Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
It's good you are being cared for by some more understanding Dr.'s who specialize in Pain mgmnt. It just gets old hearing from my patients and other clients about Physicians denying Pain Meds to folks when they are indicated. This makes no sense in the terms of a Dr.'s sworn duty to his patient. Reg: jonnstar- Didn't know that about Stadol Inhalers, don't see them used a whole lot anymore, mostly in Migraine patients, it seems. Thanks. jackbeanstalk
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden021251
I definitely agree that docs should be required to undergo some sort of empathy development training, as so many lack the ability to understand what their patients are going through.
Once I was in the ER with God knows how many stones and the doc comes in and makes a face as I am puking into one of those plastic things and he has the balls to say to me "why was I there?" Ahh for like your strongest pain meds you idiot! Just one little stone, I wished he could have just one with nice sharp points!!!LOL
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
One of my spine surgeons, years ago, broke his collarbone. When I saw him a few weeks later he said "you have no idea how much this hurts". All I could do is laugh and I told him next he should try spine surgery!
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jackbeanstalk
It's good you are being cared for by some more understanding Dr.'s who specialize in Pain mgmnt. It just gets old hearing from my patients and other clients about Physicians denying Pain Meds to folks when they are indicated. This makes no sense in the terms of a Dr.'s sworn duty to his patient. Reg: jonnstar- Didn't know that about Stadol Inhalers, don't see them used a whole lot anymore, mostly in Migraine patients, it seems. Thanks. jackbeanstalk
Thanks so much for your understanding, Jackbeanstalk. It is wonderful to know that there are some doctors out there that can empathize with their patients' pain, and hopefully there are more physicians out there who share your beliefs.
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
LOL That's sucks, but it's SO typical of some doctors, and I've definitely had those kind of experiences. I just had a ureteroscopy/laser lithotripsy on Friday with a stent, and while I no longer have my stone, it hurts even worse than when I did. Yet all of the nurses, medical assistants, etc. in post-op expected me to feel GREAT because the stone was gone Like someone said on another thread, I can't remember exactly, but something like "I wish my urologist had my kidneys and their stones and I had his Porsche."
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Just for the record, I am not a Dr., just a Fitness Specialist who designs fitness and rehab plans for mostly Special Populations folks (known as either "patients" or clients) in this particular field. These folks are ones whom dr.'s are not helping much or have not helped at all, in their quest to live a more fulfilling life while dealing with physical problems from injuries, sickness, and many other setbacks that would comprimise their well-being. I hear so very often complaints from these people about the inadequacies of Dr.,s to aleviate their discomforts, particularly when it comes to dispensing meds that are indicated but refused none the less. It is quite dis-heartening and anger-inducing to hear these folks denied relief so I am empathetic to these folks, it just is not right, plain and simple. JB
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eden021251
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much in advance for your help with my problem. I have some chronic pain issues that I need to address, and I was wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience to mine.
I am an 18 year-old girl who has been developing excruciating kidney stones for almost two years. Lately, I’ve started forming them about twice a month. Overall, I’m in pain for at least 75% of the time, and it’s making it difficult to keep up with my responsibilities. I’ve tried to prevent their formation using every natural remedy, OTC painkiller and nutritional supplement, all with no success. The only way I’ve ever been able to alleviate my kidney stone pain is with IV Dilaudid, OxyContin, or just the immediate-release oxycodone tablets.
However, it’s EXTREMELY hard for me to convince my primary care doctor or the ER physician to give me anything other than Toradol and two days’ worth of Vicodin. In addition, I feel as though my entire health care team immediately characterizes me as a liar and drug-seeker, as it’s uncommon for adolescents to form kidney stones. My mother and I have told them numerous times that the current medications are ineffective, but nearly all of the physicians who have treated me share an unreasonable phobia of prescribing stronger narcotics.
As a result of the negative experiences I’ve had at my old HMO, I am considering treatment with a pain management specialist. Although it appears that most pain clinics are more accustomed to treating pain caused by arthritis, fibromyalgia, and musculoskeletal injuries, I am hoping to find a pain management physician that is familiar with kidney stone pain and amenable to my requests as a patient. Out of curiosity, have you or anyone you know gone to a pain specialist for kidney stones?
Since I’ve never been treated by a pain management physician, I’d love to hear about others’ experiences, and what kind of evaluation/treatment to expect on my initial visit. In addition, it would be wonderful if anyone happens to know of an understanding and cooperative pain specialist in CA, OR, or WA. Feel free to PM me.
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Hi!
I have been dealing with chronic stones for tthe last 7-8 years. I have been seeing the same Urologist the whole time. He was reluctant at first to prescribe narcotics on a continual basis. Once I had a CT with 40+ stones, he started prescribing 45-60 Norco/week and Fentanyl patches which allowed me to lead a somewhat normal life. Once, I had a KUB Xray that showed almost no stones and he cut me off and sent me to a Pain Mgt specialist. That ******* put me on methadone and a few vicoden per week. after 1 month I told him where to go and quit the meds cold turkey. I have never been so sick in my life. I would not wish methadone on my worst enemy. Does nothing for pain, but slows resperation and oddly enough, make urination difficult!
I went and got another hi resolution CT that showed many stones, and had the ER send it to the urologist. He called the next day and offered me whatever pain meds I thought I needed! (within reason).
I hate the way some DR's treat chronic pain . They seem to think that pain is better than opiates! Let the holier than thou b*&%%&& live in my body for a while. I don't like being treated like a dope fiend or a child. I am not using the drugs for fun. I AM dependant on opiates, but that does not make me an addict. When someone messes up or I run out life can be hell, and like borrowing from a bank, the more you need them, the less they want to give you! Good luck with your pain. Look the Dr in the face, and try your best to make him or her take you seriously! Don't take no for an answer. We have a right to be pain fre, if we can afford to pay for it!
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
Quote:
Originally Posted by seapuppy
Hi!
I have been dealing with chronic stones for tthe last 7-8 years. I have been seeing the same Urologist the whole time. He was reluctant at first to prescribe narcotics on a continual basis. Once I had a CT with 40+ stones, he started prescribing 45-60 Norco/week and Fentanyl patches which allowed me to lead a somewhat normal life. Once, I had a KUB Xray that showed almost no stones and he cut me off and sent me to a Pain Mgt specialist. That ******* put me on methadone and a few vicoden per week. after 1 month I told him where to go and quit the meds cold turkey. I have never been so sick in my life. I would not wish methadone on my worst enemy. Does nothing for pain, but slows resperation and oddly enough, make urination difficult!
I went and got another hi resolution CT that showed many stones, and had the ER send it to the urologist. He called the next day and offered me whatever pain meds I thought I needed! (within reason).
I hate the way some DR's treat chronic pain . They seem to think that pain is better than opiates! Let the holier than thou b*&%%&& live in my body for a while. I don't like being treated like a dope fiend or a child. I am not using the drugs for fun. I AM dependant on opiates, but that does not make me an addict. When someone messes up or I run out life can be hell, and like borrowing from a bank, the more you need them, the less they want to give you! Good luck with your pain. Look the Dr in the face, and try your best to make him or her take you seriously! Don't take no for an answer. We have a right to be pain fre, if we can afford to pay for it!
Hi seapuppy,
It's great to find another person on the same page about unsympathetic drs., though I'm REALLY sorry about your chronic stones and methadone experiences. I've never been on methadone, but I've heard that the withdrawals from it are ABSOLUTE LIVING HELL and go on forever, in comparison to other opiates. Like you, I am opiate-dependent, but like you said, we are not junkies or addicts trying to get high. It irritates me endlessly when drs insist on using narcotics as an absolute last resort, even though they pose a very low-risk for abuse in chronic pain patients, and are much gentler on one's body than long-term NSAIDs or other alternatives.
On another note, I've had the same horrible experience as you when it comes to x-rays, and unsympathetic physicians. Last time I went to the ER, I had an x-ray, which showed no evidence of a stone, so the doc tried to give me Toradol and codeine, which do not make the slightest difference in kidney stone pain. And never mind that my urine specimen was dark red/brown from all the blood, and a recent CT scan showed about 10 stones per kidney! Later, I learned that x-rays are possibly the worst way to accurately detect a stone, as they have like a 25% failure rate when it comes to stones. Fortunately, I got an ultrasound the next day, which showed my kidney to be immensely swollen from the blockage, and I finally got better treatment Next time anyone tries to suggest an x-ray, I'm just gonna show them my last CT scan results and refuse to put up with their BS.
Thanks so much for your advice, and sharing your experience. It sucks that we have to go through with this, but like you said we have a right to be pain free, even if it means DEMANDING better treatment! And good luck in the future
Re: Pain Management for Chronic Kidney Stones? Need Advice Please!
I feel your pain. Have you asked your Dr. about medulary sponge kidney? Sounds like that is what you have. Pain management is a sticky subject. My Dr. gives me prescriptions for percacett. The problem is that it isn't always enough.Earlier this week I had a really bad night with stone pain. It took 4 percacett, a novo-ketorolac, and suppository Indomethacin to survive the night. The problem with kidney stone pain is that it is soooo bad, at home meds just can't keep up. Unfortionately, people who suffer from cronic stones just don't get taken seriously enough. The best advice I can give you is get the drs. to check for medulary Sponge Kidney, adjust your diet(low sodium,no caffien, and low animal protien), drink at least two and a half litres of fluid a day, and don't give up. Get the doctors to analize your stones so you know what type you are dealing with.Different stones need different specialized diets. The tips I gave ou are helpful for all types of stones, although some doctors do treat with caffien. You are strong ,keep on going. Whatever you do ,don't give up. Do not curl up in a ball in some corner and feel sorry for yourself. You also need to be proactive about your care with the doctors. Make sure they referr you to a nephrologist. Good luck
Like someone said on another thread, I can't remember exactly, but something like "I wish my urologist had my kidneys and their stones and I had his Porsche." 
Next time anyone tries to suggest an x-ray, I'm just gonna show them my last CT scan results and refuse to put up with their BS.
