wow! I dont know. But why cant you find a doc that will give you pain meds, besides suboxone? There has to be someone?

I'm going to try. I have a name of someone who might work out but there's the problem of getting my full medical file from my deceased doc's office. They only sent 7 pages of my file and there's no way to get hold of anyone b/c the office is closed. No one took over and it was boarded up and closed. I have NO idea where my medical record is or why they only sent 7 pages to the Pain Clinic. And it makes me all the more angry that they want to do something as drastic as hospitalizing me, detoxing me and putting me on suboxone when they only read SEVEN pages out of 14 years! But I DO have access to my prescription records which can show any doc that I've been on same dose for all that time. I'm looking at the amputation only as an alternative to the suboxone. But I must admit, the idea of not having to worry about that pain is nice. Not worrying about scheduling my work trips around my refills, not worrying about losing any meds while traveling or having them stolen...as wonderful as the pain relief is, and it IS amazing that a drug can handle that kind of pain, I do think about the days before I had to take meds and remember how freeing that was. I'm NOT complaining, by any means! I am thankful that there is a medication that handles my pain so well that I've lived an amazing lifetime in the 14 years I've had RSD. And most people don't even know I have it. I don't know, maybe it was just the bad day, maybe it IS the exhaustion I feel at the idea of finding a new doctor. My 1st attempt certainly didn't work out! And I don't even mind traveling to find that doctor- I'm THAT open to it. But IF there is no doctor willing to treat me as I was treated, I just think losing the foot wouldn't be as bad as being on suboxone. And I'd have my life back- no RSD or pain. (Unless the phantom pain is a real thing and I get THAT.) I'll find out soon. I'm going to see my Primary Care doc and tell him what is going on in my life. I'm overdue for an appt. anyway. The last time I saw him was a year ago this month when I fractured my ankle. I was due to leave for London in a few weeks and I wanted his promise that it'd be healed. He just shook his head and laughed. I ended up stuck over there b/c of the volcanic ash incident and spent most of the trip watching the events on tv with my swollen foot propped up. That trip was NOT meant to be. But, maybe he will have some ideas. I never spoke much about the RSD, but I know he was worried that my right foot would develop symptoms b/c of the fractured ankle. It did, but nothing too bad. Nothing like my left foot. Now that is the one that I could easily do without.

OH, my dear, I am hugging you as I type this. My heart truly goes out to you. Let me share with you, though, that considering such an extreme "solution" to pain management as amputation is like contemplating suicide as a remedy for despair.
I know a man who lost his leg because of a motorcycle accident and had to deal with phantom pain that had him crying. Ironically, it was Suboxone that helped him the most and he is still taking it.
May I ask why you think you could die from withdrawal if you do not take Suboxone? There are many, many different pain medications. One, or a combination of some, may give you the kind of pain manhaagement tht will help you to live life as comfortably as you can.
Making decisions based on fear is not an effective anecdote for relief. Fear magnifies, not clarifies.
The only person who decides your fate is you. I am sorry that you have had to deal with people such as you have...but there ARE good doctors out there who care and who will help you. Seek them out.
In the meantime, be gentle with yourself. And do find someone you can talk to about your feelings, such as a grief counselor. CP is traumatizing. Getting help for our emotions is a good way of helping us with and through our pain.
My heart is with you.
Gentle huggggsssssssss to you.

As I read your post I could feel your despair and panic. The feeling of no hope!
Please trust me there is always hope....... 2010 was a horrible year for me, but I'm still here, because of hope.
Don't do anything as drastic as cutting off your foot. That is not the answer!!!!
I want you to fight for your rights for proper pain medication. There are a lot of Doctors out there that are willing to help, that are compassionate, that are going to listen to you.
Do Not Give Up!
Promise Me Do Not Give Up!

I really believe phantom pain exists.
I would be very hesitant and careful.
research research research
And I will pray that pain eases up.

you could very well end up with phantom pain from the nerves in the foot and no solution.

Wow, I didn't mean to sound like I had made the choice already so I apologize if it looks as if I felt hopeless. The reason I feel I will die if I withdraw on my own is b/c I've been taking diazepam for 14 years and I've been told that it is imperative to be under a doctor's care, IN a hospital, when withdrawing from that. The morphine would be a bad withdrawal, as well, after 14 years. I've had withdrawal symptoms when I forget to take a dose, which HAS happened over the years. Sometimes if I am in a warm climate that isn't too humid, my pain will be so low that I don't take my meds on schedule. I once woke up soaking in sweat, so sick that I thought I WAS dying. So if I must stop taking the drugs, I would want to be supervised. I was supervised when they titrated me to the correct dosage 14 years ago, and I think it should be that way if I must stop taking them. Even though we don't take pills to get high, we still feel the same withdrawal symptoms. And I tend to get VERY sick. Dealing with the pain returning is going to be hard enough; I can't deal with the withdrawal at the same time. And the reason I don't believe that suboxone will work is that I've spoken to pharmacists, fellow RSD patients and read up on the drug. It wasn't meant to be used for effective pain management. Also, I know how hard it was to find a medication and dose that worked for me back when I was diagnosed. We tried everything. Only morphine worked. It's not that I don't want it to work, I just don't want to go through all this when we know that morphine does work for MY pain. I've also heard that it carries a stigma, and it's used primarily for addicts. I'm not looking down on anyone, but I do not wish to be looked at or thought of as an addict. And I have other physical problems, like my back and kidneys full of stones that pass every other month or so. Suboxone would not be any help with those. In addition, I worry about possibly needing surgery, and suboxone patients must be taken off that drug (another withdrawal) before surgery. I didn't come to the choice lightly- I just don't think it's for me and I'm not willing to get on another drug that requires withdrawal. Does that make ANY sense? And I know that amputation is WAY out there. It's a last resort. I don't want to lose any part of my body. I just don't want to deal with the pain! My memory of that pain at that level is just too intense. If it's my only option (and I'll exhaust every other) then it might happen. But honestly, I just want to find a doc who will continue my meds. And I know that losing my foot won't fix everything. Phantom pain is very real and I pray that IF I ever did this, I wouldn't get it. And I know it wouldn't help the muscle spasms in my leg and back. I really didn't mean to upset anyone- I was just putting the idea out there, wondering if anyone had done it. I'm not crazy and it's not my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice. I just wondered if it would give me a break from the pain. You see, I haven't really dealt with the pain b/c the morphine has worked so well. And the 1st days when we were trying all sorts of meds, I was literally in a blacked out bedroom, laying still on my bed, not allowing a fan or breeze to touch my foot. It was THAT bad. I don't ever want to go there again. So I had some ideas. And I wondered if anyone had also thought of this, or had gone through with it. I truly, truly didn't mean to alarm anyone. I'm not out just yet. :) I'm going to look and look and hopefully, find a doctor who can continue my meds or give me something new that works as well. I don't care if it means standing on my head in the desert at sundown facing West while chanting. I'll figure out something. Again, sorry if I alarmed anyone. It's just a thought and something that is very far away. I don't know that I could do it, I just am glad to know I have the option. And if a doctor told me it wouldn't work, I would believe them. My job now is to find a doctor so I can continue being a mom and a wife and a travel writer. And hopefully, that will happen. :) Thank you all for caring. I promise to keep hope alive, and not let my fear make decisions for me. It's just been a rough day. I won't give up. Thanks for the hugs, and for the kind words. It means a LOT. :)

Where the pain is mostly in your foot have you tried voltaren gel.

I hope you find a good doctor that will work with you and you don't have to take such drastic steps to have your foot amputated.

Not quite the same but I had all my teeth pulled hoping to relieve alot of my facial pain. No teeth and the pain is still there.

Sending Hugs and Prayers things work out for you soon.
Mary

Where in Michigan? Get opinions from other pain clinics (my group may be an option in SE Michigan)

you AREN'T crazy. you're just totally fed up. there has to be someplace somewhere than can be a partner in your treatment with you.

i remember when i had 4 root canals in half as many months... it hurt so much, one of them failed and had to be redone, by the end of it, i was dependent on vicoprofen and determined that the only solution was to have all of my teeth pulled and replaced with dentures. serious. it was months of pain, one er visit... the whole thing was just too much.

that's how upset i was having to deal with all of that.

i can't blame you at all. keep looking for the right pain management and allow yourself to indulge in whatever thoughts make you feel better.

i used to dream about a lavender translucent pair of dentures.

think about how you might "bling" out your prosthetic. and while you aren't doing that, figure out how to get the pain treatment that you feel you need. take care. thanks for telling us this.

Hun,
There has to be other Doctor's that you could see, and they can treat your pain. Go check this website; www.doctorsforpain.com,. and check for PM Doctor's in your area, there is also Dr.Batson, he is here as a member but he treats people in pain, I don't know if you have read his message below, but it is someone that can help you now.

An amputation is not a solution, I don't know if you have heard of "Phantom pain", but most people that go through amputations have this type of pain, and it is as bad or worst than the pain that cause the amputation. Try to find a good PM Doctor, and think about it easy and without doing anything to abrupt, OK?

Take care,

I use suboxone for pain control and did not have to go in the hospital to switch from pain meds over to it. I dont know what your exact situation is and maybe because of all the years on pain meds it might be necessary but I would consider it before amputation because that just seems drastic to me. I dont know why they do not want you to continue with your regular pain meds that you are currently on and why they have to switch. It would seem if what you are on is working why do they feel that they need to find another treatment for you, did they explain it to you and I would fight it if I was you and tell them to leave well enough alone that you like how things are going if you do

take care I hope you can find a solution that does not involve the amputation

Phantom,pain is real and it can hurt pretty bad and it seems once you start amputations it just gets more and more up the leg. Keep looking for a new Dr. that understands,pain.Your medical records had to be sent some were when your Doc's office closed,check with the closest hospital and see were medical records are sent or stored.There has to be away to get your records.Genlte hugs Jan.

I have no idea what to say about this.

A friend of mine has RSD (result of a botched op under WC) it is in many places in her body but especially in her legs - including the "rash" - "eruptions".
She talked about amputation of the worst leg too but didn't get it done.
Like some here have mentioned she realised that the phantom pain would be a problem and she didn't want to deal with that.

BTW I hate it when the medical people try to push a certain drug on you - it is usually so they can make another billion or so dollars.

before I was hurt I was an emt and I also worked at a rehab home with amubtees and I know from what I have been told that phamtom pain is wroce then what ever pain they had before. I would advice very strongly NOT to cut it off, it would make you worce. Plus how will your life be effected, you will only have one arm, you will be even more disabled then you are now; I know it's tought I know excalty what you are going through. I was seeing an ortho for my kness that are in horrible pain everyday and he had me on pain pills. Well it latter became a big problem and his stupid surgery didn't work and he gave up on my and took me off all my pain pills and I was in agony, horrible pain. I got to the point where I couldn't get out of bed. I thought about giving up and just puting my self in bed and never get up, but I never gave up I kept pushing, I went through 4 pm docs and found gold on number 5 and am now finaly treated with opoid long acting pain meds. So please don't give up and hack is off keep trucking there really are good docs out there you just need to really keep trucking and find one that you like.