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...
Brief history: 1992 - scoliosis surgery (spinal fusion w/ rods); 1996 - herniated disc; 1997 - partial rod removal; 1997 - microdiscectomy; 2000 - gave up because docs weren't helping, and just managed on my own for several years; 2008 - pain suddenly got worse overnight - now two herniated discs and other degeneration; current treatments: lyrica, baclofen, hydrocodone, tramadol, welbutrin, ativan, ritalin, TENS; other treatments tried: PT, aquatic therapy, acupuncture, selective nerve root blocks, trigger point injections
Despite the treatments, my pain level has been high for the past couple of months, and I can't seem to get it to go down. I got my doc to raise my hydrocodone a little (5 mg up to 2x/day; 50 pills/month), but it didn't help enough. He seems to not want to give me anything stronger because he's concerned about building up tolerance in a patient who is still young (30) -- though I don't feel young these days.
I am in pain all the time, and my pain levels typically range from 5 to 8. I have a 3 year old daughter to take care of, I work full time, and I'm a graduate student working on a thesis (done with courses). Every morning it's a struggle to get up and get myself ready for work. Some days I can't make it to work, and thus I'm running out of paid time off quickly. Even when I do make it to work, I'm much less productive than I was a couple of years ago, and I can tell my boss is getting annoyed. He tries to be understanding, but I sometimes lose track of things, and that causes a problem.
My husband tries to help around the house, but his standard of cleanliness is very different than mine. There is typically stuff strewn all over the floor, several baskets of unfolded laundry, dishes in the sink, and my daughter's toys all over the place. I think last night's grocery delivery -- except for the perishables -- is still sitting in the bags on the floor.
I can't keep up. I struggle through each day at work, and then again each evening at home. I'm always either in severe pain or in fear of causing the pain to increase. I don't know what to do. I am so scared. Sorry, i don't know if there's a real question here. I really just need an understanding ear right now.
Despite the treatments, my pain level has been high for the past couple of months, and I can't seem to get it to go down. I got my doc to raise my hydrocodone a little (5 mg up to 2x/day; 50 pills/month), but it didn't help enough. He seems to not want to give me anything stronger because he's concerned about building up tolerance in a patient who is still young (30) -- though I don't feel young these days.
I am in pain all the time, and my pain levels typically range from 5 to 8. I have a 3 year old daughter to take care of, I work full time, and I'm a graduate student working on a thesis (done with courses). Every morning it's a struggle to get up and get myself ready for work. Some days I can't make it to work, and thus I'm running out of paid time off quickly. Even when I do make it to work, I'm much less productive than I was a couple of years ago, and I can tell my boss is getting annoyed. He tries to be understanding, but I sometimes lose track of things, and that causes a problem.
My husband tries to help around the house, but his standard of cleanliness is very different than mine. There is typically stuff strewn all over the floor, several baskets of unfolded laundry, dishes in the sink, and my daughter's toys all over the place. I think last night's grocery delivery -- except for the perishables -- is still sitting in the bags on the floor.
I can't keep up. I struggle through each day at work, and then again each evening at home. I'm always either in severe pain or in fear of causing the pain to increase. I don't know what to do. I am so scared. Sorry, i don't know if there's a real question here. I really just need an understanding ear right now.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
First of all, get yourself a new Doctor! This Doctor is NOT doing you any favors by keeping you in pain. He is damaging you more than what he is helping you, so get yourself a new pain management Doctor, one that is going to take care of your pain the correct way, and one that is not afraid of prescribing the right medications, at the right dosages.
This is something that only you can do, and you need to do ASAP!
Here are two websites that you can search and find a good pain management Doc. The first one is; www.doctorsforpain.com and the other one is; www.raceagainstpain.com.
It took me 6 different tries to find the right pain management Doctor, but once I did my life change for the better. We as patients need to take the initiative to find the best physicians, and the best practitioners to take care of our needs. If a physician is not taking care of our needs, then is time to fired him and move on! Would you keep a mediocre or incompetent mechanic that doesn't fix your vehicle the right way??? NO, so why is it that we treat our cars better than our bodies???? Is time for a new Doctor, I went though the same predicament that you are going through right now, and a caring pain management Doctor made the difference in my life, is time for you to do the same.
Take care, and know that we are always here for support.....
Hugs,
Tipper
I'm sorry your in this situation & commend you for your determination.
Not sure what kind of relationship you have with your doctor but if its decent you need to tell him you understand his concerns but your fearful of loosing everything youv'e worked so hard for. Let him know that your quality of life is going down the tubes & you need help.
I had some dear friends give me the same advice & I was so afraid of rocking my PMs world but it was either speak up or loose what little independance I have left in my life. If he cannot understand this then perhaps its time for a doctor who will, just as tipper suggested.
Good luck & god bless, Sammy
I hear you - I have scoli too (S curve - main curve lumbar) although in the moderate range so no fusion. My daughter is 5 now but a couple years ago things with my back started changing. At that time I was also trying to do it all - law practice, child care, and plenty of time doing it on my own with a husband in the corporate world. I think Tipper gives great advice as far as docs. I don't have any advice just my story. I used to see other women do it all and so I felt horrible that I was having such a hard time with it. But finally I couldn't do it anymore, and I left my law practice. My issues certainly didn't go away by making that decision. But some of the pressure to "hold it all together" did. You are doing a crazy amount of stuff right now, and it seems you're feeling a lot of pressure to do it all well while in pain! I just want to let you know that I understand, and while I don't know the answer for you, I also made a big decision under similar circumstances . . . and I am ok. Not pain free, but ok. Hugs.
I definately think Tipper1207 has the right thought. I was very young 15 ,when I had my first acute, crippling episode due to DDD. My MD was awesome. He never balked at giving out medications to help me function and through the years he could see that I was careful with them and so he always gave me what I needed and if they did not work, he tried something new. I never realized how awesome it was to have him until I didn't anymore. I went through 3 years of NO MD, NO Meds and NO support because I had a crappy MD and a crappy HMO.
Now at 36, I am starting all over as my issues have declined in the last couple of years. I started Baclofen a few days ago, which seems to be helping. I used Hydrocodon for many years and it stopped being effective as well as gave me a terrible headache and constipation--which is so wonderful when you have severe back pain!! TENS, Cyclobenzaprine and percoset were not really helpful to me. Ativan, Hottubs/hotpacks, rest and decreasing my stress were helpfull.
I have been a single mom since I was 22 years old. I have two children and one has special needs and they are now teens. I worked 25 hours a week and went to school FT for 5 years. That in and of itself was enough for any person. When I graduated from school...and was able to just work, my pain decreased. Currently, I run about 5-7 most days.
My new PHP has started me with a PMC and they have been wonderful. I feel listened to and really validated. The combination has helped alleviate my stress which helps with my pain. I got the tests I needed right away and meds right away.
It's so nice to be able to break down and express frustration, loathing, sadness etc related to my pain and feeling useless. To be able to tell someone who won't judge me or does not feel stressed by my "weakness" and then help me with appropriate and medically sound directives and medication has been wonderful.
At the end of the day...hug your baby and love your husband whose efforts are there. He's trying and he obviously loves you because he keeps trying. I would have considered myself fortunate to have another adult around who I could look to for help and comfort when I needed it. After that... maybe take a few days off work and find a good PMC that you can trust and who has your best interests---pain needs, physical needs, emotional needs at heart. It might be hard to go without a few days pay...but in the end, your boss will appreciate your renewed abilities.
HUGS to you!
good luck and hope your pain is undercontrol soon ( hugs)
everything hurts when your back hurts-constapation-and bowel movements--laughing and crying---sitting-laying down-walking and runnning----and sadly even hugs