Ginnie is right. If your pain isn't being addressed, then the pain doc isn't doing his job. As for the Gabapentin, I found that stuff to be AWFUL All it did for me was make me gain 30lbs in water weight! Plus I felt loopy all the time! So my doctor put me on Topamax, and that was MUCH better -- it took away all the burning pain, and that was wonderful!!

Like Ginnie said, an opiate would be great for easing your pain. There is nothing wrong with taking opiates. They're no different than any other pain medication that the doctors give by prescription. They're just stronger, and they' work better! My doctor has me on OpanaER and that works great!

So talk to your pain doc, and if he WON'T give you appropriate pain meds, then change doctors! These docs have to realize that we DESERVE pain relief, and if they won't give it to us, we'll go somewhere else! They'll lose their patients by droves!! I wish you the very best Joely, and God bless. Please let us know how you do. Hugs, Lee

Thanks ginnie yes i will try doing that since my pain seems to be getting worse...had a horrible night last night of sleeping kept waking up cause my arm and neck were hurting so bad had to sit up in the recliner for a while put a heat pack on my neck that helped some was so exausted i fell back asleep. I am so thankful for this site and people like you who really care its a big comfort to me.....Thanks again.....

Thanks for all the replies i really apprechiate all of you it gives me great comfort to know there are people out there just like me with chronic pain. I am diffently going to start keeping a pain journal and post in it every day and show my doctor so he will know what i am going through....I am also going to let him know the pain meds he gave me are not working...and if he doesn,t address the issue then i am going to find another pain specialist I don,t have time any more to wait around and wonder.....Some days are good some days are ok some days are down right aweful.......Thanks again for all the support and help....Love all you guys....hugs....

Hi Joely,

I don't disagree with anything that's been said here, but I have a few observations.... Rather than citing specific articles presenting possibly biased points of view (POVs), I prefer to suggest searches/search criteria so you can review different POVs on a subject and decide for yourself -- that's (usually) "just the way I roll"... Feel free to alter/expand the criteria, and/or follow up with some of the suggested related searches. You can also check the archives for posts I've previously written on these topics.

Pain journals -- there are many examples, templates, and articles about keeping them.
keeping a pain journal
pain journal template

Pain Management -- some pain management doctors/clinics just don't prescribe narcotic pain medications - period. They're sometimes referred to as "interventional pain management". There's no use arguing, pleading, or delivering ultimatums -- they'll wish you luck and show you the door. Unfortunately, more and more doctors and clinics are going that way -- not necessarily by choice, but by political pressure -- the politics of pain.
politics of pain
politics of pain management
Materials Distributed at AAPS 9/18/2004 Briefing to Congress - "Politics of Pain"

There's nothing wrong with "no narcotics" approaches either; what's important isn't (and shouldn't be) how your pain is being addressed, it's that it is being addressed sufficiently for you to function in your day-to-day life. I think most folks here who do have to take narcotic medications will also tell you they wish they didn't have to, and that they'd prefer something else if it would work. Even with opioids, the idea is not to be pain-free, but to reduce the sense of suffering and improve the quality of life.

Talking to doctors (pain mgmt or otherwise) about your pain -- there are good ways and bad ways.
talk doctor pain
how to talk to your doctor about pain

Sorry there's so much reading, but becoming our own advocates and taking pro-active roles in our care requires that we educate ourselves. I think (hope?) you'll find it's worth it.

Doc

Well I am up early again...hurting again all night....my right hand this time with numbness and pain in three fingers while the other two are completely numb with no feeling at all.....grrrr......I never could find a comfortable postion last night put a pillow between both my legs and elevated my arm and hand ...still no relief....just really frustrated this morning....I feel i am losing strength in my left arm and hand as well due to the neck ......I just want to cry......

Hi! Yeah, I had bad night myself also; there's a thunderstorm weather front moving through Pa. right now. Power on & off,with lots of crackling lightning bolts nearby. Yes, somedays I need to cry too, it's lonely- me and my two English Cocker Spaniels all day. I'm disabled with limited mobility, so I'm pretty well stuck with it. Constant pain wears me down to the point of depression. Cymbalta , (one of 4 pain meds I use daily)- does help chase the blues away. I never can find a comfortable spot either. I'm mulling over the thought of giving suggestions of various things to do to try to relax and get some comfort; but my hands and fingers are burning so damn bad right now I have to stop. I'll get back to you later. Take care, sfink