kmail
10-24-2003, 05:26 AM
My husband was injured at work Oct. 1996 and had back surgery March 1997. They waited too long, and now he's screwed. He's got sciatic nerve pain that will probably be with him until he dies. (He is only 49.) Top that off with a P.O.S. incompetent worker's comp attorney and here we are.
He's in constant pain and also has increased meds gradually. Started with Vicodin, then to Oxycontin 10 mg 2x/day, gradually upped to where he is now - 40 mg 5x/day.
He's on his feet all day at work and since we run our own biz, there is NO way around it right now. With current dosages (including Vicodin for BT pain), he's doing pretty good, but his leg ALWAYS still bothers him in the late afternoon, and both knees are bad too! and Vicodin is like candy.
When we get his meds, I divide them up into 30 compartments of plastic box. A couple of months ago, he woul end up short meds the last few days. It was driving me crazy and he never mentioned anything and I thought I was going f---ing crazy, as if I had put a few for backup in a special place and then forgotten where I put them. In turn, if I had misplaced a few oxycontin and he is made to suffer because of me - well, basically I was shattered, thinking it was my fault. I finally asked him, because I couldn't figure it out, and he admitted having snuck extra pills here and there. I broke down and cried, as it seemed I couldn't trust him with his own meds. I told him I truly thought I was LOSING MY Mind because I couldn't figure it out. He promised he wouldn't any more, and script has been upped to 5-40mgs since then, so it's ok now.
I am just trying to make sure he endures as little pain as possible, because being a triplicate it is not easy to get the meds a day early, and something ALWAYS GOES WRONG when it is time for refill!
Anyhow, I guess I want to know if any of you have had the same experience - taking more than you're supposed to. do you also have someone to help you stick to prescribed dosages?
I'm sorry for you guys and gals in pain. And I feel bad when I mention if my legs ache in the middle of the day. I don't know if there's anything worse you could go thru beside chronic pain. I would never minimize anyone's pain, knowing what my husband goes thru - I just wonder also if there is any support out there for spouses of those suffering from chronic pain. Although it's different, we are also suffering with you.
Sorry for writing so much. Thanks for listening.
He's in constant pain and also has increased meds gradually. Started with Vicodin, then to Oxycontin 10 mg 2x/day, gradually upped to where he is now - 40 mg 5x/day.
He's on his feet all day at work and since we run our own biz, there is NO way around it right now. With current dosages (including Vicodin for BT pain), he's doing pretty good, but his leg ALWAYS still bothers him in the late afternoon, and both knees are bad too! and Vicodin is like candy.
When we get his meds, I divide them up into 30 compartments of plastic box. A couple of months ago, he woul end up short meds the last few days. It was driving me crazy and he never mentioned anything and I thought I was going f---ing crazy, as if I had put a few for backup in a special place and then forgotten where I put them. In turn, if I had misplaced a few oxycontin and he is made to suffer because of me - well, basically I was shattered, thinking it was my fault. I finally asked him, because I couldn't figure it out, and he admitted having snuck extra pills here and there. I broke down and cried, as it seemed I couldn't trust him with his own meds. I told him I truly thought I was LOSING MY Mind because I couldn't figure it out. He promised he wouldn't any more, and script has been upped to 5-40mgs since then, so it's ok now.
I am just trying to make sure he endures as little pain as possible, because being a triplicate it is not easy to get the meds a day early, and something ALWAYS GOES WRONG when it is time for refill!
Anyhow, I guess I want to know if any of you have had the same experience - taking more than you're supposed to. do you also have someone to help you stick to prescribed dosages?
I'm sorry for you guys and gals in pain. And I feel bad when I mention if my legs ache in the middle of the day. I don't know if there's anything worse you could go thru beside chronic pain. I would never minimize anyone's pain, knowing what my husband goes thru - I just wonder also if there is any support out there for spouses of those suffering from chronic pain. Although it's different, we are also suffering with you.
Sorry for writing so much. Thanks for listening.
Sponsor
dwpavlik
10-24-2003, 01:39 PM
Howdy
My wife helps me out quite a bit. She is my greatest helper. In my past I had several times ended up with less pills than I thought I should have. I could simply not keep count of the pills. I was trying to do no more than to treat the pain. So I would loose track of the count trying to get out of pain. So we went to the drug store and got a weekly by daily pill caser. It has a pill case for each day and one for the whole week. Now we put the pills in each daily case and I have been staying with the count that way. If I paid attention to the pain I had and treated it that way, I would always end up with less. My wife takes care of refilling the pill cases every Saturday night. And we watch the case not the pain. This has helped greatly. As she has been the best person, and love of my life in caring for me. She puts up with a lot, especially when the drugs make me a bit moody. Wow, what patience.
Don :)
My wife helps me out quite a bit. She is my greatest helper. In my past I had several times ended up with less pills than I thought I should have. I could simply not keep count of the pills. I was trying to do no more than to treat the pain. So I would loose track of the count trying to get out of pain. So we went to the drug store and got a weekly by daily pill caser. It has a pill case for each day and one for the whole week. Now we put the pills in each daily case and I have been staying with the count that way. If I paid attention to the pain I had and treated it that way, I would always end up with less. My wife takes care of refilling the pill cases every Saturday night. And we watch the case not the pain. This has helped greatly. As she has been the best person, and love of my life in caring for me. She puts up with a lot, especially when the drugs make me a bit moody. Wow, what patience.
Don :)
cookie51
10-24-2003, 02:17 PM
Hi,
I too have nerve pain after surgery,mine is in left leg,i went to pain manegment dr. and he is going ot give me a tens implant,it is implanted in spine and battery is put in your hip or abdomin, it suppose to stop the nerve pain,i'm going to try it,some people it works for,i will try it. I cant take all the meds. my stomach cant handle no more,i think it messes with your mind also i think they only work for a little while. Try and find out implant it may help.
Good Luck cookie
I too have nerve pain after surgery,mine is in left leg,i went to pain manegment dr. and he is going ot give me a tens implant,it is implanted in spine and battery is put in your hip or abdomin, it suppose to stop the nerve pain,i'm going to try it,some people it works for,i will try it. I cant take all the meds. my stomach cant handle no more,i think it messes with your mind also i think they only work for a little while. Try and find out implant it may help.
Good Luck cookie
surgicaldisaster
10-24-2003, 07:57 PM
You have raised a very important subject in your post...what about the supportive spouse/friend/whomever that is there day in and day out watching helplessly (except for our meds) and suffering their own pain watching us in pain. You sound sooooo wonderfully supportive and sounds to me like you are doing everything right. Perhaps just talk with him and tell him the next time he feels the proper dosage is not doing it, it's time for another appt. with the Dr. But my gosh you handled it well and he's a lucky man. You are right..you need support too. I often wonder how my hubby deals so well, but thank God we talk a LOT. Perhaps that's an idea in and of itself...a support group for CP patient care givers (?) Take care of yourselves...and YOU TOO!!! Love to ya. Surgical Disaster
kmail
10-25-2003, 12:06 AM
Thank you so much! I'm glad I found the healthboards!
kathy372001
10-25-2003, 12:39 AM
Hello Kmail,
I know what your going through my hubby has been taking care of me for a year now. He to has to take care of my pills if it wasnt for him I would of giving up along time ago. I try not to tell him or complain every day but he says he can see it in the way I act and the way I move and in my eyes.
Ive been in a wheelchair now for about 5 months and he has been so wonderful about that. Yet I feel so guilty because our lives have changed so much from me being hurt at work. Not only has he taking on all the money problems but even got a 2nd job to help us through this.
Well what Im really getting at is I wish there was a support group for spouses, then maybe you guys could let out the pain and stress that you guys are having taking care of us.
Im not sure how someone could being something like that but if you find out let us know.
Also like I said Im so great full for my hubby and the love and support he has given me.
Anyway thanks for listen and I know it may be hard to believe but without you guys taking care of us where would we be and thanks for that.
Take care
Kathy
DDD 2002
I know what your going through my hubby has been taking care of me for a year now. He to has to take care of my pills if it wasnt for him I would of giving up along time ago. I try not to tell him or complain every day but he says he can see it in the way I act and the way I move and in my eyes.
Ive been in a wheelchair now for about 5 months and he has been so wonderful about that. Yet I feel so guilty because our lives have changed so much from me being hurt at work. Not only has he taking on all the money problems but even got a 2nd job to help us through this.
Well what Im really getting at is I wish there was a support group for spouses, then maybe you guys could let out the pain and stress that you guys are having taking care of us.
Im not sure how someone could being something like that but if you find out let us know.
Also like I said Im so great full for my hubby and the love and support he has given me.
Anyway thanks for listen and I know it may be hard to believe but without you guys taking care of us where would we be and thanks for that.
Take care
Kathy
DDD 2002
dooey35
01-17-2004, 11:31 PM
Hello:
My husband was hurt at work in Oct of 1995. He fell almost 30 feet and as a result, sustained numerous fractures. He has been taking oxy for the last 5 years and is now at 18 oxys a day. He started 5 years ago at 8 a day and now his tolerance is up there. He has been working full time in sales since 1998. The oxys are what gets him through the day. There have been many times in the past where he has run short of his medication (which is pure hell for him and I). For the past 1 1/2, I have been holding his medication and I put out what he needs - and he hasn't run out. It gets tiresome doing this but I do what we have to do. I have checked the internet for support groups as well for us, the spouses, and the pain patient, but can't seem to find anything. It would be nice to talk to other spouses who live with chronic pain patients.
There are many times a week where I cry for him and possibly for me because he never seems to feel good even with the medication. He feels a little better, but not good. If anyone knows of a support group, please let me know.
Thank you
dooey35 :bouncing:
My husband was hurt at work in Oct of 1995. He fell almost 30 feet and as a result, sustained numerous fractures. He has been taking oxy for the last 5 years and is now at 18 oxys a day. He started 5 years ago at 8 a day and now his tolerance is up there. He has been working full time in sales since 1998. The oxys are what gets him through the day. There have been many times in the past where he has run short of his medication (which is pure hell for him and I). For the past 1 1/2, I have been holding his medication and I put out what he needs - and he hasn't run out. It gets tiresome doing this but I do what we have to do. I have checked the internet for support groups as well for us, the spouses, and the pain patient, but can't seem to find anything. It would be nice to talk to other spouses who live with chronic pain patients.
There are many times a week where I cry for him and possibly for me because he never seems to feel good even with the medication. He feels a little better, but not good. If anyone knows of a support group, please let me know.
Thank you
dooey35 :bouncing:
feelbad
01-18-2004, 08:42 AM
Have any of you checked at any of your local hospitals about caregiver support groups?I know that after all of my surgeries, when I got home I was constantly getting stuff from the hospitals with regards to support groups for caregivers.Almost all hospitals have them.There are alot of people that are in the same boat as you are.And I know that watching someone you love being in constant pain is very hard to deal with at times.I know that I am a very lucky woman to have a very supportive husband who I know is suffering just watching me suffer.We have discussed him going to one of these support groups in the past but he just isn't one to really open up to other people so that idea kind of went out the window.but we do try and talk between us about things that are happening with me and how he is doing as far as handling it,so at least that is something I guess.I know that if you call any hospital, they should have something to offer you.Its worth a shot anyway.Hang in there.I hope you find something soon. Marcia