Re: too much pain cant cope at all!!!

[Guest guest]

I know exactly what you mean, my pain has completely taken over my life.

Talk to your doctor about: oxycodone (OxyIR or OxyContin), Duragesic,

intrathecal pumps (I can get you more info if you want)

Pretty much anything would be better than what you're on.

Steve M in PA

a wrote:

The pain has taken over as it has been almost non stop for the last

month at a level I just cannot cope with. My worst fears are coming

true; that the medications I have been taking are not working and will

not be working for me anymore.

[Guest guest]

a, please seek out a good Pain Management Doctor.  They are the most

educated in treating chronic pain patients.

I wouldn't be able to function without mine.

Jennette

a wrote:

>The pain has taken over as it has been almost non stop for the last month at a

level I just cannot cope with. My worst fears are coming true; that the

medications I have been taking are not working and will not be working for me

anymore. I know that there are other medications but I do not know if my

neurologist will prescribe anything that can work.

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

> Any recommendations for other drugs would be appreciated.

I wouldn't recommend other medications, as each of us is different. You

really do need to go to a pain management physician. Most of them do

know what they are doing. Don't go to someone that offers injections and

not much else. You can get that kind of information from the person who

answers the phone.

Find one and get an appointment. Type up a list of your physical

problems and every medication and therapy you have already tried. Sign

and date it and take it with you to your first appointment. The doctor

will appreciate it and will keep it in your file as a point of reference.

Go for it a! You don't need to live the way you are. There is help.

Lyndi

[Guest guest]

A pain clinic would really help you. It did me and because it is chronic pain

for me the pain clinic doctors really help out. What meds might work for me,

might not for you. It's a trial and error sort of thing when you get with a

pain doc. You'll go through a list of meds maybe until you find one that works

for you. But with ALL pain medication, we build a tolerance. I started with

Lortab and now after 10 years I wear a fentanyl patch because my stomach is so

sensitive. I wish you the best and will pray for you. Good luck

> a wrote:

> Any recommendations for other drugs would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

A good pain management doctor is wonderful, but an uneducated PM doc can be

worse than no one.

I was receiving WAY better care under my PCP (before she stopped practicing)

than I am with a pain management doctor (and he's definitely not even close to

being the worst algiatrist around). Mine is even trained in Fibromyalgia.

To get the best care possible, educate yourself. Then, tell your doctor what you

are thinking.

Pain management doctors can be helpful, but they're far from necessary.

They're just a way for PCPs to pass responsibility to someone else.

Steve M in PA

> Jennette wrote:

> please seek out a good Pain Management Doctor. They are the most

educated in treating chronic pain patients.

[Guest guest]

a,

   I know what you mean.  I was on anti-depression med, they work for a

while then they stop.  I'm currently on Prozac (60 mg) daily a it's a wonder

pill. 

   I have RA and I stop Methotrexate because the side effect (hair loss) and

now I'm achy and in pain and I can't tolerate it anymore. I had no choice but to

go back on the Methotrexate.  I called my Dr and they are trying to get

prior authorization so I can see my Dr.  He want to put me on Plaquenil and

that does the same thing as Methotrexate (hair loss).  My suggestion is  tell

your Dr that the medications  is not working and they can find a medications

that will work it will take time and and be patience. they is medications for

everyone.

I take Symbicort for my asthma and I find it work great for me.  I don't

see  my PCP  Dr. I see the Dr that specialize in arthritis, asthma,

depression, etc.  They know more the the PCP does. (that my opinion.)  Work

with your Dr I'm sure there a medication that will work for you.   Best of

luck

                                        \

                                     

Christa

> a wrote:

> In the last year the pain has gone out of control twice before

[Guest guest]

Ya I agree, each medication works differently for everyone and you need your

medical support people to understand that, plus understand that you know your

body better and pain levels better then anyone else does.

Are there any government plans and or community groups that you can access to

either help with the costs of other treatments and or help at home?

I know many have had good experiences but I tend to be wary of pain management

clinics/doctors due to the experiences of my daughter had with them. But if it's

not an extra cost and you won't lose anything then it's worth a try.

Pain sucks no two ways about it.

Good luck

lyn

> > a wrote:

> > Any recommendations for other drugs would be appreciated.

> Lyndi wrote:

> I wouldn't recommend other medications, as each of us is different. You

really do need to go to a pain management physician. Most of them do know what

they are doing. Don't go to someone that offers injections and not much else.

You can get that kind of information from the person who answers the phone.

[Guest guest]

a wrote:

It is all quite scary for me as I do not have anyone to call or help me

at all. I could call my 2 children but I know they would just blow me

off just as they have every other time I have asked them for any help.

They would be more likely to help a complete stranger rather than me due to

their psychopath father who has demonized me to them in a divorce

that has gone on for more than 8 years and even before when they were

growing up. They are both adults now but in age only.

Hi a

I hope you will take Lyndi's advice.  It's unfortunate that we cannot depend on

family, but that's life. The good thing is that you can depend on the people

in this group.

One thing I would like to add, if the pain management does not include

counseling, please see one. I have seen a few over the years, and they helped

save my life.

I'm not talking about some big psychotherapy, but a good counselor who will

listen and give logical advice. Please let us know how you are doing,

we care about you.

Kaylene

[Guest guest]

--- " aH " wrote:

>

I think that I am at the limit for vicodin (7.5 mg 3 times a day) which I can

take, given all of the other medications I take.

a -

I don't know what other medications you are taking that might limit your dose of

opiods, but that is a VERY low dose and far from the maximum number you could

take in a day. You are FAR from at the limit for pain control.

The danger with Vicodin isn't the opiod (hydrocodone) - it's the additional

Tylenol (acetaminophen) that they put with it. That can kill your liver if you

overdose on it. However, there are lots of options for opiods with much lower

relative amounts of acetominophen and much higher relative amounts of the actual

pain medication, as well as many opiods that have no Tylenol in them at all.

The other problem with the dosage you've been given is that Vicodin is a very

short acting drug and should be prescribed for taking every four hours, not

every eight! To say that you have to wait eight hours between doses it to

guarantee that you're going to be on a pain rollercoaster - your pain will spike

while the drug is out of your system, and then the drug has no chance of

bringing that pain spike back down again. Whereas if you had a long-acting drug

that kept your pain under better control on a constant basis, it wouldn't have

to work so hard to get it back under control from a spike like that. You'd

actually need LESS medication if you have more consistent pain control!

Vicodin should only be used for short-term acute pain. It's not appropriate for

chronic pain control for all the reasons I just explained above.

Also, don't write off all pain medications just because morphine gave you

stomach problems. Personally, I can't touch oxycodone because it gives me

violent nausea, but morphine and hydrocodone don't bother me at all. There are

lots of options out there, and many that will give you much stronger and

long-acting relief than what you've been prescribed.

It's going to take some work with a knowledgeable doctor to find the right

medication at the right level, but don't give up. Seek help - if your doctor

isn't knowledgeable enough to be confident in working with you to try some

different options, then find a doctor who is. That may be a pain management

expert or just a PCP with more expertise.

It's time for you to start getting some proper pain control - it's obvious that

you haven't had the right kind of care if this is all you've been offered.

Good luck.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

a,

I would like to add to Kaylene's response: After 30+ years of chronic pain, I

have learned that the emotional/spiritual/mental aspects cannot be emphasized

enough when coping with pain. Pain medication and other physical treatments

can only do so much. I've discovered that, surrounding myself with people who

have positive energy and spending time in nature helps immensely - I too, have

little money to spend on alternative treatments, but feeding my soul

periodically through exercise (yoga/swimming/walking, massage is absolutely

NECESSARY! to my survival.

I discovered a WONDERFUL small and intimate " spa " with staff that are truly

caring and have become a great source of inspiration and support- I see them,

perhaps once every three months. They know me as a person, not only as a

" client "

My family is not at all, supportive either - I have learned to pull myself up by

finding outlets to feed my soul elsewhere - yesterday, even though I felt

absolutely terrible and was in great pain, I went to an orientation for

volunteering at an animal shelter. I paid for it last night and also am

resigned to be paying for it all day today - but I am not, at all sorry, for

having done that - for the animals as well as myself. In the end, this is what

keeps me going. I have found that giving is receiving - To keep my volunteer

status open at the shelter, I only have to give 12 hrs. of service per year -

and I can do so as I am able. I don't have to commit too far in advance. That

takes the pressure off.

I live with a husband (of 36 years) that is currently extremely depressed and

has pulled away from me emotionally - like many men, his depression is expressed

as outward anger and hostility - unlike many women who internalize their

depression, research shows that may men express their depression with outward

anger toward others. My twin sister, who is bi-polar also lives with us - she

requires a LOT of care daily and is not someone who can, or desires to, relate

to others. With her, it is a one way street - her way, or the highway.

My husband and I have no children, through no choice of our own.

If I did not make sure I had periodic contact with " old " friends through

occasional lunches (we laugh) and taking part in the above mentioned activities,

I would not be able to cope with my pain or dysfunctional family life.

Sometimes, I feel like what you described. Feeding my soul gets me up in the AM

and gets me through the really bad days.

I wish you luck in finding what feeds you. Everyone is different - but, I've

been taught to " be good to yourself " . You are your best advocate. Positive

self talk is the most important tool for a person's survival.

A pastor at a church, if you are in to that, can be very helpful - a support

group - anything like that, is at a nominal cost or even free. Try to take

advantage of these kinds of resources if you can. There are all types of

churches available for any type of faith - including ethical/humanist churches

that include every type of faith imaginable, including atheists and agnostics.

It just takes a little looking. Even a book group can be therapeutic.

Good Luck

Namaste

> Kaylene wrote:

> One thing I would like to add, if the pain management does not include

counseling, please see one.

[Guest guest]

I want to thank everyone for their replies, encouragement and ideas when I have

been in need, due to the awful pain that hasn't been under good control. Right

now its finally down to a level I can cope with since I am on my second go round

with the methyprednisolone. After the first week on it there wasn't really much

of a change but the Neurologist extended the medication for another week and now

the pain has receded. Now looking back I first realize how really severe I was

suffering.

All the suggestions are definitely things I know I have to look into further.

The Neurologist I see isn't really a pain specialist although I had been to

several of them with no real answers. They were all obsessed with not

prescribing any more medications or different medications and with chastising me

for taking what I was taking. That is why I finally gave up on pain MDds. after

going to 4 of them who were all morons.

It is a relief to hear from someone that what I am taking as far as Vicodin ist

a top dose as I have been led to think. If the steroid has really helped I

should be able to resume my usual regimen and be OK for a few months. I will be

looking for a pain specialist though as I think the neurologist has reached his

level of competency with me and my pain needs. It is just very hard to juggle

all the other things I have to do with that.

My divorce is the other all consuming life event after the pain. For 8 years I

have been trying to divorce the Psychopath I have been married to for over 38

yrs. He is a real con man and has manipulated and lied about assets as he is a

millionaire, yet he pretends to the judge he is indigent and has gotten the

judge to appoint a free attorney for him during the contempt trial we are in the

middle of right now. After 6 attorneys and 3 accountants I can say my divorce is

unlike any other as that is what they all tell me.

I am also on my second judge as the first was booted out of matrimonial court

for incompetence. The present judge is no better as I was told he dealt with

petty crimes and traffic violations before being elected judge in Supreme court.

He is so clueless and relies on his law clerk for everything. She stands behind

him on the bench pointing out this and that to him as he is easily confused.

I have a therapist who can help with the pain at times and is trying to help me

with EMDR and all the various traumas i have endured. The problem is the trauma

I have right now and for the past 8 yrs with the divorce isn't ending soon and

while I am still in it EMDR isn't able to work well if at all. I have plenty of

Trauma from the past and that is something i do feel I can work thru and have

done. I realize now that when the pain takes over though it can really cause

chaos psychologically to the point where my judgment is effected.

I just got a terrible telephone call from my mom in Florida that does put things

into perspective. She told me that my younger male cousin who was brutally

attacked by a drug addicted house guest died of his wounds today. I used to

babysit him and his brother when I was a teenager. I really wasn't ready for

this but there it is reality smacking me in the face and making me take notice

as to how fragile life can be.

a