[shayp]

Hi,

I'm new to all of this... I need some help navigating around the site, can someone help me? I don't know how to make a new post.

I have been in four major car accidents and one coma.

In 1994, when I was 17, I had my first accident after that I was diagnosed with RSD in my right arm and with what would be the first of a long history of back pain. This was also the first time I lost conscienceness.

In 2000, I rolled my car, I didn't really get injured.
3 weeks later, I was going on vacation and the driver fell asleep behind the wheel, I ended up with a broken heel, TMJ, another concussion, whip lash, and more back pain.

In 2004, I was driving too fast and lost control of my car. I ended up going over a 300 foot cliff. I broke my back in two places (a compression fracture and fractured several trans vertebrae process), I broke my clavicle, broke 9 ribs, broke my leg, fractured my arm, and lost conscienceless for over 3 hours. I was ejected out of my car from the rear window... the reason why I know that is when I woke up, I had to find my car and then climb back into it and call 911 for help.
The pain meds I was on for my back put me in a coma. Since I woke from the coma I have never been the same. I used to socialize all the time, now I'm like a hermit. I get headaches. My communication skills are awkward. I don't know what happened to the person I used to know. I remember the old me, and then there is the person that I see in the mirror. I went back to school 3 months ago, before when I was in school things used to be easy for me I would get A’s and B’s now it is difficult for me to even concentrate or remember what I just read. I have problems getting my point across, it is very frustrating, especially when I was so smart and used to be able to communicate with every type of person, it didn’t matter where you were from I would think of something to talk about with you.

I was wondering if anyone could help me because I think this site would be useful to me.

I also was wondering if anyone had complaints about the new Duragesic patch.

I've been using the patch since I got out of the hospital for my coma, now that they switched it to the matrix version it doesn't work for me. I have to go back to taking pain pills which I hate b/c of the way they make me feel. I would rather stay home in bed then take the pills. I hate them. It makes me feel foggy in the head. Does anyone know of a generic brand that still uses the gel delivery system?


Thanks,
Shay (super newbie, super frustrated)

[Chemar]

Hi Shay and welcome

i moved your post off the other thread so you could have your own thread

when you need to make new threads, just clicj the NEW THREAD button at the top left of the forum (it is in the same place that the NEW POST reply button is on existing threads)

hope that helps

here is a help thread that is stickied on this forum
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread18185.html

[(Broken Wings)]

Welcome

Yea, consider this your second home. You do have many problems.

I am, as I'm sure you are, thankful that you're still with us.

It will take time for you to get back on your feet. Don't know if anyone's ever the same when they go through so many injuries. It's ok. It'll be ok. Life is good.

I'm in a bit of a hurry this morning, so I'll say hi to you and get back with you later. There's so many things here that you may benefit from.

Here's a couple of links to get you started

chronic pain

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum10.html


back pain and spinal

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html


head injury

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html


depression

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum37.html

I look forward to getting to know you.

[azoyizes]

Hi Shay, and welcome to NT. There is such a great group of people here. You will be amazed.

We're so glad you found us!

[NurseNancy]

hi shay and welcome.
i'm very sorry for all you've been thru. if you click on "neurotalk communities" at the top of the page you'll be able to scroll thru all the forums on the board.
feel free to roam around.

i hope we can be of help.
i don't know anything about the pain patches myself. have you considered trying to find a pain specialist doc?

[shayp]

I've been dealing with all of these thing by myself for so long, it is nice to know that I'm not alone. Thanks for all the replies.

[dance59326]

Hi, wow Whay, that 's tough. I can understand how you feel. I'd love to be your "friend" here on NT. Although I'm also new, can help to show you the ropes of this site. A really helpful tool is by clicking on the tab labeled "FAQ." Please feel free to PM me anytime. I'm alway open with my eyes pealed and my ears open!
~dance59326

[shayp]

Hi guys...
I'm new here and I have been having the worst couple of weeks painwise since I can remember... I guess people have been sewing the company that makes the Duragic Patch so they switched the way the patch delivers the medicine into your body. I haven't been able to find another substitue for that medicine.

When I first got injured the doc put me on Vicodin and Tylenol which put in renal faliure then a coma. I really can't take too many pills otherwise I will throw up, my liver can't handle it.

I broke my back in two places, now that I don't have the proper pain medication I get so tired. It makes it difficult for me to work. What I don't understand is that if the patch was leaking wouldn't someone know? I had a patch that leaked and I knew right away b/c I could feel it on my skin and on my clothing. It just doesn't make sense to me.

I guess that is how other people feel when someone like me takes too much Tyleonl... they probably think that I would know, but I didn't know I was taking too much. I was only taking the perscribed amount of Tylenol and Vicodin and I almost died to the point where the doctors where telling my family to "pull the plug". I was left with some brain injury which still frusterates me.

I guess I am just grumpy from all of the pain I've been feeling and I am going to a dark place. I'm mad b/c I can't take other meds. Once I had a fever of 105 and had to be in the hospital for over a week until it broke.

When I come home from work I feel like crying b/c I am in so much pain... when I wake up I can't really move around like I did 2 months ago with the other patch and feel like crying b/c I'm in pain. Yes I have a pain doc, I've been trying to see if these other generic patches will work, but they are not... does anyone have any advice?

Thanks for listening...

[Chemar]

Hi Shay

so sorry you are in such pain

i merged your new post into the thread you started last week so that it would all be together

do take a look at the forums here that (Broken Wings) has linked for you above

also here is the link to the RSD forum for you
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

[NurseNancy]

i'm really sorry you're dealing with so much pain.
i can relate.
i wonder if you could get any info from the manufacturer of the patch you liked.

i hope your drs understand how much your quality of life has declined.
i hope you feel better.
don't give up.