Undertreated, Unrespected, Unable to Function

Fiona_Jo

This is what baffles me. I always read that pain patients shouldn't ask for specific drugs as it comes across as "drug seeking" behavior. But, if the patient is already prescribed the drug and has been taking the medication prior to seeing the Pain Management Doc, how can it be considered drug seeking? My Pain Management Doctor kept me on the same medications I had been prescribed by my Orthopedic specialist and added a Long Acting medication. She felt as long as the Norco had been effective and I had been on it, there would be no reason to change it. The only concern being that I was having to take more and more Norco to control my pain and given my diagnosis she felt a a long acting med would be warranted (also, the Long Acting Med has allowed me to substantially lower my Norco intake). So, I'm confused on this point. I agree going to a Doctor an asking for a specific medication out of the blue does come across as drug seeking, however if it's medication that the patient is currently on as they transition to pain management, what would be the issue in continuing a medication that has proven effective?

~ Fiona Jo

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080807-Cervical-Stim~071707-ACDF-C5-C7 w/instrumentation/bone graft~'07/06 Lumber instrum. removed 05/04-Fusion(DDD/Collapsed Disc L5-S1)08/99-Microdisectomy(Herniated Disc) ~Lupus/EDS,Migraine

SpineAZ

If you go to a doctor and say "here is what I've tried and here is what has worked". Then a discussion between you and the doctor should lead to continuing those meds or the doctor providing information on alternatives you may want to try.

Drug seeking behavior is not bringing up what meds you are on but it's often when a patient is insistent in requesting a certain drug and isn't open to discussing alternatives.

If I hadn't had a good open discussion with my PCP and his referral to a new Pain Mgmt doctor I might not have been introduced to the long acting medication that has improved my pain and functionality. So while I told them both what has worked they allowed me to continue that for break thru pain (vicodin) while adding a long acting med (Opana ER) to enhance my treatment.

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Rt thumb fusion '13. R&L thumb arthroplasty '12 ; RT TKR & Bilat CTS' 11. Fusions: L5-S1('87), L4-S1('93), C5-C7('06), L3-S1('10), C4-C5('13). C5-C7 foraminotomy '08

bbergs2802

I've had many different types of cervical injections (for 4 level disc herniation and following 2 level fusion), and have often gotten worse just because the injections tend to cause inflammation which leads to an increase in pain. Some of the injections contain a local anesthetic which might help initially, but the steroids usually don't give long time relief. I usually ice down the area of the injection immediately to help with the inflammation process, and take NSAIDS and muscle relaxants.

bbergs2802

I'm am having a lot of trouble with the work comp doctors that I am forced to see. I have a neurosurgeon who fused my C5-6, C6-7 levels in 1996, but discovered in 2002 that C3-4, C4-5 had also herniated and I am having severe migraines and cervicogenic vertigo and in constant pain (and am allergic to almost all pain meds), and at first the doctor said I needed the other 2 levels fused, but now refuses to do the surgery. Also seeing an ortho surgeon for a torn rotator cuff, and he wrote some very unkind things about me in his report, and he has also said I shouldn't have surgery done on m shoulder, even though I'm in terrible pain and can't raise my right arm over my head. Don't know how to handle doctors that don't know how to treat me like a human being. My own doctors (not work comp), are decent people and respect me as a patient, but even with my attorney's help, I cannot get the medical care I need, and don't know what to do. I will be bringing an advocate with me when I go to the ortho doctor next week, because of the things he wrote about me in his past reports, but I don't think he should pass judgments about me that are not based on my torn rotator cuff. Any one have suggestions to help me deal with doctors who lie to me, and won't help me (but I can't get out of the work comp system in Florida)???

66Brian

I know this was posted a year ago, and odds are the person doesn't visit anymore and hopefully was taken care of properly by a doctor who actually cares for the patient instead of worrying that he or she could be accused of over prescribing pain killers. Caring doctors, who care more for their patient will give the pk'ers, The ones who care more for their job than the patient, are the ones who are stingy about it. A dozen people abuse Pk'ers, 1,000,000 people suffer for it) I didn't read through all the threads/response.. (short attention span.) And I wasn't originally here for this.. My partner has severe lower back pain, he takes strong dosages of painkillers, and Neurontin (Gabapentin) for another condition and puts up with it all, his option is an operation and he fears that he will end up in a wheel chair, so he wont do it, odds are pretty great he would end up in a wheel chair (actually he probably will anyway, if he doesn't have it done). The strongest dosage he has had is 10mg of morphine twice a day, it left him non-functional, so he stopped it, not all doctors are paranoid of prescribing the stronger stuff.. Just the heartless one. The purpose for this reply is where I did scan through and looked, no one mentioned a pain pacemaker, (if it was mentioned, disregard this message) call it what you want, but these devices do work, a small device is implanted in you with wires/electrodes also implanted. If you do not have any other devices in u, these are quite safe, if u have a heart pacemaker, they tend not to like one another.. and u're generally out of luck. It beats pain killers, if it works for you, u can have your life back, my partner had a small defibrillator, they don't like one another, the pain pacemaker had to be removed. (I'm not sure if it was something that happen to others, or just for him for some reason.) Find a good caring doctor, discuss it, and see if it is an option for you. I hope this helps someone. good luck.

BB07

well,

i feel for you, and i believe as a medically trained person and pm patient, that you are truly suffering. But heres the thing. Whats happened to you is do to all the drug overdoses in hollywood and you young age, you are the targeted abuser. Plus your testing is coming up minimal diagnosis from what i read. But I believe you are in some real dire straights with the level of life you seem to be enjoying. DONT give up. I dont know what state you live in but you may want to research pm drs in boca raton florida
there are many quality trained in addiction vs dependence,etc. and you will be surprised there are drs who through there special traing can tell if you are in some real legitimate pain and will give you the meds to increase the quality of your life. But remember one thing, always be real and honest-these docs see thru bs.

wish you luck,

bama