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

[BigG]

Pain clinic was a bust.

Wants to send me for more scans and injections....

He spent an hour lecturing me on the harmful effects of opiates before saying he would write to my GP suggesting a fentanyl patch...what an idiot...

I was so deflated. Was supposed to go into work after the appointment to start so called. "light duties" but emailed them to say my appointment would take longer so wouldn't be in until tomorrow. I just couldnt face it.

I'm just so fed up. Feel terrible, lots of pain and just very down...

 

[closeau]

Dam Englandgz, im so sorry bro. Pain clinics are so bitch. That just sounds silly what he said. I dont blame you for ducking out of work. Im in a lot of pain too but thats my oen fault. I go to my pain clinic and fill out same 5 pages of paperwork then go in and asked the same 25 questions, prescription then drug test. I shouldnt need one every month but with my weed thing in Jan they test me to make sure im not smoking.

I feel for ya homie. It shouldnt be that hard to get pain meds when youre obviously in pain. Just try to move forward and stuff. Easier said then done, i know. Again, sorry bud. Better luck to you in the future!

 

[Mayj87]

I had ibs some years ago and i was on tagament tramadol and a low dose of xanax, altough my ibs wasnt from the bottom yet i woke up every morning throwing up i always kept weed with my meds as well and eventually i stopped throwing up every morning. Ibs is different with everyone hope u find a solution. I believe mine came from stress and panic attacks

 

[MrRoot]

Has anyone been on Lyrica alone for mild to moderate pain? Has it helped?

I am experiencing some pain while tapering out of oxycodone after succesfull spinal surgery but after drop in a dose on this monday I have been experiencing some pain and hope it doesn't last and is due that drop alone. If it does continue I would like to have something else than opiate for my pain.

Lyrica seems to help for opiate withdrawals and PAWS too for others so I guess it could also help me to stay sober after quitting opiates although I know it can be abused too.

 

[BigG]

Dam Englandgz, im so sorry bro. Pain clinics are so bitch. That just sounds silly what he said. I dont blame you for ducking out of work. Im in a lot of pain too but thats my oen fault. I go to my pain clinic and fill out same 5 pages of paperwork then go in and asked the same 25 questions, prescription then drug test. I shouldnt need one every month but with my weed thing in Jan they test me to make sure im not smoking.

I feel for ya homie. It shouldnt be that hard to get pain meds when youre obviously in pain. Just try to move forward and stuff. Easier said then done, i know. Again, sorry bud. Better luck to you in the future!

Thanks Closeau....Its not so much that I can't get meds....i can. I've got an open prescription for morphine but I was just hoping for something positive for this appointment that I've been waiting months for not to be fobbed off with some shit that ive already heard a thousand times before.

He really treat me like an idiot ....I've been in pain management for 20 years and he just asked me the most stupid questions and didn't listen to anything i said.

He even asked me What I did for a living and when I said paramedic he said a few minutes later "so how long have you been a teacher?"...

I was like "errr what??"

Never mind though......

 

[BigG]

Has anyone been on Lyrica alone for mild to moderate pain? Has it helped?

I am experiencing some pain while tapering out of oxycodone after succesfull spinal surgery but after drop in a dose on this monday I have been experiencing some pain and hope it doesn't last and is due that drop alone. If it does continue I would like to have something else than opiate for my pain.

Lyrica seems to help for opiate withdrawals and PAWS too for others so I guess it could also help me to stay sober after quitting opiates although I know it can be abused too.

Lyrica will help neuropathic pain but Usually in combination with opiates...

I'm in a similar situation where I can't take opiates anymore and looking for alternatives...

I don't like lyrica though...

 

[MrRoot]

This is definately due central neuropathic pain caused by compression of spinal nerves as it appears in same places where I experiences numbness and variating cold and hot feelings and also the pain area is where the nerves from the damaged area leads.

Need to find some studies about Lyrica being used alone for neuropathic pain and sensations but all I found are done with opiates.

Well luckily it is just a week until I have a control visit to a doctor and can discuss about it.

 

[MrRoot]

I just wish that cebranopadol would soon be approved for use.

I was on the clinical tests and figured out I was on this novel drug instead of placebo or tapentadol control drug by noticing which pills of the dosett had active ingredients in it by checking how each of them tasted without the coating.

Lovely drug for controlling chronic neuropathic pain as there were zero recreational effects and no effects on motor coordination or anything else than controlling the pain.

 

[AnnaBanana333]

Personally, I was on Cymbalta (similar to Lyrica) for lower back pain and nerve pain.

It did help, but over the course of the year, it made me gain 12 pounds of water weight. So I decided to go off. I did a doctor controlled taper, probably too fast, because I'm vain, and wanted the weight off for summer, but it was the WORST experience of my life. I guess it may have been easier if I went slower, but still...

I felt like I was dying. And then I wanted to die. And I knew it was all from withdrawal, but it was still wretched. After 9 months, I've lost the 12 pounds plus 6 more. I still have nerve pain, but it's not too bad.

Also, going on it was the weirdest 3 days ever. I felt like I was in the Matrix. I asked, will this be weird since I'm not depressed? They said, No. They also didn't discuss the possibility of terrible withdrawal or the fact that your body will become dependent OR that I might gain tons of weight. Honestly, if these doctors ever experienced any of these things ONCE, they would be more careful.

Overall, I can't complain; I go to a fantastic facility and have good experiences. But I had to stop my husband from marching down there to punch someone's lights out when he saw how fragile my psyche was.

End rant.

 

[DixiChik]

Oh, what the hell...Let's keep this rant rolling! It helps to purge the anguish...at least for a minute!

Lewd, but it makes me giggle...My uncle started dating my aunt not long after her divorce in 1983. They loved to go dancing/partying, so would come out to the clubs where my husband played. Anyhoo, my uncle would get HAPPY with his Crown neat. One night I asked him how he handled my aunt's low moods/depression? He said "Hell, Dixi, I get depressed, too. We just fuck a while, cry a while, fuck again then cry some more!" Classic quote, as he would never have talked that way if sober.

I guess the moral of the story is that you just do what you have to do, enjoy the good...survive the bad. They married in 1985, had great times traveling the world for almost 15 years. They died (of cancer) within a year of one another. The loss was devastating, but the memories we shared with them will forever make me laugh.

It's strangely nippy out this evening...bonfire and moonshine anyone? nice glass of Moscato? FFS, at the very least decaf coffee with Caramel Macchiato? Hey englandgz...You can bring the Krispy Kreme doughnuts! My pastor salivates when the "hot/fresh" neon sign flashes. Hmmm...that could be misconstrued as rather lewd too, huh?

Yes, I have a potty mouth. Yes, I have a pastor. I've never introduced one to the other...No plans to do so, either.

englandgz...Just a thought? Does Torodol help you? I know it shouldn't be taken long term for safety of kidneys, but it helps me during a flare. It sucks that the specialist was patronizing towards you. Decadron shots help me, too. But again, benefit vs. harm. I joke that I won't need a healthy liver/kidneys if I suck a lead lollipop.

Lyrica wasn't for me either, Anna. I too am rather vain. I won't take anything with weight gain as a SE. Neurontin lightens my angst, but it seemed to increase my appetite, so "nope". Both are lifesavers for many, so I don't dogpile either of them. Yes, doctors should be more forthcoming with SEs. But y'all know how little respect I have for gods in white coats. I try really hard to not paint them with a broad brush, but...

RTP...Sending hopeful vibes your way, as your tests will have been completed by now, right? You're spinning a lot of plates right now with one hand, literally. I DO so hope that your doctors can get things sorted out for you before it all crashes.

MrRoot & Mayj97...Welcome! Hope you'll find a comfy place and stay a while.

closeau, SKR, etal...Holla! SKR, the "Southern dialect" is on point, my brotha. Kudos!

 

[Runtoparadise]

Psychiatrist diagnosed me with post concussion disorder & scripted me an AD & told me most ppl that have a mild TBI that lasts longer than six mths have to learn to live with the symptoms long term.

My physician said first visit, he'll wrk with me via teleconference & probably add other meds in as we go.

Apparently I ticked all the psychs boxes plus more lol, for his diagnosis

Englandgz, sorry it didn't go so well, doctors always play ya like a puppet & u have to jump thru rings & hoops & run in circles. Until u find the right one, IMHO

Welcome mr root, lyrica was approved for treating neuropathic pain, I know of plenty of ppl who take that or Gabapentin alone.

Dixi, always entertaining

Left home at ten am & leaving city at peak hr, 5.30pm!!! Loooooong day til I'm home!

Rtp xx

 

[BigG]

What AD have you been given RTP? Never had any luck with them myself.

I'm seeing my own gp today to see of anything positive can be done seeing as the whole pain clinic appointment was such a bust yesterday.

I still can't get over him not listening to anything I said. And then when he asked how long I'd been a teacher!!

I'm thinking ..."I'm (supposedly) on my way to work after here and am wearing a uniform with my job title written in about 4 different places on it plus a name badge and you ask me how long I've been a teacher!!!" WTF!!!

 

[Runtoparadise]

^Bahahaha

Remember, even with doctors there is always someone that came bottom of the class.

Think you just saw one of them ?

Rtp xx

 

[MrRoot]

^ There was while ago discussion about healthcare professional who burned out because they couldn't detach themselves emotionally from what their patients are going through. I guess that guy has already learned how to detach even while you are sitting in front of him.

Went to see a gp today and my own was on a sick leave so I had a new one. I told him about my problems and all the time he was typing on a computer saying "Uhum. Mmmm. Okay. Well. Hmmm. Right." and finally he suggested me to take Ambien for my sleep problem although I had just said that I don't want Ambien as I have been abusing it before. Maybe he was posting on bluelight instead of taking notes. I decided not to go any further into details for my back pain as he might just up the dose I am tapering down at the moment.

Doctors who write to their tablet instead seem atleast much more empathic than those who turn their back to write with their pc.

 

[closeau]

Englandgz, im trippin on how stupid your Dr was. Not only did you tell him what you did you had your uni on. My God, its scary whos behind those desks sometimes.

 

[BigG]

Thanks guys....yeah the.bloke was a complete dick alright.

I went to see my GP today too tell him about the pain appointment and was somehow seen by a nice Polish lady doctor instead.

She was good actually. She have me a spinal cortisone epidural and sent me home with a load of morphine tablets, some pregabalin. Since I won't have to be doing any driving at work for the next few weeks (doing clinical researc) I could take them if I wanted for a bit.

Hope all is well with my flow pain peeps....

Sending virtual huggs to all (((())))

 

[ScuicidalNod]

So, hey...
Been going to a new acupuncturist, he seems really good.
He does what is called "Battlefield acupuncture" on me. He basically puts semi-perminent needles in my ears. It is like getting a piercing, but does not go all the way through. It can sting like a mofo for a few minutes...It kills enough pain that I can walk and sleeep and stuff. I'm reducing my meds (more like not obtaining) and this helps
My god. As soon as I say that I get a machine gun sneeze series and almost cut my nipple off w/ my fingernail.

 

[Runtoparadise]

^haha, the sneezes I'd get in early wd stages were ridiculously funny. If anyone could find humour in acute opi wd I could. The sneezes would get up to the mid thirties & once I swallowed while sneezing. Nearly killed me!

Whatever helps right? If it's acupuncture or an epidural...

Englandgz, was it just cortisone or lignocaine (etc) as well? Has it helped? If just cortisone guess u won't know for a few days yet.

Yes, driving & lyrica don't go well. Just discussing that ystrdy with another patient at my drs.

Get your stuff done for the day then take it if you don't have a decent tolerance.

Going for drinks & pizza with my girlfriends tonight, not a late night but it'll be good.

I'm fortunate to have a couple of very understanding friends who actually "understand", then a few others & close neighbours who I don't really discuss my issues with but they know I'm not in good form & are there if I need a hand or just a casual coffee catch up.

I know many of you are/or feel alone, I'm so glad we have this thread dudes & dudettes

Rtp xx

 

[AnnaBanana333]

Oh man, I posted and it deleted!

Ok; I dare the next person who sees a doctor to ask, 'Can I have a large fries and a Diet Coke?' If they actually ask, say something about a diet? But whoever takes it the furthest, can get the most crazy questions in, wins!

 

[Runtoparadise]

A new dr once asked my age & I was in a funny mood & with a straight face replied "nine".

He was speechless for over a minute until I cracked up & confessed I was kidding. (Ps: this was prior to the hit & run, I was pretty normal in the head, just a Weird sense of humour).

Rtp