Also, about that 'addicted' stuff....

A person NOT IN PAIN, OR ABUSING THE MEDICATION, is when the addiction come in. When a person buys them off the street for as a habit. When a person takes them and lies about their symptoms to get the medication because they thrive for taking more and more to get a high when taking the prescribed amount doesnt work.

That whole 'twice a week' number i believe is false. People look at the addiction differently. Having RSD is a 24 hour a day 7 day a week job. Having this pain, we need the medication. It isnt a choice. So if addiction is in your brain, then you need to remember to take your medication as prescribed, and dont suddenly get off of it. It is possible to get off any medication over time.

When people say, 'if i take it everyday and i just stop taking it and i get withdrawls, then that means I am addicted and I dont want to take it.'
#1 I say, your pain may not be as bad as you say, I can say, most of us would do anything for our pain.
#2 Its just like anything in life, anything with your body. If you were to take food from us in one day, we would have withdrawls too.

Medication for us is like insulin for diabetics. I know for me, its the only way I can get up most days. I don't know where your doctor got that 2 times a week thing, but what happens the other 5 days when you have pain?? Maybe for someone else they can just take their medicine 2 days a week, but I know without a doubt I cant only take my medicine 2 days a week.

Lisa,

I agree also. Find a new doctor... Its not fair for you to continue to have to suffer. Narcotics actually make some of my pain worse. Have you tried neurontin/lyrica? or Tramadol? or cymbalta to help manage with the rsd? pr any of the other medications us rsders take??
Hang in there... try to find another doctor who isnt afraid to prescribe medication. If the doctor knew better, he would prescribe to make the patient better, not withhold it and make you suffer by not giving you medication therefore making you worse... If he knows what RSD is, he will prescribe you medication to relieve you pain, not just up your medication now. I know many of us take a 'cocktail' of medications to help us manage everyday.... Hang in there

RSD is one of mankind's most painful diseases. We don't allow our pets to suffer constantly, so, why on earth would a doctor allow a patient with RSD suffer continually? It makes no since to me at all. My wife has RSD, for four years she went through the same barbaric treatment from chicken shite doctors until I raised holy hell everywhere we went until we found a doctor who did not hesitate to do her duty and immediately tackled my wife's pain first and foremost. Who cares about addiction when one is suffering severe pain 24-7? Hannah is correct by far. There is a big difference between an addict and someone who is dependent, big big difference. An addict sits around in a daze waiting for the next fix. A person who is dependent is allowed to function in society. A very big difference and pain doctors should know this. If they don't they are lying.

Hi Hannah, Thanks for your reply and everyone else who jumped in to help. I was taking 90 mg of Cymbalta everyday until WC decided that it was not going to pay for it. I recently had a hearing where it was ruled in my favor to approve this medication, but when I was at the pharmacy today, it did not go through. I am not able to take Nuerontin due to extreme side effects. Finding another doctor is really not an option. I live in a very rural area and I have only found two. The first one did not work out, and I like this doctor but his hands are tied due to this being a WC case. Everything that he has wanted to do has resulted in very long delays and hearings. The WC system in Ohio is set up to the benefit of the employer and my company is self-insured so that adds even more complexity. I think that my doctor may have prescribed the Percocet simply because he knew that this was a drug that had previously been covered and I am leaving to spend time with my daughter. I do take a cocktail of various drugs--don't want to go into detail here because I would be easy to find in this small community. I am hopeful that the warm S.carolina weather and the peacefulness of the beach will be beneficial. Thanks to all and I hope everyone is having a great evening, Lisa

Mslday.

I like this. Tried it for a few nights and slept like a kitten (new meds helped too). It really feels good to breathe. I never realized how much I stopped breathing when I am tense.

It's pretty awesome once you get the hang of it!

Thanks for sharing!

Kim

Lisa.

My w/c just dropped me and all of my coverage. I was hurt in Delaware (though I live in Maryland). I have been denied all of my meds and treatments recently. I have a good attorney and I submit everything to them for reimbursement. ($.50 a mile for travel to my doctors and treatments, total reimbursement for out-of-pocket meds and any and all thearapies which help me (a cane, crutches, heating pads, epsom salts, vitamins, etc.)

They denied me because their doctor feels that I can go back to work. Four hours a day, sitting only. No use of my arms or legs, no walking, etc. etc. Plus I must disclose to them that I am on narcotics, medicinal marijuanna and that I get epidurals that render me unable to walk for a day or two afterword. Oh, and I will fail the drug test!

I am on my fourth or fifth pain doctor. My last one treated me like a junkie. And I believed everything bad he said to me. My new one is a "breath of fresh air". He LISTENS and truly wants me to be better. He is willing to take my thoughts and questions to heart and research them. He is not afraid to go against the grain and trust his own instincts instead of relying on text-book stratagies.

I am very thankful for him. Please seek out someone in which you can trust and speak honestly to. I am from a rural area also. There are really good PM's out there! (see the post from Jim King...).

Keep us posted! Good luck!

Kim

Lisa and Kim , Wow I am sorry to hear of all the problems you (and everyone) have had with W/C and docs. I too am W/C with a self insured employer and I have indeed been very fortunate with my care . I am most thankful for my pain mgmt. doc. who was the one to diagnose me with RSD . I imagine if I had gotten a doctor not familiar with RSD my dealings may have been much different . Take care !

Dear Kim -

As one who recently got SSD approved on the first pass (with Medicare, thank you) I can say, having spoken to a number of people in positions of authority, and indeed it's clear as a bell in the Social Security Ruling on October 20, 2003 that's generated some discussion of late http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/pres...ims-157760.php, that the key variable in filing is going in with doctors who will support you with strong reports and close observations in their files.

If there is anything I have learned in 9 years with this, it's that no good ever comes of having a doctor who is not fully supportive of you. Hanging in there only leads to more problems in the end. Otherwise, life is just too short.
Find someone you like, and cultivate the relationship: baked goods at the Holidays never hurt.

Mike

When I was doing my ketamine evaluations prior to treatment the phyciatrist I saw always said the same thing. Addiction or someone who is an addict is very different then someone who takes pain medication due to a illness.

And they are cracking down on doctors who RX pain medication. But I think the PM Doctors are save because that's what they do for a living. I have heard some crazy stories of orthopedic surgeons depanding that patients get off all pain meds. prior to any surgery.

It's all getting a little frightening....

Thanks Mike! I was just denied SSDI (knew it would happen). I did recently find a great PM who is my "Mad Scientist"! He doesn't stick to recommended therapies.

I just started getting epidurals with Lidocaine and he gave me Ketamine in the last injection. Today he gave me Ketamine to take orally every night. I have the syringes here at home for about a month's worth. I simply spray the medicine on the roof of my mouth and hold it for a minute before swallowing.

I am also very impressed that he trusts me enough to have extra meds on hand. My other doctors look at my like I'm a junkie when I asked them for more/different meds. The Ketamine he gave me is not available at any pharmacy so he orders it from his supplier and measures it out for me.

I'm glad you got approved for SSD on the first try. I'm sure it takes alot of your worries away, which will lower your stress and help with the pain.

Have a great holiday weekend!

Kim

p.s. Nice pic!