Harm Reduction The Pain Management Megathread (Chronic and Acute Pain Discussion) v6

[closeau]

Well JM357, I think Kratom would work on your subs. I have an addictive past and i get treated by PM. I guess im very lucky. My dr does ask if ive been going to meetings. Pee test tells it all. If youre an addict but recovering the pee will tell them all they need to know. If my levels are off or anything shows, im out. My pain clinic does a pain contract basically saying ill be clean and cant get pain meds from anybody but them and ER. I get paperwork at every visit to any clinic i go to you cause its all under Duke hospital and theres a list on first page with everything wrong with you. I have like 20 things but i have narcotic abuse, marjiuana use, and alcohol abuse. Even though im clean its still on there but i have legitimate medical reasons for pain meds and it sounds like you do too so i would seek out a pain clinic and see what they say. Be honest with them cause they appreciate honesty and pee clean and they should give you what you want. Good luck to you

 

[BeachBum4u]

p.s. the rain has made my neck arthritis a lot worse. Anybody else have this reaction?

Although my neck is the primary reason I'm in PM (multiple car/motorcycle accidents), my right knee seems to be most affected by cold and wet weather. FYI - I've recently been diagnosed with arthritis in my right knee and I can't walk 2 minutes without it hurting like a MF and then I'm reduced to walking with a serious limp.

However, my neck is not immune to swift barometric changes and cold and nasty weather at times. It is typically helped by my trusty heating pad and meds.

Rain and cold weather make my life miserable... I feel like a 90 year old man this time of year.

You aren't the only one! I totally feel you there!

 

[DixiChik]

Greetings me fellow pain peeps...Oh, they heard me exclaim as I limped out of sight, "PAIN spits in the face of Christmas...How do I find the "merry and bright"????

I swear I'm giving it my all, as are all of you. I wish that I could gift each of us, first and foremost, with good health and pain-free lives. We know that's not happening. So, I wish that all of my chronic pain peeps could receive the gift of a caring and understanding doctor. This imaginary doctor would speak clearly understood English. He/she would actually listen and make every effort to "manage" not only our pain, our meds, but also the debilitating SEs of treatment.

I saw my PM last week, literally limping into his office after Synvisc skewers in both knees. He looked at me and my husband (who serves as my body guard from this fucking lunatic) then said "Everybody hurts more during cold weather. Can we leave your meds as is, because DEA is telling us how to do our jobs?" WTF do you say? He doesn't give a damn that I spent half of October in hospital...F-U-U-C-K me running, if I could run!

Yes, as SKR once said, the ole bones creak as though their true age exceeds our lifespan. I walked down the hallway last night/early morning to crawl into bed. The sound effects (my husband joked) were as dramatic as the ghosts of Christmas past. I swear it feels as though the pain is like shackles to us all, dragging us down as we choke back screams of desperation.

closeau...I've heard great things about Duke. I'm so happy that you have a cohesive team of doctors that truly seek solutions. They seem to surgically correct the issues that warrant. Then they follow up with necessary meds/modalities to maintain your QOL. That, my friend, is a gift greater than GOLD.

I can only wish for specialists who'd listen. These fuckers at UMMC, UT and Vanderbilt see the scar from my breast bone to my pubic bone...and FREAK the fuck out!!! They KNOW I'm in agony and need help, but they're not EVEN going to risk what they perceive would surely lead to malpractice or wrongful death. If my gut were opened right now, I've no doubt that gasps and the stench of death would permeate the OR.

Only the coroner (for me) will ever see the extent of my suffering. I want copies of my autopsy sent to these gods in white coats who denied me the medical treatment/surgical intervention I needed and begged for. Bleak, huh?

BB4U...Have you asked about Synvisc injections for your knees?

JM357...Stay strong in your pursuit of a good PM doctor. I certainly understand the financial issues, as my insurance left me with THOUSANDS to pay OOP for my hospital/2 ER visits in October. My post is already to DARK, so I'll refrain from my rant about the costs of meds! If you have the Xrays/films/records to show/prove your condition, the doctor cannot deny your treatment. As others have said, you have to sign a contract and pass urine tests. My PM has never tested my urine, but I think I'm the exception and not the rule. I have signed a contract, and refused anything more than Toradol IV during hospital stay.

GM and CfZ...Absolutely, the temp and humidity affects your joints. I always thought that was an old wives' tale my parents used. They'd say "This cold weather is killing Old Arthur (itus)" My rheumy told me years ago that ALL, including barometric pressure, affects our bodies. Yay us!!!?!!

Kratom has potential (for me) for mood lift, but beware of constipation. My GI issues existed long before pain meds or Kratom. The constipation intensifies when I take either.

Sorry for the bitching and whining...I promise I'll do better next post. Y'all stay strong.

 

[SKR]

The cold devastates me pain wise but not the rain. I think my pain appeared and felt worse but it's due to losing so much weight due to my hospitalization with pancreatitis mid last year, lost 20 kgs (since put on five kg) in about 4 weeks so I'm blaming that as to why I feel the cold so badly now. I was using oxycodone to warm me up as much as I used it for pain frankly.

 

[DixiChik]

Hey SKR...What were your symptoms of pancreatitis?

 

[SKR]

^terrible abdominal pain, chronic reflux/heartburn, night sweats & fever - feels like dying whatever that feels like. It was related to an infected gall bladder which was undiagnosed until the surgeon had it in his hand after removing it. I was misdiagnosed for a couple of years. The Dr I had at the time profiled and subsequently discriminated against me due to my past honesty in revealing IV drug use, steroid and illicit drug use in general....my appearance played a role also as I had dreadlocks down to my bum.....the fact that I had a good career and own a property in a posher area had no bearing on how I was/am treated, I thought those things might support the truth in that I was reformed/recovered for a decade but no...

 

[DixiChik]

Was pain predominantly on the left quadrant (belly into back)? My gallbladder was taken out during surgery in 1993-4. I have every symptom stated in your first sentence.

 

[closeau]

Thanks Dixie. Im so sorry you cant get proper care. Your Dr telling you about the DEA is outrageous. Any Dr worth a shit would never tell a patient that. Unbeivable!! Im so sorry. I am very lucky to have Duke. People dtrive from all over southeast to come here and im about 10 min from hospital and about 3-5 min from pain clinic and pcp. Ive had some resistance from various pcp's and had a looney pain dr years ago who would only give me methadone even after telling him im in pain and begging him. I yhink he finally gave me 30 5mg oxy which was ridiculous. My alcoholism has held me up too at times but thats when i was getting relief for my blood clots. Got them in 2009 and it was bad. They start in my IVC in belly and go down to both knees and in groin area is completly clogged. My body has made other veins but so much inflamation in groin its very painful especially to walk. 3 surgeries to try to open the veins up and relieve inflamation all failed. So ive been on and off meds for that but everything changed June of last year when i had emergency surgery for diverticulits. Then this summer i had surgery to reverse bag abd take out stignoid colon. I was ok in hospital for 3 days and 1 at home then i got uncontrollable diahrea. A day of that and i coudnt even make it to toliet then 2:30 that night i got my dad up who was here visiting and taking care of me and called 911 and off to ER and another emergency surgery. I had 9 holes in my colon and that started summer of hell but they took great care of me and had duke home health care cause i had a huge wound frm where they opened me but couldnt close me cause of infection. Just a narley scar now but abdomen still hurts a lot so ever since then my pain Dr has been great. They changed locations and staff and dea must have been thru cause they are very strict. But as long as i pee ok its all good. I see head Dr next month. I see him once a year so i hope he doesnt change shit. Hes also a shrink so well see. He doesnt like the opiate/benzo combo but im good. She gave me a shot this month incase if od but somebody has to give it to me and i live alone. I tell my story so you can see why im so grateful to be here in Durham with Duke. Their a pain in the ass to deal with but thank God for them. So i wish you Dixi and everyone else a good xmas despite the pain we suffer. May God be with us?

 

[DixiChik]

Lost my post! Was pain predominantly on the left quadrant (belly into back)? My gallbladder was taken out during surgery in 1993-4. I have every symptom stated in your first sentence.

"Profiling" is spot on, I think, even in my case. As I said, they see the franken-scar on my tummy and BLAME EVERYTHING on the disease causing adhesions. They blow me off without even blinking, or refer me to a GI who blows me off.

My gut is in a mess. Something is horribly wrong, aside from or due to pre-existing Endometriosis.

FWIW...I'm old school with my references, but I LOVE long dreads on guys if they're smooth and well-kept. I had a crazy crush on the MilliVanilli (sic) island-looking green-eyed guy. He's since died of OD. smfh

 

[CfZrx]

Hey Shroomy! Have u tried MethadonE or Butrans patches yet? Seems like docs are happier to prescribe these for pain. I bet slapping 2 20mcg/hr patches on would be awesome. I like 'done and cannabis.

Hey closeau, I was trying to PM you but it says that your inbox is full.

Hey, for pain I am taking a very small amount of oxycodone but I hate it. Actually, I am prescribed a muscle relaxer, an anti-inflammatory, and the oxy but I only take the oxy. And benzos. But I have to go along with their stupid bullshit and 'play the game.' Like a lot of areas in life that are just stupid fucking games with fake people..

You know I'm sick of the doctors stupid fucking games. They have done nothing for me. In the 3 years I have been begging them for mercy, I have had 3 MRI's done. Why do I need three. Can you say stupid. No other tests or treatments at all. I inquired about blood tests and the response was "why do you want all those expensive tests done?" Well... because my fucking body is broken retards and you can't figure out why. I inquired about CT scan. But apparently in the world of back pain, you get an MRI and if it doesn't show any serious damage you give up. Even if it shows the damage they probably don't know what the fuck to do to fix it. Seriously I can't believe how dumb these doctors are.

They just tried to put me on some joke of an antidepressant. So right now, I can't actually say what meds I'm taking. But thank christ I'm not dumb enough to take all the bullshit that's prescribed to me since there would probably be some reactions. There is no need for that much garbage in my body. Really all I need is heroin and benzos, not muscle relaxers and anti-inflams and fucking SSRI's. I have no refills. For my oxy, they never just write me fucking refills. It's like my script is always on the edge of being taken away. I would never take a poison antidepressant. Every appointment the doctor has 5 minutes to talk to me. How the fuck are they going to get anything done in 5 minutes. It's always such a rush. The system disgusts me.

So I don't even do any of their bullshit meds anymore, because whats the point really if they are so unwilling to look into actual treatments. It's not worth the effort. Because of my MRI, I must not have any back problems. They're just too stupid to see what's going on, I am severely disabled. I have wasted away muscle in my lower back leading up to a point of extreme pain in my thoracic region but they just fuck the dog about it. I'm so sick of this garbage, so ya I'm just forced to do heroin. My oxy dose is 1/4 of what I need it to be (I need around 60 to 80 milligrams a day) and like I said they're probably gonna take it away in favour of an antidepressant. So doing dope makes sense to me unfortunately, I'm fed up. Well actually why am I saying unfortunately. Heroin is the best painkiller in existence. It's just a damn shame I fucked up my spine enough that I need that, and that doctors are too fucking pussy-ass scared to prescribe me any kind of real dose of an opiate so I can just get on with life.

I really prefer morphine-based opiates too because of my panic disorder. Oxycodone there is something different bout it, I mean it's derived from that stimulant right. It's not as mellow as something like hydromorphone or heroin, but imagine I said that to my doctor. It's also shit for pain relief and doesn't have any fucking legs to it. "Hey, oxycodone is really stimulating to me, it doesn't have any legs, I prefer the mellow opioids like hydromorphone because I have a panic disorder and they chill me out more and also they blow oxy out of the water in terms of the pain relief. But hydromorphone doesn't last that long so I'd benefit from morphine." They'd be like JUNKIE lol. But why can i not discuss opioids with my doctor. Why is it always what THEY think is right for ME it's fucking backwards. Last time I was practically pushed out of the office with an antidepressant. AN ANTIDEPRESSANT. How dumb can you get. Ok this man is depressed because he has had a back injury for 3 years now, I think he needs some SSRI's. But the pain is still there so I will always be depressed until it goes away. They want to prescribe those because there is a less of a potential for abuse. Besides even if I wanted to treat my depression I would never touch that shit. I don't even know what the fuck that shit does to my brain but I'd never ever take one. Does this douche actually think an SSRI will hold a candle to a good dose of a narcotic, if so they are dumber than I even suspected. People say fuck the police. I say fuck the DOCTORS. I know a lot of cops. They usually have common sense. I can honestly say they are typically a lot smarter than these doctors I've been dealing with, as dumb as they usually are.

Why, after years, are they still tampering with the meds I'm on anyway? But who really gives a damn anyway. You can go to the poison store and buy that disgusting filth alcohol and abuse yourself with that or kill yourself with cigarettes so what are they trying to prove. You just can't get high. If you feel any sort of tranquility or inner peace from a chemical you deserve to be locked up in a cage. I'm an expert on my own body and pain not this douche who's just trying to keep his cushy job. And how fuckin ironic is it that I just end up self medicating with heroin as a result of not being able to deal with their bullshit. Yeah keep me on 20 milligrams of oxy when I need 80... I'm just going to start doing heroin retards... it's your fault for hooking me to begin with and then not raising my dose ever. Always at the pussy little starter dose.

As soon as I start shooting you won't see me here anymore because my problem will be solved. I never have any pain when I'm on dope. I'll be getting on with life trying to make it as a functional disabled addict. I remember the last time I had a gram of dope. I have been suffering ever since I ran out of it and it has been months. I look back on those days so fondly. They were wonderful days, I can't wait to get more. I just need to ensure NEVER to run out of it ever, ever again because I can't handle a day without my precious dope. My preciousssss

 

[SKR]

Was pain predominantly on the left quadrant (belly into back)? My gallbladder was taken out during surgery in 1993-4. I have every symptom stated in your first sentence.

The pain was really hard to pinpoint to be honest, it was generally in that abdominal region. But apparently it is quite common to feel it as you have described - belly to back. Some folks experience short bursts of 10/10+ pain in their backs but didn't get that symptom.

A blood test will show elevated lipase levels amongst other things (can't remember), liver and kidney values will likely be affected also. I had hoped my thoracic pain was due to the pancreatitis but alas, it wasn't/isn't. Get a blood test done Dixi.

 

[DixiChik]

closeau...I guess I was posting a reply/question to SKR, so I missed you! I think with the pain I have, if it's not cancer, it should be. Of course, Endometriosis is basically mutant cells that wreak havoc with no promise of death.

You, my friend, are indeed a trooper having to deal with health issues and grieving the loss of your mom. I'm anguished by what you've been through. I'm pulling for ya...You can get this worked out. Again, I envy (without malice) your access to Duke. Our UMMC is heralded for cancer, heart and women's health. However, the very bitch doctor who stars in their current women's cancer TV ad is the one who told me I needed to seek therapy...as my liver was failing.

I try to keep my chin up, though it would require a neck brace! I need only look around me to realize I am BLESSED sans the pain. I wish you a Merry Christmas, too, my brotha. I know emotions will be rampant, so we're here if you need us.

 

[SKR]

Hey closeau, I was trying to PM you but it says that your inbox is full.

Hey, for pain I am taking a very small amount of oxycodone but I hate it. Actually, I am prescribed a muscle relaxer, an anti-inflammatory, and the oxy but I only take the oxy. And benzos. But I have to go along with their stupid bullshit and 'play the game.' Like a lot of areas in life that are just stupid fucking games with fake people..

You know I'm sick of the doctors stupid fucking games. They have done nothing for me. In the 3 years I have been begging them for mercy, I have had 3 MRI's done. Why do I need three. Can you say stupid. No other tests or treatments at all. I inquired about blood tests and the response was "why do you want all those expensive tests done?" Well... because my fucking body is broken retards and you can't figure out why. I inquired about CT scan. But apparently in the world of back pain, you get an MRI and if it doesn't show any serious damage you give up. Even if it shows the damage they probably don't know what the fuck to do to fix it. Seriously I can't believe how dumb these doctors are.

They just tried to put me on some joke of an antidepressant. So right now, I can't actually say what meds I'm taking. But thank christ I'm not dumb enough to take all the bullshit that's prescribed to me since there would probably be some reactions. There is no need for that much garbage in my body. Really all I need is heroin and benzos, not muscle relaxers and anti-inflams and fucking SSRI's. I have no refills. For my oxy, they never just write me fucking refills. It's like my script is always on the edge of being taken away. I would never take a poison antidepressant. Every appointment the doctor has 5 minutes to talk to me. How the fuck are they going to get anything done in 5 minutes. It's always such a rush. The system disgusts me.

So I don't even do any of their bullshit meds anymore, because whats the point really if they are so unwilling to look into actual treatments. It's not worth the effort. Because of my MRI, I must not have any back problems. They're just too stupid to see what's going on, I am severely disabled. I have wasted away muscle in my lower back leading up to a point of extreme pain in my thoracic region but they just fuck the dog about it. I'm so sick of this garbage, so ya I'm just forced to do heroin. My oxy dose is 1/4 of what I need it to be (I need around 60 to 80 milligrams a day) and like I said they're probably gonna take it away in favour of an antidepressant. So doing dope makes sense to me unfortunately, I'm fed up. Well actually why am I saying unfortunately. Heroin is the best painkiller in existence. It's just a damn shame I fucked up my spine enough that I need that, and that doctors are too fucking pussy-ass scared to prescribe me any kind of real dose of an opiate so I can just get on with life.

I really prefer morphine-based opiates too because of my panic disorder. Oxycodone there is something different bout it, I mean it's derived from that stimulant right. It's not as mellow as something like hydromorphone or heroin, but imagine I said that to my doctor. It's also shit for pain relief and doesn't have any fucking legs to it. "Hey, oxycodone is really stimulating to me, it doesn't have any legs, I prefer the mellow opioids like hydromorphone because I have a panic disorder and they chill me out more and also they blow oxy out of the water in terms of the pain relief. But hydromorphone doesn't last that long so I'd benefit from morphine." They'd be like JUNKIE lol. But why can i not discuss opioids with my doctor. Why is it always what THEY think is right for ME it's fucking backwards. Last time I was practically pushed out of the office with an antidepressant. AN ANTIDEPRESSANT. How dumb can you get. Ok this man is depressed because he has had a back injury for 3 years now, I think he needs some SSRI's. But the pain is still there so I will always be depressed until it goes away. They want to prescribe those because there is a less of a potential for abuse. Besides even if I wanted to treat my depression I would never touch that shit. I don't even know what the fuck that shit does to my brain but I'd never ever take one. Does this douche actually think an SSRI will hold a candle to a good dose of a narcotic, if so they are dumber than I even suspected. People say fuck the police. I say fuck the DOCTORS. I know a lot of cops. They usually have common sense. I can honestly say they are typically a lot smarter than these doctors I've been dealing with, as dumb as they usually are.

Why, after years, are they still tampering with the meds I'm on anyway? But who really gives a damn anyway. You can go to the poison store and buy that disgusting filth alcohol and abuse yourself with that or kill yourself with cigarettes so what are they trying to prove. You just can't get high. If you feel any sort of tranquility or inner peace from a chemical you deserve to be locked up in a cage. I'm an expert on my own body and pain not this douche who's just trying to keep his cushy job. And how fuckin ironic is it that I just end up self medicating with heroin as a result of not being able to deal with their bullshit. Yeah keep me on 20 milligrams of oxy when I need 80... I'm just going to start doing heroin retards... it's your fault for hooking me to begin with and then not raising my dose ever. Always at the pussy little starter dose.

As soon as I start shooting you won't see me here anymore because my problem will be solved. I never have any pain when I'm on dope. I'll be getting on with life trying to make it as a functional disabled addict. I remember the last time I had a gram of dope. I have been suffering ever since I ran out of it and it has been months. I look back on those days so fondly. They were wonderful days, I can't wait to get more. I just need to ensure NEVER to run out of it ever, ever again because I can't handle a day without my precious dope. My preciousssss

Shroomy, that is standard fare in pain management now, these doctors all go to the same conferences and when they return they start to experiment with their patients. So now the thinking is no opiates and lots of anti-deoressants. My Dr would write a script for any AD and give me infinite repeats/refills but getting pain killers is/was like getting blood out of a stone.

 

[DixiChik]

SKR, they did multiple blood draws during hospital stay in October. They said "everything looked fine". Trouble is, I don't think the same hospitalist visited my room twice. They were saying my severe pain was maybe shingles? Fuck, it was my transverse colon swollen to the size of a cantaloupe with stool that wouldn't pass. I was referred to 2 GIs for further testing, but SKR...It's just a job for them. They don't look further, even IF you get eye contact!

 

[SKR]

^Too true Dixi. Maggots.

 

[closeau]

Holy crap Shroomy, you def got the right to be upset. Im hearing so much bad care on this thread. It makes me sad. I take like 14 meds a day, no shit. Everyone has its function and they all realky wirk well. My bipolar meds keep me balanced and not fucking looney my benzo keeps the panic attacks away, the Ritalin helps me focus and provides stimulation for my daytime sleepiness. Pain meds, blood thinners, list goes on. Im incredibly lucky. I have great drs who can all talk to eachother cause its all Duke medicine. My shrink isnt Duke but shes awesome. I have a talk therapist, an AA sponser, message any dr in two minutes online. I also use Salvia occasionally when i wanna go bye bye for 5 min. Def orob a risk with my mental condition but its been fine so far and if i could get shrooms i would. My latuda would prob block it but idk. Anyway, i have no real point all i know is that if i dont take all these pills everyday i turn into a crazy, paniked, pain ridden, blood clot mess. I just hate hearing the problems you and others have with Medical care. I wish you better luck in the new year.

 

[JM357]

Well JM357, I think Kratom would work on your subs. I have an addictive past and i get treated by PM. I guess im very lucky. My dr does ask if ive been going to meetings. Pee test tells it all. If youre an addict but recovering the pee will tell them all they need to know. If my levels are off or anything shows, im out. My pain clinic does a pain contract basically saying ill be clean and cant get pain meds from anybody but them and ER. I get paperwork at every visit to any clinic i go to you cause its all under Duke hospital and theres a list on first page with everything wrong with you. I have like 20 things but i have narcotic abuse, marjiuana use, and alcohol abuse. Even though im clean its still on there but i have legitimate medical reasons for pain meds and it sounds like you do too so i would seek out a pain clinic and see what they say. Be honest with them cause they appreciate honesty and pee clean and they should give you what you want. Good luck to you

Thank you, your post has given me hope. My PCP just shut down his practice so it may be months (PCP to orthapedic to MRI to orthapedic again then to pain management) but there is hope then.

 

[SKR]

Shroomy, I reacted the same way to my PMM (pain mis-management) Dr at the time (I sacked him, expensive maggot he is) but due to an extended traumatic experience which had nothing to do with my pain I sought out an antidepressant from my GP Dr. It changed my life immensely and for the better. I'm suffering PTSD and commenced the drug Sertraline - the next day my anxiety, subsequent panic attacks and depression were suddenly controlled, over the course of a week or two I was the closest I've been to my old self in a year or so.....and believe it or not, I actually had about a 5-10% drop in my pain....i think it is less to do with my mental state being improved by the AD so therefore my ability to cope increased than it is to do with the way our brains send and receive pain signals. I'm still in enough pain to make me despair and worry about my future but it did something.

I had/have the same views in regards to hating AD's, it's best to work on the source of our issues than to throw pills at it but for me the possible benefits out weighed the risks because it was a life or death situation - I was going to kill myself, had the spot I was going to jump from all figured out....I had written very lengthy letters for my loved ones ( Doing that exercise made me re-think because all I could think of was my son thinking that he and his mother weren't important enough to me to not suicide)....Sertraline saved my life, hopefully I'll be able to walk away from it when the time is right without too much or any damage to me, time will tell.

Shroomy, these Dr's want you to play the game, so play, there's no harm (apart from cost) in getting the script and just not taking it. If you jump through a few hoops you may get a better result with the oxycodone. You may not either but apart from money what have you got to lose? May be helpful to you.

And Closeau, youare a trooper my friend. You and Dixi help to keep me from bitching and moaning more than I do regarding my pain issues. Have you had better luck with your veins and pills my friend?

Hope all my pain pals are well today and in less pain, keep up the fight but don't forget to rest!!��

 

[DixiChik]

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL...MAY YOUR DAYS BE PAIN FREE AND BRIGHT!!

 

[DixiChik]

^^^I spent almost an hour looking for a neat string of Christmas lights flashing in happy colors. I cut/pasted them onto my post, only to discover they're GONE! The sentiment remains the same, but DAMN...I loved those twinkling light graphics. Yo, anybody?