I'm so sorry that your doctors are so ignorant. I don't have any useful suggestions but want to welcome you and tell you that you're not alone.

Can you check out pain management doctors in your area? You will find this board a very compassionate place to come. I'm sure someone will give you some valuable suggestions. Huge hugs and again, welcome!

Dear Callie, to me it sounds like a gallbladder problem. Have you been checked for this? Also it will be extremely hard for you to live with any severe pain without meds. Sounds like you need to find a new doc. I am so sorrry you are going thru this. I hope this helps a little.

Callie,
I am from Michigan too and also live with daily chronic pain. I am new to this group as well and have found it very helpful to have others to talk to who truly understand what I am going through.
Welcome, and please know that I am here if you need to talk or vent.
Julie

I am so sorry you have to go through this. My heart goes out to you. I wanted to go back to college but my disablites have caused me not to go back to college. So I understand how you feel. My fibromyalgia has caused me a hard time to sit in the chair for a long time. I do not feel it is fair that I have to take pain pills for the rest of my life. I am also sorry that your husband does not have a job right now. If you need me I am right here and we can chat if you would like too.

Hi Kalli ! I'm sorry that everything seems to have come down on you and your family all at once.........that is way to much to handle........I think the first thing you should do is get your records from your doctor and find a new one. I know you don't have insurance but until you get some meds to control your pain it's probably going to be to ruff for you to finish your schooling.........without your degree and without getting your pain under control your not going to be able to get a good job and be able to do your best at it........my suggestion as I said is find a new doctor and take one step at a time........yes your going to go in dept for it but it will be worth it for your finances and for your health........is there anyway you can get any financial aid?..........it's horrible that your kids are having to listen to what other so called adults are feeding their childrens mind........as you said they just don't understand or do they even want to try.....I don't know how old your children are but if they are old enough to understand I would set them down and explain what's going on, explain to them about daddies job and mommys health. Explain to them that he's trying to find another job and it will teach them a life lesson. It will teach them to save for a raining day and not to take things for granted and to never give up. Also that life is not always the way we want it . That they should always hold their heads high and they have no reason to be ashamed. People can be rude and say some hurtful things and now they know how hurted those words can be and they shouldn't say things that can hurt others. Also tell them about your health. Explain to them what your going through. All this can be a life lesson for them and make them stronger.......your at the right place for support.........keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs to you

Welcome, sorry to meet you this way. All I can say is don't give up. I've been knocked so far down and lost everything before so I understand what your feeling. The first thing I would do is find some sort of assistance and look for a good doctor that will help you.
It may look bad right now but don't give up hope. Sometimes that's all we've got.

hi again Kallie, I responded to your post on the advice section and have thought about. you. I feel your frustration. Both my husband and myself have gone through 5 yrs of it and are finally both getting answers (no cures but at least we have a better idea of what we're dealing with and are more able to come to terms w/it) and we do have good pain management right now. We lost our ins. last month so I'm not sure what the future will bring. I try to plan and to be as optimistic as possible. My husband faced the same thing w/ school. Tried to go back and re-train but during the 2nd yr. the pain and frustration made it so hard to focus that he took a break. He's been out for abt a yr now and I hope he will be able to go back this fall. We'll see. I know its tough. We are facing loosing everything as well. I try to look at what I have, to remember that "material things do not define who I am" and to find one good thing every day. I'm not always successful but I just try again the next day.
As far a pain management goes, having no ins. does complicate things. Have you had any GP, PA or FNP in the past who has believed in you and been compassionate. If so, try them. They may help you out until you can work out something else. A Pain Doc would be your best bet but around here, they are pricey and reluctant to work out financial help. Good Luck to you and keep us posted. You can always rely on this group for support.

I am only allowed Norco 10 mg. 3 x a day which does not touch my pain most days. I go back and forth between being grateful to be on disability and have a place to live to being mad and depressed about my situation. I continued trying to work for 4 years after this started but the pain got progressively worse until I could no longer deal with work. I can't imagine not having a diagnosis. I remember before I was diagnosed my symptoms with the sciatic nerve and numbness and pain in my left arm from my neck used to make me afraid that I was having a stroke. So, I was actually relieved when I found out it was from DDD in my back and neck. It sounds like you are overwhelmed with everything and the chronic pain. I feel so much for you. Good luck and I so hope things get better for you.

Hi Kallie,

I'm sorry about your pain and about everythingthat is crashing down on you. You are not alone. First thing is to count your blessings. That helps to gather up strength. Second thing is to break the problems down into peices.

I'm not from MI and I don't know what medical assistance programs are available there. Have you checked that out? I echo what the others have said and it sounds like you need a new doctor. I'm angry, right along with you, that the vicoden that was allowing you to function was taken away. It's ridiculous that an ill person should be denied medicine. That aside, you need to find a compassionate doctor who understands your pain and your financial position. Perhaps there's a doctor/nurse that you've worked with in the past who can offer direction. Do your friends or family have any doctors they can recommend?

Insofar as the cost of medication, try googling prescription assistance. There are manufacturers who will adjust their costs according to a patients needs.

Lastly, you are under a lot of stress. Keep reaching out for support and do whatever you can to make yourself feel better. Meditation helps me some. You can download or listen for free to some guided meditations from the following site: http://www.mindfulness-solution.com/

I wish I could make your problems go away. Hang in there. Tink

hi and welcome sorry to hear what your going threw this you could ask to be put on gabpebtin see if it works i lived in pain for a few years withouit pain meds .There is liquid sliver you can find it on line it migth help . Please email me if you need anything hugs minnie

Thanks to all of you!
I have applied for medicade (sp) but I am still "pending". I don't have children, I can't, which is one of the questions I deperetly want answers for since I am already 36! Not that I could have them now anyway but dang it I want to know why!?
I have seen 2 pain docs, one wanted to try injecctions but at 2500.00 a pop I can't do it and now he has moved to Florida. The second believes it is due to being raped 17 years ago and is all in my head. They all seem to think that now. ??? ok I have been in therapy for 4 years and I still have the pain so what do you want me to do?
I am waiting to here from another pain doc to see if after he gets all my records he is willing to deal with me and with the fact I have no insurance. I don't want to waste more time if he won't believe me either. Honest to God who on earth would make this crap up??? Do they really believe I would waste 10 years of my life for nothing?

You guys are so great and I cannot express how comforting it is to know I am no longer alone.
Thank you thank you thank you

So Sorry my spelling is awful :)

Kallie like many have said I am soooo sorry you are having to go through this. There is a lot of stress going on in your life, which unfortunately makes chronic pain that much worse.

Please find another doctor. Even if you have to start from scratch. Hopefully you can get some help with Medicade. I am not sure but if that is not the same as welfare - I would go apply there for medical as well.

I am pretty sure your pain is not related to your mental state after what happened to you. I too understand that situation all to well and that is not a contributing factor.

Has anyone ever looked into your hips and maybe this is something radiating from there? Maybe even your lower spine? I am not sure about the gallbladder as I just had mine removed 4 months ago and my pain was right under the bottom of my rib cage and my diaphragm area.

This is a great board with great people from all walks of life. We are all here for support and to support one another in our everlasting chronic pains.

I hope you find a quality doctor that will take you on and get to the bottom of your problem.

Hi Kalli and welcome to the group. Life in chronic pain is so challenging isn't it? It should be enough that we hurt every day, but we also have the finacial burdens and everything else that goes with it. I am so sorry that you have to go through all of this.

I'm wondering if you have ever been tested for endometriosis. It can be very painful and cause fatigue and infertility. This kind of pain would not respond well to pain meds as the condition itself would need to be treated. Now that doesn't mean that you shouldn't get any pain meds it just means that it will not take more than around 50% of your pain away.

One thing that I would like to say to you is that I have a very painful condition and my dr will not give me anything for my pain exept Tramadol. This doesn't even phase my pain. I still manage to make it through my days because I decided that I will be for the most part positive about things and I will not fight my pain, but acknowledge it. This makes it much easier to handle. Not to get all religious here but I have a strong faith in God and I know He will carry me.

Talk to me any time you need or want to. I am so experienced in what you are going through. I so wish you and your family the best in this.

Many Blessings and BIG HUGS,
Toni

Bless your sweet heart ~ I can't believe how much pain you must be in. I can certainly sympathize.

I don't know what part of Michigan you're in - I'm in Michigan too - but I know of a pain doc in Lansing, who treats ALOT of pain patients. His name is Dr. Richard Ferro, and he's out of St. Lawrence Hospital - at least that's where he WAS practicing. I went to him for 2-3 years. He's good at what he does, but he has a rotten bedside manner. LOL Perhaps he could help you -- if you're anywhere near him.

I hope to God you find some relief to this agony. Being in chronic pain 24/7 is horrible - I know. I've been there for 26 years, and it's enough to make you want to tear your hair out, and anyone elses too! Please keep us posted, sweetie. We're behind you 100% God bless. Hugs, Lee