anyone help me here, please - Pain Management Message Board

5alphareductase · 04-05-2004, 06:26 PM

Ok, I have been having extreme headaches in back of the head (from the occiput to the lamda suture and down the neck) radiating about 2 inches out from each side for about the past 5 months now. The pain is definately a 9 out of 10 and lasts about 1-2 hours and I generally have 3 headaches a day. I have been to at least 10 docs who at first gave me almost every migraine med in the book (imitrex tab and injectable, zomig, relpax and the anti seizure meds neurontin, depakote, and topamax) even though I had no symptoms of migraines. Obviously, none of the meds helped. I have gone to the ER a few times and at best I get some IV reglan or IM toradol, which both dont do much, and a script for compazine for some reason. The best pain relief I have had is when I used some hydocodone syrup that I had from when I had pneumonia, at 40mg a day, which took the pain down to a 7. I was also in the hospital for 3 days during this past 5 months for an unrelated cause and I was given percocet which really helped the headaches, and I was relatively pain free for a bit.

I had an MRI done and I have disk protrusion at c3 and c4, but no signs of stenosis. I dont trust this hospital though, as I and many other people have recieved substandard care there, because of our age (I am 21). I saw a PM doc last month and we tried desipramine and indocin. The indocin though, made my bp sky high, so I dont take it, and the desipramine hasnt helped. Honestly, I seem to have tried most of the available non opiate means of helping my headache, and they dont work. The only thing that has worked has been the short time that I was on opiates. I know I am young, but I just want to be pain free, and I am not looking for a quick high or anything like that at all. My age really shouldnt matter, as I deserve to pain free just as the next person in the room does, but it seems to scream "drug seeker and absuer" to the docs for some reason.

My question is, does my age really disqualify me from being pain free by using opiates. Again, I take every medication that I have exactly as prescribed and do not abuse them at all. I am tired to being treated as second rate, or an abuser, simply because I am young, Young people can have neck, back pain just as any other person can. Do the symptoms that I have seem to match up with my disk problems, or can you even say that as everyone is so different.

I was wondering if you could help me with a dx, if you think that it is different than the c3-c4 disk problem and if my age really disqualifies me from being pain free with the help of opiates. I really appreciate all the help and just ask any questions that you may have and I will answer them. Thanks

Karla · 04-05-2004, 06:53 PM

I don't think your age should make a difference at all for you to qualify for pain management. However, I do know due to personal experience there are over 35 different meds to try to abort and prevent your headaches. Until you have tried them all and exhausted out your resources I don't think you are ready for the heavy duty pain killers like methadone or duragesic patch. My dr gave me imitrix, zomig, axert, vicodin and percecet to abort my ha of which I suffered from chronic cluster headaches and would get 8 ha a day for 1 1/2 hours each at a level of 10 for pain. However the percacet and vicodin only reduced my 10's to 7's or 8's. But it kept me out of the ER of which I was going to aprox 6x a month. I also suffer from migraines. Finally after I had tried everything my neuro could think of I was sent to a pain management/headache specialist/neurologist who verified I had indeed tried everything there was to try and recomended methadone and latter duragesic patch. The stronger narcotics don't give you a buzz but they sure make me tired. I was sleeping 15 hours a day on both of the meds I tried. So they don't solve all your problems and can create new ones. I pray you find some relief soon and good luck to you.

surgicaldisaster · 04-06-2004, 07:13 AM

Hello, and welcome. Your age should have no bearing on your right to proper pain relief. Even the childrens center at our hospital has the rights to having pain managed properly posted all over the place...and this is for young children(below 17) all the way down to infants. You are human and deserve to be treated as such, which includes proper pain management. I saw in your post you are not looking for anything heavy duty, and said even the vicoden and percocet gave you some relief. Have you tried a pm Dr. yet? I would let them know what has and has not worked, and ask them why you can't try something that you know helps as least some. As for your diagnosis, if you aren't sure...get a second opinion for sure, at least for your own peace of mind...please let us know how you make out...it's discriminating to treat you based on your age, and innapropriate(in my opinion). Hang tough in the mean time, and stand up for yourself...Love, Surgical Disaster

lindao1 · 04-06-2004, 09:47 PM

Hi there!

Your HA sound like what I've had a problem with for many, many years - "back of the head headaches". My headaches are due to cervical disc problems. I've had two cervical fusions and may need another one shortly. The one 20 years ago was a success and the one four years ago failed. I still have four more herniated discs in my neck as we speak. Severe headaches can be a classic sign of cervical problems but they are usually accompanied by other symptoms. There are exceptions, though. Even without stenosis, bad discs can cause pain especially if radiated nerve impingement is involved. Do you have any numbness or tingling in your arms or hands? What about a decrease in range of motion?

Pain managment seems to be your best option. Your current pm dr. may not rx opiates for anyone regardless of their age. Some are like that. It sounds like you've been tried on every non-opiate out there to no avail. And migrane meds do not work for cervical pain - at all! Once you've tried all the other meds, it seems the next step would be opiates. It's a logical progression. Your age should play no part in this decision; however, there are some drs. that will not for any reason prescribe narcotics to younger patients for fear of addiction or fear that when older, nothing will help them then. The use of opiates should not be taken lightly, though. Talk with your dr. about what other options may be available besides the opiates (physical therapy, biofeedback, acupuncture, etc). Once all resources have been exhausted then perhaps you will require the use of stronger meds. It's nothing to be ashamed of - pain is pain no matter what your age.

Your feelings of frustration are understandable. Some drs. are set in their ways and there's nothing we can do about it but move on. Believe me, I'm just now learning that lesson myself. I have to remind myself that WE are paying them for assistance, not the other way around! WE deserve to get our money's worth. I wish you the best in whatever decision you make. When your neck and head hurt so bad it's difficult to focus on anything else. I do hope you get the care and attention you deserve. Good luck, Linda