[chronic4me]

Hi I have commenced with a new pain DR after being with my previous one for over 16yrs. I have had for 28yrs severe chronic pain of the neck called allodynia which has developed stenosis.

My lower l4/l5 needs to be operated on again, however i just keep hoping i "come good". I am currently on up to 6 10mg oxynorm PRN daily and 1 Norspan wkly patch 20mg. This pain treatment was working very well until my back and neck have significantly spiraled over past 2 mths. The meds are no remotely sufficient to control the pain (if i wanted enough meds to completely kill the pain I would have to be administered an aneasthetic).

But why is there such stubborn resistance? My pain is so bad, i am rendered immobile lying on the lounge in a specific position with several heat packs. I have an appt 2 c him 2morrow as (for first time ever),used 6 more tabs over ten day period than prescribed. Normally I have at least 1-2 boxes of the 3 boxes dispensed every 10days. I think it is cruel and irrational to deny someone sufficient opioid meds to manage pain. It is barbaric, if I wanted to abuse narcotics, it is a thousand times easier to buy heroin or be placed on a methadone program which is dreadful!! I grew up only ever taking the odd disprin. It is not my fault for what has occurred to cause this pain. I am a strong woman, who uses a lot of skills to assist in managing my pain level and to divert my attention away from how it feels. DR GORMAN IS MY NEW SPECIALIST - NICE MAN - NOT ONE TO WANT TO DISCUSS OF HEAR ABOUT WHERE THINGS ARE AT WITH PAIN LEVEL ETC... FEELS ALOT LIKE GO IN - GO OUT. I NEED TO BRIEFLY CONVEY WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING, AND WOULD LIKE HIM TO APPEAR INTERESTED ENOUGH TO ASK AT LEAST ONE QUESTION? your feedback would be both respected and much appreciated

[Dr. Smith]

Hi chronic4me, Welcome.

Originally Posted by chronic4me

But why is there such stubborn resistance?

The short answer is, the politics of pain.
(For the long answer, Google the above emphasized phrase.)

I think it is cruel and irrational to deny someone sufficient opioid meds to manage pain. It is barbaric, if I wanted to abuse narcotics, it is a thousand times easier to buy heroin or be placed on a methadone program which is dreadful!!

You're absolutely correct. The statistical facts are that less than 3% of chronic pain patients have abuse problems, and of those 3%, most have previous substance abuse or psychological issues.

http://www.health.com/health/conditi...189482,00.html
http://www.chronicpainrevolutions.co...ic-pain/75.htm

For someone to be on these medications, and taking them responsibly, for as long as you have, and then "suddenly" becoming a risk is illogical, irrational, and remote.

I NEED TO BRIEFLY CONVEY WHAT I AM EXPERIENCING, AND WOULD LIKE HIM TO APPEAR INTERESTED ENOUGH TO ASK AT LEAST ONE QUESTION?

Google: talk doctor pain
The articles you'll find there will be much better than anything I can say here.

Best wishes,

Doc

[Leesa]

Hi ~ I have to agree with you. However, you will find that NO doctor will prescribe enough medication to make you PAIN FREE. None of us with chronic pain are pain free. In fact hardly ANY of us are even COMFORTABLE. These doctors are afraid of the DEA -- they're afraid of making us addicted, which is ridiculous. Very RARELY does a real chronic pain patient become addicted to their pain medications! That's because we use the meds for PAIN -- not for pleasure! If we could convince our doctors of this, we'd be better off, but they look at us with suspicion half the time.

I've been a chronic pain patient for over 25 years, and like you I'm in nasty pain all the time. I'm on 10mg of Methadone 3 times a day -- need I tell you that it just doesn't work?? Plus I'm using a .75mcg patch of Fentanyl, and even THAT isn't working anymore. I have asked MANY times for an increase, as I haven't had an increase since I began seeing him which was about 6 years ago but he keeps saying NO.

Instead of using heat, you'd be better off to use ICE. Heat causes more swelling in the back, as it draws blood to the heated area. Ice reduces swelling and also inflammation, thus reduces pain. Use the ice for 20 minutes every 2 hours. It should help ALOT.

I wish you the very best. Keep us posted on how you're doing. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

[ginnie]

I want to welcome you to Neuro Talk. There are alot of us on this site who suffer from cronic pain. We have all talked about this issue. What you are going through isn't acceptable, and maybe you need to again look for another pain specialist. The point of going to one is that you discuss the pain. If he isn't listening, he isn't interested enough in my opinion.
I did something a little different that may help you. I had been in to my pain specialist twice for the same pain. I need a joint in my foot replaced and can't do it yet do to other medical problems I am taking care of. His office said that I should continue to take what he gave me, and that two weeks wasn't enough time to let it work. They then dismissed me more or less without getting the problem to my doctor. I then got angry and went to my PCP and told him what my problem with pain was. I was doing the opposite of doctor shopping, I asked him to intervene for me and talk to my pain specialist. I know my PCP the best. I figured if I didn't get help the first two times, I had to do something different to get relief. I got the two doctors to talk and I got some extra help. What was strange is my PCP said the medicine my pain specialist had me take wouldn't help anyway for the kind of pain I had. So why did he prescribe it to begin with? If you are not getting the relief you need from this particular doctor, you may want to try talking to your PCP and let him or her know what is happening and that you are not getting a responce from this doctor. Maybe this would work to get your pain doc. to listen. If this does not work, please continue to try and find a new specialist. It is barbaric, you are right. I have never abused a medication yet, but he did hesitate to up my medicine or change it when I had more trouble.
What he was doing didn't work. It took intervention, and a bit of my temper showing to my PCP. I really hope you get more help. I live in Fla. This state is very strict now because we had a pain clinic problem here that was terrible. However it makes it hard on the patients that don't abuse, and the doctors that are good doctors. The abuse problem had gotten out of hand so doctors are more hesitant to prescribe, no matter who the patient is. Keep trying, and know that we are here to try and help you. I hope something changes so you can get relief. ginnie

[Dr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Leesa

If we could convince our doctors of this, we'd be better off, but they look at us with suspicion half the time.

I think the doctors - most of them, anyway - do know/understand this. It's the politicians and bureaucrats that don't. And I'm not sure that look is one of suspicion...

Doc

Like you said, Dr. Smith, most doctors do know / understand this, but they act as if they did not know / understand anything. I think they are afraid of the American Medical Association (AMA), their State Medical Board, the DEA... I also believe the bureaucrats, politicians, and lawmakers do not want to know / understand this because they and their loved ones do not have to deal with such severe chronic pain on a daily basis. Who else does not want to know / understand? Many family members and caregivers, without forgetting the patients' friends and coworkers... If everyone got together to really ACT, maybe something would change... I hope...

[hmarie18]

The problem, is there are so many people that are addicts and looking for pain meds that the doctors dont know who to trust. I have 3 herniated discs and my dr told me there is no way for him to know how much pain im in, and that is the truth, everyone has a different pain tollerence level and something that hurt to death to me could not bother someone else, but if it hurts to death to me, why should I have to suffer and live that way? I would search for a new dr, but before you choose one, meet with a few and let them know you are meeting with a few drs. to see where you will be getting treatment before you make any decisions. The thing we need to realize is we pay them for their services, if they are not providing the right services for us, then we need to go elsewhere, just like you would if you were at a restaurant! Sorry, I feel and understand your pain!