I'm a new member and I was hoping for some advice. I have Scheuermann's Disease and Scoliosis. I have been diagnosed for about seven years, I think, but I have had the pain in my back for most of my life. Long story short, my parents had my twin sister to take care of (she has CP) so I tried not to complain about it. Although now that I am getting older it seems to be getting worse. I have been put on Hydrocodone 10/325 for the pain, but it only lasts so long, and after a few hours I'm hurting again. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I have talked to my doctor but he doesn't want to put me on something stronger because I am so young. I can't work and that in itself depresses me quite a bit. I could use some advice on what to do at this point. Please, I could really use some help.

I'm not sure this is important but I also have been diagnosed with:
Asthma, Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, High Blood Pressure, Possible Multiple Personality Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Welcome ladytilith,

Are you in Pain Management? If so, what therapies have been tried?

Doc

No I have been to a Pain Management doctor, but he just sent me back to my PCP. He said he didn't even want to deal with a case like mine. I had a PCP that did try to give me some steroid shots, but I ended up getting a migraine from them. And then I lost him as a PCP. I have tried PT but I didn't have the money to keep going to it. My doctor and I did talk about surgery, but I was warned that it very well could cause me more pain, and not even help me. In the same conversation I was also told that I could end up in a wheelchair by the end of the year. But I'm trying to keep looking at the bright side of things and I know it could be worse, and really I shouldn't complain.

Please don't give up. I can understand a single PM doctor not wanting to take on a case that is beyond his ability/experience, but IMO, he should have referred you to one that could help you. There are many pain management and spine clinics in your state.

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Doc

Sorry now that I have thought about it I have been to two PMs. I'm not trying to give up I just am worried about it all. I'm the type of person who ignores it until I can't anymore. When I was about 11 years old my dad let my sister (who has CP) drive the car and we ended up in a ditch. My dad had me go to a chiropractor and he did some x-rays on my back.

They found that my spine was almost in an arrow like position. The chiropractor didn't do a follow-up just sent me home and said it was fine. And since my family was dealing with my sister, they thought nothing else about it. Now I wish there had been a follow-up that way I could of had it looked at while I was still growing up. And now I sound like I'm whining sorry.

I'm not getting that. I'm getting a person in pain reaching out for help/support in the right place to do that. I often quote a Japanese business proverb, "Fix the problem -- not the blame." What's happened in the past, whether many years ago or yesterday, has happened, and we cannot change that. You are where you are NOW, so the question is where to go from here.

Many folks here have had bad experiences with doctors and the medical system, myself included. Something to think about... half of all doctors are below average. That can sound pretty bad until one considers that the other half are above average.

Doc

Dear Dr. Smith,

WOW, that was a fabulous post. Very inspiring. Thanks for your wise words. They are helpful to everyone here.

Welcome to Neuro Talk. Don't give up on finding a good physician. You need one in your corner who can empathise with you. I see a physiatrist, who specialized in pain management. She works with the whole person, not just your symptoms. If you can find a doctor like this, you pain will go down, just having someone in your corner! If you current doctors do not address your concerns, please keep going and find another. If you post near to where you live perhaps someone on NT will know of a good pain management doctor near you. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Hi, don't give up and bug your Dr all the time. It took about four years for me to help me with my chronic pain.