Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
No your not being unreasonable. I don't know the issue with the lawyer, but what is wrong with doctor shopping? I've done it plenty of times. Does he think it's going to make you look like your "pill" shopping? I don't get it. I had to go through physical therapy twice, 40 sessions, 3 times a week before it helped. LOL I would rather have that problem with mom than my doctor. He is saying it's muscular too and he won't do an MRI or send me to a specialist, which is fine, because I called my old neurologist and they are taking me back in this month. A shortage, yeah okay, I think if that was the case, doctors could say so, and I guarantee that's just the case with stronger "hospital" drugs, if even. They have no problem prescribing them off to other patients. I didn't even care if I got a narcotic or not, I just wanted something that would help that wouldn't make me throw up and feel worse. But this is a subject that really makes me angry. You ought to be able to depend on your doctor for care. If they are so worried about people out there that are drug users, then they should start testing their patients more often with drug tests, do the narcotic contract too, and when it comes down to the fact of should I give her narcotics or not, wondering in the back of your head if they are just wanting to do drugs, then they will have proof of whether that is so or not. Anyone going to the doctor for narcotics that does drugs will run the other way if they think they are going to be tested, or make up a stupid excuse like I can't pea. Yeah well whatever. There is no sense in this. Some of us have pain that really needs addressed, instead of being treated with sissy medications that don't work. But when those fail to work, they don't want to do anything further. Sorry but I wouldn't do a dog that way. I know my spinal problems aren't as bad as yours, but I know the nerve pain feels like it's eating me alive, and I know how severe it gets. Neurontin is calming my pain down some, at least, and makes me sleep like a baby. I don't know if I asked before, but have you tried that? It's not going to get rid of it all, but it is lessening my degree of pain. And that is better than nothing.
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
No I haven't tried that, im going to have to see what the surgeon says because neither my pain or primary doctors will give me anything else for the pain until I see the surgeon! Which I find ridiculous! Im not sure what the deal is with my lawyer, I think that he thinks it will look bad in the law suit that we are starting with the stupid girl who hit me with her car!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
I'm sorry your doctor does not empathise with you better. However, pain medications can become addictive and can lead to you requiring ever increasing doses if the actual problem does not get sorted. (yes I recognise with the pain you are experiencing you need to be out of pain RIGHT NOW!!, and we have been brought up to believe painkillers are the answer)
Have you considered visiting a doctor of osteopathic medicine or of chiropractic? If one of those can examine you with the existing medical reports, they may be able to improve the situation very quickly without requiring you to resort to surgery, depending on what has actually gone wrong in your back.
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
The first thing I did was go to a chiropractor, and my jerk pain specialist is a DO, not an MD, so I have already tried both of those options and neither helped unfortunately! That's why I wish they would put me on some kind of medication for now, because to me it feels like I have tried all reasonable options and nothing has helped besides pain medication. I feel like I have jumped through enough of their stupid hoops and until a treatment is figured out and they are set on doing it I should at least be on something to manage my pain so I don't lose my job and fail out of school! Just because I am young doesn't mean I am pain free or can just tough it out, if I could tough it out I wouldn't be seeing a pain specialist or surgeon! Ridiculous!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Im in the fox cities, neenah/oshkosh area! I guess im going to see what this first surgeon has to say, if I get stuck with another jerk I will definately take u up on that! Thanks! I have to bring films/cds/and records to the surgeon, does anyone know what that all entails? Or if its going to be difficult for me to get them from my jerk pain specialist? Thanks again!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
You need to contact any doctor's office you've been to in the last 1-2 years and ask them to mail you a medical records release form, or sometimes you can go to their office to pick up the form. You then need to fill out the form, sign it and get it back to their offices so they can send your medical records to the new doctor you are seeing. For x-rays, MRI's, etc., you can stop in at the location you had them done at and get CD's of them, and you'll also need to ask them for the radiologist reports for them to bring along. Sometimes they will just give them to you, and other times they have you fill out a form and then will send it to your new doctor.
Whenever I have a medical imaging test (MRI, x-ray, CT scan) done, I now automatically request a CD copy for myself for my records, and I get the radiologist report also. Most locations won't let you get the radiologist report until around 10 days after your test so that your doctor will first have the chance to talk to you about it instead of you finding out the results beforehand. I keep a copy of the CD's so I have them on hand when and if I need to see another doctor.
I'll also warn you that some medical clinics can take up to 4 weeks to process medical records requests, while most take about 2 weeks to do so. If you need it to be done sooner, you need to call their medical records department regularly and be persistent but not annoying so that they will do yours sooner. Be sure to include the fax number of the doctor's office they are going to as they will often fax the records instead of mailing them.
Be sure to find out if your new doctor's office has received the medical records before you go to your appointment, as they will often make you reschedule if you show up and they don't have complete medical records.
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
It wont be hard at all you own whats inside those records!.....and where ever you get mri done they will have a copy and the reports from radiologist and the jerk as you call him ya need to find a new pm if it was me id drive to find me one madison isnt that far when i lived in mi my surgeon was 1.5 half away but was well worth it!......where all here for you good luck hon
__________________
This Is My Life NOT MY PAINS!! I Will Not Let You Take It!!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by noffkn25
I am new to this site so thanks in advance to everyone!
About 2 years ago I was rearended in a car accident and have been experiending extreme pain ever since. My doctor tried every anti inflammatory, tramadol, all kinds of meds until I was finally put on hydrocodone and sent to a pain specialist who took me off all pain meds until I had an MRI. This guy actually told me to just take an aspirin and deal with it! I said if that was an option I wouldn't be here! After the MRI I was givin a cortasone shot in my spine which gave me to releif, now the pain specialist says my only options are more injections, which didn't help in the first place, or surgery. I figured my only option was to see a surgeon, so I am in the process of being referred to one and still all my pain specialist will give me is more steriods which I have already tried and have givin no releif!
I am soo frustrated with the situation, I am in constant pain and my doctors refuse to give me any kind of medication that helps!
Please give me some feed back on what to do, I feel like no one listens or cares
Wow what a situation.. 1st I would ask you is what did the MRI results say? If there is nerve irriation from a disc or from annular tears the injections usually help.. I my self had DDD, and Tears, and herniation and spent 2 yrs trying it the Pain Clinics way.. I did exactly what you are gonna do.. I seen a Neuro and Ortho spine specialist.. Nothing at the clinic worked.. My pain doc did at least give me Norco 4x day prn.. Sounds like you are dealing with a doc whos either had his neck breathed down by DEA(BIG BROTHER) or is scared to uses them in a way they were designed for from being taken advantage of b4.. I had to do drug screen, Random call in office for pill counts all that but the doc at least gave me the option of using pain meds and earning his trust.. I had a spine fusion TLIF 6 weeks ago and after 3 months of pain mgmt from Neuro they will refer out to a clinic for Pain control.. I am lucky enough to have a Pain Clinic to use again if I am to need them and this time aroung theres no denying why I'm there.. You do your thing and only whats best for you, whatever that may be.. I myself would at least try another clinic besides seeing a surgeon.. You want to do everything u can to avoid surgery.. Shots, Ablations,PT, Aqua Therapy what ever before being cut on.. To me thats a last resort and its like death my friend.. Its FINAL!!! You cant undo it.. Even after surgery u may be in more pain and that noone ever knows.. Keep your head up and keep digging.. Dont give up and find you a good Dr.. God Bless!!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Thanks. The MRI said I have a herniated disk at L4-5, DDD in the beginning stages, inflammation and irritation in my facet joints as well as in a few other spots. All my current pain specialist tried was anti inflammatory meds and a steriod injection. He wont try anything else and just sent me to the neurosurgeon, who I see on the 18th. I atleast want to see what the surgeon says and then get a second opinion from a different pains specialist! Im only 24 and kinda feel a little young for spinal surgery, but have tried every other kind of medication besides actual pain medication and nothing has helped and both my primary and pain doctors told me not to bother calling them for any kind of pain medication because neither will give them to me. Im not sure what the neurosurgeon is going to have to say but hopefully it will help. I was wondering if the surgeon is going to make me take any kind of UA right away because I have at times been in such severe pain that I have used some pain meds from my dad who also has back problems and I don't want to get pegged as a pill seeker or something right off the bat!
thanks again to everyone for all of your help!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Noffkin, you have encouraged the medical fraternity to treat you badly. You now have persistant pain. You seem to have had multiple diagnostic tests and multiple health care doctors, and worse still contemplating more tests with more doctors. You have allowed yourself to really believe you have something wrong. Your back healed eighteen months ago and there is nothing presently injured in your back. Stop trying to find out the source of the pain, it can't be done. It is unfortunate that many health professionals encourage persistant pain by not dealing with it properly. Remember, hard as it is to believe, pain does not equate with damage. Its time you took control of you life and not the health pros who only diagnose something they cant. Get you life into a routine, do something more physical every day and get moving. Find a therapist who can explain persistant pain and its affect on the brain. No more scans, mris, exrays, radiation is not good for you. Niether is taking medication for months or years.
James
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Well I only had the MRI last month, which indicated that there is a problem. And I am pretty physical, I am a full time art student, and work over 30hours a week most weeks, so I have a routine and I don't just sit around all day looking for someone to pity me! I am just looking for someone who is willing to help make my pain tolerable on a daily basis, and I have been seeing so many doctors trying to find one that is willing to do so. I admit sometimes my pain is so bad i can't even get out of bed much less be able to do something physical. Obviously what I am going through is much different from what you did because the just deal with it option doesn't work for me
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by noffkn25
Well I only had the MRI last month, which indicated that there is a problem. And I am pretty physical, I am a full time art student, and work over 30hours a week most weeks, so I have a routine and I don't just sit around all day looking for someone to pity me! I am just looking for someone who is willing to help make my pain tolerable on a daily basis, and I have been seeing so many doctors trying to find one that is willing to do so. I admit sometimes my pain is so bad i can't even get out of bed much less be able to do something physical. Obviously what I am going through is much different from what you did because the just deal with it option doesn't work for me
If 100 people symptomless people had a MRI every one would indicate they had a problem or multiple problems when in fact they never had any symptoms.
You say
"I am just looking for someone who is willing to help make my pain tolerable on a daily basis, and I have been seeing so many doctors trying to find one that is willing to do so".
Remember the more you see the more it is implanted in your brain that you need a diagnosis. Do you really think you will see some miracle spine specialist and he will look at your MRI or whatever and he will do something miraculous. The only thing these doctors can do is operate, and once you get on that track,well you get the picture. Find a therapist who understands persistant pain, get him or her to set you on a program. No more specialists and scans.
James
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
You seem to think I have seen several doctors, I have my primary doctor, the jerk pain specialist I went to 3 times, and have now been passed on to a neurosurgeon...so that is 3, and only 2 specialists. I also have to have a diagnosis since my injury which u seem to think doesn't exist was caused by a car accident and the law suit I am in with the girl who hit me requires a diagnosis before a settlement can be reached. I have seen a therapist in the past with no result, but just as you seem to think that all the tests wont do any good and aren't the answer, therapy is not the answer for everyone, and for those of us who it doesn't help, its not worth going back for more "talking" no thank you
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by noffkn25
No I haven't tried that, im going to have to see what the surgeon says because neither my pain or primary doctors will give me anything else for the pain until I see the surgeon! Which I find ridiculous! Im not sure what the deal is with my lawyer, I think that he thinks it will look bad in the law suit that we are starting with the stupid girl who hit me with her car!
Neurontin is amazing and I mean unbelievable for spinal pain!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by james079
Noffkin, you have encouraged the medical fraternity to treat you badly. You now have persistant pain. You seem to have had multiple diagnostic tests and multiple health care doctors, and worse still contemplating more tests with more doctors. You have allowed yourself to really believe you have something wrong. Your back healed eighteen months ago and there is nothing presently injured in your back. Stop trying to find out the source of the pain, it can't be done. It is unfortunate that many health professionals encourage persistant pain by not dealing with it properly. Remember, hard as it is to believe, pain does not equate with damage. Its time you took control of you life and not the health pros who only diagnose something they cant. Get you life into a routine, do something more physical every day and get moving. Find a therapist who can explain persistant pain and its affect on the brain. No more scans, mris, exrays, radiation is not good for you. Niether is taking medication for months or years.
James
Excuse me, but what is that: her back healed 18 months ago? How is there nothing presently injured in her back if an MRI showed herniated discs? And why can't the source of pain be found? My hindend it can't be found. You pretty much make it sound like this girl is in pain because she makes her brain think it is, and that is messed up buddy.
Last edited by neveragain444; 03-09-2011 at 08:38 PM.
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by james079
If 100 people symptomless people had a MRI every one would indicate they had a problem or multiple problems when in fact they never had any symptoms.
You say
"I am just looking for someone who is willing to help make my pain tolerable on a daily basis, and I have been seeing so many doctors trying to find one that is willing to do so".
Remember the more you see the more it is implanted in your brain that you need a diagnosis. Do you really think you will see some miracle spine specialist and he will look at your MRI or whatever and he will do something miraculous. The only thing these doctors can do is operate, and once you get on that track,well you get the picture. Find a therapist who understands persistant pain, get him or her to set you on a program. No more specialists and scans.
James
Yeah it is possible that someone can make your pain tolerable on a daily basis. I'm with you, it was so bad I couldn't take it. I'm taking 300mg of neurontin every day and the pain is unbelievably better. Not one horrible day yet since the doctor prescribed it. The difference is like night and day. Do not let him get you down, there are things that can help you, and you should not have to sit there and suffer it out to make anyone happy. The problem you have is that your doctors have failed to do what they need to do to help you. They are unwilling to give you narcotics. So what you need to do is discuss this with your surgeon and you might have to look into spinal surgery. But try that neurontin first, if your nerves are causing the pain, that stuff is the bomb!
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by neveragain444
Excuse me, but what is that: her back healed 18 months ago? How is there nothing presently injured in her back if an MRI showed herniated discs? And why can't the source of pain be found? My hindend it can't be found. You pretty much make it sound like this girl is in pain because she makes her brain think it is, and that is messed up buddy.
Well the accident happened two years ago so the injuries have healed. The MRI shows herniated discs and I'm sure this is true. If that herniated disc on the MRI is causing all that grief then any surgeon will have noticed something untoward in the physical examination ie, loss of sensation, weakness in the muscle goups supplied by that root, loss of reflexes from that root, tension on nerve stretch and skin odema in certain areas and or changes in gait. Wasting will be noted compared to the contralateral side. Doctors know about mechanoreceptors, neuotransmitters and all about the pathways to the brain and this what they consider when examining a patient. Rremember, pain IS in the brain, this is where it is realy felt. With chronic pain the brain changes and gives the perception of pain. The patient doesn't make her brain think it is, it just is.
James
James
Re: Dr. refuses to give me pain meds for chronic back pain! help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by james079
Well the accident happened two years ago so the injuries have healed. The MRI shows herniated discs and I'm sure this is true. If that herniated disc on the MRI is causing all that grief then any surgeon will have noticed something untoward in the physical examination ie, loss of sensation, weakness in the muscle goups supplied by that root, loss of reflexes from that root, tension on nerve stretch and skin odema in certain areas and or changes in gait. Wasting will be noted compared to the contralateral side. Doctors know about mechanoreceptors, neuotransmitters and all about the pathways to the brain and this what they consider when examining a patient. Rremember, pain IS in the brain, this is where it is realy felt. With chronic pain the brain changes and gives the perception of pain. The patient doesn't make her brain think it is, it just is.
James
James
Well I don't even have a diagnosis because my dr doesn't want to do an MRI and I honestly don't even care as long as my pain is under control. All that I know I have wrong is degeneration, bone spurs, and obviously something is going on with my nerves but an xray and ct won't show that. I have no loss of refluxes, I have no loss of sensation in my legs or anywhere, I get numb occassionally in my back and neck, that's it. I have a normal range of motion. Only thing I do is get shaky on my left side with certain PT exercises. No apparent swelling. Nerve sensations though that feel like they were eating me alive, and obvious pain because of my nerves, pinched, irritated, don't even have a clue. Chronic yes, almost 2 years myself. Been through physical therapy twice, a chriopracter for spinal adjustments that just made the issue worse. Pt worked for awhile and made my pain mild, it did not get rid of it, it ended up flaring back up again something awful in January. No medications helped. Narcotics just made me sick. Only thing that did work was toradol and my doctor wouldn't prescribe it. She could still very much be in pain from 2 years back. Back problems like this, the cause not surgically corrected, can give you problems the rest of your life. You may not have loss of feeling, but it could come with time. I have been in the same exact shape and I don't even know if I have anything as serious as a disc herniation. Neuropathic pain involves the nervous system, which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves. Misfiring nerves are responsible for neuropathic pain. A nerve can be acting up because it is pinched, compressed, irritated, whatever. If the brain was causing the nerve issue, it would probably be multiple sclerosis. I understand pain signals may go from the spine to the brain but the brain doesn't pinch your nerve causing the pain initially & so I don't see how your brain could be blamed as the cause of it. My pain is genuinally in my back & neck, and jaws. It is not an illusion from my brain. Is is as real as I am sitting here. Problem is not my brain thinking it is in pain, because the simple fact of the matter is, the problem is my lack of diagnosis and treatment for my back. Actual problem, that needs addressed. I do not need brain treatment, I need treatment to my spine, because that is where the problem lays. So no, I don't get all this psychology babble. And I don't get how you can tell someone their brain is just perceiving pain and it is not really real.
The Following User Says Thank You to neveragain444 For This Useful Post: kenzibenzi (03-23-2012)
A shortage, yeah okay, I think if that was the case, doctors could say so, and I guarantee that's just the case with stronger "hospital" drugs, if even. They have no problem prescribing them off to other patients. I didn't even care if I got a narcotic or not, I just wanted something that would help that wouldn't make me throw up and feel worse. But this is a subject that really makes me angry. You ought to be able to depend on your doctor for care. If they are so worried about people out there that are drug users, then they should start testing their patients more often with drug tests, do the narcotic contract too, and when it comes down to the fact of should I give her narcotics or not, wondering in the back of your head if they are just wanting to do drugs, then they will have proof of whether that is so or not. Anyone going to the doctor for narcotics that does drugs will run the other way if they think they are going to be tested, or make up a stupid excuse like I can't pea. Yeah well whatever. There is no sense in this. Some of us have pain that really needs addressed, instead of being treated with sissy medications that don't work. But when those fail to work, they don't want to do anything further. Sorry but I wouldn't do a dog that way. I know my spinal problems aren't as bad as yours, but I know the nerve pain feels like it's eating me alive, and I know how severe it gets. Neurontin is calming my pain down some, at least, and makes me sleep like a baby. I don't know if I asked before, but have you tried that? It's not going to get rid of it all, but it is lessening my degree of pain. And that is better than nothing.
