blankaflower
05-22-2003, 06:03 PM
hello all,i have been posting recently on my headaches,and wanted to share with you,all some of my experience,pertaining to availability of meds here in usa.i lived 12 years in the middle east ,lebanon ,and traveling around the rest of the middle east and europe,i have been back here in the states 2 years where i was living in florida now in texas where i was born and raised,i guess i got used to the system of medicine overseas because when i returned ,i realized,you can buy absolutly nothing here over the counter,in lebanon ,you can buy just about anything without a script from a dr,and amazingly you dont see people abusing pharmacutical drugs there,,ie,no long lines for the little boxes of codiene tablets,but you come here and its like a war between patients suffereing and trying to prove to thier dcs,they need pain meds,and sadly alot of drs accusing their patience of being addicts or drug seekers,its really sad guys that so much suffereing is going on,i have been thinking of this alot lately especially since i suffer so severly from my headaches and require a narcotic to at least give me some moments without the throbbing horror that is my head!!but i refuse to be made to be feel like a chld or an idiot,bye drs here that dont even take the time to know me as an individual,why is this happening here in the usa??we have the highest standard of living anywhere,yet visits to your local health care provider can make you feel like a kindergarden student.sad sad sad.yes i am venting alot because i have been reading all of these posts and the same thing i see over and over is how everyone had to go through years of suffering just before they could find 1 dr who would listen,IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS??THATS CRAZY!!!!i am truly saddened and so so sorry for all of you here suffering from pain and DISRESPECT from drs you go to in GOOD FAITH AND TRUST .let me end this post with one thought.WHY IS IT WE MUST TRUST THE DR YET THE DR NEVER SHOWS TRUST IN THE PATIENT??
Sponsor
TDHZ28
05-29-2003, 11:14 PM
Hellooooooo, I had my firsy migraine about 10 years ago. The pain is indescribable. You never forget it and dread its return. I've had several small head injuries and irpnically enuf an th same side and place the migraines hit,above right eye. Noe I have chronic neck pain and its on the left. I have noticed with PM dr.'s that they the neck pain more seriously and treat it more aggressive than the MG's. Just been my observation.
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pain from cervical radiculopathy, spondy, permanent nerve damage, c5/6 buldging dics, DDD,nerve root lesions, anxiety.depression from chronic pain or vice versa. current meds,oxycontin 2 40's twice a day, oxyir for B/T, xanax, paxil, estratest, synthroid, phenergran.
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pain from cervical radiculopathy, spondy, permanent nerve damage, c5/6 buldging dics, DDD,nerve root lesions, anxiety.depression from chronic pain or vice versa. current meds,oxycontin 2 40's twice a day, oxyir for B/T, xanax, paxil, estratest, synthroid, phenergran.
blankaflower
05-29-2003, 11:59 PM
hi,well i really dont much about pm drs,how did you go about finding one,?i see that you are from orlando i used to live in orlanso as well,then i moved here to houston,i feel lost in the health care jungle,and i have been reading the boards and it seems to me that alot of people have so much difficulty getting in to see a pm,and it takes a long time,i have such horrible headaches,and i really dont hav 6 months to wait to see a dr,anyway,im just frustrated now,alot,as i can no longer drive,and stay at home most of the time,why is it so difficult just to find a dr??why do we have to go through so much crap,i mean its not supposed to be like this.im really just tired of it all,anyway sorry for the negativity ,i just wish that things could be a little better here as far as healthcare is concerned.and pls let me know how did you find your pm,how was the first visit?did you have to have a refferal??i still dont have health insurance,but i am willing to do anything just to have at least half of a headache free day!!!!and enjoy some time with my family!!thanks so much for your reply ,pls keep in touch,,blanka
melly66
05-31-2003, 01:49 PM
hello out there! i'm totally new to all this, but i've been reading all of your messages and i feel much more informed about the reality of pain out there!!
i have had severe migraine for 4 1/2 years, lower back pain for 6 years from a broken tail bone, and recently, the possibility of a herniated disc from the fall that broke my tail bone (which i never got treatment for)!!
i have been on everything under the sun for the migraines, unfortunately not much helps. i am currently taking imipramine daily and actiq, maxalt, and imitrex as needed for the migraines, and ultram daily for the back pain. one suggestion i can make to anyone with migraine is accupuncture!!
i have found it to be AMAZING!! i have been going once a week for 1 1/2 years and in that time, my migraines have decreased immensely!! unfortunatly, they have not gone away completely, but they have decreased in intensity to the point where i can take meds and at least function enough to go to work and take care of my dog. i have been through the gammet for the migraines, so i welcome any questions, as well as suggestions, as i am certainly NO EXPERT!! i am always open to improvement!
i am, however, a novice when it comes to managing the chronic lower back pain and would really love to hear from anyone out there who can "feel my pain" and may have some suggestions.
from what i've read on these message boards, this is the place where i need to be for help in dealing with all aspects of pain control.
thanx guys and gals!
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MEG
i have had severe migraine for 4 1/2 years, lower back pain for 6 years from a broken tail bone, and recently, the possibility of a herniated disc from the fall that broke my tail bone (which i never got treatment for)!!
i have been on everything under the sun for the migraines, unfortunately not much helps. i am currently taking imipramine daily and actiq, maxalt, and imitrex as needed for the migraines, and ultram daily for the back pain. one suggestion i can make to anyone with migraine is accupuncture!!
i have found it to be AMAZING!! i have been going once a week for 1 1/2 years and in that time, my migraines have decreased immensely!! unfortunatly, they have not gone away completely, but they have decreased in intensity to the point where i can take meds and at least function enough to go to work and take care of my dog. i have been through the gammet for the migraines, so i welcome any questions, as well as suggestions, as i am certainly NO EXPERT!! i am always open to improvement!
i am, however, a novice when it comes to managing the chronic lower back pain and would really love to hear from anyone out there who can "feel my pain" and may have some suggestions.
from what i've read on these message boards, this is the place where i need to be for help in dealing with all aspects of pain control.
thanx guys and gals!
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MEG
blankaflower
05-31-2003, 02:09 PM
hi ,i am so happy that accupunture works for you ,i tried it when i was in dubai,uae.i did it as a 3 week therapy,it didnt help my headaches but it did help with some tension.accupunture is a very GREAT alternative if it works for you,,,
chumbo
05-31-2003, 04:22 PM
blankaflower,, I also see a PM Dr. Before finding him, I was shuffled from Dr to Dr, trying to figure out why my lower back, and shoulder hurt so bad. My Dr soon cut me off of my pain medication, since he could not find anything wrong with me, after performing x-rays.
I finally did some research via interenet, I found an article about Pain Mgmt. I had never heard of that type of a physician before. I looked in our local yellow pages under physician-pain, and found a PM center, made an appt. It took about a month to get in, they spent about 45min- an hour, examining me, sent me for an MRI, and put me on all types of medication. My MRI came back to find a ruptured disk, L-4-5, bulging disk, and later on he found a pinched nerve in C-spine.
I feel so fortunate to have finally found a compassionate Dr. to treat my pain.
I have since gotten back to work, running my own business, and having a life with my husband and children.
Chumbo
I finally did some research via interenet, I found an article about Pain Mgmt. I had never heard of that type of a physician before. I looked in our local yellow pages under physician-pain, and found a PM center, made an appt. It took about a month to get in, they spent about 45min- an hour, examining me, sent me for an MRI, and put me on all types of medication. My MRI came back to find a ruptured disk, L-4-5, bulging disk, and later on he found a pinched nerve in C-spine.
I feel so fortunate to have finally found a compassionate Dr. to treat my pain.
I have since gotten back to work, running my own business, and having a life with my husband and children.
Chumbo
blankaflower
05-31-2003, 04:45 PM
chumbo,did you have a discogram done??i have a friend who also suffered from a ruptured disck he had a discogram done and something else i forgot the next step they do after that,anyway i was wodering,if this procedure helps,my mother is havig alot of back problems recently and i am very concerned as she is 51 and she hasnt seen a dr yet but everytimme i talk to her and see her she looks so tired and im really afraid,i have never seen my mom like that before,,pls give advice,,blanka
blankaflower
05-31-2003, 05:05 PM
chumbo,its me blanka again,i just wanted to give more info about my mother,as i am very concerned.she was recently married and her new husband doesnt let her take any medications!!i am so angry with this she is really suffering,hes a naturalist and doesnt believe that she needs meds.i try to take her to see a dr,but he still throws her meds away,look my mother has never complained of any illness and she never took anything stronger than an advil,but lately when i call her,she is telling me how much pain her back is causing her,she always asks me to bring her some medication,ANYTHING I HAVE!!i know i shouldnt give her my pain killers,but i swear i feel so bad and i cannot see her face without crying,shes my mom and shes suffering so much,i give her some of my meds from my headache(lortab,norco)but i have to sneak them to her and she has to hide them from her husband!!!i know its wrong to do this but ,I CANT SEE MY MOTHER IN PAIN!! shes not a drug addict and shes a minister in her church,she has never asked anyone for anything before,i am just so worried about her i want to take her to another dr,but whenever i try her husband forbids it,i am so upset,i cannot look at my mothers face and see her in pain anymore,shes so good and kind,she has spent her life taking care of others,raising other peoples children as a foster mom,she is also a grief minister,and now when she is in need noone is helping her,pls help me with any advice,im really desparate i am crying as i type this to you,any advice will help,also i have to tell you she is taking alot of ibuprofen 800 and tylenol,i think shes really taking too much and im worried about her liver,any advice will help ..thank you so much for your reply..blanka
mokita
05-31-2003, 05:20 PM
Hi blanka...
I am so sorry about your mother being in pain & husband not 'allowing' her to take anything for it. I have a hard time w/ the "allow" thing... my mother always told us "people can only abuse you as long as you let them" - that didn't stop me from being in an emotionally abusive relationship. No more for me. In the meantime for you Mom... you are undestandably worried about her liver from tylenol. If he allows her to take that, will he allow her to use Milk Thistle? It is Natural and is sold in WalMart and probably a thousand other places. If you do a search on it, it should give you some valuable info. Basically, it helps cleanse the liver and it supposedly helps the liver not absorb the toxins. I am taking it as I like to have a glass of wine w/ dinner (and sometimes a couple of cold beers on a hot day ;) ) and am on vicodin HP. I can say my eyes are whiter - which is funny, cuz I really am not taking much tylenol... so I wouldn't have thought it would make that big a difference. Anyway... hope this info helps a little. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love1.gif
Good luck to you and your mother! You're a sweet daughter to try and look out for her... remember, you can only do what she allows you to do for her. It's really up to her to make that call. God bless you... you're in my prayers :angel: it's difficult having a parent suffering and not have control to help. I know.... my father was an alcoholic and I couldn't do anything to help.
Karen
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9/22/00 24 hour labor, baby posterior, left tailbone killing me
12/00 MRI - PCP said nothing amiss - but, had to begin taking vicodin
2/8/02 - 2nd baby born after long, painful pregnance as weight gain
2000-11/02 various PT + pain meds
11/02 Referred to Neuro
3/03 NEW MRI - shows slight bulge L3-L4,slight DDD Neuro Refers to PM for ESI
3/03 PM Doc orders ESI
3/21,4/1,4/8 - ESI's no help
5/9 - Discogram - shows Tear L4 w/ significant leak onto nerves, DDD
Doc sched NEW discogram 'cuz performing doc oversedated, False Negative
New Consult w/ Dept Head Cleveland Clinic 7/8
I am so sorry about your mother being in pain & husband not 'allowing' her to take anything for it. I have a hard time w/ the "allow" thing... my mother always told us "people can only abuse you as long as you let them" - that didn't stop me from being in an emotionally abusive relationship. No more for me. In the meantime for you Mom... you are undestandably worried about her liver from tylenol. If he allows her to take that, will he allow her to use Milk Thistle? It is Natural and is sold in WalMart and probably a thousand other places. If you do a search on it, it should give you some valuable info. Basically, it helps cleanse the liver and it supposedly helps the liver not absorb the toxins. I am taking it as I like to have a glass of wine w/ dinner (and sometimes a couple of cold beers on a hot day ;) ) and am on vicodin HP. I can say my eyes are whiter - which is funny, cuz I really am not taking much tylenol... so I wouldn't have thought it would make that big a difference. Anyway... hope this info helps a little. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/love1.gif
Good luck to you and your mother! You're a sweet daughter to try and look out for her... remember, you can only do what she allows you to do for her. It's really up to her to make that call. God bless you... you're in my prayers :angel: it's difficult having a parent suffering and not have control to help. I know.... my father was an alcoholic and I couldn't do anything to help.
Karen
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9/22/00 24 hour labor, baby posterior, left tailbone killing me
12/00 MRI - PCP said nothing amiss - but, had to begin taking vicodin
2/8/02 - 2nd baby born after long, painful pregnance as weight gain
2000-11/02 various PT + pain meds
11/02 Referred to Neuro
3/03 NEW MRI - shows slight bulge L3-L4,slight DDD Neuro Refers to PM for ESI
3/03 PM Doc orders ESI
3/21,4/1,4/8 - ESI's no help
5/9 - Discogram - shows Tear L4 w/ significant leak onto nerves, DDD
Doc sched NEW discogram 'cuz performing doc oversedated, False Negative
New Consult w/ Dept Head Cleveland Clinic 7/8
blankaflower
05-31-2003, 05:31 PM
hi mokita,i just read your reply and i agree with you about the milk thistle, i knew about it and i completely forgot,i guess i have just been so stressed out .yes her husband will let her take it,he
has her taking alot of herbs,as for the tylenol,she hides that from him,i know it sounds crazy!!you know hes really a good person,but in that area hes not so good,and i really do have an issue with him deciding on whats best for my mothers healthcare,i think she has the right to be free from her pain,and if he doesnt believe in meds ,then he should keep that to himself.i have known my mother all of my life,(of course)and i know that if she says shes in pain,then she is actually DYING in pain,she never admits how bad it really is,and yesterday i went to her house when i saw her face,i was horrified and shocked,she really looked bad,and i cried all the way home,i just want to take her in my arms,and make her pain go away,oh pls pray for my mom ,my heart is so so broken ,im sorry but i cant even type anymore,i cannot stop crying for her,,
has her taking alot of herbs,as for the tylenol,she hides that from him,i know it sounds crazy!!you know hes really a good person,but in that area hes not so good,and i really do have an issue with him deciding on whats best for my mothers healthcare,i think she has the right to be free from her pain,and if he doesnt believe in meds ,then he should keep that to himself.i have known my mother all of my life,(of course)and i know that if she says shes in pain,then she is actually DYING in pain,she never admits how bad it really is,and yesterday i went to her house when i saw her face,i was horrified and shocked,she really looked bad,and i cried all the way home,i just want to take her in my arms,and make her pain go away,oh pls pray for my mom ,my heart is so so broken ,im sorry but i cant even type anymore,i cannot stop crying for her,,
HERMIT
05-31-2003, 11:45 PM
Blankaflower--I am appalled that your mom's husband would let someone he loves suffer like a wounded animal rather than see her get relief. In my book that's considered abuse just as much as if he was punching her out every day. GRR. Being in pain constantly can kill faster than the disease that started it. It changes you mentally as well as physically. I would sit him down and have a talk with both of em. I he refuses to change tell your mom to boot him. Life is too short and valuable to suffer through most of it. I am willing to bet he doesn't hesitate to find relief when he needs it. Sorry--just got mad when I read your last post.
blankaflower
06-01-2003, 03:55 AM
hermit,1st of all thanx for the concern,secondly,i am just as appalled if not more than you in this man,i dont know him very well like i said they were just married,and i was living overseas for 12 years,i just returned a litle over a year ago.well when i got back i discovered that they had been (friends)for the past 10 years,anyway i met him last summer,and everyone said he was so nice and good and this and that,and i always was a little suspicious about him,he was just too quiet when i was around,then i noticed my mother asking me occasionally not to tell him certain things,well i thought it was strange that she wanted to hide things from him,then,well now i know why,its because hes an a!!!!!!!!!!!!!hole!!!!! the only thing i have ever seen that man do is EAT,,turns out hes a closet control freak,since hes a prominent member of the church where my mom is a minister,he puts on his goody goody holy act,but i dont buy it,and my aunt doesnt either,i think there is something wrong with this man and i will not let him put his act over on my mom and hurt her,the only thing is SHE DEFENDS HIM!!when my aunt complained about him she stopped talking to her <AND THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS,whenever i say something about him she gets so mad,she will not accept it from me,look im not trying to get between them ,i only want my mom to be ok,but there is a limit,to my patience,and kindness,my mom is very kind and she cannot say no to people ,many have taken advantage of her goddness in the past,and she has been so broken hearted,i dont want anyone to hurt her again,and i will seriously cause bodily harm to that man if he so much as touches 1 hair on her head,im sorry to vent like this,but i cannot see her suffer anymore,i am taking her to see MY dr on monday,and in the mean time i have given her enough painkillers to get through the weekend,i call her 3 times a day to make sure shes taking the meds.she cant move around so good now,i mean shes really in alot of pain,and i think she needs something stronger than the norco 10 that i gave her,but it should get her through the weekend.until the dr visit,like i said before,i in no way condone giving people meds,but in this case what could i do?i will die for my mom ,the last thing ill do is hold out a few pills from her and make her suffer more,hell no,ill give her everything i have if it will make her better,and if that a!!!hole throws away those pills i gave her,he will answer to me,,sorry for the anger,i just cant help it,thanks so much for all of your kindness,,,blanka
blankaflower
06-01-2003, 04:39 AM
and p.s. mokita,i really thank you for your words they touched my heart so deeply,my mother was married before and her exhusband and my young sisters father is an alcoholic,so we are very aware of this devastating disease,he was a very succesfull man who ruined hiself with drinking and went from a corporate position,as a vise president,to a 8month sentance in an INDONESIAN prison!!all because of this disease,,i understand from watching my sister deep inside secretly thinking its her fault(shes 14)how you must have felt and continue to hurt inside,,all i can say mokita,is GOD BLESS YOU,,and i will pray for your kind heart every night,,take care,,blanka>>>>P.S.S. sorry to break the thread but i had to say thanx,,
HERMIT
06-01-2003, 07:36 PM
I hope it works out ok. I know what you mean about her defending him--I once went to the aid of a pretty woman who's husband or boyfreind slapped her twice across the face. I hit hima good one and next thing I knew she was on my back and tearing at my face with her nails. I went down in a crowded bar and they both put the boots to me. I learned a valuable leson. As for hiding the fact she is taking powerful meds--it is hard to hide for a whil until she gets used to them. Like I said before--there are many definitions to abuse---he doesn't have to hit her. Call your local police and ask a few questions. Maybe then you can back him off with a few promises to call. Good Luck and be careful!!
blankaflower
06-01-2003, 10:13 PM
well i have good news!!i went to my moms this morning and we all sat down together,to discuss this issue with my mom,well her husband,has agreed to take her to see a dr and he says he didnt mean to keep her suffering,he just thought that she could find relief with herbal treatments!!LOL he really believes in them,well,i dont mean to dissuade anyone from herbal therapies but cmoon!! when your in severe pain LAVENDER ISNT GONNA CUT IT!!!anyway i think he just realized that i was going to take her anyway and what he can do is go !!!!!!!,i told him that what he did was cruel and the fact that he can even let her suffer even for a min is really unbelievable!!she did look alot better today she had some color back in her face,although what you said is true the meds do make her sleepy but at least she is sleeping again!!and in more comfort!!hopefully tomorrow they can begin some tests to find out exactly whats going on with her back,i looked at it today and she doesnt even let me touch it!!its that painful!!it looks like theres some swelling ?its her upper back,anyway ill let you know how it goes,and ill keep tabs on mr nature lover,make sure he keeps his half of the bargain,,,thanks again and have a good one,,,,blanka