yes i have had dr's treat me like that my family dr does it all of the time and to tell you the truth it is quite sicking i wish for one day these dr's could feel what it's like to walk in our shoes and i can almost bet that if they did they wouldn't be in pain because they would have meds to take care of it.

:(

Yes I have,sadly too many. I had a good friend tell me that"if you go and look like you are in too much pain, they think you are drug seeking, if you go looking too nice they think you are well,you can't win!" I just tell my DR's honestly what I can and can't do thru out the day,I have had good luck with this one I have now.My previous one did not care. Sadly your DR's reaction is all too common too.
Deb

I've changed doctors partly because of this very reason. Perhaps these problems are common and there are no solid ways to "fix" them but it would be very nice to have sympathetic doctors who offer things to try. The doctor I use now was a bit more sympathetic to the debilitating nature of back pain - he was much more understanding at least even though he had no absolute answers.

How well do you know your doctor? I went to my primary care doctor first because I have known him since I was 5, and he's knows my history, my threshold for pain etc. Last week when I went in to see him (4th time for back pain in 3 mos); I walked in in tears. He knew I was serious and stayed on the phone w/different docs til he got my MRI approved, got my HC license plate "fast laned", etc. I said to him "I don't care at this point what has to be done, even if it's bad. Just tell me, and I'll do it". I go to a specialist tomorrow, and have an MRI next week. Probably ending up having surgery to correct Tethered Cord before the end of the year. Just be persistant and pushy about it.

Oh yes and it is such an awful feeling, humiliating to say the least. I was an active woam when I first injured my back 7 years ago. My injury was crippling and surgery to "correct" the issue only made it worse.
I've had doctots tell me move, don't move, therapy, no therapy, pain meds, patches, TENS units~you name it we have tried it. The only thing we haven't done is an internal unit either tens or pump. and guess who is stopping that from being a possibilty~the lovely insurance agency, of course!They told me part of my problem is degenerative and we all know what that means. Now, when I go on to see my doc~who I believe os one of the good guys; he tells me my pain is getting worse because I'm deconditioned and I need to change my perception!!! He just gave me 2 epidurals,(I have had appx 15 over the years) they truly did nothing.So there will not be a third thid time. I swim when I can which besides the narcotics is the only thing that gives me temporary relief. I've lost 50 lbs and am trying to lose more. I'm a good little soldier.
But every month when I go to se him for my rx renewals ~ he just keeps telling me to keep my spirits up and pats me on the head ~like a child. He has given up on me.
Iy is humiliating because a part of me is altered, gone forever that I will never get back. It's affected my mental health, my relationshiiiips, my ability to work and I rarely drive due to the meds.
And the docs wonder why I am depressed???
I swear I truly don't know if they are all thinking they know what is really happening to us; or are simply clueless to the failures in their treatments?
What I do know is that is changes every aspect of your life and the docs~good and bad; caring or all business know very little about the real way we live in pain each day.And they have no right to be condescending to anyone of us.
Good luck to you on your journey. Try to enjoy the good days and muddle through the bad. And never, NEVER let any doctor, therapist or therapist make you feel it;s something you can contril.
God bless.

Sorry to hear this, I have a similar problem but my Doctor understands my pain levels. My problem is my teacher for my nursing assistant class, she doesn't understand my pain and constantly tells me to work through it and just to not do any heavy lifting (even after I stress that my pain goes up to a 7 just standing for about 4 min). hopefully you will get everything worked out

Have you seen an orthopedic specialist yet? If not you need to try to get in as soon as you can. This has gone on to long and you should not have to suffer like this. Remember we pay them not the other way around. Be adimit with them If they don't listen take it to the boss it gets their attention every time. Your in my thoughts and prayers. I hope you get some pain relief soon after 7 surgeries. I understand.
Hugs & God bless
Lisa

hello jen, i know what it like to i had my reg dr like that, and i even went to a orthepedic and had a bad experinec there too and a nerollogist. right now the dr i see he ok, but i still have my douts. but i glad he sent me to see a second opinon

on the 2 opin, i do have nerve damage and the ddd just psuh me away and act like i craxy.

b/c i have ddd and i have spinal stestensis. and nerve damage. i hope you the best.

Dear Jen:

I came across your mesg, and I would like to say that not all doctors are like that.

For your disc problem, how sever is the degeneration? and at which location? Other than pain, any numbness and weakness in your legs? If you starts to experience sharp shooting pain and numbness, or even weakness, please seek help asap. I believe there are still a lot of responsible docs out there.