What is Amputees
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy ...
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SEVERE PAIN AFTER 1 1/2 YRS
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It has been over a year and a half since my original RLBK an November of 2007 and because of pain another operation was done in August of 2008 where the same surgeon honed the bone down a little, but I never had any pain in the bone, but throughout below the bone ending which is about three inches of flesh which feels like a super abcessed tooth most all of the time.. I was taking OXECODONE 15MG ever four hours and it brought the pain down about 50% after waiting for about an hour after taking the three 5MG capsules...The pain then works it way back to "10" after about an hour at the 50% or "5" level.. The pain is getting worse on a daily basis...bringing me, a still strong 67YO guy to tears a couple of times a day... I live in West Sacramento, Ca and have been going to UC DAVIS and VA hospitals in Sacramento...When I mentioned the pain to UC DAVIS they told me to go to the VA when I told them I had VA coverage, but the gave me appointments to their PT clinic to learn how to walk..I already walk without even a cane..... So anyway, I asked my primary Dr. at the VA to make an appointmet with their amputee pain clinic.. After three weeks, I called my primary back and told me she told the pain clinic to call me.She said she would call them again and gave me their number.. I have called them twice and get a message machine which I have left messages...
Oh, I forgot, after telling the UC DAVIS Dr. about my problem with the OXECODONE, he pescrided GABAPENTIN which does nothing at all even taking 1200mg daily.. So I asked to send me OXECODONE again which they sent out on June 11th and today is the 22nd so I called and FEDEX sent it back to MATHER VA because the address was not right..... Does anyone have any suggestions???? Should I go to an emergency room which is said to be about an eight hour wait here...I'm starting to give up on options... I have been on the net to try to see an Amputee Dr who has been trained in the ERTL procedure, because perhaps the nerve endings in my stump are all out of wack.. I went the ERTL Website and left a message on the "ASK THE ERTLS" over a week ago and still no answers..Lately it seems I am just running into stone walls.. I know a lot of you like TIGER and PAPERTRUCKER are trying to help, and still want to walk over the Golden Gate like I promised DIANASMOM, but if I tried it now, I might jump about half way accross.... VERN .... Posted on 06/22/09, 06:06 pm |
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your getting the run around.If I where you I would go to the emy room.It would seem to me you need a new team of doctors.A fresher out look maybe a new set of eyes looking at your situation.Being in pain is one thing over the top pain is another whole world.Been there done that and it is NO fun. 
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First after my amputation my phantom pain was pretty aggressive. In the hospital I was given Lyrica for that and it would help. When i went home my insurance didn't want to pay for Lyrica and I was switched to Gabapentin, my pain would keep me and my girlfriend awake at night. I had to switch back to the Lyrica. I have now reduced my dose to taking one pill a day. Good luck man
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With VA, it is always a question of what resources they have vs. the volume of people they are supposed to serve. Every now and then, you need to go to a higher power for help. It won't happen immediately, but try to put your problem in writing and then send it to the congressman for your Sacramento district. These letters then go from the comgressional staff to the VA "congressional inquiry" staff in DC. From there, it will go to the VA administrator and eventually down to the staff level. At that point, someone should call you to come in. All this does is put focus on your case. I am not a doctor so have no advice on the pain per se. Never had anything this bad. You can't live on Oxycodin given its addictive qualities but you also deserve to be given some level of comfort until they solve the underlying problem. I take Lyrica for phantom sensation (not pain) but I seriously doubt it would do anything for you. Might want to try it just for grins and I would suggest 300-400mg per day. Takes a few days to kick in. Maybe it would level the intensity of the pain and the best part is that it is not addictive at all. The only other option is "head amputation" which is definitely not recommended :-)
John
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Thanks Guys,I know much of you said is pretty good advice..The VA at Mather which is about 16 miles from here will have my OXECODONE back from FEDEX tomorrow and I think I will drive there and pick it up, and while I am there I am going to just walk in on their Pain Clinic and start screaming..I also read about a drug called OXECONTIN which is for people with constant pain like me.I will try to get the VA to prescribe some of that...I saw the HANGER guy for an adjustment and he gave me the phone number for a couple of the Dr Ertls, Jan in Indianapolis and Christian Earlt in Kalamazoo,MI I am going to try to contact one of them this week...Thanks again guys.. VERN65...
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