tyler7
12-30-2003, 07:31 PM
Hello everybody,
I've been on something of a sabbatical lately. For one thing I didnt really have anything to say, but also because I finally started working again the last few weeks. My question relates to an experience that I hope to go through soon.
Like many of you, my PM has me on a pain med regiment, as he has for several months now (5mg Methadone, 2-3xday, though I've just been on this for about 3 mths only). At this point in dealing with my nerve pain, he has even said there's nothing left that he knows what to do to actually treat me. In fact in my next appt I've been relegated to the patients that only come in for an RX refill. He gave me both a neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon to go to, but what's stopping me from doing that is getting insurance. I'm presently in the insane absurdity that is the Medicaid application process. I mean, he gave me these two names like 2 months ago. So, say I get approved for coverage, and finally get to go see these other two new docs. I'm wondering if one of them might then overtake my RX needs? Has this switch over occured for anyone else? Or do you see a neuro for whatever problem, and then still go back to your referring PM just to get meds? I'm also curious because my PM wants me generally on "less narcotics". And the methadone, not that he doesn't like it, but he wouldn't have RXd it the first time if I hadn't of brought it up (the MSContin I had just finished trying at that point did not work at all I felt, and I was on 5mg Percocet for acute pain). And in my last refill in the first week of December, he moved me down from 90 meth/mnth to 75, wanting me to start getting used to taking less, even when I told him I thought 3 a day was a real good fit right now.
So... that's what I'm wondering. Do you go back and forth between 2 docs, one for just meds and one to actually "fix" your problem? I'd appreciate it if some folks could let me know. Happy new year :)
I've been on something of a sabbatical lately. For one thing I didnt really have anything to say, but also because I finally started working again the last few weeks. My question relates to an experience that I hope to go through soon.
Like many of you, my PM has me on a pain med regiment, as he has for several months now (5mg Methadone, 2-3xday, though I've just been on this for about 3 mths only). At this point in dealing with my nerve pain, he has even said there's nothing left that he knows what to do to actually treat me. In fact in my next appt I've been relegated to the patients that only come in for an RX refill. He gave me both a neurosurgeon and orthopedic surgeon to go to, but what's stopping me from doing that is getting insurance. I'm presently in the insane absurdity that is the Medicaid application process. I mean, he gave me these two names like 2 months ago. So, say I get approved for coverage, and finally get to go see these other two new docs. I'm wondering if one of them might then overtake my RX needs? Has this switch over occured for anyone else? Or do you see a neuro for whatever problem, and then still go back to your referring PM just to get meds? I'm also curious because my PM wants me generally on "less narcotics". And the methadone, not that he doesn't like it, but he wouldn't have RXd it the first time if I hadn't of brought it up (the MSContin I had just finished trying at that point did not work at all I felt, and I was on 5mg Percocet for acute pain). And in my last refill in the first week of December, he moved me down from 90 meth/mnth to 75, wanting me to start getting used to taking less, even when I told him I thought 3 a day was a real good fit right now.
So... that's what I'm wondering. Do you go back and forth between 2 docs, one for just meds and one to actually "fix" your problem? I'd appreciate it if some folks could let me know. Happy new year :)
Sponsor
Kayley
12-30-2003, 08:34 PM
Tyler,
Yes, most likely the neurosurgeon and orthopedic will want you to continue going to pm for your meds. That has been my experience, anyway. Are you on other meds besides the methadone? The reason I ask is I was wondering why he wants to reduce your meds, saying you're on "too many narcotics". I wish you the best of luck in getting to see the surgeons. I hope they propose something that will help your pain. Good luck!
Kayley
Yes, most likely the neurosurgeon and orthopedic will want you to continue going to pm for your meds. That has been my experience, anyway. Are you on other meds besides the methadone? The reason I ask is I was wondering why he wants to reduce your meds, saying you're on "too many narcotics". I wish you the best of luck in getting to see the surgeons. I hope they propose something that will help your pain. Good luck!
Kayley
tyler7
12-30-2003, 11:39 PM
Kayley,
Thanks, I appreciate your reply. Hopefully more people will follow suit :) Methadone is all that I'm on right now. See, I actually first seeing my PM for another problem, a herniated disc at L5-S1. That eventually healed, but then this problem (DDD at spots in my neck, including another H.D., and damage to my long thoracic nerve) literally started right towards the end of that one. The strongest he had me on then was Hydrocodone 7.5/500. Maybe because generally we hear that narcotics aren't the optimal med to treat nerve pain (probably coupled w/the fact that he's simpoly not crazy about dishing out strong narcs to most people, which is basically understandable), he was of the mind not to just throw a bunch of them at the problem in the first place. I started on Percs, then he gave me that short term MSContin script. Also, while I was still on the Percs, and just starting on the MSc., he had me try Topamax. I only lasted a month on it, however, because the severity of the s/e on me did not make it worth the minimal amount of pain relief I was receiving from it. (& fyi, he gave me that, and free samples no less, because he said Neurontin was way too expensive for someone w/no insurance. I guess that would be true even with my prescription discount card applied.) Also, as he has said straight to me before, there obviously, as you well know, is no real ceiling with the dosage of narcs. And he said this at the time I had to be taking 6-7 Percs a day, and that's when he gave me that MSContin script to supplement. Like I said, when I badly reviewed that med, I asked about Methadone, knowing a lot about it, both from having been on it before shortly for something else, but more so from what I have learned about it. So, like I said, it's important to him that I not get too used to large amts of narcs. Which again, I understand. And then of course with my luck, he picks this month to lower my monthly count, because I've now been dealing with a powerful toothache for over a week that of course I can't do anything about (except supplement with LOADS of Orajel :)
Ok, I know I went back and forth with tenses up there, and used parentheticals to death, I hope you can understand all of what I'm saying :)
Thanks, I appreciate your reply. Hopefully more people will follow suit :) Methadone is all that I'm on right now. See, I actually first seeing my PM for another problem, a herniated disc at L5-S1. That eventually healed, but then this problem (DDD at spots in my neck, including another H.D., and damage to my long thoracic nerve) literally started right towards the end of that one. The strongest he had me on then was Hydrocodone 7.5/500. Maybe because generally we hear that narcotics aren't the optimal med to treat nerve pain (probably coupled w/the fact that he's simpoly not crazy about dishing out strong narcs to most people, which is basically understandable), he was of the mind not to just throw a bunch of them at the problem in the first place. I started on Percs, then he gave me that short term MSContin script. Also, while I was still on the Percs, and just starting on the MSc., he had me try Topamax. I only lasted a month on it, however, because the severity of the s/e on me did not make it worth the minimal amount of pain relief I was receiving from it. (& fyi, he gave me that, and free samples no less, because he said Neurontin was way too expensive for someone w/no insurance. I guess that would be true even with my prescription discount card applied.) Also, as he has said straight to me before, there obviously, as you well know, is no real ceiling with the dosage of narcs. And he said this at the time I had to be taking 6-7 Percs a day, and that's when he gave me that MSContin script to supplement. Like I said, when I badly reviewed that med, I asked about Methadone, knowing a lot about it, both from having been on it before shortly for something else, but more so from what I have learned about it. So, like I said, it's important to him that I not get too used to large amts of narcs. Which again, I understand. And then of course with my luck, he picks this month to lower my monthly count, because I've now been dealing with a powerful toothache for over a week that of course I can't do anything about (except supplement with LOADS of Orajel :)
Ok, I know I went back and forth with tenses up there, and used parentheticals to death, I hope you can understand all of what I'm saying :)
Kayley
12-31-2003, 11:32 AM
Tyler,
You did fine, I understood what you were saying. I tried neurontin and it did nothing for me, but I understand it does help some people. I totally understand why you don't want to take large doses of narcotics. Unfortunately, that is where I am now, and if I don't get better, I'll probably always be on them.
And I'm the type of person who hates taking an aspirin. My doctor tries to get me to increase my methadone, and I fight it every time till I can't stand it anymore. I know how lucky I am to have insurance, and I feel for people like you who don't. I'm curious, you said you had damage to your long thoracic nerve. Does that cause wrap-around pain to your chest wall like I have? My herniation is at t6 and t7. I'm sorry you are having to deal with a toothache on top of everything else. I hope you get some relief for that!
Take care
Kayley
You did fine, I understood what you were saying. I tried neurontin and it did nothing for me, but I understand it does help some people. I totally understand why you don't want to take large doses of narcotics. Unfortunately, that is where I am now, and if I don't get better, I'll probably always be on them.
And I'm the type of person who hates taking an aspirin. My doctor tries to get me to increase my methadone, and I fight it every time till I can't stand it anymore. I know how lucky I am to have insurance, and I feel for people like you who don't. I'm curious, you said you had damage to your long thoracic nerve. Does that cause wrap-around pain to your chest wall like I have? My herniation is at t6 and t7. I'm sorry you are having to deal with a toothache on top of everything else. I hope you get some relief for that!
Take care
Kayley
tyler7
12-31-2003, 01:44 PM
Kayley,
Yes, I do have pain in my chest area, but I don't think it would be the same thing that you're dealing with. See, on 7/24 my stabbing pain in the right shoulder blade started, accompanied by the hand numbness. On 9/2 I had an EMG done which showed the long thoracic nerve damage. Then on 9/5 the burning/stinging pain started that I have all around my right armpit, down into my bicep and into the pectoral muscle on the chest side. It specifically is a pain that is really just under the skin, as opposed to the radiating pain through an entire limb. Which, and I'm sorry I forgot to say this, I use the Lidoderm (lidocaine) patch for. I'm constantly having to get free samples from my PM, and now even my GP has pitched in, because an retail RX for these is in the hundreds. However, that stinging pain doesn't bother my right pectoral muscle as much as it used to, in fact I rarely use the patch on that area anymore. Since I always have a limited supply of them, I reserve to use them main on the bicep muscle, where it's at its worst (and wish I had the luxury of wearing more than one patch a day, because it's been spreading to farther up to actually on top of my shoulder).
And I understood what you're saying and how you feel personally regarding your use of narcs, but man did I wish my doc had YOUR doc's attitude. I'd love for him to want me to up my dose right now :)
Yes, I do have pain in my chest area, but I don't think it would be the same thing that you're dealing with. See, on 7/24 my stabbing pain in the right shoulder blade started, accompanied by the hand numbness. On 9/2 I had an EMG done which showed the long thoracic nerve damage. Then on 9/5 the burning/stinging pain started that I have all around my right armpit, down into my bicep and into the pectoral muscle on the chest side. It specifically is a pain that is really just under the skin, as opposed to the radiating pain through an entire limb. Which, and I'm sorry I forgot to say this, I use the Lidoderm (lidocaine) patch for. I'm constantly having to get free samples from my PM, and now even my GP has pitched in, because an retail RX for these is in the hundreds. However, that stinging pain doesn't bother my right pectoral muscle as much as it used to, in fact I rarely use the patch on that area anymore. Since I always have a limited supply of them, I reserve to use them main on the bicep muscle, where it's at its worst (and wish I had the luxury of wearing more than one patch a day, because it's been spreading to farther up to actually on top of my shoulder).
And I understood what you're saying and how you feel personally regarding your use of narcs, but man did I wish my doc had YOUR doc's attitude. I'd love for him to want me to up my dose right now :)
carol632
12-31-2003, 06:22 PM
Tyler, it sounds to me like you should be out shopping for a new doctor to take over your prescriptions. You are not on high doses at all; in fact, just the opposite! I would hardly say that l5 mg a day is a lot when many people take much, much more along with other narcotics! Can you find another pain clinic or private physician who isn't so opioid-phobic? I know what you are dealing with because I have dealt with it in the past. I now have the morphine pump so my problem has been getting bt meds at all! My doc and I are due for a heart-to-heart. You should not have to live in constant pain and fear of pain. I really hope you will search out a doctor who is more compassionate. Good luck.
Carol
Carol
twisten
01-01-2004, 02:51 AM
I agree with Carol. If your doc doesn't want to control your pain then you should be on the lookout for one who will. My family doc sent me to a neurologist for pain management. I was on a very low dose of oxycontin and percocets. The neuro increased all of my meds and now I just go to my family doc every month for refills. I'm in Canada though maybe its different here than where you live.
Kimberbella
01-01-2004, 04:21 PM
Dear Taylor,
Could it be that your PM is waiting for your Ins to kick in so that you can see those two specialists that he recommended because he feels uncomfortable just giving you pain meds? Perhaps when you see the specialist he could give your PM a report of the current findings and then an upto date finding will be available to him to give as a referance of medication? Its just a suggestion of course, but it seems as though your PM is acting a bit odd if he suddenly is now lowering your dose-- but then gives you a recommendation to see these other speicalists... How long ago was it that you have had this current problem with your arm diagnosed?
Love and Prayers,
Kim:)
Could it be that your PM is waiting for your Ins to kick in so that you can see those two specialists that he recommended because he feels uncomfortable just giving you pain meds? Perhaps when you see the specialist he could give your PM a report of the current findings and then an upto date finding will be available to him to give as a referance of medication? Its just a suggestion of course, but it seems as though your PM is acting a bit odd if he suddenly is now lowering your dose-- but then gives you a recommendation to see these other speicalists... How long ago was it that you have had this current problem with your arm diagnosed?
Love and Prayers,
Kim:)
tyler7
01-02-2004, 03:58 PM
Thanks for your reply Kim. Ya know I hadn't actually thought of it that way, about my PM sort of waiting to hear the input from the other 2 specialists before really deciding on further long term action about my meds. That's a good point actually :)
And it's been since the end of July 2003 since the pain in my right shoulder blade started (with the "winging" of the scapula beginning just about 10-12 days later), and I had the EMG done in early Sept that showed the long thoracic nerve damage, and then the MRI done on 9/30 that showed the Degenerative Disk Disease in my cervical spots, including the herniation at C7-T1. Thanks again
:)
And it's been since the end of July 2003 since the pain in my right shoulder blade started (with the "winging" of the scapula beginning just about 10-12 days later), and I had the EMG done in early Sept that showed the long thoracic nerve damage, and then the MRI done on 9/30 that showed the Degenerative Disk Disease in my cervical spots, including the herniation at C7-T1. Thanks again
:)