Harm Reduction The Pain Management Mega Thread - for all your questions on dealing with chronic pain

[onlywant2nod]

Yep, my pain is constant when I get intestinal pain, it used to come and go and rarely but sometimes it will come and go. However for the most part once I start feeling intestinal pain, I try to make the drive 3 and a half hours away to my specialist who is worth the trip so I can get GOOD care, rather than ever go back to the corrupt discriminating unfriendly hospital just 20 mins from me.

However if I ever have a sudden emergency like I had once so far and couldn't wait in the car with someone driving me the whole time, I will go only to the new hospital which is just down the street from my methadone clinic, that hospital is about as nice as the one in Peoria Illinois. As far as the methadone goes, it does help a little with the pain which is disappointing since I'm currently on a whopping 230mg which only helps for 3 hours, but when I once broke their rules and took one take home as usual in morning and then another around 7 pm and that worked much better.

But when I'm in severe pain the methadone is just like suboxone was, it barely touched the pain. Also since I have been reducing my dose(less is more)I am now at 230mg down from 260. I notice now that I have a little more energy and I tiny bit more ambition.

 

[i8hooked]

corrupt hospital?

Yep, my pain is constant when I get intestinal pain, it used to come and go and rarely but sometimes it will come and go. However for the most part once I start feeling intestinal pain, I try to make the drive 3 and a half hours away to my specialist who is worth the trip so I can get GOOD care, rather than ever go back to the corrupt discriminating unfriendly hospital just 20 min away from me

corrupt, discriminating, unfriendly? how so?
That comment piqued my curiosity...

 

[i8hooked]

I dont understand the doctors in my area.
I had a pain in my left hip for about 6 years with no insurance. I had found that Ibuprofen was the best OTC for me so thats what I used for years. Now 3 years ago I landed a job with great benifits that included awesome health insurance.
Now here I was in the lobby of my local Dr. and it was instant attitude the moment I signed in.
When I told the nurse/receptionist the reason for my visit I noticed a subtle but undeniable eye roll. After the X-ray I was told what room to go and wait.
Down the hallway in the Dr's exam room the first words from the good doctors mouth was "I am not a pain specialist....This isnt the place to come and get YOUR DRUGS"....
LOL These assholes was assuming without even examining me that I was a "drug seeker"!
I reluctantly described my pain to the Dr. (Iwas ready to just walk out) and he then started poking and pulling on my leg mashing hard where I told him the pain seemed to be. His clumsy prodding sent jolts of burning agony through by body. Now get this, when I finally yelled out in pain the bastard asked me "could your hip pain just be withdrawl symptoms?"
I was giving him the best *your an idiot* stare I could muster and he said that he didnt see anything wrong on the X-ray. At this point I just stood and started to get dressed, furious as hell. I smirked and informed him that I could make a cell phone call right now and have any drug I wanted delivered to his sidewalk for less than I just gave for the co-pay!
I left the building without signing out or saying another word.
Im wondering if there are anyone else that has been treated this way by their Dr.?

And BTW, I saw a specialist that had me do an MRI with contrast die and it revealed a large bursa in a leg tendon that was causing so much pain. After all those years of pain and walking funny a simple steroid injection right into the bursa and 4 weeks of stretching in physical therapy cured my suffering.

 

[LightTrailz]

That was probably the most stupidiest fucking thing you could ever possibly do .. you want to know something it took me 8 , yes 8! years to get someone to see me as anything but a drug seeker . Even with documented pain and constant unexplained injuries to the affected location . ive done so much damage to my knee that i can literally stick my entire nail right up under my knee cap . thats how much bone is worn away from my knee cap rubbing across the surface of my tibia / femur .

i have to walk around with the constant agony of feeling like i have 2 nails stuck in my knee and about 6 in my back including having my skull constantly pressing against my spinal cord resulting in consistent and relentless migraines. I cant even walk around without a brace anymore because my knee is so dependant on it that when i do try ishake after going up and down a flight of stairs.

even after i got my doctor to finally take me seriously he gave me t'3 and naproxen . and when i went to the hospital with complaints of stomach pain (with a documented ulcer) he took one look at me and because i had no swelling or the amount of puffy fluid look i normally have he assumed i was looking for narcotics yet i already had a prescription for tylenol 3 , which is a NARCOTIC .

2 months after this i changed doctors , to someone else i had seen before while my doctor wasnt in . and he has finally taken me seriously after all this time . and a year of listening to him and listening to what HE has to say , even though most of it i already knew , i can ASK for things i want to try without having to worry about being labelled a drug seeker .

What alot of people , not just on here , need to get into their head is just because your doctor wont give you something that you can abuse or wont give you narcotics for the smallest amount of pain you "CLAIM" to have doesnt mean they dont give a shit . it means they dont want to turn a 20 something year old into a narcotic dependant pill popper .

The only reason i am able to be on them is because i have tried EVERYTHING over this vast span of time to stay away from them and it has all FAILED to do anything for the damage current or past or to even slow it down and at the same time did nothing to stop or mute the pain . and believe me even being on these is not a charm and half like everyone who says they suffer from "chronic pain" thinks . AS soon as someone knows you have a script for anything imagine being treated like everyones own little personal pharmacy , or maybe the few who say oh i could use them legitmatley then start with the oh ill just have a good night tonight , or pull this "well the BA of this is only this according to BLUELIGHT" so maybe ill just shoot it instead of taking it orally because that small 10 % you seem to THINK your missing REALLY MAKES A BIG FUCKING DIFFERENCE . or hey maybe ill snort it because i cant wait 15 FUCKING MINUTES for it to kick in .

and there is a whole lot more rolling around in this brain of mine that i dont even want to get into ...

 

[Cane2theLeft]

LT- when my issues started I did steroid packs and months of physical therapy without insurance. I did every single thing the doctors asked me to do and so I built up trust. When my pain wasn't controlled they worked with me and I worked with them. I wanted relief but the prospect of developing a huge narcotic tolerance was not something I desired at 19. Finally when the pain got bad they put me on morphine but I worked on managing it through nonpharmacological means as much as I could and they could see this and we established a good relationship. When I could manage it on less meds, I reduced my doses and went from MScontin down to just norco. I used lorazepam for muscle spasm and when I learned stretching regimens and other ways to treat it, I discontinued it.

I share your frustation with these people in pain who think they should just be given dilaudid scripts when they say they hurt... It fucks all of us over who truly need relief and go about it the right way. You have to build trust, be honest and act responsibly. Furthermore, pain management is more than just taking a pill. If people aren't willing to do the necessary work themselves, why should doctors trust them and give them pills?

I really look up to you for how much you have had to go through and I really wish more of these people would listen to you. You are a great guy and I'm glad you post around here.

Take care

 

[LightTrailz]

Well , it is quite funny and i do truley understand where some people sit for a good 2 to 3 years i had to manage my pain through the good ol cellphone and at anytime could have told these doctors that its either i get it from you or from some person i dont even know and possibly overdose. but thats not something you just flat out throw in their face .. because when you really do need those meds someday and i mean REALLY need them theyre going to remember that statement and it may just quite possibly find its way into a file with your name on it .

its alot easier to know your shit and still find a way to talk about it with your doctor in a round a bout sort of way ..

For instance ive been having issues with night time migraines because of not seeing the chiro enough to relieve the pressure on my spine and my skull and i flat out asked would you mind if i got a lorazepam script , i need something to help me sleep that acts fast and has a short half life because of work .. and instead of him pointing his finger like the evil monkey from family guy and screeching DRUG SEEKER and running into the closet to hide .. he rebukes with "well your already on 2 habit forming medications DO YOU really want to add 1 more .. not IM NOT ADDING 1 more , DO YOU want to add one more , and i told him not really but ive had a prescription from you before for it and im comfortable with its side effects and duration , asked what HE recommended and he said trazodone .. i had only heard of this once or twice before , however just because i didnt recognize it as having abuse potential or recreational potential i didnt throw a fit like a child and said I WANT THE LORAZEPAM because its a benzo and will get me HIGH TOO .

its all about working with your doctor and finding a way to share your knowledge with him . theres even been more than 1 occasion where ive mentioned researching stuff online about equal analgesic oppourtunitys and i can change to any form of any medication i want within reason , obviously if i ask for vial sealed morphine or dilaudid im going to get shot down .. i dont have uncureable cancer here and a prognosis of 6 months.

 

[Cane2theLeft]

^ This is EXACTLY how I view it. I don't go in there showing off my knowledge of scheduled drugs and demand things but my doctors know that I have taken an active role in understanding my situation and the drugs I use as well as other drugs that are used for the conditions I have. I explain the issue I am having and the impact it is having on my life, thoughtfully consider the doctors recommendations, express any reservations that I have and we openly discuss it. Sometimes I think X will be appropriate but if my doctor disagrees or wants to try something else, I go largely go along because this is good for our relationship and will benefit me and my health in the long run.

I can't ever imagine telling my doctor I could or would get the drugs elsewhere... not only is that immediately irresponsible and damaging to future treatment but comes off as coercive and threatening and that is the WORST thing you could do with a doctor. I just don't understand what motivates people to behave this way with doctors.

 

[Contemporarium]

I just hate how cautious you have to be around doctors. I suffer from chronic back pain, and while it may not be the worst, it restricts my life. I'm young, too. Whenever I visit a new doctor, I have to watch what I say, and it gives me a big anxiety attack. I hate when people tell me "OH DUDE HOOK IT UP" when I take a pill in front of them. It's so annoying. Yes, I do get a buzz from the hydrocodone, but at most it lasts 20 minutes. Then I have around 4 hours of pain relief. I am in so much pain right now but I've already taken my allotted dose. If you read a page back, I'm seeing that place tomorrow. I'm excited and nervous. I'm really afraid of going in there, telling them what medication I'm on, and them sticking their nose up and saying they won't help me. I'm really scared. I hope they can fix my back. I'm done living like this. Having constant anxiety over going out, projecting what my doctor's going to say, etc. I don't like how taking narcotics for PAIN is looked down upon in society also. The minute I tell someone I take something for pain their mind shuts off and they tell me I should try the "natural" way before I "Take a little pill to cure everything." I go to a chiropractor, I do stretches, I'm going to start going to physical therapy.

Oh and the cherry on top of all this is the fact that I thought the X-Rays showed my back was fucked. Nope! It shows POSSIBLE arthritis in the upper back, but my lower back is what hurts. SO BAD. The spine agitates the muscles and it makes the whole lower back KILL. I had the comfort of proof before, but now I have nothing. My pain is only what I say it is. And at my age, that isn't very trust worthy in the big bad doctor's eyes.

I'm lost. I don't know what to do anymore.

 

[i8hooked]

Light trails, I am in my late 30's. the drugs were the last thing I wanted from that Dr.
That was my whole point. I had stated that I can get drugs on the street for cheaper than a medical co-pay and a hell of a lot faster if that was what I had wanted.
I was in his office because I wanted to know what the cause of my pain was. With my medical insurance I can pick and chose the surgeons and specialist I need to rectify any medical issue that I may have. What I wanted from him was x-rays and pointed in the right direction. What I received was an unprofessional attitude that hindered any proper Dx that could have been given had I not walked out of his office.
If he thinks I am fabricating my pain story then hey may send me to some specialist that I dont need and end up with an un-ness. procedure. And THAT, Lightrailz, would be the "stupidest fucking thing I could ever do"!

I have no desire to be one of Americas PERMANENT GIMPS with a lifetime subscription to Dr. Feelgood,s monthly newsletter!!
Besides, the Dr. cant prescribe Heroin in the first place so therefore as a drug source he is fucking useless to me

I found a great primary caregiver and my injury has been long gone. A cleverly placed steroid injection and phys-therapy was all I needed.
And the only opiate I ever got from him was in the form of cough syrup when I had an upper resp. infection. And I must admit that I enjoyed it with my morning coffee :D

 

[pixplzthx]

Don't mind LT. As far as I can gather (and I do a lot of gathering) he's cold and bitter. He's in (or has been in) the same situation as all of us. He is a lot more callous to the ones who fuck it all up for the rest of us (and rightfully so).

I realize I don't frequent here all that often but I do hang out in other drug related fora. I'll be honest, after about a year or so, I'm as keen to tell drug-seekers to "fuck-off", too.

I've dealt with chronic pain for over eight years. I did all the other stuff (and still do) because I am also looking for a non-drug related solution. My reality: My father just had surgery for the same problem I have. My problem is congenital. I know what my future looks like.

...and it sucks.

Better nevermind me. I'm not a regular here anyway. I might get coined a troll or banned. Whatever.

 

[prsd]

i have pain 24/7 from a pinched trigeminal nerve...atypical trigeminal neuralgia and ive been taking ativan for over a year straight after other toxic psychiatric drugs for the wrong reasons. It sucks having chronic pain but my libido is trashed now and i can't get better either b/c if i go off ativan im in pain and pain hurts my libido more than ativan i would I guess. I think ativan doesn't really effect my libido but maybe orgasms although I am not 100% sure either. I could be wrong but my sex drive is still 0 and i took ssris in the past. As well as risperdal for 6 weeks at a large dose with ssris which literally neutered me the first day I took it and the effect has never reveresed itself only to a degree. I wonder if it is possible to heal physically while taking a benzo while one is in pain from a prior injury to drugs. Wonder how everyone's sex drive is on this forum living in chronic pain. Didn't mean to hijack this thread just was pondering some questions for others.

 

[Contemporarium]

If anyone has been keeping up with my posts, I went to the place today. I will be getting a psychologist, a psychiatrist if needed. I will see a pharmacist, and do physical therapy 3 days a week. They will also give me homework like stretches that I need to do around 4 times a day for about an hour. They're really going to work to improve my back, and I'm really excited and nervous. I have to sit in front of all the doctors after they've "evaluated" me, and I'm then told if I'm good enough for their program or not. The interviewer didn't seem to have ANY problem with the medication I was on, which was a huge relief. I'm really scared, but maybe this will help.

I know this isn't livejournal, but I'd like to think at least one person cares

 

[AphexAcid93]

Question; I'm located in Statesboro, GA. at the moment, No tar connects like my homwtown[Seattle]
I was born with a crooked spine+two bones in my neck going opposite directions. So they give me fucking 30-Lorcet/120 Soma a month for my pain.

I'm seriously thinking of taking the "Easy way out" i.e. going on Methadone or Sub, Due to my lack-of-funds for street shit here[oxy's, roxi's, morphine..] and lack of funds to find a Dr. who will somewhat "mask" my pain with Narcotics[I will never be cured, so why not?]
Thanks everyone, and hang in there.

-AA93

 

[AphexAcid93]

You also know what is fucking AWSOME .. being told there is no DEFINITE Dx and that you are to be stuck like you are forever with pain constantly attacking and eating away at your joints like some obnoxious rebel force of cancer and your only hope given to you by a doctor in the form of a pill bottle ...

and having to go to work everyday on top of that and listen to people bitch about what problems they have while still being able to have experienced a DECENT youth and have memories of fun times instead of filled with all that pain ... and being too stubborn to go on disability because you think i dont want to mooch off the system . but you know you dont have a choice because the outside world drives you nuts to the point where you feel like you want to SNAP!

and grab that bitch behind the counter and smash them in the face 50 million fucking times because you couldnt help them the best that you could yet it wasnt even your fault but they think it is because you were the first person they saw ! and the persons whos REAL fault it FUCKING was , was off doing god knows what in whoevers bathroom and not being able to YELL AT THEM !

err fuck i got to go back to work ..

see ya.

I feel for you.

 

[sweetbeatlvr]

i feel for everyone here. chronic pain sucks.

i8hooked... i don't think you sound like a drug seeker. in fact, i know exactly what you're talking about with the doctors. i know "that look" doctors give when you tell them of your pain,and they don't believe you.

i understand where LT is coming from though, because of the drug seekers, we have a hard time getting help. but it's not fair to atomatically accuse someone of it, because it's no different then the doctors who do it to us.

contemtporium... glad to hear it went well w/ your appt., sounds like you may have found some help, what a relief!

AA93.... i understand where your coming from, with wanting to go the methadone route, i've thought of it myself, just don't know if it will provide the relief i need?

i'm really depressed right now, because i have to go to work, and i am really, really hurting. don't know how i'm gonna make it...

 

[AphexAcid93]

SweetBeatLve --

IME, methadone does not help the pain, but as far as mentally goes....well lol yes.

 

[LightTrailz]

i have pain 24/7 from a pinched trigeminal nerve...atypical trigeminal neuralgia and ive been taking ativan for over a year straight after other toxic psychiatric drugs for the wrong reasons. It sucks having chronic pain but my libido is trashed now and i can't get better either b/c if i go off ativan im in pain and pain hurts my libido more than ativan i would I guess. I think ativan doesn't really effect my libido but maybe orgasms although I am not 100% sure either. I could be wrong but my sex drive is still 0 and i took ssris in the past. As well as risperdal for 6 weeks at a large dose with ssris which literally neutered me the first day I took it and the effect has never reveresed itself only to a degree. I wonder if it is possible to heal physically while taking a benzo while one is in pain from a prior injury to drugs. Wonder how everyone's sex drive is on this forum living in chronic pain. Didn't mean to hijack this thread just was pondering some questions for others.

Mine comes and goes .. i can go days sometimes even weeks without a single instance of sexual arousal or even interest for that matter but sometimes it kicks on and with a vengence . i usually find its almost like a period with me i usually spend 2 weeks off interest and about 4-5 days on interest then back into 2 weeks of just wanting to sleep and not really giving a fuck . but im still not able to determine if it has anything to do with when im able to keep a constant level of oxycodone in my system or not .. i havnt mentioned anything to this about my doctor so i cant make any medical suggestives or anything simply conclusions.

 

[LightTrailz]

i feel for everyone here. chronic pain sucks.

i8hooked... i don't think you sound like a drug seeker. in fact, i know exactly what you're talking about with the doctors. i know "that look" doctors give when you tell them of your pain,and they don't believe you.

i understand where LT is coming from though, because of the drug seekers, we have a hard time getting help. but it's not fair to atomatically accuse someone of it, because it's no different then the doctors who do it to us.

contemtporium... glad to hear it went well w/ your appt., sounds like you may have found some help, what a relief!

AA93.... i understand where your coming from, with wanting to go the methadone route, i've thought of it myself, just don't know if it will provide the relief i need?

i'm really depressed right now, because i have to go to work, and i am really, really hurting. don't know how i'm gonna make it...

I didnt accuse him of drug seeking if you really want to go through and read what i posted . i simply said that he could have gone about telling the doctor in a different way that if he was really there for narcotics then he could call a friend for cheaper . the point i was trying to make is that kind of attitude doesnt fly with doctors , atleast around here anyway.

 

[hun99ar]

opiates and sex drive

I have been in cp for over 8 years. I told my dr that I had no sex drive and they informed me that opiates suppress testosterone production. I had my levels checked and my levels where less then 2/3 of that of a male my age. I have been taking testosterone injections for over a year now and it has helped with sex drive and energy.

 

[rath]

I found out yesterday I possibly have two compound fractures and arthritis in my lower spine. Doctor put me on 50mg tramadol and 200mg sulindac. I'm hoping it'll help. He sent my xrays off to the radiologist I hope it's not as bad as it sounds.