NeuroTalk Support Groups - Neuropathic Pain

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- Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/)

- - Neuropathic Pain (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/130954-neuropathic-pain.html)

I take a narcotic and have never had to sign any kind of contract....we are using these drugs the legal way. Maybe it's a state law in some states to sign a contract?

I only signed a phamacy notebook in 1 pharmacy in the 1st year around 2003 where I received my prescription too. I think that was a older procedure that seems to have gone by the wayside probably because of records being on computer.

Stay tuned...likely coming to your state soon.

its here already. pain clinic wanted me to sign a contract even for a steroid shot. i told them im not there for narcotics and wont be getting any from them. its not a state requirement, it s a doctor covering their *** from the federal drug enforcement administration thing. its solely to protect them. the ones i have heard about include drug testing to see if you are actually taking the narcotic and to see if you are taking anything else that is illegal or you dont tell them about.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hermes (Post 688028)

Hi everyone. I'm new here. My symptoms started about 2 years ago with numbness in my thighs when I stood still for any length of time. My doctor sent me to a rheumatologist who couldn't find any problems and told me it would just go away. Around a year ago the pain started. I went back to my doctor and he sent me to a neurologist. She ordered an MRI of my spine, which was normal, and then of my brain also normal. I then had an Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS). These also were normal. I was told that all we could do was try and treat symptoms. I was on Neurotin, which didn't work. Pain, sensitivity and numbness got worse and spread into my feet. I went to Johns Hopkins University Neurology in Baltimore, MD and they ran another EMG/NCS and an MRI of my neck - all normal. The doctor sent some recommendations for 3 meds (Neurotin, Cymbalta, Lyrica) to try to my neurologist here in VA. Cymbalta worked fairly well at first later she had to added Lyrica. Hopkins ordered a battery of blood tests, 13 vials of blood - all came back normal. Hopkins then ordered a skin biopsy to test for small fiber neuropathy - normal also.

My DX is Polyneuropathy - Idopathic. Pain, numbness, sensitivity continues to get worse, especially at night. It is also spreading up my lower back. My neurologist referred me to the John Hopkins Blaustein Pain Treatment Center after saying that she didn't know what to do. I have an appointment, first available, in 5 weeks for an initial consultation. I hope I can still function by then.

I do feel very fortunate to be this close to Hopkins as it is one of the top rated medical centers in the country. However, it concerns me even the top hospital in the country doesn't know what is causing this or how to treat it. My fear is that if they can't treat the cause then the symptoms will just keep getting worse.

Anyway I've been reading the posts here and thought I'd share and see if anyone had any thoughts on my condition.

As the song goes keep on trucking.. I had a Rheumatologist tell me that its normal for someone my age to have numbness and tingling in my legs:confused: for weeks I walked up to everyone my age and not one answered yes:D
Then I had a Neurologist say " I don't know why your here and the best part he was on Mistery Diagnoses after my visit:( so kept the spirits up ! Its been two years and I can not tell you how many Doctors, tests, lab work, citys and States I have seen and been in and I do not have a dx yet:grouphug:
Sue Bee

Oh geesh! The 'RULES' are coming!!!!

To be followed by more rules then even MORE RULES!
I'm off most pain pills, 'occasionally' either a tramadol or a tylenol! Why? Because the meds only knock things down 1/2 to one point on the pain scales. I have learned to live with the big TRADE-OFF! I live in pain? But, I've gotten used to the day-to-day. The real pains? I take a pill, yes, but don't expect much at all.
Last year, when I'd broken my leg? I was on the BIG-TIME pain meds & a LOT of them. They didn't do too much for the pain, per-se? But they sure muzzied the brain so I didn't care so much.
I've gotten used to the pains, I'm not happy with them [at all!] But, I like having my mind in the here and now for when I truly need it! It's not excruciating as it was at onset, that or I'm simply used to it now. Some suggest that I go to a 'pain specialist' on occasion, I refuse- and will continue to do so until I really can't stand it any longer! Besides? I've not heard of anyone stellar in my part of the world, and I don't want to sign my life away to extra psych evaluations and other crud that really isn't necessary.
My current docs control my pain meds, one doc prescribes 95% of them, except in the emergencies.... I don't abuse them? I hate the constipation! THAT is a trade-off we don't need to deal with! IF we can avoid it.
Heaven help us all! :grouphug:!'s - j

I have to sign a contract once a year, doesn't bother me much. What did bother me was a random urinalysis, not because I abuse or use too much, but because it cost 500.00! My insurance paid 80%, but still I thought it was an error. I called billing and she says nope, not a mistake....they were looking for every drug known to mankind, including no trace of drugs! Found out then that people go there and get pills only to turn around and sell them on the "street", so if I had no narcotics in my system I'd be kicked outta there forever. I never thought at 54 that I would be in such lousy shape or need narcotics and I feel like a dirtbag every time I go there, most patients there have lived the hard life, at one time I looked down my nose at them.........karma I guess for being such a pious snot! Just joking.......

Jannaw, my feelings exactly. To think they used to trust me enough to dispose of narcotics in the old days. We used to count them and flush 'em. I am sure the fish downstream appreciated it.

This subject gets me so angry! Between having someone hand me a cup to pee in before anyone even talked to me for a job interview yesterday and anxiously waiting to see what my mother's hospice care is going to do for her pain, I feel like defacing drug-free zone signs in the dead of the night. There have always been drugs. If you don't want your children to use them, deal with your children, don't punish the rest of us who might need them!