hi all. i am going to my pain dr. tomorrow for possibly my last appointment as i am not sure where i will end up. i am trying to get a list of questions put together to cover all my bases. i welcome any suggestions you might have.

i have no pain meds at all and my pain has been very touch and go. i don't know how to ask for more, other than to just tell the truth about what happened with my husband. i am currently on neurontin and cymbalta and amitriptyline. nothing else. but the last time i called him he told me to take ibuprofen or tylenol for the pain. ?!?!?!

i have a TENS. should i ask for another physical therapy script?

thank you all for your help. i am taking the train back home and i have a very short amount of time from my appointment to when the train leaves again and i have to be efficient.

shalom,
ang

I would ask for another script for PT if it is helping you. I spent over 4 years in PT and I they got me to where I could stand up straight and less pain. I had some very good PT'ers. If you can see some difference, I think it would be good to stay in it.

I can't believe he told you to take tylenol or Ibuprofren for the pain. That wouldn't do anything for RSD pain.

Maybe you could ask him for something stronger to help now that you are not with your husband. Do explain what happened and let him know you don't intend to let him get your meds again.

I'm sorry you are going through so much. It sounds like you have too much on your plate right now.

Ada

Hi Unrouley, sorry to have read about you and your husband, but you are making a VERY wise choice for you and your children's welfare. Do you have a copy of the Police Report that documents what happened and your hubby stealing your meds? That might help your Pain Doc, so that he/she feels more comfortable rx'ng something stronre for your pain.

Would your Pain Doc be willing to refer you to a different Pain Doc when you relocate? Maybe he will refer you to a Pain Doc who REALLY understands RSD and the medicines you need to control your pain...

Best Wishes to you!

The other Brokenwings

I hope he gives you something good for the pain, Angie!

Motrin and Tylenol do not do ANYTHING for RSD pain! Shouldn't he know that?!... grr!... those meds are a joke! For me they only help with some muscle pain.

If the PT is helping I would continue doing it.

Let me know how you are, Sweetie! xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

well, i have like 15 mins. before my train leaves to tell you about my appointment so here goes.

i told the doc about my issues - he noted it in my file in case of divorce and courts and things. he refilled my meds - neurontin, amitriptyline and he gave me ultram for the pain. i have never taken it before so i hope it works. he then told me that he was referring me to barnes (in st. louis) because there was nothing more they could do. he said "you have RSD and we've done everything that we can here, but barnes has great specialists that will be able to help." (st. louis because i am closer to there than chicago now). THEN he said " blah blah blah L5 blah you might need injections blah blah surgery. stay thin and make sure your abs are strong." so that disc on my spine is screwed. AND no more gymnastics.

anyway, i gotta go but i will try to gather my thoughts and write more later.

Hey Unrouley1, keep us posted on what's up, please. I am so proud of you for having the strength to leave him! Sorry i didn't answer your last pm's, been pretty sick the last few days.

Michael takes ultram/tramadol, he swears by the stuff... I hope it works as well for you. Take care, don't over do it, and get plenty of rest.

Hi Ang..

I do feel for ya with the relationship thing I am going through a similar experience right now (again and for the last time). I had to lose my 27ft 5th wheel trailer to get him away from me... an I miss my trailer so... but not the verbal abuse.

The motrin/ibuprophen does help with the swelling issue though.. I take froben SR which is a long acting ibuprophen type drug and boy do I notice when I am off them for a bit, I also take 400 ibuprophen ocasionaly.. does nothing for the surface burn cramps or deep ache but it takes the edge off and I move easier and am not so garded I noticed.

I took tramecet for a month a very similar drug to the one the Dr put you on and it didn't help me much at all, but we are all diffrent as you know in the way RSD presents in each of us and the meds that help each as well.

I realy hope this new med helps you with your pain and I am glad he did not just give you the "nothing more we can do to help you" speech.. There is so much more out there it is just getting access to the right kind of treatments, and/or referals to docs that know more about RSD and may be able to do more for us.

You hang in there Ang you are stronger than you think, I know the strength it takes to say "no more" and stick to it, you will find you are much more a whole person without a disfunctional relationship wearin you down too.

Now this is as much a pep talk to me it seems as it was meant for you.. so thanks for letting me air it out here, mabie it is the wrong place but I wanted to tell you that your previouse post where you told us of what was happening and you leaving him, gave me the strenght and conviction to know that I was doing the right thing too.

Thank you,

Sandra

many thanks to all of you. again and again and again. every time my husband calls and chews me out i just look at all the helpful advice and warmth i've received here and i KNOW in my heart that i am doing the right thing. it is hard. really hard. i'm trying to keep my head on straight for my sanity as well as for the kids. my oldest was crying for her daddy last night...

since i've been taking my meds as i should, the (near) full body burning has subsided. my hands are a mess, tho, and i'm beginning to think there is nothing that will fix it. it feels like i am holding an electric fence. i thought about taking a pain pill, but i am gonna try and hold out. heck, it's been so long since i've had pain meds that i don't know what to expect!

this has been a journey, that's for sure. my pain doc at home wants me to continue PT and my sister is going to hook me up with someone here.

i forgot to tell you something! when my sister picked me up from the train station, she handed me the phone and told me to call dr. laura and see what she would say about this mess that i'm in. so i did... LOL and she said "don't go back. you did the right thing. it's his fault that he is 4 hours away from the kids that he loves and the woman that he loves." when i hung up, we turned up the radio and listened to the whole thing (because of the delay). what i didn't hear was her saying (after i hung up) God! i LOVE it when a woman has a backbone!" woooooo! yay for me! it made me smile anyway.

shalom,
a

Heya

you should smile! You are definetly a woman with a backbone! I am glad you made the decision you did, and that you are confident in having made it!

About pain killers - if you take them regularly then you reduce the whole amount of pain your body is in - instead of letting the pain get worse and worse and worse till you can't bear it so take a pill - which then takes 30 minutes to kick in and then only takes the edge off the pain instead of dealing with it more. (OK I am rubbish at explaining - get IHH to explain - I spent yonks trying to bash it into her had with a stiletto... <long story>)! But, (depending on your symptoms/ pain leve/ whether you pain is constant or fluctuates) it might help reduce the pain abit more.

I'm glad you got another script for PT!

Is you sister the one that lives right out in the forest in a really calm place? (I think you mentioned her before), if so then just chill out, meditate abit and try and work out where you are with everything that's happened (hey, you're a psychology student too.. so you know what I mean!).

love ya (strong woman!! LOL!)

Froggsy xxxxxxxx

Hi Ang!
Girl, take the pain meds that is what they are there for!! You already know that I am here for you.. pm me and we will talk about the stuff your going through. I so admire you for taking off like that, 100's of women stay, because they think it is their fault. As for your hand pain feeling like your touching an electric fence, see if you can get you some ganglion nerve neck blocks! I have an excellent PD (thanks to all the friends here on this board!!!who kept telling me to keep lQQking!!)love ya Ang and I will ALWAYS be here for ya.. call me!! Love ya Desi :0)