AbraMontague
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2000
- Messages
- 1,006
Well, following the footsteps of Griff, I visited the ER today. I just got back actually.
Basically, this morning, I was barefoot and walked out of my bedroom and turned the corner and accidentally kicked the ungodly shit out of the wall. I was layed out on my bed for about 5 minutes unable to do anything. My pinky toe turned purple and swole up. I made it through work (barely) and stopped at the ER on the way home because the pain had got worse and I wanted some xrays. I didn't break anything and when asked how my pain was on a 1-10 scale I said 6. This is credible I thought but I should point out that when I try to flex my toe and stand on it the pain is more like 7-8. For my trouble I got 4 T3's and a script for 20 more to fill tomorrow. Nothing worth bragging about but I was seriously concerned that I broke my foot. I just took all 4 of the T3's I have and when I flex my toe, it still hurts like a bitch. So tommorrow, I am going to my family doctor and explain that the t3s aren't helping the pain. Last time I went to him for pain, I had a bruised rib that was probably only about as painful as my toe now. But he (being the nice reliable family doc) said I will give you some pills you can take for the pain and gave me 30 Vicodin ES without any prodding. So I should end up with some decent painkillers tomorrow and will have some t3s for a rainy day. This isn't bad considering that my Mom's insurance pays 100% on accidents so it costs me nothing to go to the ER for my toe.
I cannot emphasize the importance of this universal measure of pain. For those who don't know, 1 would be minimal pain (you picked your nose too vigorously) and 10 is excrutiating (kidney stone). Your pain rating on this scale and whether or not the doctor believes you are being truthful will determine what painkillers if any you get. If your pain is 5 (moderate) or less, you probably won't get shit, you might have to ask them to get them to give you naprosyn. I am only guesstimating but if the doctor gives you an opiate it will be in the following manner. For a true rating of 5-6, I would imagine t3s would be given to you. For 7-8, vicodin. For 9-10, oxy or another CII single narcotic. But don't be a dumbass and assume that you can hurt your ankle and go there and say your pain is a 9 out of 10 and expect anything besides getting laughed at. I have had a kidney stone before (read: 10/10) and it is hard to fake that kind of pain. You cannot talk coherently, you might be moaning in pain, curled up in a ball, etc. So what I am saying is that you should probably never say more than 8/10 and with 8 you better cringe when you talk and appear to be in serious pain. For 9 or 10 (the good narcotics), they won't ask you to rate your pain because it will be obvious. You would be in wretched shape and they would decide you give you a shot of something.
Btw, also tell them when they ask what medicines you are allergic to that naprosyn is one of them. Tell them it severely upsets your stomach (it really does that to me). That way, the chance of getting a NSAID will be lessened. Also, while I am at it, t'3s suck. I am barely light headed off of 4. I guess I will try the cold water extraction and take about 8 next time.
Sorry for ranting but each visit to the ER is a learning experience and for some good opiates, it is worth being knowledgable.
Also, I have a question for those semiknowledgable about hospitals and painkillers (what a combination). Is it pretty rare for a hospital to give you a strong opiate intravenously for severe pain? To illustrate, my cousin had a hernia removed and when he woke up he was practically screaming in pain. He got a hip shot of morphine and went back to sleep. My brother, fell while doing a trick on rollerblades, and broke his forarm in half (compound fracture, both bones jutting out of the skin, $30,000 surgery bill) and when he got to the hospital they gave him 10mg IV morphine (he then puked all over himself). Do ER's not use the IV route much and prefer the IM because the IV gives a rush that might cause some patients to become dope fiends (don't mean to sound like the DEA but I am lacking better words)? Even if you are in severe pain, you are still going to get a rush from IV morphine or dilaudid or demerol aren't you. Thanks.
Basically, this morning, I was barefoot and walked out of my bedroom and turned the corner and accidentally kicked the ungodly shit out of the wall. I was layed out on my bed for about 5 minutes unable to do anything. My pinky toe turned purple and swole up. I made it through work (barely) and stopped at the ER on the way home because the pain had got worse and I wanted some xrays. I didn't break anything and when asked how my pain was on a 1-10 scale I said 6. This is credible I thought but I should point out that when I try to flex my toe and stand on it the pain is more like 7-8. For my trouble I got 4 T3's and a script for 20 more to fill tomorrow. Nothing worth bragging about but I was seriously concerned that I broke my foot. I just took all 4 of the T3's I have and when I flex my toe, it still hurts like a bitch. So tommorrow, I am going to my family doctor and explain that the t3s aren't helping the pain. Last time I went to him for pain, I had a bruised rib that was probably only about as painful as my toe now. But he (being the nice reliable family doc) said I will give you some pills you can take for the pain and gave me 30 Vicodin ES without any prodding. So I should end up with some decent painkillers tomorrow and will have some t3s for a rainy day. This isn't bad considering that my Mom's insurance pays 100% on accidents so it costs me nothing to go to the ER for my toe.
I cannot emphasize the importance of this universal measure of pain. For those who don't know, 1 would be minimal pain (you picked your nose too vigorously) and 10 is excrutiating (kidney stone). Your pain rating on this scale and whether or not the doctor believes you are being truthful will determine what painkillers if any you get. If your pain is 5 (moderate) or less, you probably won't get shit, you might have to ask them to get them to give you naprosyn. I am only guesstimating but if the doctor gives you an opiate it will be in the following manner. For a true rating of 5-6, I would imagine t3s would be given to you. For 7-8, vicodin. For 9-10, oxy or another CII single narcotic. But don't be a dumbass and assume that you can hurt your ankle and go there and say your pain is a 9 out of 10 and expect anything besides getting laughed at. I have had a kidney stone before (read: 10/10) and it is hard to fake that kind of pain. You cannot talk coherently, you might be moaning in pain, curled up in a ball, etc. So what I am saying is that you should probably never say more than 8/10 and with 8 you better cringe when you talk and appear to be in serious pain. For 9 or 10 (the good narcotics), they won't ask you to rate your pain because it will be obvious. You would be in wretched shape and they would decide you give you a shot of something.
Btw, also tell them when they ask what medicines you are allergic to that naprosyn is one of them. Tell them it severely upsets your stomach (it really does that to me). That way, the chance of getting a NSAID will be lessened. Also, while I am at it, t'3s suck. I am barely light headed off of 4. I guess I will try the cold water extraction and take about 8 next time.
Sorry for ranting but each visit to the ER is a learning experience and for some good opiates, it is worth being knowledgable.
Also, I have a question for those semiknowledgable about hospitals and painkillers (what a combination). Is it pretty rare for a hospital to give you a strong opiate intravenously for severe pain? To illustrate, my cousin had a hernia removed and when he woke up he was practically screaming in pain. He got a hip shot of morphine and went back to sleep. My brother, fell while doing a trick on rollerblades, and broke his forarm in half (compound fracture, both bones jutting out of the skin, $30,000 surgery bill) and when he got to the hospital they gave him 10mg IV morphine (he then puked all over himself). Do ER's not use the IV route much and prefer the IM because the IV gives a rush that might cause some patients to become dope fiends (don't mean to sound like the DEA but I am lacking better words)? Even if you are in severe pain, you are still going to get a rush from IV morphine or dilaudid or demerol aren't you. Thanks.
