Re: Recently had a knee replacement. Now, my doc has determined I don't need pain ..

[Guest guest]

Get an orthopedist that specializes in spines to suggest pain management.

Your doc sounds like an idiot. If totally desperate, see if a neurosurgeon

will send you to pain management.

If you do go to the UK, bring your records. I believe they will treat you.

Start t the chemist. (Pharmacy) and see a doctor closest to where you will

be staying. You'll be close enough to Germany. Get to Heidleburg

University Hospital. They may be able to help as well.

Ellen

>Kitty wrote:

>meds? Say what? I have received a call from my physiatrist that we will be

tapering off my pain meds. I have serious arthritis (unable

to take NSAIDS). Degenerative Disk Disease, Herniations in each disk except

for one, the knee that wasn't replaced has also been torn.

>I know I'm missing something, but I guess I'm still stunned. How will I live

without the meds?

>After having my knee fixed I went ahead and booked a big trip to the UK for

January. I can't go. There's no way. Why do docs do this. And by this I mean

discount anything not-cancer as not requiring medication.

>I am trying really hard to not melt down and I don't know how to do it. I

don't go to my vacation house if I don't have enough pain meds to get me

through the ride. Is that over? I've had injections, TENS and NSAIDS (nearly

killed me with a bleeding ulcer)I am so despondently sad now.

[Guest guest]

You need to get an appointment with a pain doctor that will prescribe your pain

medications.  Regular doctors will not treat chronic pain, that's why the

tapering off.

Tell your doctor you want a referral to a pain specialist, and not one that

won't prescribe pain meds, they do exist, and I don't know how a pain specialist

can treat all pain without medications.  Severe pain needs opioid medication,

not NSAIDS or injections.

Don't delay.

Jennette

>Kitty wrote:

 

>meds? Say what? I have received a call from my physiatrist that we will be

tapering off my pain meds. I have serious arthritis (unable

>to take NSAIDS). Degenerative Disk Disease, Herniations in each disk except for

one, the knee that wasn't replaced has also been torn.

>

>I know I'm missing something, but I guess I'm still stunned. How will I live

without the meds?

[Guest guest]

Oh that sounds aweful! Sounds like it is time to get a different doctor! Maybe

you can talk to your doctor about not stopping the meds if you can show him you

still have a lot of pain. Do you keep a pain diary? It might help.

I really hope you can work things out. Huge gentle hugs, Tami

--- " Kitty " wrote:

>

> I have received a call from my physiatrist that we will be tapering off my

pain meds. I have serious arthritis (unable

> to take NSAIDS). Degenerative Disk Disease, Herniations in each disk except

for one, the knee that wasn't replaced has also been torn.

>

> I know I'm missing something, but I guess I'm still stunned. How will I live

without the meds?

[Guest guest]

>Kitty wrote:

> meds? Say what? I have received a call from my physiatrist that we will be

tapering off my pain meds. I have serious arthritis (unable

> to take NSAIDS). Degenerative Disk Disease, Herniations in each disk except

for one, the knee that wasn't replaced has also been torn.

>

> I know I'm missing something, but I guess I'm still stunned. How will I live

without the meds?

KItty,

I would start a pain dairy/journal and show it to your physiatrist so he can see

your pain levels and how the medications helps/or not help and it has a place

for other comments.

This way he has documentation and you have given him documentation and a request

to stay on you pain medications a while longer as you have not reduced you pain

levels without them.

You can find a good pain journal at American Pain Foundation, click on About

Pain, then Publications, and then it is at the heading of " Target your Pain " and

there is sample pages with instructions and you can print them out and then

maintain it until your visit.

I hope this helps and it helped me see what is helping and my pain triggers.

Just be honest with him and that you think you have justification to stay on

pain medication.

Let us know what happens. Bennie

[Guest guest]

> Tami wrote:

> Oh that sounds awful! Sounds like it is time to get a different doctor!

Maybe you can talk to your doctor about not stopping the meds if you can show

him you still have a lot of pain. Do you keep a pain diary? It might help.

Tami,

Wow, now I have got the word spread, keep a pain dairy, thanks for supporting

that idea that it is effective. The American Pain Foundation has a nice Pain

Journal. At the home page, click on the tool bar that says Learn About Pain,

then Publications, and you will click on the heading Target Pain Notebook and

Target Your Pain Resources is good also.

Here is the link :

http://www.painfoundation.org/learn/publications/target-notebook.html. Tami is

right, it really helps and when you ask them to include you information in your

medical records to document your status, it shows what you need and really it

protects your doctor as he is required to monitor your progress.

My Doctor in Houston, who was a pain specialist, required us to do a pain

dairy/journal and a functional assessment (how much we could do physically) and

it was a self monitoring tool for me and the Doctor both. Hope it helps and

Tami is right : ) Bennie