Very Rough Day!! Pain holding at 8.5 - Pain Management Message Board

ozzybug · 07-30-2006, 11:16 AM

Good Afternoon Everyone-
I'm having a really rough day today and NOTHING is helping. I am using everything in my aresenal, but this pain is starting to get the best of me right now. My pain has increased over the past few days and there is no sign of it letting up.

You know about the experience I had with the pm doctor and also know I was referred to a different one, but they can't get me in until October. My primary did start me on Neurontin 300 mgs, Lexapro & Skelaxin. Well, the skelaxin has started making me vomit every time I take it regardless of what time of day I take it, or whether I take it with food or without. I've taken the 800 mgs Motrin as prescribed also. Anyway, right now I am heavily using my TENS, heat and ice, I'm elevating my leg/knee, trying some mild, slow stretching for my back. I even soaked in a hot bath twice today alone. I tried meditation and relaxation techniques too. Now, my head is pounding because of the increased blood pressure from the pain. I guess the lack of sleep isn't helping either. I was so restless last night that I had to go to the sofa so I wouldn't wake up my husband.

I almost can't think straight I hurt so bad. I'm at the point where I feel I might need to go to the ER but really do not want to have to do this because during tourist season, it's usually at least a 2.5- 3 hour wait before you even get called back. Plus, I'm affraid that if the ER does give me some kind of injection that will ease this pain, it will be only temporary and then when the pain returns, it will seem even worse since I was able to have a bit of relief. Does that even make any sense?

Right now, any kind of support would be great because I just really am hurting and need a distraction. Sorry to be posting such a down post, but this is the place to come for this kind of thing, and I just need to get it off my chest. I'm sorry to be such a downer guys. I usually try and be upbeat, but today it's just not possible.

Take Care Everyone-
Lezlee

BrittleBones · 07-30-2006, 02:34 PM

Hi Lezlee - First, I need to ask you a question...Why are you always apologizing for complaining about your pain??? Is it because you think that we don't want to listen to you? Is it because you think you don't have a right to talk about how much you hurt? Or is it because you think you should be stronger than the average bear?? It seems everytime I read one of your posts the first thing you say is that you're really glad that the person you are responding to has logged on and that you understand completely what they are going through. You always have something very upbeat to say and would never think of ending a post without inviting them to continue to visit the board and to keep posting. That's pretty much what most of us do. But most of us DON'T keep apologizing whenever we logon to talk about how much we are hurting!!! Please don't take this as a put down, that's not how I mean it. I just wonder what it is that keeps you from crying out in pain without first saying you're sorry. When I first started reading your posts I got the impression that you must be a psychologist or a social worker or someone who works with troubled people. Someone who always puts the other person first. That's a nice trait to have, but when it comes to being a chronic pain patient - YOU really need to put yourself first in line, at least that's what I think. The thoughts of you sitting around until October trying to get some relief from this horrendous pain through positive imagery and bio-feedback is enough to make me cry! I'm not saying that these measures don't work to some extent, but you're history hasn't been one of much success with these therapies alone, right? I guess I don't have any real suggestions for you today Lezlee - perhaps I'll even be banned for negative posting, but I just wanted to jump in and tell you that if I were with you right now I think I'd throw you in the car and drive you to the er myself and insist that the docs give you a shot of something, anything, that would get you out of pain and perhaps I'd even keep bringing you back until someone would get you in to see the pm doctor much sooner than OCTOBER for goodness sake!!! What kind of society is this that lets you sit in agonizing pain for months before seeing a patient? Hell, I'll even skip my pm appointment this month so that you can see my doctor, how's that Lezlee?? Anyway, I know what you mean about getting some relief today only to suffer again tomorrow and realize what you're missing all over again. What about the Vicodyn. Didn't you say you could take that? My thoughts are with you. KathyMac

JeanneO · 07-30-2006, 02:41 PM

Hi Lezlee,

I'm sorry you're having such a rough day, I understand completely your statement about the pain coming back even worse. I've had times where my pain has been low and then when it comes back it seems to hurts worse....only because I had felt so good and had a recent memory to compare it to. I can relate!!

I follow alot of your posts and you're always so kind and compassionate and supportive to everyone.

I don't really have any suggestions for you but just wanted you to know that it's ok to be the one reaching out for support...heaven knows you give plenty of it out

<------- that's you!!!

If it does get too bad, go to the ER, who knows maybe they'll give you something more than just a shot...something you can take for a few days until things quiet down.

Take care and I hope you get some relief real soon!!!

JeanneO

ozzybug · 07-30-2006, 02:55 PM

Hey Kathy & Jeanne-
Thank you for your post. I didn't take it as mean or rude in any way. I do tend to apologize when I hurt and have to voice my pain all the while telling others they don't have to apologize for speaking about their pain. I think part of it is because my family is the type that "toughs it out". In living with the chronic long term pain, I started getting the vibes from my family that I was just being too soft, and even had some of them say some really hurtful things behind my back when I was being treated for my pain on a regular basis by my primary. I won't apololgize any more. I know I don't need to do that here. I know I can come here and voice my feelings about this and each one of you will understand, so, I apologize for apologizing before...haha

Everyone in my family has always expected me to be the strong one, and I guess in a way, I am too.

Yes, I can take vicodin, but my primary docs office perscribed a very small amount when I was there a couple of weeks ago. The doctor who saw me prescribed 10 of the 5mg. vicodins for break through pain. I used them sparingly and only when I was in desperate need for some relief. The scrip said to take 2 as needed, but I took only 1 trying to make them last. I had been seeing some improvement with the nerve pain with the Neurontin, but for the past several days, the pain is back with a vengance. The lexapro has helped me to not be so emotional over the pain which is a plus too, but as far as it helping with the pain, I can't say it does. I think it does help my outlook towards the pain. I think if I could take the skelaxin for the muscle spasms I might would be a little better off too, but because it's making me vomit, I'm affraid to take it again. I vomitted it back up the last 5 times taking it. I even tried breaking it and taking only half, and still vomitted. I don't know what's going on with my body, but I am developing more and more problems with oral medications. I guess that's just my body's interpretation of getting older "gracefully". haha again.

I am really trying to hold out until my primary is in. I'm not sure if she is in tomorrow or not, but I am going to call first thing in the morning. The other doctors in the practice shy away from me now that Dr. S has referred me to pm even though I'm not officially seeing the new pm doctor yet. The urgent care center is in the same building and has the same group of doctors that my primary is with, so going to urgent care/ER won't help much, BUT if I can't hold out until Dr. S is in, I may have to break down and get up there because this just isn't a good situation right now. They know I'm not just looking for medicine because I've been with these doctors for years and they all know my history, but they really do shy away from me since the referral to pm.

I think it's a shame too that any person living in chronic long term pain has to suffer for any reason. Shame on the people who made it come to this too...

Anyway, I thank you again for your response, and for putting the perverbial boot up my rear!!

Lezlee

zoey1 · 07-30-2006, 04:19 PM

There are times i cannot get through to my nurologist he is only in his office every thursday if it gets supper bad i call my Rhumy that tides me over with shots. If both the rhuymatoligst and neruo cannot see me i will go sit in my internist office and wait till she can fit me in. They all communicate with each other and know what i am on and what each other is doing.
But it is hard waiting espeicaly when what you have isn't working at the moment.
So far I haven't gone to er room yet, for any of this except kidneys, so to me that is point of last resort......
I hope you can find something that works for you !