Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
This make no since to me what so ever. I am on my third knee surgery, up until now my ortho doc has been fine. I have never been the type of person to take narcotic pain killers I just don't, I have lived with chronic back pain for 9 years never asked a doc up until rescently for any narc pains killers I just deal with over the counter. I'd never judge anyone that would disagree with me, I just frear addition and I have had a hard time getting doctors to take me serisouly about my back in the past if they thought I was a pill junkie I'd never get anywhere with them. I am not the type of person to complain about it much, I have a very small group of friends I confind in and that is it. At work I always just did my job and lived with the pain. So anyways the last 2 surgerys the dance went something like this, he'd give me oxy for a week then lortab for a week and then kept it refilled off and on inbetween surgeries. He'd write the oxy pills for every 4 hours. This time around I didn't look at the oxy pill lable took them every 4 hours and this time the labe said every 6. Then when I ran out early the doctor then refused to refill any lortab and I've gotten 2 very rude messages from his nurse, there treating me like a pill junkie and it's very insulting, and it really bothers me because I've lived with my back for as long as I have without ever asking for anything. I told my gp today who thought this was the biggiest bunch of bull he had ever heard and refilled my lortab, but it still doesn't make any since to me why is thid idiot ortho acting the way he is, I work in the medical field and I'm cluess anyone got a suggestion?
Not only that but I really don't want to see him again but I have to get my stiches out and that's got me stressed out. I'm tempted to scream at him but I'm afraid that would just further his opinion that I'm a pill junckie.
Not only that but I really don't want to see him again but I have to get my stiches out and that's got me stressed out. I'm tempted to scream at him but I'm afraid that would just further his opinion that I'm a pill junckie.
Most surgeons (Ortho's, Neurosurgeon's, etc...) will only give you pain killers for about 3 to 4 weeks post-op, they will not keep on giving you pain medication indefinetely, that is just their policy. I've had 19 surgeries in my lifetime including 5 spinal surgeries, and this is the way it is.
If you need to be in pain management you need to go see a pain management Doctor, this kind of Doctor's will treat your pain for as long as you need it. If you are having issues with your back, go see a Neurosurgeon so you can get an MRI or CT of your spine and that way you can have documentation for a pain management Doctor. Once your Ortho cuts the stitches, you are no longer his patient, they basically let you go after that.... Been there, done that!
To find a pain management Doctor in your area go to: www.doctorsforpain.com or www.raceagainstpain.com. Good luck finding a good PM Doctor!
Get your stitches out, and kiss this Ortho goodbye! but before you go, give him a piece of your mind in a nice way.... Let him know that leaving someone that just had surgery without proper pain control is irresponsible! What ever happened to "Do No Harm"???!! You know.... tell him so that way he knows that you got insulted by his and his nurses attitude. Take care,
Chances are pretty good that the doctor may not even know what happened; the nurse just made an assumption you want more pain pills and didn't inform the doctor at all (all too often the nurses act as the moat dragons, controlling access to the doctor and may have decided on her own that you weren't "worthy" of a refill because you didn't follow the instructions). If the messages are on your cell phone or you can send them to your cell phone, do it so you can play them for your doctor. It's important for doctors to know how their staff interact with patients, something their often completely oblivious of unless a patient brings it up. He may not know she's making these incredibly rude calls, calling patients junkies (or implying this, especially as you're a repeat patient and a known entity).
I wish you well. Just keep breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth. It will help keep you calm.