out loud! Ok sorry, gonna stop ranting....thanks again everyone!
Posted 6/20/2009 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
I am one of those crazy people who tries NOT to take meds unless absolutely necessary.

I find my pain is more manageable if I lay down for at least 30 minutes or take a short gentle walk or both every three to five hours.
I also reccomend stretching and taking a slow gentle walk right after you get out of bed. I don't have any special stretches, but I do try to mobilize each joint through the full range of motion, starting head to toe. A lot of the time too while I'm just sitting (which I do a LOT of at work) I rotate my shoulders around and stretch my neck from side to side, since that's where I carry all of my tension.
Heat packs are great, in fact, you can make your own but making a pillow out of old towels and putting in some cheap dry rice. Microwave it for a nice moist heat!

I know how you feel about the age thing ... I'm 25 but I ususally feel like I'm 98!
Posted 6/20/2009 7:58 AM (GMT 0)
Also, this is going to totally sound like mental mumbo-jumbo, but it works for me.
I lay down and prop the most painful body part ... for me usually feet ... at or above the level of my heart.
Next I breathe in and out very slowly, using a consistent count. I usually inhale to a count of 5 then exhale to a count of 5 ... but sometimes I use 7. This tends to make me focus more on breathing and how neat it feels to expand and contract one's lungs, so it distracts me a little from the pain.
Next I pretend that each breath is flowing directly to the most painful spot, grabbing onto that pain and pulling it out as it is exhaled.
This doesn't get rid of the pain completely but it does help me ignore about half of it.
I know it sounds silly, but the mind does have a lot of power over the body.
Posted 6/20/2009 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
Sarah, even though the only thing you feel like doing is laying in bed it's not the best thing to do. We have to get up and move too, I know it may sound crazy but it's true. I thought these people were nuts when I joined the forum and they kept telling me "you got to keep moving, you got to keep moving" for whatever reason I listened to them and started moving more and it does help. On days when I feel the flu like feeling and really don't feel well in general I move for awhile and lay down but I have found if it is just pain doing things distract me from it some.

 

WhiteChocChip, I like your idea of pulling the pain out with breathing. I have done something simular to that and concentrate on the pain spiralling up through my body and out through my head. Hey whatever may help, huh.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Posted 6/20/2009 1:46 PM (GMT 0)
hELLO, I agree with everything that has been said but there comes a time when it just does not work for me Iam there now the feel of the water on my skin hurts to I amin tears. So I threw that one out of the window tonight. As for a pain juronal my first Doctor had me keep one he was doing a study on Fibro even back then so we found out my pain goes in a cycle now I can tell my new Doctor what is going to happen I discrible it as watching a movie over and over again. As for PAIN meds I was on masive does of Morphine I became addicted it is not fun it takes a year for the stuff to go out of oour bodies now I take it when I need a big relief my Doctor describes it as breaking the pin cycle for me that works I only get it my injection now. i understand why people have trouble getting off the stuff. bUT for me it was necessay as the Doctor I had at first messed me around I even was told I only had so long to live it ended when I hd a nervous breakdown and I opened the phone and found a great Doctor by chance. Having a good Doctor who listens to you is a must and believe me I saw a PAIN DOCTOR who did not believe in any type of pain killers after he had seen me a couple of times he increased the pain medication. Take care and keep thinking good throughts my Doctor told me one moring I would wake up and I would be gone guess what it happened for 2 years I was pain free and it has never come back as bad as it was. Keep your chin up and smile laughing releases haqppy drugs into your system. I am suffering tonight but then my new Doctor has just shut her surgery down with out telling anyone so now i NEED TO FIND A NEW DOCTOR.
kATHY
Posted 6/20/2009 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the advice Chip!

Yes Marlee, I know it is necessary to move around too. I try it on a daily basis, no matter how good or bad I feel. It doesn't always work so well but at least I try.

And Kathy, good luck with a new doctor!
Posted 6/20/2009 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
hELLO, I agree with everything that has been said but there comes a time when it just does not work for me Iam there now the feel of the water on my skin hurts to I amin tears. So I threw that one out of the window tonight. As for a pain juronal my first Doctor had me keep one he was doing a study on Fibro even back then so we found out my pain goes in a cycle now I can tell my new Doctor what is going to happen I discrible it as watching a movie over and over again. As for PAIN meds I was on masive does of Morphine I became addicted it is not fun it takes a year for the stuff to go out of oour bodies now I take it when I need a big relief my Doctor describes it as breaking the pin cycle for me that works I only get it my injection now. i understand why people have trouble getting off the stuff. bUT for me it was necessay as the Doctor I had at first messed me around I even was told I only had so long to live it ended when I hd a nervous breakdown and I opened the phone and found a great Doctor by chance. Having a good Doctor who listens to you is a must and believe me I saw a PAIN DOCTOR who did not believe in any type of pain killers after he had seen me a couple of times he increased the pain medication. Take care and keep thinking good throughts my Doctor told me one moring I would wake up and I would be gone guess what it happened for 2 years I was pain free and it has never come back as bad as it was. Keep your chin up and smile laughing releases haqppy drugs into your system. I am suffering tonight but then my new Doctor has just shut her surgery down with out telling anyone so now i NEED TO FIND A NEW DOCTOR.
kATHY
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