[WilliamCraig]

I've been having weird problems with pain for a little while. I don't think my doctor or anyone around me understands... I'm sure you guys will and am hoping for some help.

When I wake up every morning my back hurts; particularly, where I had bone graft surgery. However, it hurts all over my spine also. It hurts when I move, cough, sneeze, etc. Note that it is not all day... just the first four hours when I wake up usually.

Is it possible that my hardware needs to be removed? I have two rods (herrington?) and two plates surrounding my spine.

Also, my doctor is very cautious when it comes to giving me pain pills. When I lived in Louisiana I was taking the weak Hydrocodone (called 5's, possibly?) about three times a day. When I moved to Arkansas the doctors took me off of the Hydrocodone, and experimented with other pain pills for a while before I finally found a doctor who would give me that which has always worked fine.

However, he only allows me to take one a day.

I am curious as to whether or not he thinks that I am faking my pain, because he asks me weird questions and looks at me weird when I describe it. But, how do I get a doctor to trust me?


Ciao.

This post has been edited by WilliamCraig: 14 April 2008 - 06:36 PM

[Kwag_Myers]

Is your doctor a GP by any chance? If so, I'd be looking for a specialist, like a Physiologist or Neurologist.

[WilliamCraig]

Yeah, he is just a family doctor.

I'm heading to Little Rock in a few days to see a Pain Management doctor.

I'm also going to talk to a doctor about whether or not the hardware in my back is causing pain, and, if so, might I be able to have it removed.

[Illinois Boy]

WilliamCraig, on Apr 16 2008, 02:14 PM, said:

Yeah, he is just a family doctor.

I'm heading to Little Rock in a few days to see a Pain Management doctor.

I'm also going to talk to a doctor about whether or not the hardware in my back is causing pain, and, if so, might I be able to have it removed.

Good Luck William.....

You'd think us being paralized we wouldn't feel pain....

I wish I didn't.......

Jim

[MAMA]

My husband had the same issue with pain in his back and ended up having his harrington rods removed because he had bent them. As far as the pain pills we had to go to a pain clinic and get on a pain program and now he is fine...good luck

[Tired of hurting]

I agree with everyone else Pain Clinic, sometimes you have to mix them up. I mixed them up for 3 years, nothing came close to helping. I'd tell the drs the pains are shooting down the front of my legs. That impossible they would say! Well I got a woman dr she diagnosed T 12 SCI and did a trial for a Baclofen pain pump. You might ask your dr to try baclofen by mouth. I took 20mg every 4 hrs.and tylenal. at night I took 30mg 10/500 lorcet, soma,dantruim,klonopin for bladder spasms. Plus inderal 80mg 2 x aday and procardia both for blood pressure. Now I have the pump I only take blood pressure meds, bladder spasm meds and two pain pills at night....I do hate pain.but mine has gotten so much better.I'm here for you if you need to vent. Good luck

This post has been edited by Tired of hurting: 17 April 2008 - 12:47 AM

[krazyrbone1977]

WilliamCraig, on Apr 14 2008, 06:35 PM, said:

I've been having weird problems with pain for a little while. I don't think my doctor or anyone around me understands... I'm sure you guys will and am hoping for some help.

When I wake up every morning my back hurts; particularly, where I had bone graft surgery. However, it hurts all over my spine also. It hurts when I move, cough, sneeze, etc. Note that it is not all day... just the first four hours when I wake up usually.

Is it possible that my hardware needs to be removed? I have two rods (herrington?) and two plates surrounding my spine.

Also, my doctor is very cautious when it comes to giving me pain pills. When I lived in Louisiana I was taking the weak Hydrocodone (called 5's, possibly?) about three times a day. When I moved to Arkansas the doctors took me off of the Hydrocodone, and experimented with other pain pills for a while before I finally found a doctor who would give me that which has always worked fine.

However, he only allows me to take one a day.

I am curious as to whether or not he thinks that I am faking my pain, because he asks me weird questions and looks at me weird when I describe it. But, how do I get a doctor to trust me?


Ciao.

i have had lots of problems with dr.s and pharmacies giving me a horrible timee just trying to refill my pain meds. its hard enought to have to adjust to paraplegia and ive even had a nnurse holler at me and tell e she wasnt gonna give me any perocet or some other med . that i had nevr ask for or taken. i was tryin to wean off morphine and wanted my regular percocet and she told me to double up on the morphine. i signed a pain contract with the only family dr. i trust and he gives me what i need. i am now on 4 meds and not 8. i just say look around until u find that one u can rely on and trust and to hell with the ones who think we r faking. give them one day in our shoes...

[Hapahowlee]

GPs really don't understand SCI or chronic pain. My husband has a GP now and is able to get a limited amount of pain meds only b/c we had proof from his physiatrist where we used to live that he was taking the meds. But, now his pain is really worse and he requires more or something stronger. My husband has expressed this to the GP who just keeps typing his notes in the computer so Medicare/Ins. will pay the bill while he's saying,"Uh huh." Then he thanks my husband for coming in and leaves. A pain management specialist, physiatrist and maybe a neurlogist but someone who specializes in SCI can help. I get debilitating migraines and have a prescription for 2 different meds. Hydro (10s) for less severe migraines and I have a nasal spray that is not only an analgesic but an anesthetic as well that I take for the severe migraines. That med is similar to morphine. When my husband and I first moved, I went to a few neurologist who gave me such a hard time about getting either of these meds. One Dr. expected me to chose one or the other and another Dr. yelled at me during my first visit when she asked me what I take. I told her how much I didn't appreciate her attitude and told her I don't need a bitch for a Dr. and left.

So a specialist in SCI and/or pain would most likely give you what you need. They would understand even if you don't have the nerves to move certain parts of your body, you still have nerves that register pain. If the Dr. looks at you like your crazy, look back at them like they're crazy and let them know they may need to go back to medical school and figure this out or at least do some research.

[sits2much]

I had a great family doctor who gave me whatever I needed, but now i'm in a new state and playing that medication game with them and my new insurance!! There are two things to remember: 1 If you want to get the right pain meds you really need to see a pain managment specialist, your doc can help you find one in your area that takes your insurance and refer you if needed. 2 Some insurances want to see you climb the medicine chart before they will pay for certain things, especially higher doses of pain relievers. So like in my case I have a history of what I have taken, what works, what doesn't and why... I still have to be careful that I don't flat out go to my doctor and say "I am in pain and need pain medication", that is an automatic red flag to doctors and some will not give you a script...

It sucks but too many people have abused them and thus the medical field is sketchy about handing out scripts for pain medication and other narcotics....

[Lucky]

Someone in your position should get the pain releif you need...no questions asked.
I'm very happy with my g.p and get what ever pain releif I need/ask for.
Oxycontin & valium works a treat. Addictive, yes, however, I'd rather be addicted and pain free than not and in pain.

[edlee]

In defense of "some" of the GPs out there...you need to look at it from their side.

Someone comes into your office( who you don't know from a cake of soap) asking for STRONG pain relievers.....Then gets upset with you when you question them about it. Isn't willing to let you try something else first. Questions your competency and storms out...

Where have I heard this?????????

Pain management is difficult for both patients and doctors.... Neither of them should " cop an attitude". It is also very subjective,,, not easily measured,,,

Is my pain worse than your's???? Less???

That's the call we're asking these guy to make.....If we decide,,,,do we end up like Nicole Smith,,, Elvis????

Tough call.
ed

[john S.]

It is my belief that as time goes on, quads experience higher levels of pain. I have a lot of poorly healed fractures and severe arthritis to go with my SCI. A few more recent X-rays have shown advanced osteoporosis. I also have spurs all up and down my spine, near my hips, knees and ankles. Like you, waking up is a new experience in pain. The doctors ask what it feels like and I can't describe it in a way they associate pain with so, I tell them I feel like I'm being crushed. It gets worse as I get in the chair and start moving around. By the time I get back in bed, if I haven't done anything for the pain, I will have Autonomic Dysreflexia. I use to buy pain meds from the local drug dealer. Finally, I told my doctor I was smoking pot and taking tylenol by the handful. He gasped, OMG! I COULD OVERDOSE ON TYLENOL!
Now I have valium, Hydrocodone and oxycontin. I still use Tylenol PM's and a few hits of pot to get to sleep.
The day I told him about the tylenols I also had a pain induced seizure in his office. Pain medication is no longer a problem and he has read up on quadriplegic pain issues.
I do NOT abuse these drugs. I have never felt a buzz from them. I suggest that everyone take the amount they need and no more. These drugs work great to begin with, but lose their potency as your system adjusts to them.
I have noticed that most long term traumatic quads suffer from pain. I don't know if it is from degenerated skeletal structure or if it is from a degeneration of our nerve system. I know that before taking these pain meds I was becoming suicidal.
I hope your doctor understands, soon.
All my Best Wishes,
john