Harm Reduction The Pain Management Mega Thread Version 4

[Doomed2pain]

Michael is right. It is also against the rules to ask how to get high off your pain medication

 

[dt6]

I'm new here, but reading through your posts I had to stop and say WOW!! That is some SERIOUS dose's of med's you are on. I honestly can not believe you are getting these meds from a primary care dr.! I haven't read the more recent posts yet, but at 35 yrs old, you better watch your butt building a "tolerance" to those high dose's. And your Dr. better too.

 

[Doomed2pain]

^ most people on here are prescribed medication from various kinds of specialists, and we all know about tolerance it comes as part of the territory for chronic pain patients that have to go down the narcotics road.

 

[macd610]

^ most people on here are prescribed medication from various kinds of specialists, and we all know about tolerance it comes as part of the territory for chronic pain patients that have to go down the narcotics road.

Yeah ...not sure how that comment was useful in any way.
Doomed, hope you're feeling better, and that your meds arrived.
Hope everyone else is doing well too
Cat

 

[Doomed2pain]

Do you mean my comment or the one I was responding to? It is snowing here so of course my pain is sky rocketing accordingly, hope you are well Cat

 

[macd610]

Do you mean my comment or the one I was responding to? It is snowing here so of course my pain is sky rocketing accordingly, hope you are well Cat

I apologize, I should have quoted the post I was referencing...NOT yours, Doomed.
I meant that I did not see any value in the post before yours. Obviously the person has no idea what it's like to be in chronic pain, fortunately for him or her.
Sorry for the confusion honey.

 

[muppypud]

as was mentioned in a previous post,
it;s pretty clear he's/she's are going to just have to survive, lol No biggie
Hope you be feeling better
Hugs
muppy

 

[macd610]

as was mentioned in a previous post,
it;s pretty clear he's/she's are going to just have to survive, lol No biggie
Hope you be feeling better
Hugs
muppy

The part I didn't get was...there was no mention of the poster being in any kind of pain. At the same time, the phrase "I'm new here" sorta sounds like they mean new to this thread.
Based on that possibility:
dt6, if you are a CPP ( or are dealing with any type of pain), welcome! We are glad to have you.
For future reference, it'd be helpful for you to introduce yourself and tell us what you're going through pain wise. Comments (especially derogatory) regarding others' med use isn't of use to anyone here or yourself.
If you're reading this and would like to try posting again, we'd be glad to hear about any experiences you would like to share and any questions you may have. ( I just saw that was your first post.)
I hope everybody else is doing okay today. Once in awhile I will wake myself up sort of whimpering in pain and this morning was 1 of those days, unfortunately
I've noticed that if my pain gets out of control like that overnight it's pretty hard to catch up with. My medications only seem to work half as well if I wait until I'm in overly serious pain to take them...I mean, the meds I take are FOR serious pain only; I guess I meant that there's a fine line for me. Sometimes my pain is at the point where I will be unable to get relief later if I put off taking meds at that moment. It can easily get out of control.
On the other hand, there have been times when I have thought I was in that place, but the pain ends up being transient. Then I get angry because I know I've wasted meds.
It's hard to figure out sometimes. It seems like as soon as I think I understand my pain, something weird happens and I then question everything I think I know.
I'm rambling. I apologize, guys. Today has been rough so far and I'm getting nervous bc I took my BT meds as soon as I woke up in pain. It's been about an hour and I'm only getting VERY minimal results.
I'm gonna stop typing now! Thanks for reading my nonsense
Cat

 

[Shady Kaity]

Hatrix- i too have become a little out of shape since my pain started. I avoided exercise because i was afraid itd make it worse and sometimes i was just in too much pain. But, my PT proved right and strengthing my muscles and specifically core has helped a lot! I highly recommend getting back into cardio. If youd like to talk more feel free to message me or something!
Doomed2pain - i promise imgoing to get back to your reply! Its been a shitty shitty week for me. :/
also, is anyone taking Methotrexate? My rheumy rxd ontop of my plaquenil. Any reviews or experiences on this med? Its a scary med from what ive read. I took 15mgs on saturday and felt incredibly weak and tired and had little appetite. Then the headache started and just got worse into the next day. I had these side effects for mainly just saturday and sunday. Then the fatigue lasted a bit into monday too.

 

[Coraline]

Well it's been awhile but I'm back.

I have been through a lot in the past few months but things are getting better.

My pain is still high. I started on my old meds today. I hope the work like they did when I first started taking them.

To all the newbies who I haven't met yet hello! I hope all are doing well.

A little of my history;

DDD
Faucet joint disease
Arthritis
Pinched nerves
Bulging discs
Neuropathy
Migraines
Spasms
And the complications that come with it. I'm doing better. I just started work a while ago.

 

[tentram]

^what's your diagnoses, sweety? i've forgotten, unless you've never listed it.

i get most all those symptoms above that you listed. i've a DDD called spondylosis and as a result have curvature in my lumbar region, sclerosis on my facet joints (most damaged is the right side), sciatica, neuropathy from pinched nerves and slipping discs. arthritis too! woo, aren't we a lucky duo

with the rain on and off again and temperatures and humidity fluctuating back and forth i've been battling extra pain for a few weeks now. arthritis has been playing up a fair bit, swollen ankles and knees, aching bones and a few chronic headaches which have turned into migraines of which i haven't suffered regularly for a long time now so i've been left dealing as well as i possibly can. it's resulted in the usual side effect of getting only 3 hours solid sleep before i wake up around 2-3am for a while until i sometimes fall back asleep until around 7-8am. sometimes i'm left laying, tossing and turning for a few hours before i'm able to drift back into a little longer "sleep in". fortunately it hasn't been affecting my mood and energy levels as i've been eating really quite well and drinking plenty of water

i woke up this morning with a pain around a 7-8/10 before i got my scripts refilled and got my fix into me this morning which eradicated every which little nagging back. i extend the thanks to the diazepam as well, and of course these few beers i'm into at the moment :D

 

[muppypud]

Hi Cat...just wanted to chime in real quick on your comment

The part I didn't get was...there was no mention of the poster being in any kind of pain. At the same time, the phrase "I'm new here" sorta sounds like they mean new to this thread.

People are strange....and just because the thread is basically for us really hurting folks to support each other, doesn't mean we won't get our share of nut jobs.
Up until last year I had spent 8 years on a chronic pain board...I was a moderator for most 0f that time, so I got to see the weird stuff that many menbers didn't. We all hurt too much to play games.

A good majority of those that weren't in physical pain were just needy mentally ill, or the really lonely...they knew we would be at least kind to them. After all, there wasn't a specific rule that you have to be ill, although common sense would dictate that to be the way it all worked.
Unfortunately a quarter of those folks were trolls, and took great delight in upsetting really ill people...sick bastards.

Seems I haven't met most of you....I appreciate you all letting me into your little click....I can honestly say that everyone has been sweet and down to earth...I like that. Being in contant pain leaves me little room to deal with drama.

 

[tentram]

hey,muppy! nice to meet you, i'm tentram aka leftwing; glad you found your way here you're more than welcome to join in, my friend. make yourself at home, we're all welcome here! i wouldn't say there's much a clique in here, just individuals who keep in contact on the regular sharing our experiences and are aware of others conditions, etc through correspondence over an amount of time on the board. well i suppose there is a bit of a clique, though, no circle jerking, ya know?

what's this PM board you used to be a moderator at? if you don't want to share publicly would you mind pming the details so i can have a browse? that would be much appreciated

 

[macd610]

Hi Cat...just wanted to chime in real quick on your comment



People are strange....and just because the thread is basically for us really hurting folks to support each other, doesn't mean we won't get our share of nut jobs.
Up until last year I had spent 8 years on a chronic pain board...I was a moderator for most 0f that time, so I got to see the weird stuff that many menbers didn't. We all hurt too much to play games.

A good majority of those that weren't in physical pain were just needy mentally ill, or the really lonely...they knew we would be at least kind to them. After all, there wasn't a specific rule that you have to be ill, although common sense would dictate that to be the way it all worked.
Unfortunately a quarter of those folks were trolls, and took great delight in upsetting really ill people...sick bastards.

Seems I haven't met most of you....I appreciate you all letting me into your little click....I can honestly say that everyone has been sweet and down to earth...I like that. Being in contant pain leaves me little room to deal with drama.

Muppy, thanks for the insight. I think here on the Pain management megathread we are lucky ....we really don't see too many inflammatory posts that are truly ill-motivated. This is the only forum I've EVER participated in, so I don't have much experience with online conversation.
This thread is amazing. Everyone is welcome, as Tentram said. Of course, we all have certain people we can relate to and that's the whole purpose of this place, I guess!
I'm certainly glad you're here!
And HI TENTRAM! !
Cat

 

[ReversiblePulpitis]

Do any of you see a Nurse Practitioner at your clinic for regular visits and not a Dr?

My clinic's Dr is often giving speeches throughout the country, advocating for pain management. As a result, he isn't available to be seen as often, and the NPs see a lot of patients. I've seen one of the NPs for over a year now, having been in PM for approx 2 years. At the beginning of my treatment, I did see the Dr for a handful of first appointments. He was always the best guy to deal with, very understanding and compassionate. The NPs can be nice, but due to high patient loads, they often have bad days where they are difficult to work with - not receptive to changes in meds or dosing.

I'm 29 years old, about to graduate from Dental school. The Dr was also very understanding of my profession taking a toll on my lower back condition, and had no apprehension about treating a health professional who would treating patients of his own. It's hard to disagree considering dependence and tolerance and an utter lack of interference of opioids with my abilities.

I'm going to work with my Dad (also a Dentist) as soon as I graduate, for a few years until hes ready to retire. They knew I was receiving treatment, but weren't aware of the chronic opioid treatment. About 6 months ago, my parents got snoopy and discovered the meds I was on (at the time, Opana ER and Dilaudid for BT). They both are very anti-opioid treatment and voiced strongly their opinion that it was only masking the problem, as well as creating the opioid dependence. After discovering it, they went as far as to call the Dr's office, threatening them with a lawsuit or reporting them for "drugging me up". They claimed that they had noticed symptoms of opioid side effects (news to me, as they had never said anything to me or my wife). It was an easy accusation to make, and difficult one to argue against because obviously dependence is a fact of this treatment and it can cause drowsiness, flat affect, etc. All the while I've been successfully making my way through Dental school, not exactly the easiest thing to do if I had been "doped up".

The Nurse met with my parents and I during a surprise visit they made without telling me (they drove the 3 hours from their home for this "intervention"). They scared the Nurse enough that she stopped my meds, and switched me to subutex for "pain"... avoiding prescribing or labelng it in my record for addiction treatment. Ever since that day, she has looked at me differently - treated me "cautiously" and with prejudice -- obviously she was scared enough by my mother, that she has put her "fears" above standing up for my need for treatment. At times, I've felt that she's been looking for an excuse to even kick me out. But I've followed their rules to the T, including all of their recommendations: in house counseling, and the addition of a non-opioid pain pill: my neurologist who treats me for seizure prevention, switched me to Lamictal due to its off-label indication to treat neuro-muscular pain.

A few months later, with wife in tote, we were able to talk her into fentanyl patches. This was the ONLY modality she was willing to consider, without a BT med. My pain was causing too much interference in my abilities at school (pain causing bigger issues than any pain killer, go figure - isnt that why the treatment exists?) I've been told by spine orthos that my only option was spinal fusion. At this time, not something I wish to pursue. My wife has had 4 operations, including fusion -- none have "cured" her, and she remains on opioids to function herself.

These last few months at school are CRAZY with completing requirements, and board examinations. Last week, my appt was on a Thurs morning. It was due to blizzard that day, so I called and requested my appt for the day prior -- I had enough time to run in and out, and go back to school.
I arrived and they requested the first UA in a year. I was bone dry, and had ZERO time to drink enough fluids to urinate, wait around for the result, and get back to school on time following seeing the NP. I informed the receptionist of this (this wasn't my scheduled appt after all, when I had made arrangements to have enough time). I rescheduled for the next week, when I would be into withdrawal.

Monday comes, tues appt time. Round two of blizzard set to hit Monday night into Tuesday. Called and requested a partial script until I could make it in later that week. The assistant called back, informing me that since I "refused the UA", that they could not give me ANY meds without being seen, and that I had broken my pain contract. She said they were seeing patients freely up until 2PM, before closing their doors for the storm. I said I'd do my best. My wife had her appt that morning.

I could not make it, school kept me busy due to impending storm. I have my own patients to care for!

During my wife's appt, the NP told her that I had again "refused" my UA, and if it were up to her (not sure what that meant), I'd be KICKED out. Mind you, I had been told when she switched me to Fentanyl a few months prior that the only reason she was willing to do so, was because of my otherwise flawless record.

It's obvious to me that her prejudice against me, and perhaps her frustration with the way her day was going, to quote she "had 60 patients to see today, and I dont have time to deal with your husband".

My wife pleaded with her, stood up for me and my own busy schedule so I can graduate DDS school for god's sake.

My wife was lucky enough to get me in with the Dr on Friday at 1pm. An extra patch that I had kept is the only thing keeping me from withdrawal and being bed ridden -- and subsequently not being able to even go to school.

Have any of you had any experiences with getting different treatment from a NP versus the clinic Doc?
btw, upon my wife's appointment that day, she was not asked for a UA. Go figure. Oh, and I would have passed with flying colors, I was not trying to avoid detection of ANYTHING. My career depends on my treatment. I cannot overlook the debilitating pain in my low back, butt, and thighs/legs during treating patients hunched over in a dental chair. I also dont need a medical record calling me an addict as a soon to be Dr who needs the ability to Rx controlled substances.

During times of confrontation or in nervous situations, I find that I can write better than fumble thru talking.

Im thinking of writing my version of the story on paper, and letting the Doc reading it when he comes in the room. Does that not sound like an appropriate thing to do?

What about including that I'd be glad to submit to UAs from here on out, etc?

Hell, to be accurate -- I'll only be at that clinc for maybe 2-3 more appts before Ill be moving back home, and obtaining a new PM doc anyway. I hate for this to go down literally a couple of appointments before going to a new clinic.

Im trying to stay positive, and hoping the NP doesn't try to sabotage my appt with the Dr. There's no telling what has already been written in my chart.

I plan on admitting that I understand the sensitivity of what they do, but ask that he understand that it wasn't a "refusal", and had it now snowed that week, my appt would have been the following morning and wouldnt be in this situation.

The idea of one strike (other than the parental confrontation) and Im out thanks to the clinic's NP is appalling and scary.

Any advice that's within the bounds of the forum rules? If it needs to be via PM, please feel free. I know that no-one can tell the future, but in the meantime Im going to go ahead and draft the letter to make myself feel prepared, and feel better.

 

[tentram]

And HI TENTRAM! !
Cat

heya, you how are things going apart from the increased spikes of pain in the mornings?

i've been similar a bit; as soon as i wake up i'm already sitting on a 5-6 pain level sometimes it's just a matter of getting out of bed and into a warm shower to loosen and free my back muscles up and it drops a few points and i become a lot more mobile with an obvious spike in happiness as a result - i'm no longer "tired" and grumpy.

otherwise, it's been raining on and off here for the last little while and i've had non-stop fluctuations in pain levels as it goes from pouring down rain to no rain but extremely hot and humid then it will turn cold. my arthritis is playing up quite a bit and i've noticed quite a bit of fluid build up in my knees and ankles. and then with the extra pains comes the pinching of the nerves across my lumbar area and sciatic pain as well as nerves in my rib area being pressed/pinched which sometimes results with me having trouble breathing freely for a short while. i'm at the point sometimes where i'm gasping for little breaths just to get some air in me. thankfully after my valium dose it eases up a hell of a lot, mostly clearing but with lingering pain.

i was meant to have a chat about lowering my dosage of morphine or possibly switching back to oxycontin with my doctor yesterday at my appt; both pof us forgot even though he'd written a note the visit before for us to have a discussion about which way to go. no biggy, though, really. always next fortnight

i'm up extra early this morning and am at the laundromat at the moment to wash and dry my clothes because of the rain. i took 400mg of morphine throughout the day yesterday so was unable to get a proper sleep. got the old opiate affetcted sleep where you'r nodding in and out at stages then you're sleeping lightly for a while until you wake up from lucid dreaming - which has been cool. so i'm just taking half my dose today with hopes of catching up on some sleep throughout the day in this lovely overcast weather. i haven't slept very well over the last week and all i need is a night or two of decent sleep and i'll be right! wish me luck, ha!

how's everyone else travelling along today/tonight, wherever you are?

 

[Doomed2pain]

I've had a lot of stress the past few days which of course has caused me an increase in pain due to the stress. I don't know what to do I've tried everything to get my pain and stress levels down but nothing is working, the pain is even causing pain in my head that feels like my brain is on fire, I'm also struggling mentally. Does stress increase anyone else pain wise? I know that stress affects my condition greatly my drs always remind me to stay away from any excess of stress as much as I can, I was just wondering if it affects any other conditions this way? Hope everyone is having a low pain day

 

[ReversiblePulpitis]

I apologise for the length of my post, Im sure it's a deterrent for most folks to even take a skim through it. Even if I receive no response, Im happy to have vented myself. That said, if any of my fellow CPPs could take a look and respond, it'd be most appreciated.

 

[Doomed2pain]

^ are you in the states? I'm in the uk and pain management differs greatly in each country

 

[ReversiblePulpitis]

Ah, yea I'm in the states.
Are pain mngmt Doctors allowed to have Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants (Nurse's with extended education, Master's Degrees that allow them to Prescribe under the indirect supervision of a Doc) that see CP patients and oversee the vast majority of their care?
(in the UK that is)