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Posted 2/4/2015 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Just left my follow up visit with my pain management doctor.. Still feel hopeless. They now want to do injections in my back to kill my nerves down there. I tried asking about changing my norco to something longer lasting with absolutely no luck. I didn't ask for anything specific.. Just said it wasn't helping as much as I'd like. I got the usual lecture how narcotic meds don't help with fibro pain. They keep focusing on my back pain even though I tell them my whole body hurts. I also brought up my fatigue issues with them.. They offered nothing for that other then getting my sleep study done in like 3 months.

I told them I can hardly make it through work, my attendance is crap and that I need some solutions soon. She put me on a time release gabapentin that can take "several" weeks to know if it's working. I'm getting depressed and honestly don't know how much longer I'm going to put up with this. Still trying to find a psychiatrist to deal with those feelings.
Posted 2/4/2015 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
Noone,
I'm sorry to hear you feel this way. Sending hugs and support. I'm so in touch with how you are doing and know you are not alone or "crazy" for feeling as you do. Wish I could help.

Jen
Posted 2/4/2015 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry that you are still in much pain. I imagine your Doctors are trying to pinpoint where the pain is coming from. The thought process of some Doctors is that if they can kill the nerve that is causing the pain then you will feel better. It is much like when you have a root canal, the nerves are destroyed.

There unfortunately is no quick long term solution. We have to try to work with Doctors in a rational way to find something to ease the symptoms. There is no harm to do a sleep study if you are having trouble sleeping. It is quite important to have a good sleep.

I sure know how hard it is to work with the problems we have. I had to stop working. I envy those who have been able to find a way to keep working. As you well know, we are not Psychiatrists. We can only offer a shoulder to lean on.

Does your employer have any Employee Assistance programs. Many of the big companies offer it to there employees. If your employer has one you could likely get some help for your depression.

Take care. I hate the pain too.

Loring

Osteoarthritis in Multiple Joints, Fibromyalgia, Neuralgia, Chronic Daily Headaches, I.B., Hard of Hearing...
Posted 2/4/2015 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
FMS is for the long term, at least so far. Most people have pain daily. Some days are do-able; Periodically even normal life becomes impossible. This changes with no discernible reason.

Most people have to take a more holistic approach towards FMS. Simply taking medications to try to stop the symptoms and moving on usually is not helpful, if not impossible.

For me, taking pain medication makes working possible, at least for now, after over a decade. But, then that is the only thing I do with my time, and sometimes even that is too much. The best overall treatment I have used has been water therapy., doing water aerobics in a heated pool 3-4 days a week.

But, just taking more and more medication is not going to help you. It is unsustainable.

Although we feel awful, it takes time to discover what combination of treatments, medications, and life-style changes can help us feel better. Medications take time to work. Treatments build up their efficacy over time.

But it is essential you do your part. What are you doing that is proactive to help manage your pain? How are you practically adapting your life in order to help feel better?
Posted 2/4/2015 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I understand taking more and more meds isn't going to help me..I get that completely. What I don't get is why I can't get adequate medication get me through my crappy days . The norco flat out doesn't last but 2-3 hours and is pretty weak IMO. I read all these people with similar problems using 72 hour pain patches and stronger break thru meds. I also understand what works for one, doesn't mean it'll work for the next. I also don't like trying new medications every time I step into a doctors office.. I have literally tried 25+ various meds for my problems and many times the side effects are worse than the actual problem. I'm just saying that I would like to try stronger longer lasting medication instead of struggling every. single. day. If being on pain medication will give me back enjoyment, then I have zero problems taking it. I'm 26 years old, why would I want to give up things in my life that I enjoy to manage my pain when I know pain medication will manage it for me? I don't want to spend my time doing physical therapies and doctor visits, just give me pain meds that reduce the pain so I can continue with things that I actually enjoy.
Posted 2/5/2015 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Chelseafootball, I'm sorry you are also dealing with these issues. Don't worry about lurking here, I'm thousands of people do and I doubt anyone here would care. I used to also lurk the boards here, but after talking with all these great people, i enjoy posting. I often come here to vent when I'm down and so far everyone has been great about that.

I can relate to work draining your energy..I live that daily and I hate it so much. I'm trying to find a psychologist or psychiatrist to help me cope with the stress and anger from always feeling like this.
Posted 2/5/2015 12:34 PM (GMT 0)
If you want the Norco to work better, go a few days without it and then start it again. You will then see how much it is actually working. Often you need a holiday.

I know you want help with the pain. But keep in mind this is chronic pain, it will always be there. We all suffer, some more than others.

I agree with one of Sherrine's posts to you. It may be time to look at a life style change. Maybe you should stop working where you are working and find something easier to do. I know you don't want to change, but instead of wanting drugs to fix you, you may need to do something different. Talk to your doctor or therapist about that.

And I have to be honest when I read your posts, it sounds like drug seeking. Just from what I have seen and heard before. Just wanted to let you know that you may need a different approach. Let the doctors suggest, don't ask or suggest. It doesn't look good on your part. Just fyi. I know you have pain. I have pain too.
Posted 2/5/2015 1:07 PM (GMT 0)
Getting by, I appreciate the reply and I will consider taking a holiday from the norco. I've actually been thinking about quitting all of them for awhile to see how I feel without.

I've said before that I can't simply find a new job.. I have no other education or experience besides aircraft manufacturing. This city is 90% aircraft driven, everyone I know does aircraft. I can't take a 20k pay cut to sit at a desk because my body hurts..I will loose everything that I've earned including my house. I am enrolled to start school again next semester so my plan is to eventually leave this job in a few years. I only have 2 years of college under my belt.

As far as the drug seeking comment, I find that quite rude. I've never even been able to try anything other than norco, but sure, I am seeking for something that'll help better and make things a bit easier. When I said the norco 2-3 times a day doesn't help much..I am just being honest with everyone. Like I've said, I've tried numerous meds and I just want something that'll help with minimum side effects..so other than pain medication, please tell me whats left. I come here to vent and find support, not to be accused of being a drug seeker. I understand everyone has different views on narcotics and that's fine, but just because some people abuse them doesn't mean I will.

Thanks again for the replies! Have a great day everyone! :)
Posted 2/5/2015 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
And we are trying to be honest with you. No one is accusing you of drug abuse. Or trying to make you feel wrong, or bad, or mad. But Karen is quite right. Your chosen words in your posts here are coming across as drug-seeking.

Ms. Karen is gently trying to tell you that you might want to re-assess *how* you are talking to your physicians, how you chose your words (I only want stronger meds, I do not want to start new meds all the time, I want the most pain relief with the fewest side effects, etc.) For us long-timers here, and for many if not all medical professionals, these are warning flags of a potential problem. You use words that are code for this. Isn't it better to realize how you come across to others?

You can be as offended as you want. The board is trying to help you.

Please remember-many here have gone through what you are going through right now, and these self-selected group members have chronic pain conditions, and have had them for years.

What happens when you are 50? 70?

Ultimately, you can continue to up your meds, if you can find a doctor to prescribe them, and burn out on them. You can continue to push hard at work and then have a serious flare. You can push yourself emotionally into the black hole of depression. You can look for meds only as an approach to manage pain.

Many of us have made this same journey, so our comments are nearer to telling someone about a potential danger in order to help them stay safe, and feel better. That's all.
Posted 2/5/2015 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
I've never asked for "stronger" meds from the doctor, never asked for specific meds or anything along those lines.. Not sure where those comments came from. I never even directly asked for pain medication from them until recently when I asked it there was something I could try that last longer..my exact words. My goal isn't to continue to up my meds, my goal is to find meds that work better then the norco that's all..I'd like all day relief instead if a couple hours at a time. I've been on and off norco for 2 years now and never thought of it being all that affective.. Haven't used it to get high or anything like that, but I will admit that I have taken an extra one several times when I have bad days. Don't get me wrong, it does help, just not at the level I'd like. It helps maybe 25% of the pain on bad days, more on good ones.
Posted 2/5/2015 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Well, Nooneknows, Karen was not being rude. She was being accurate. She really does care and has gone through what you are going through. She was bed-ridden for quite a while before she decided to get up and start helping herself. Also, she is weaning off pain medications and is finding that she is feeling better. Pain medications after a while can cause more pain.

When I read your response on this thread, I too thought you sounded like you were seeking drugs. If I think that, just imagine what doctors think when they see this every day! This is why it was suggested that you let the doctors make the decisions...not go in and say what you want to take and how much of it. Here is a quote from one of your posts above. Perhaps reading it again you will see why we are thinking it sounds like drug seeking.

"I'm just saying that I would like to try stronger longer lasting medication instead of struggling every. single. day. If being on pain medication will give me back enjoyment, then I have zero problems taking it. I'm 26 years old, why would I want to give up things in my life that I enjoy to manage my pain when I know pain medication will manage it for me? I don't want to spend my time doing physical therapies and doctor visits, just give me pain meds that reduce the pain so I can continue with things that I actually enjoy."

We all feel that way, you know? But those of us that are handling our pain successfully HAVE given up some things we enjoy so we can manage our pain! Now that's a fact. I have but you know I'm now in control of my pain and I'm far happier than a lot of people that are depending on medication to make them feel better. That will only cause more problems down the line. So I do hope you begin to see the light here.

Several of us that have lived with this illness quite a while have told you the same things but you aren't listening. You are extremely set in your ways as to how YOU want to handle this illness so you close your mind. This breaks my heart especially since you are so young and have your whole life ahead of you. Hopefully you will start to listen. I'm not saying don't take anything for pain. We all need some help with pain. But we we use supplements, gentle exercise, stretching, and looking at our blessings as part of our pain control.

I'm glad you are furthering your education. Meanwhile, are there jobs in the aircraft field that don't require all the heavy lifting that you say you are doing with the position you hold? If so, see if you can be switched to that area. Standing doesn't seem to be a great problem for you but I KNOW heavy lifting is causing a lot of your pain and could also cause more back problems later in life. Switching to a different position within the same company shouldn't cause a 20% decrease in income. I do understand your problem but sometimes you need to think of yourself first...not just things you have acquired and want. If you are in misery, you can't enjoy what you have killed yourself to get.

I know this isn't what you want to hear but I'm being perfectly honest with you. I want to see you feeling better soooo much! I know how hard you are trying but you are shooting yourself in the foot. Just look at the injections you have tried recently. You ended up in more pain. Then you head back to work and continue doing things that are most likely causing all this intense pain you are feeling. I do hope you will check at work and see if there is something you can do in the company that doesn't require all the heavy lifting. I do think you will feel better if you do.

Sherrine
Posted 2/5/2015 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Wasn't trying to be rude to you Nooneknows, Just wanted you to know how you are sounding. And yes, doctor's pay attention to that. You have to let them suggest. Not imply. That is probably why you aren't getting stronger ones or more of them. It is a really bad habit to get into especially at your age. They definitely don't want to give them to the younger people. Especially for chronic pain because it calls for long term use.

I took pain medications for 12 years, I felt the same as you. I think. I felt that if I have long term pain, what difference does it make if I get addicted. I still don't like admitting it... But the stronger pain medications did make my pain worse for me. I am off all now, I still have pain, but nothing so far that I can't handle. I think we can learn to live with the pain through psychological work. But I am not saying we can get rid of it, I just think we can learn to cope. Everybody here has bad pain. So we all understand you would want to feel it gone. That is what we all want.

But in reality, that isn't going to happen anytime soon I don't think. I find that a lot of my pain is in my shoulders. They get really tense. So I use meditation to relax them. And sometimes heat. It helps. It alleviates enough pain so I can function. When I can function, I can focus on other things which sends the pain to the background in my mind. I don't notice it so much.

I know you want to be able to function, and I am not saying you should stop any pain medication, but I think you can incorporate some coping skills to help. Therefore you probably wouldn't feel the need to get anything more or stronger. Pain medication just isn't always the answer.

I, alike Sherrine, want to see you feeling better and not in so much pain. Learn other skills to help you.

I think it is awesome you want to go back to school and further your education and working skills. Look for something that isn't physically demanding. And also less stress. Stress causes everything to get worse.

Try to relax. Learn some peaceful meditation, it really does help. Keep moving, walk... Exercise when you can. If you don't keep moving, you will have a long life of pain. And a body in motion, stays in motion. It is really important to stretch, walk and do things to keep you active. I am 56, and arthritis it also hitting me hard. We have had a cold, wet winter and it has been really hard on a lot of people. Including me... One day at a time is about all I have left.

I am sorry if you think I was rude. Like I said, I was just trying to let you know what it sounds like from this side... Please don't take offense.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 2/5/2015 11:58 PM (GMT 0)
Most find the best management through a variety of things. Most pain meds will not work continuously.

Currently, I take tramadol during the day, and hydrocodone at night. I also take generic ambien as well as a muscle relaxer at night. This 'cocktail' has changed over the years, significantly. Things that were great will suddenly stop working.

A dude from the Depression board explained the effect of meds quite succinctly. I paraphrase-The effectiveness of meds follows the rule of thirds. Of the people who take a medication, it will really help a third, kinda and sorta but not really help a third, and do nothing for a third. It's always worth trying a medication, just in case you fall into the first third. If you do not try it, you never will know.

I always suggest to newbies the importance of keeping a medication diary, because, even tho it seems impossible now, you WILL forget dates, dosage, and effect.
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