Opioids Post-Surgery Chronic Pain Question

[ZK18258]

Okay, got a question for anybody.

I was in a serious car accident 13 months ago, I hit the side of a bridge going 75 mph. I actually got off kind of lucky, but I completely obliterated my leg and ankle..my smaller bone in my leg was fractured and my ankle was literally so fractured in so many spots that it was turned inside out facing my face. So I went into the trauma center and had emergency surgery...and it look like 6-8 months to "heal" to where I could hobble along. So my surgeon actually told me that the MRI looks good and I should be able to walk here soon. (4 months ago) For the past four months I've been what you would call, "getting by." My tendons and bones in my make a clicking sound, and sometimes it will click the wrong way and my leg will literally buckle and I'll fall down. Then it will take twenty minutes of putting 10% pressure on my injured leg and hobbling along, to get it (I'm assuming the tendon back in it's correct place.) Then I can walk normal with minor pain for an hour or two..only to have it again. I work on my feet, which has made me go home many of times due to it..I used to love to run, can't do that anymore, loved to play basketball...can't do that anymore..even go on walks....and I can barely do that anymore. I'm 24 years old...and I have an appointment with a foot and ankle specialist..but I feel like they are just going to give me the "take aleve and stretch" thing, or the "you're too young to start a narcotic regimen." I've tried the aleve, tylenol, therapy, everything 1000 times. Im just sitting here and because my ankle is touching a PILLOW, it is hurting and almost making me sick to my stomach. Am I wrong for wanting to be DONE with having to deal with this pain at such a young age?! I am able to do physically about the same that my 70 year old grandpa can, and it's been over 13 months since the surgery so it's only going to get worse. I don't care if I have to take pain killers that just "mask" the pain...masking the pain is a WORLD of different than being 24 years old and unable to play basketball with your brothers like you used to..andddd will not ever be able to again. Will he think I am sort of some drug seeker simply because of my age?

I have a completely legitimate reason for the pain, and I have done anything and everything I can to fix it. Other than see a foot and doctor specialist. I saw a normal walk in clinic doctor, and he said "sorry we don't deal with chronic pain patients."

ANY advice is helped and needed. Thank you all alot.

 

[ouchy]

The familiar sound of frustration. I am sorry to hear about what you are going through. I have walked in your shoes, except mine wasn't a car wreck that messed my body up. I know that when the pain comes AGAIN, it feels like anything would be better than this.

What can I say about being a Chronic Pain Patient that takes opiates? Perhaps I can give you some insight into my life and it can help make your decisions.

13 months seems like a lifetime right now, but I am hopeful for you that you still have some recovery coming. Will he think you are drug seeking? A real pain management doctor won't.

I was at your point in 2005. I couldn't do anything I wanted to do anymore. I awoke before daylight and tried to "walk off" the pain. I had taken so many ibuprofen that I destroyed my stomach, and that option was out. I had taken opiates in spurts over the previous year and the ER visits were beginning to look suspicious. My daughter was going to PM (and she was 20 at the time, so I know you are not too young), and so I got referred there.

I began on a narc and got it adjusted to where HE thinks I should be, but you have to sort of make some adjustments on your own (keeping in mind, you absolutely cannot abuse your meds because they are life long companions). I got a lot of life back. I was able to go places with my grand daughter, work longer hours etc. Sleep until 5:30 AM instead of 4 (lol, big improvement huh)

After years of it, you know you are physically dependent. You know you will run out sometimes, because that is the nature of the beast we call pain, but interestingly enough I discovered that my meds are the best course of action for me. I struggled hard against taking them. I took massive vitamins, exercised like crazy when I could (and don't get me wrong, I still will try other stuff) and even once came down on myself hard about taking a narcotic for so long. I truly believe that last bit is society stigma. I have never been abuser, so I let the stigma go. I know now, that without PM, and that means meds plus tolerance I would have stopped working 3 years ago.

It helps that I am paranoid over too many medications, so I learned to tolerate a lot. I have told my doctor when I took enough to run out because of pain, but frankly I haven't changed meds in 5 years. I have had breakthrough that needed something more and that was an ER visit. Remember AGAIN, pain management can be life long. Before you make this decision consider: You must have some self control and accept that some pain will be there regardless (that keeps you out of your pill bottle and in your head). Use other aids (like heating pads, NSAIDS if you can etc) Admit that narcs do make you buzzed, and though it helps with pain relief, if you use more for it ,that would be an undesired side effect. All drugs have at least some negative impact (groggy maybe, stomach problems maybe) so you will need to be prepared for that..and lastly and most importantly all drugs build some tolerance. That is another reason to not abuse/over use. You need them to work. I couldn't be on the same dose if I had consistently taken more when I thought I needed more for relief. I have never taken more than a safe amount a day, and never more per dose than a doctor would prescribe. I made that decision way back when (because I am not naive I have seen people take handfuls because they are addicted and need more). The tolerance would be the monster for sure at your age.

 

[macd610]

I'm sorry this post won't be very long but I don't have but a couple of minutes. You seem like a very honest person with good intentions and all I can say is: Let go of your fear of being viewed as a drug seeker. Be yourself, be honest with your Drs. Remember ...You have done nothing wrong and behaving as though you have will not help.
This is something I just thought of and it depends largely on your relationship with your Dr. Is it possible for you to be open with your Dr regarding your fears about others being suspicious about your motives when it comes to opiates/opioids? I did this with my Dr. My situation differs from yours, but all pain patients have some things in common...
I had been suffering for about 1.5 years with debilitating lower abdominal pain. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and had surgery. (This was after a your of trying different contraceptives, hormones , and finally hydrocodone was added to the mix.) I continued to have pain and it was worse than it had been before the surgery at times.
From the time I began with the hydrocodone, I was treated differently by my OBGYN and his staff. He treated me with suspicion, he wasn't as friendly, etc...It got to the point where every Monday I would have to call and basically beg for medication.
A couple of weeks after the surgery, he told me that I should not need these pills anymore and questioned my motives for taking them. He also told me that he had cut me some place where he shouldn't have during surgery by accident but that it was no big deal.
This is turning into quite a long story so I'll try to speed it up. I was lucky enough to be referred to a great family doctor by a friend. At that point I was at my wits end and completely miserable. I had started questioning myself. Was I a drug addict? What was wrong with me?
By the time I went to my first appointment with my new doctor I was so stressed out I just burst into tears. I told him everything, along with how my doctor had been treating me and how I was scared I was addicted to medicine. He told me that he could see I was in genuine pain and gave me oxycodone/APAP and referred me to a new OB to confirm my diagnosis and get an examination.
The new OB was great, and my diagnosis was confirmed. From there, my primary care Dr and my OBGYN came to the conclusion that pain management with opiates was the best treatment for me; I was 31 at the time and didn't want a historectomy (sp?).
Now, 2 years later I am on MUCH stronger meds and while my life has dramatically improved, there are new worries. Like the previous poster said, many CPP's become physically dependent on their pain meds. This has happened to me, and I accept this fact. It's natural, but that doesn't mean it's easy.
I know I have gotten a bit carried away lol. My point is that I did well being honest about my fears. I continue to have a great relationship with my Dr and I work hard (which I don't mind at all) to ensure we continue to have an open and trusting relationship.
Pain management can be a long and difficult process, and success is based largely on honesty and earning trust.
I know it's hard and you've been in pain for a long time. I think you will be just fine. Remember though, speak up for yourself! There is no reason why you shouldn't make an appointment and talk about your options.
Well, so much for my "short post"!!! I feel like I talked alot about things that aren't helpful to you, and left out alot that DOES apply lol.
May edit later as I really do have to go. Feel free to PM if you want to vent.
Cat

 

[mrflowers00]

i would be asking doctors for pain killers in that situation i got in a wreak on halloween this year and i already had chronic back and neck pain which have been quite amplified since and i wouldn't be able to get out of bed if it weren't for pain killers and i don't mean alieve

 

[smokemctoke420]

I'm 23 and hurt my back at work cuz I wasn't used to outside work. Idk what indie but I get these knots that I've had since April. I saw a orthopediac doc and had pt but lost my insurance

I got 2 scripts of 5mg ir oxy and shots in my back. I got the scripts even after being to detox twice which my medical insurance covered.

My point is that just because your young doesn't automatically make you a drug seeker. If your obviously in pain they will take care of you, all you gotta do us speak up and explain yourself.

The worse they do is say no. Good luck my friend

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Sometimes my tendons in my arm make a clicking sound too. I am wishing you the best of luck, chronic pain is really hard to live with.

 

[BeachBum4u]

I am a chronic pain patient and have been for over half of my 54 years (I know, geezer) and I've been on numerous and varied amounts of narcotics for years and years. Frankly, they are the only thing that works on my neck pain (basically whiplash and DDD). I hate that society hears buzz words like Oxycontin and freak out! It is absolutely ridiculous and here comes the soapbox - the thing I hate the most is that media and the DEA is going ape shit about narcotics and they don't seem to realize that there are some folks that need this medicine for the rest of their lives. They are not criminals! I saw a show the other night and wished I could bitch slap some of the idiots on the tele. Just because they're on TV doesn't mean they have anything useful to say, just drop it!

I hate that doctors are afraid, yes literally afraid to do what everything in their training says they should do because the big bad wolf (DEA) may be looking over their shoulder and slap them with a criminal arrest. Shame on our government, shame shame! I'd like everyone of them to live in my shoes and then let me stand in front of them and hold their possible pain relief in the palm of my hand and say, "Oh you need this pill here, so sorry but you can't have it. I might get arrested if I hand it over, so go home and suffer". Shame Shame!!!