Re: pain management and a job

[Guest guest]

Is your husband on Lipitor or other drugs that might cause that?

Geri

[Guest guest]

A good pain management doctor may help him find an overall treatment strategy

to

address his separate issues.

One option is to try to manage the pain with a cocktail of medications other

than just painkillers.  For example, perhaps an anti-inflammatory for the

shoulder pain taken on a regular basis may help.  Other meds, such as

anti-depressant medications also have pain relieving benefits.  Medications

such

as neurontin/lyrica may be taken for the nerve pain, etc.

Another option is an injection in the shoulder.  Personally, I find the steroid

injections to be wonder drugs to my body, but it may just be my situation. 

Regardless of the site that's injected, in about three days the medication has

been absorbed into the body and I feel relief everywhere...for a temporary

period of time. Not everyone gets such relief.  Might be worth trying though.

Other options include physical therapy, aquatic therapy, acupuncture, etc.  If

his doctor isn't given him enough help, perhaps he needs a new doctor.

________________________________

From: winsan2 <winsan2@...>

Sent: Fri, July 30, 2010 12:12:42 PM

Subject: pain management and a job

 

My husband works with developmentally disabled adults but is under an MD's care

for unrelated shoulder pain and CMT. He never makes it to the end of the month

for a refill--some days are worse than others. I want to know if anyone else is

working and trying to manage pain but having a hard time making a 30 day supply

last. Is there a solution?

[Guest guest]

If your insurance company offers 90 days of medication BY MAIL, and if this pain

medication is in their formulary, then try that. (look up by generic name)

If this pain medication is a non-opiate (like an anti-inflammatory) and your

husband is taking more than the prescribed amount, talk to the Dr. about his

increased pain and prescribing more - or something else or a combination of

medications.

If a pain medication is an opiate like Percocet or Dilaud, the Dr. can only

prescribe these in limited quantities and it requires a triplicate script.

If this is a problem with your insurance company limiting refills to 30 days,

then ask them for their policy on this, or consider another prescription

insurance.

You didn't mention the age of your husband. AARP (for anyone over 50) has

prescription plans. You might also look into Medco. I'm not sure though if they

are connected with Medicare or not. Long time ago it started in Calif. and was

connected to Blue Cross/Sheild before it went nationwide.

Perhaps cutting back in work hours and getting more rest may help ease the pain.

Vitamin E has proved to help neuropathic pain.

Gretchen