PM appt next Thursday - Pain Management Message Board

shananava · 07-31-2008, 07:08 PM

I have my next appt next week. I generally state I am at a 7 when asked. I guess they are used to that as my norm. Normally its over an hour drive from home unless I stay with a friend up there. People are really tired of having to go with me to the dr so really no one to ask anymore.
I still have pain when using my 50 mcg Fent patcha and hydro 10's 3-4 a day depending on how bad it is. I think since its gotten hot my patch is wearing off even earlier than 48 hrs. The pain I feel now is like it was the one time I forgot to put in on after my shower and realized it a few hours later. I have pain now coming from my fusion area that I had done in January. My left leg is giving out again some, like it did before surgery. Nothing out of ordinary to see me spotted in bruises all over my legs.
I do get trigger points when I am having problems but havent had a med change in a long time. I guess since my norm is a 7 i have to tell its higher. He nevers offers to change anything. He knows i research everything he says from all the questions i asked early on when seeing him. Its been over a year so im at every 2 months now and am seeing a PA this time. Dont know if they can do med changes or not. I know she will give me the trigger pts though. Hers dont hurt as bad but they dont last as long either.
Today has just been a day from hell. When I get out more like they say to do and do my stretches like they say i hurt really bad. Its a catch 22. This pain is depressing me. Im hateful. People are tired of hearing im in pain i think. On the other hand though I am tired of being a dumping ground because i dont work. I just didnt many calls today cause I knew it was drama or *itching. Hate it when I dont feel good and people dont ask how im doing or if they do they just act like i never said it. Oh well , any advice on a different approach to get me some help for my pain is appreciated. I really think its the patches due to pain i know without them. The pills seem to work on different pain for me, no different than usual.
Thanks
Shannon

Aver00 · 07-31-2008, 07:21 PM

I hate to hear that things are so rough for you - I bet you are not as hateful as you think you are but even if you are there is little one can do to be sweet when they hurt like hell - My doctor has never offered to increase my dose but has always increased when I ask - I ask him one time if that was inappropriate and he said no, that it would only be inappropriate if I tried to tell him how much and what to order - although he said he did not mind patients asking about particular medications but again the decision about whether to prescribe it or how much was his professional decision - Since you have not had an increase could you just ask him if he thought you needed an increase or something more for b/t pain

I hope you are able to have a good night's sleep tonight - know that I will be thinking of you and you will be in my prayers

huggs Aver

cmpgirl · 07-31-2008, 10:05 PM

Hey Shannon, I'm sorry it's been such a tough one. I know you may think that you are being nasty, but as Aver said, it's not easy being a sweetie-pie when you are in a lot of pain. Pain that obviously hasn't been controlled well in a long time.

I had a similar chat with my PM to what Aver was saying, and he also agreed that it was not an issue if I felt the need to ask for better pain coverage. I will usually approach it by saying something like, "my current meds aren't cutting it anymore." Or, "I'm having that feeling of playing catch-up with my pain again." This tells him that it's time to make a change.

Best of luck with your appointment. I'll be praying that it goes well and that you can get some much needed relief. Hang in there girl! Hugs, CMP/MM

ms_west · 08-01-2008, 02:35 AM

Based upon what I have been thru the past few weeks, I really do believe you have to be straight forward and say I find that when I drive up here myself my pain is always elevated and it is to be expected. However, I am now finding that my pain is at a 7 or higher everyday and never goes below a _______. I am finding that when I take my meds, they help for x amount of time, then my pain creeps upward and I am ready for my meds but it is not time yet. Hopefully he will speak up but if he doesn't then I would say, I think we need to try something else whether it be a med increase or something else. I need help.

If you are satisfied with a 7, they are satisfied with a 7. They are not living with the pain you are in and let's face it what a 7 is to me maybe a 6 to someone else or a 10 for that matter. You have to speak up and say that this is unacceptable.

On my last visits I printed off the pain scale and now will carry it in to every visit. I draw an arrow and say this is where my pain is averaging and it will show the little face and then I say this is where I would like to be and circle the 5. I asked him 2 visits ago if this was reasonable and my doc said no, I think you should be at a 3/4. SHOCK!! Behind this picture I have my pain logs. The last couple of times he has taken the entire thing. In the future, I will highlight the 3/4/5 levels and say this is our agreed upon level, now what can we do to fix it so that my 7 becomes more reasonable.

I would also tell you dr what you told us about that you are noticing that the patch is not lasting as long and you are wondering if it could be the heat?

shananava, I am a spinney too, have you made your surgeon and pm both aware about the collapsing leg? If not, please do so. Are you using a cane? Be careful because a fall at this point, would not be good. I have had to resort to my cane, it is lime green

, and must admit I don't like using it but it has saved me from some serious falls and injuries. I am now at the point that I am thinking I might have to go to a walker

when out or scooter

.
Just do what you have to do, to protect yourself. You have been thru alot.

Take care and if you ever need me, I am on the chronic pain board and this board everyday. Please feel free to shout out there are a couple of spinneys here.

sammyo1 · 08-01-2008, 04:36 AM

Since I just had a pretty disappointing visit with my PM I would just come right out & ask for something that would give me better quality in life then beating around the bush. I never came right out & ask & I got nothing. I explained that I am in pain but that did not get it. Perhaps telling your PM alittle of what you told us. Noone wants to be like that. I dont like the fact that we have PMs & are afraid or hesitant of letting the doctor in charge of controlling our pain know that we are suffering, kind of makes no sense. I also wish I would have taken someone, such as my husbund or a family member with me. I dont feel he was as attentive as when I had my husbund along.
You want to be more involved in life & that is why your seeing a PM doctor. That may be a good way of putting it. I feel for you & I hope you get some better pain control. Let us know how it goes. Sammy