Fun with pain management

[ThomCat]

Well, I have finally reached that point. I now need to get one of those weekly pill boxes that separates out your morning, afternoon and evening pills. :(

My prescribed dose of painkiller is increasing. My maximum dose of another med is increasing. I'm starting two new meds with conflicting known side effects. And, joy of joys, I'm going back in for epidurals! Once ever two weeks for the next 6 weeks.

I have a wonderful, awesome pain management doctor/surgeon. But damn... does everything have to escallate and get more complicated?

Okay, I'm done complaining now. On with the day! :P

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. sorry

:hug:

[ThomCat]

12. .

:hug:

[Hugin]

2. Heck, I'm only on the daily pillbox!

Bummer ThomCat. :/

Sorry about the pain, too.

[ThomCat]

11. It's just a thing to deal with.

:)

I gripe about it because it's healthy to gripe on occasion.

:hug:

[Deep13]

3. Shit, dude, all I can say is good luck...

...and hope you find some comfort.

[ThomCat]

9. There is always comfort to be found.

:)

I have DUers coming over this Saturday for a dinner party. That is getting me through the week. I'm going a bit crazy trying to prepare for it, but I'm also having a lot of fun.

[seemunkee]

4. That sucks

I hope you're at least getting some relief with all those meds.

[ThomCat]

8. Yes, the meds are a huge help.

But, unfortunately, that means I can't function without them.
:shrug:

Homefully the new meds will help me function better for longer with less pain.

[zanne]

5. Have you ever had a "discogram"?

I know it sounds like alot of fun, but I've been told is isn't. I'm supposed to make an appointment for one and I want to know what I'm in for.

[ThomCat]

7. I don't know what that is.

When you find out, please post it. I hope it's not one of the uncomfortable/painful tests. :hug:

[TZ]

6. My sister has had one of those pill boxes for years

and actually has given me one. However, I have been able to cut back on my meds where I only need to do them once a day....
Hope you have a good day...:)
(I am having another banghead day, I think...)

[ThomCat]

13. I hope your day improves.

:(

Or at least, I hope you can bang your head into someone hard enough to make it all go away. :P

[lizziegrace]

10. ...

:(

:hug:


How close are you to getting a morphine pump? Is that an option? Hopefully you'll have a good weekend and can find some distraction from the pain.

[ThomCat]

15. If the epidurals don't help,

I'm sure we'll be discussing that. But so far, oral narcotics are working well enough to keep me functional.

I'm really resisting the idea of increasing my dose or frequency of painkiller because I still get lightheaded from it. I don't like the way I think and feel when it peaks in my system. I really don't want to feel that way more often, or worse, continually. :(

I'm probably the second worse type of pain patient. The worst is the one who wants to take more and more. The second worst (me) is someone who refuses to take enough. My doctor has only gradually convinced me, over the past 5 years, to increase up to my current level. And if all goes well I'm not getting another increase after this.

[zanne]

17. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I've never needed painkillers on a regular basis but I really feel for people who have to. You either hate the side effects of them or you become addicted. (I was one of the very few who didn't blame Rush Limbaugh)! I wish you the best of luck and I hope that someday there's a way to treat your condition without them.:hug:

[lizziegrace]

21. I'm like you

I refuse to take enough. Or I substitute ibuprofin or similar for the Vicodin I should be taking. Then I get a stomach ulcer. :(

Hang in there friend. I wish there was something more I could do. :(

[ChickMagic]

14. I'm so sorry things have escalated

My wonderful doctor up and quit. Now I'm having to find a new primary care doc and so far, they all say, "Your case is beyond my comfort level". They have talking points. Since when is it my job to make the doctor comfortable??

So, I've gone to the pain clinic. My wonderful doctor had me on meds that kept me fairly active. Rather than continue those, they have to piss on everything. I can't take this, I can't take that. So, my pain level is terrible. I'm having to use a walker. Plus, the pain clinic punishes you if you don't fit into a pigeonhole. When I question something, he says, "Well, we might just refuse to treat you."

Now they want me to go to a - get this - pain psychologist. I'm getting to the point of being despondent and I don't know what to do.

Sorry - this was supposed to be in support of your gripe, but I couldn't help it. :hug:

[ThomCat]

16. Damn.

:(

I hear a lot of stories like that, and I am so glad I have my pain management doctor.

It took me years of searching to find a good General Practitioner. And she knows all the good specialists. After 10 years of shit doctors I finally have an awesome team. My GP, Pain Management, Neurologist and Rheumatologist are all wonderful.

It's heartbreaking to hear about doctors who threaten to leave patients without care, or who insist on bullying patients into treatment plans that are convenient for the doctor but ineffective.

I wish you were near here. :hug:

[lizziegrace]

25. I'm so sorry

:hug:

fighting so hard when you have the least amount of energy to deal with it. :(

[ChickMagic]

27. It's no wonder I'm cranky, huh?

So I have to see a "pain psychologist" because of all the angst
the doctors are putting me through. What a rip.

You're right - Derby has noticed that now I look tired on the
way to work. Before, I just looked tired on the way home.

[redqueen]

18. Aw Thom...

I'm sorry to hear that... but glad the docs are treating you right. That's a wonderful thing.

Here's hoping your day gets better. :hug:

[ThomCat]

19. I'm very fortunate to have my doctors.

I often think about what I would do if I was somewhere else where I didn't have doctors this good.

[Gormy Cuss]

20. Aw crap.

That is all.
:hug:

[ThomCat]

23. Hi GC!

:hug:

It is a lot of crap, but it's less crap than the alternative. :)

[Gormy Cuss]

26. I know, but still

it would be nice if pain management were better understood so that people like you and ginbarn wouldn't be required to go through so much just to get to the right mix of meds.

AND I wish that I were one of the dinner guests this weekend. If I still lived in Boston I would have come down in a New York minute!

[KitchenWitch]

22. All I can do is offer a hug and my friendship!

:hug:

That hug is gentle, so's not to cause you any more pain.

[ThomCat]

24. Those are two awesome gifts.

:hug: