As I sit and type this my left shoulder is in extreme pain. I see my pain doc in about 90 minutes and I need to ask him for better pain control. I am a little worried about asking him because I have never asked him for this type of help before. I would like to ask him for pain meds but nothing that I have to take all the time. Only when I needed it. I don't want to be seen as a drug seeker (as we all have that fear) so I am worried about asking him.
Isn't a shame that us CPers have to worry about asking doctors for help?

Wendy,

I am sorry to hear about the pain, but I hope that your doctor listens and is willing to prescribe something to help lessen the pain.

It is sad that we all get so worried baout being labeled as a drug seeker... and the saddest part (to me) is that the actual seekers do not worry about getting labeled as a seeker cause they just switch docs if they don't get what they want.

I hope your docs appointment went well.
Take care,
Liz

Well, I did go to my appointment and I got my depo-medrol shots in my shoulder which helped and all he would give me is a medrol pak. He wouldn't help beyond that. Sigh. He all but said that the pain is in my head. Which made me upset...like I wasn't crying already from the pain.
I just called my primary doc and left a message asking for a recommendation for an orthopedist specializing in hip and spine issues. I need a new POV on my pain issues now that my SI joint is acting all funky.
I think my pain doc has outlived his usefulness. What do you all think?

i am so sorry about the pain and your doc, wendy.
i wonder, since its "all in your head" why he subjects you to shots that are costing your insurance co. about $1,000. And, they are really hard on your system - especially your bones.

It never ceases to amaze my how callous so many doctors are. They don't deserve to be doctors.

Hey Sim....welcome! Nice to see you around.
Yes, it kinda shocked me that he said that. They (he and his nurse) kept going on about pondering why I was feeling so bad. It was anything from stress from the holidays, to being depressed (of course I was I was upset because I hurt so darn bad!), to the weather. They tried to get me to take neurontin again, but I said no way because I gained 50 pounds on it and was on 1800 mgs a day that did nothing. He then asked if I had been on Cymbalta, I said yes and it didn't work out for me. I think to get me out of his hair, he gave me the medrol pak. Sad huh. But he is the only pain doc that will see me. Don't know what to do next if I choose to stop seeing him.
But like I said, I am having pain in my SI joint, which is causing the majority of my pain, and I think I need a doc that specializes in that area to take a look at me and see what is going on there.
UGH! Why is it when you feel the worst the doctors seem to become more of a hinderance than a help?

i don't understand it, either, wendy. I ate tons of advil the first year - 3200 mgs. a day, as my old pcp would do nothing. I even took a chance and had an esi while taking it, accepting that i could start bleeding and not stop (sadly, the shot did nothing).
My new pcp - who i see tomorrow - agreed immediately to take over my meds. when i was released from the surgeon (who took very good care of me for a year after the fusion).
i had to sign a paper with the usual stuff about no other docs, rx at one place only, etc.
I just HATE when a doc says its all in our heads but then do stuff like give us steroids.
I can't take neurotin either - made me deleriously high. Was kinda fun that first few hours - felt like i had had a few drinks. That quickly went into being so drugged up by the second dose that i thought i would go insane.
Its strange, as pain meds don't do that at all, in fact, they only take the edge off the pain. But that neurotin, shudder, never again would i take it.

Oh Sim I have missed you!
That is exactly what is happening to me. He juices me up twice a month with Depo-Medrol which is like a band-aid on a small piece of pain when my entire body is dying. For the first time since I have seen him which was a year in September, I have asked for this kind of help. And he gives me 7 days of oral steroids, which I am not sure will do anything right now. I have had 2 ESIs, 2 facet injections and one radio frequency ablation. Basically everything short of surgery. None of which has worked.
The ONLY meds he has prescribed for me are Lidoderm patches, baclofen, trazodone and now the medrol pak. He has in the past tried mexitil, which again didn't work. Everything just a band-aid he is doing. I feel that he is milking the system for money. Since I am on Medicare, he can string me along for as long as I let it happen.
Today has made me realize that he can do no more for me than he has already done. And won't do anymore. He made that perfectly clear on that account today.
What do I do??? Where do I go from here?
I know my pcp is uncomfortable with giving pain meds and usually refers me to my rheumy, who is in the same practice. Who also won't do pain meds. Living where I do, near a city where some of the best health care in the world is to be had, I can't get a doctor to help me!!!!! I am at a loss.
I have done everything they have asked of me. Did physical therapy twice in a year. Done a Functional Capacity Evaluation to show that I am unable to function at a "normal" level. Gone through immensely painful procedures to get a glimpse of a possibility of help with my pain. I don't complain. I never call the doctor's office and be a nuisance. I am kind, friendly and never skip an appointment.
All I want is to live in a resonably comfortable existance physically. I would like to function somewhat normally. Geez, listen to me....I would like this, I would like that.....I guess it is not meant to be. I am being forced to live in pain at levels that most people would go to the hospital or stay home from work for. They get the attention and medication they need. While I and some of you are here in pain crying for help. We can't even take an ibuprofen without getting a slap on the wrist for doing so. Some side effect or whatnot.
Okay getting off now! I don't feel better but at least I got it out!

Hi FiberoWendy,

Does the doc know what is causing the pain??


Linda

Wendy,

I'm sorry to hear that your doctor was unhelpful today... and it really stinks that you can't get any other doctors to help you either. That just makes me mad!

Do you have a psychaitrist? Would he/she be willing to help?

My psychaitrist helped me find a good doctor when I needed one, and he also helped me by telling my doctors that narcotic pain meds would not interfere with my mental health and I was not prone to addiction.... it seems as if my doctors were reluctant to prescrie pain meds to me because of the psych diagnosis and their biggest worry was addiction.

I had a drug problem in my late teens and early 20's -- and my psychaitrist knew all about it (my physical doctors did not know at that time, but I did tell them before they prescribed any pain meds) --- anyway, my psychaitrist knew that I needed pain relief and that I would not do anything that would ever lead to being addicted ever again.... but he really went out on a limb for me by assuring my physical doctors that I would avoid addiction, but he was right and his assistance was necessary and very very helpful.

I have been on narcotic pain meds for several years now and they have helped, and I have not become addicted and I have not shown any of the behavior that I had when I was addicted all those many years ago.

Anyway, mabe your physical doctors need a kick in the butt from your psychaitrist??

hi wendy, missed you, too.

I wish you could come to maine and see my doc. I take it you are near Boston??? (just a guess).
I was born in springfield, ma.

You definately need a new doc. I know how much we pin our hopes on these doctors to help us, and its is so horrid when they let us down.

IMHO you are on steroids way too much. They have so many horrible side effects. The bone deterition is one. I Have and aunt whose whole spine is ruined from steroid use (prednisone).

please don't let that man do that again. If he can't help you any other way, fire him.
I hope someone has a doc that they can refer you to. As i said, i wish you could see mine, he is awesome. I was told by several med people he is the doctor you go to for a second opinion and that he will absolutely not operate on someone unless he believes it will really help.

Gosh, i hope you can find some relief soon.
hugs,
sims