Re: Another Recovered Alcoholic With A Different Point Of View

[Guest guest]

Cheryl,

You are a perfect example of why HMO's hurt people.

You are trapped in the system. I'm so sorry to hear

how bad you are and that you'be been unable to get

proper relief. I think you need to go to the HMO and

appear before some board or whatever they have and ask

to see another specialist. By law you are allowed a

second opinion.

Also, perhaps a pain pump might help. It puts narcotic

medication just where the pain hurts, it's like an

apidural only with narcotics. The medication stays

within the spinal cord and is controlled by a computer

so you can'r get too much. You need to see a pain

specialist. there are things to help. Schmorl's nodes

are not anything to worry about, and I would think

that your facet problems are where the worst pain is.

I have dealt with both and I gotta tell you, facet

pain is pretty bad. Have you had the nerves burned

yet? RFL Radio Frequency Lesioning, also known as

ablation is supposed to cause a lesion or even break

the nerve in half so it does not send the pain signal

to your brain.

Is your worst pain in your back or is is the

radiculopathy?

---

--- lncvoss <lncvoss@...> wrote:

> I have been in this forum for about a year and a

> half. I previously

> thought that I had just one herniated disc L5-S1.

> Since then I have

> had all three areas of the spine MRI'd. I have

> scoliosis, facet

> syndrome, stenosis bulging discs and smorels nodes.

> One disc in the

> thoratic region is pressing on the spinal cord.

>

> When my HMO GP saw the results he rushed me to a

> orthopedic surgeon

> and would not let me have PT, Therapudic massages or

> Chiropractor work

> for fear of paralizing me.

>

> As usual the surgeon through the MRI report back at

> me and said he

> dissagreed with the findings. This has happened

> three times with this

> man. I can not see another doctor for my HMO does

> not have one.

>

> Now to get to the real point. As the title

> suggests, I have an

> addictive personality. The strongest meds that I

> was allowed was

> Norco which was prescribed by my HMO GP. At one of

> my visits this man

> actually suggested that I see a Phsyciatrist because

> he felt that I

> had an addiction problem. This is the man that

> rushed me to the

> ortopedic surgeon. I was cut off cold turkey and

> have had nothing

> since last June. He even made me leave urine

> specimens to make sure

> that I was not getting Norco from someone else.

>

> I have had failed epidurals which cause severe

> allergic reactions from

> the Prednisone. I have a tens unit and heating

> pads. My life

> sucks. Forgive me for my vulgarity but it is true.

> I spend day after

> day in a lounger all backed up with ortopedic

> supports which I bought

> for myself. My old GP here in town ordered me a

> handicapped tag for

> life. I have to travel 50 or more miles each way to

> see these HMO

> quacks. Luckily, my car seat has a built in lumbar

> support and heat.

> I wish I could bring that car seat in the house.

>

> I can not lay flat on a bed so I have been sleeping

> sitting up for

> over a year. At this point in my life, I would take

> anything to

> relieve the pain. I am not worried about addiction.

> I want a life.

> Smelling a scented candle will not cut it, I am

> sorry. I have Monroe

> tapes on pain management, the whole 9 yards. I feel

> that I am being

> treated unfairly because of my past with alcohol.

> This pain is not in

> my head. Well some of it is from the herniated disc

> in my neck. This

> pain is REAL. I had to give up my beautiful collie

> for I could no

> longer care for him. I have had to give up

> gardening which was my

> whole spring, summer and fall. I have had to give

> up my life. I have

> no quality of life at this time.

>

> So from one Alcoholic to another, please knock it

> off.

> Cheryl V

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cheryl V.

I can sure feel you pain, I have been through similar problems with doctors that

think you should have no say what so ever. HMO, workman's comp, they all suck as

far as I am concerned. They hold your past against you even though you did what

you were supposed to do. If there was some way you could get you records sealed

and find another team of doctors that don't know of your problems, then you can

finally get the proper help you need.You'd think in a so called free country,

you would have the rights to get the proper treatment you really need. Maybe you

should seek an advocate.

JMHO, and my 2 cents. I sure hope you can find the loops to jump through, and I

am so sorry you or anyone else has to deal with this kind of treatment, and

suffer so much.

You will be in my prayers.

Bama,george