Hi, I am new here, looking forward to talking to you - Pain Management Message Board

painterinlegoff · 08-13-2005, 09:06 AM

Hi,
My name is greg i am 33 years old, i live in arkansas...heres my story.
back in 1999 i started experiencing svere pain from my lower back into my left leg, and foot...went to see a gp and he told me it was mucsle spasm nothing to worry about...welll lets move forward to now...i have been thru many pt regiments, massage, traction,hydrotherapy, etc etc. nothing has workedmy ex doc quack finally got the bright idea for a mri...showed three bulging disc and a slighter one neasr s-1...well the dx on that sicatica (sp) no treatment or pain pills was offered even though as i walked out of his office my leg gave out on me and i fell flat on my face which happens nearly all the time, then he prescribes 30 lortab 5mgs one a day (what a joke). he refered me to this pm doc that only believed in trigger point injections and such like that so i did according to the orders hoping for relief...but none came, no pain meds or nothing, so i had to go to the er and they saw my mri report and gave me some hydrocodone 10/500 #40...those helped some, then after that my gp looked at me like was drug seeking, and so did the pm doc...so i said screw the pm doc....by this time my leg i could barely move it...and there was no relief in site for my back at all...heres the catcher, i been having abdominal pain for awhile the gp sent me in for a ultra sound, didnt hear a word bavk from him so i took it in my own hands got an appt with a suregon who ordered a cat scan, the cat scan came back showed me having an enlarged spleen, and non-alcoholic cirehois of the liver, which the gp totally missed, the suregon seeing me in pain ordered me to go to a pm doc. al the time i was thinking this isnt going to work, well day comes i go to the pm doc my back was killing me then, but thats not what i went in for, so he asks about my back, has his nurse call and get a copy of the mri report, comes back in and sits down with me and actualy talks to me, i told him my pain starts from lower back down to the butt to the left leg and foot at times causing it to fall asleep, and at times making me fall to the ground...praise god he didnt yell siatica ..lol...i am going this thursday for a discogram, and lumbar discogram ct....the meds he put me on is msir 15 mgs one every 6 to 8 hrs, and ms contin 30 mgs one every 12 hrs....for the first 10 days it has worked totally no pain but now i am feeling the pain..does that mean im becoming addicted?.......i cant express the pain i feel on here in writing, just to say i am soooo very frightened of it, that at times death would make a better option......sorry i went on and on, someone please read this and respond as to your circumstances

Josie115 · 08-13-2005, 06:36 PM

hey..you have found a great group here that will provide you with so much support. understanding you are not alone and hearing others talk about what trails they've taken ...helps. i would say more about my self but am typing with one finger after having just had srgery. others will be along to welcome you and lend support..

erfan · 08-13-2005, 08:12 PM

First of all, CP paintirents rarely get addicted. We become dependent omn our meds meaning that if they are cut off, we do suffer withdrawal. We also go through tolerance which means that after a time, the same amount of meds do not work tyo give us the same relief. All thayt means is that we need a dosage increase.

In the initial stages of therapy, it takes time to find the proper dose. That might be why the meds are not working now.

As for the difference between addiction and dependence, addiction is when you crave the drug and do anything to get it, including illegal things. Dependence simply means that your body is used to the meds and will suffer if they are stopped.

trowftd3 · 08-13-2005, 11:15 PM

Yes, do not panic and think you're addicted. It takes time to titrate the right dosage to control your pain. I can understand the fear of the pain!! It is an all controlling thing! Hang in there and keep an open dialogue with your doc. It sounds like you are headed in the right direction.

This is a great group of folks to lend support. You are definitely not alone!
Take care.~Mush

mshatch · 08-14-2005, 04:43 PM

Hi and welcome. I would like to say that your story sounds all to familiar. What is sounds like to me is that you just may be having a bad day or two. I actually have bad weeks with my meds. Like it was said earlier dont be to worried about addiction if you have a real need for the meds. We all go through the same train of thought where that is concerned. I hope that you get the right help for your problem and I would suggest to stay after the drs because it took me almost a year before any dr believed something was wrong besides pulled muscles. i also went through traction etc. Now I have a whole laundry list of things that were wrong. At that time i had to have c spine surgery bone graft and screws with a plate. But the list does go on. Just to show you how much some of the drs really know. Happy hunting and i wish you speed in finding recovery.
mshatch