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...
Anyone who knows me here knows I've had RSD of left foot and leg for 15 years this month. I've been amazingly lucky to have had 3 great docs (1 retired, 1 died) and I haven't had much spreading of the RSD other than it moving up the leg a bit.
So in 2 weeks I'm heading into a fascist insurance exam b/c my hubby's company wants to send everyone to weight watchers or other programs. They want to find out everything about our health so they can drop us if we're too bad.
This company refused to pay my last 2 PM doc appt's and haven't said why. We're required to see our doc for full physical and bloodwork (I'm TERRIFIED of needles.) They want all our info. If we don't comply by March 31st, we have to pay more, WAY more, for insurance. I tried to tell DH that they're going to find enough wrong with me anyway to find an excuse to squirm out. That's b/c he ha sNO idea how much is really wrong with me. But there's 1 problem in particular that I am worried about, and not just for insurance reasons.
I've tried to dismiss this problem I'm having but as I have to have an insurance exam anyway, I'm wondering if I should have it looked at. It's my knee. My right knee has become rather...bothersome. It aches, especially when walking, when climbing or descending stairs, and even just lying here.It is NOT RSD type pain. That is a cold burning that is constant. The knee is more painful in an achey way, though lately it has really become a problem. I could say that it is a LITTLE like a burning pain after awhile, but it is SO not RSD.
I can't carry my 2 year old w/o feeling it right in my knee. It does hurt more if I press on certain areas, but mostly it hurts when I'm sitting cross-legged (my daily writing sitting position) or when walking too far, doing too much, etc. Lately it aches no matter what position I'm in as I lay in bed. I don't GET it! I'm ON morphine for the RSD, the same or less than I was 15 years ago. Why do I still feel the knee pain? Pain meds kill pain, right? So would this hurt worse if I did NOT take meds?
I take muscle relaxants but they have no effect on my knee. It feels like I'd imagine arthritis to be, and I AM 43 so maybe that's it? Could it be that simple? I mean, if it is arthritis, it's something I just live with, right? And if it was JUST that knee, maybe I could learn to live with it.
It has hurt more the past few days with the warmer weather, and the thunderstorms and tornadoes have done me no good tonight. I can use to lose 15-20 pounds I guess- though it depends on if I want to be average weight or more thin. (I've never been fond of rail thin women w/o curves, though God knows I could use some exercise. But what? I only eat one small meal a day, am rarely hungry, and if going by calories I should be losing weight like crazy. But my dr says I've tricked my body into believing that it is starving, and I should eat more meals through the day.
My DH doesn't know how I live on how little I eat, and it isn't that I don't get hungry, although I don't get hungry as often as most people, but just that I don't cook, don't have much gumption to get up and make myself something. DH is a junk food junkie half the year and lives on Atkins diet the other half. I'm not fond of either option.
Personally I think 15 pounds would be enough to lose, but I don't have that pain in my LEFT leg (RSD foot) so is it only due to weight? I'm not obese, and online my BMI is under 30. My chest alone weighs about 5 pounds if I am correct, and women have more body fat then men. I KNOW insurance is looking for trouble, but if I can't exercise enough to burn fat, I can't lose weight. I don't THINK they'll send me to Weight Watchers or ask me to choose a weight loss program given that my RSD is so bad, but one never knows. I get around more than most RSD patients I know. I run after a 2 year old all day!
I've also had back troubles for years, off and on, but b/c of a large chest I have upper back and shoulder problems, but I'm getting used to those. I WILL mention those again at my insurance appt with my Family doc in a few weeks. Should I mention the knee? I mean, should I worry or is it just the ravages of age? There IS a spot on my knee that hurts VERY bad when I press on it or examine it myself. It's the top left side of the knee cap. Does that sound like arthritis? It started a year ago but only got bad in recent months.
I am NOT asking for a diagnosis. I'm just curious about knee troubles. It's getting worse and I honestly do NOT know what to do. I'm losing too much sleep and that is a fact. I'm on like my 3rd night w/o being able to sleep. I can't run after my 2 year old fast enough. I can't carry him up and down stairs. I ache more in humidity (and I'm headed to Mexico on Sunday so THAT should be fun.)
I'm hoping it is something simple, that maybe a chiropractor or an anti inflammatory could help. But I'm scared.
So when I go in, do I need to mention the knee and the upper and lower back, a spot on my chest that I'm worried about- possible skin cancer? It popped up after my trip to Dominican Republic in January. I freckle, not tan, and now I have a large tan-like sun spot that I KNOW needs looking at. I also need ALL the womanly tests and exams, and am scared I'm going to find out I have cancer. My sinuses are shot- my whole family inherited huge sinus cavities and chronic sinusitis. I had childhood asthma that is still bothered by smoke. My eyes are getting so bad I can barely focus out of the left one for hours in the morning.
I leave for Cancun Sunday, do some writing, rest a bit (I have 2 full days to myself- should be interesting!) and then return to go to that damned appt. I need to fast and have blood tests before I go. Don't even KNOW how to schedule that. I avoid doctors like the plague! My needle phobia is beyond ridiculous.
So, forgive my volume here- I'm just so tired, can't sleep, and have so many things to worry about. And after this, it'll shock you, but I HATE complaining! I was brought up to not complain. So if I remember even half of this when I go in, I will be lucky!
Has anyone else had to join one of these insurance "Health Better" or "Health Good" programs to keep your insurance? It seems to be a new thing in big companies. And any advice about my knee would be greatly appreciated.
I was supposed to be asleep by 5pm and we had storms and tornadoes. It's midnight almost and I am SO tired but my knee aches, my heart's pounding with problems and I can't turn off my brain. Insomnia has me good.
Thanks for letting me vent. I hope it doesn't become a regular thing! It's like Gilda Radner used to say as Roseanne Roseanna Danna- "It's always something!"
So in 2 weeks I'm heading into a fascist insurance exam b/c my hubby's company wants to send everyone to weight watchers or other programs. They want to find out everything about our health so they can drop us if we're too bad.
This company refused to pay my last 2 PM doc appt's and haven't said why. We're required to see our doc for full physical and bloodwork (I'm TERRIFIED of needles.) They want all our info. If we don't comply by March 31st, we have to pay more, WAY more, for insurance. I tried to tell DH that they're going to find enough wrong with me anyway to find an excuse to squirm out. That's b/c he ha sNO idea how much is really wrong with me. But there's 1 problem in particular that I am worried about, and not just for insurance reasons.
I've tried to dismiss this problem I'm having but as I have to have an insurance exam anyway, I'm wondering if I should have it looked at. It's my knee. My right knee has become rather...bothersome. It aches, especially when walking, when climbing or descending stairs, and even just lying here.It is NOT RSD type pain. That is a cold burning that is constant. The knee is more painful in an achey way, though lately it has really become a problem. I could say that it is a LITTLE like a burning pain after awhile, but it is SO not RSD.
I can't carry my 2 year old w/o feeling it right in my knee. It does hurt more if I press on certain areas, but mostly it hurts when I'm sitting cross-legged (my daily writing sitting position) or when walking too far, doing too much, etc. Lately it aches no matter what position I'm in as I lay in bed. I don't GET it! I'm ON morphine for the RSD, the same or less than I was 15 years ago. Why do I still feel the knee pain? Pain meds kill pain, right? So would this hurt worse if I did NOT take meds?
I take muscle relaxants but they have no effect on my knee. It feels like I'd imagine arthritis to be, and I AM 43 so maybe that's it? Could it be that simple? I mean, if it is arthritis, it's something I just live with, right? And if it was JUST that knee, maybe I could learn to live with it.
It has hurt more the past few days with the warmer weather, and the thunderstorms and tornadoes have done me no good tonight. I can use to lose 15-20 pounds I guess- though it depends on if I want to be average weight or more thin. (I've never been fond of rail thin women w/o curves, though God knows I could use some exercise. But what? I only eat one small meal a day, am rarely hungry, and if going by calories I should be losing weight like crazy. But my dr says I've tricked my body into believing that it is starving, and I should eat more meals through the day.
My DH doesn't know how I live on how little I eat, and it isn't that I don't get hungry, although I don't get hungry as often as most people, but just that I don't cook, don't have much gumption to get up and make myself something. DH is a junk food junkie half the year and lives on Atkins diet the other half. I'm not fond of either option.
Personally I think 15 pounds would be enough to lose, but I don't have that pain in my LEFT leg (RSD foot) so is it only due to weight? I'm not obese, and online my BMI is under 30. My chest alone weighs about 5 pounds if I am correct, and women have more body fat then men. I KNOW insurance is looking for trouble, but if I can't exercise enough to burn fat, I can't lose weight. I don't THINK they'll send me to Weight Watchers or ask me to choose a weight loss program given that my RSD is so bad, but one never knows. I get around more than most RSD patients I know. I run after a 2 year old all day!
I've also had back troubles for years, off and on, but b/c of a large chest I have upper back and shoulder problems, but I'm getting used to those. I WILL mention those again at my insurance appt with my Family doc in a few weeks. Should I mention the knee? I mean, should I worry or is it just the ravages of age? There IS a spot on my knee that hurts VERY bad when I press on it or examine it myself. It's the top left side of the knee cap. Does that sound like arthritis? It started a year ago but only got bad in recent months.
I am NOT asking for a diagnosis. I'm just curious about knee troubles. It's getting worse and I honestly do NOT know what to do. I'm losing too much sleep and that is a fact. I'm on like my 3rd night w/o being able to sleep. I can't run after my 2 year old fast enough. I can't carry him up and down stairs. I ache more in humidity (and I'm headed to Mexico on Sunday so THAT should be fun.)
I'm hoping it is something simple, that maybe a chiropractor or an anti inflammatory could help. But I'm scared.
So when I go in, do I need to mention the knee and the upper and lower back, a spot on my chest that I'm worried about- possible skin cancer? It popped up after my trip to Dominican Republic in January. I freckle, not tan, and now I have a large tan-like sun spot that I KNOW needs looking at. I also need ALL the womanly tests and exams, and am scared I'm going to find out I have cancer. My sinuses are shot- my whole family inherited huge sinus cavities and chronic sinusitis. I had childhood asthma that is still bothered by smoke. My eyes are getting so bad I can barely focus out of the left one for hours in the morning.
I leave for Cancun Sunday, do some writing, rest a bit (I have 2 full days to myself- should be interesting!) and then return to go to that damned appt. I need to fast and have blood tests before I go. Don't even KNOW how to schedule that. I avoid doctors like the plague! My needle phobia is beyond ridiculous.
So, forgive my volume here- I'm just so tired, can't sleep, and have so many things to worry about. And after this, it'll shock you, but I HATE complaining! I was brought up to not complain. So if I remember even half of this when I go in, I will be lucky!
Has anyone else had to join one of these insurance "Health Better" or "Health Good" programs to keep your insurance? It seems to be a new thing in big companies. And any advice about my knee would be greatly appreciated.
I was supposed to be asleep by 5pm and we had storms and tornadoes. It's midnight almost and I am SO tired but my knee aches, my heart's pounding with problems and I can't turn off my brain. Insomnia has me good.
Thanks for letting me vent. I hope it doesn't become a regular thing! It's like Gilda Radner used to say as Roseanne Roseanna Danna- "It's always something!"
I would keep all of my health issues strictly with my current PCP (GP) and specialists.... ie Sun spot, knee etc...
Keep the insurance down, it's not fair that you guys are being put through this...
Hope I wasn't out of line and hope all works out ok... sending wishes..n hugs for an awesome trip..... 8-)
Is this group insurance? It is fascist...I do not know what to tell you....your knee pain sounds like mine was...osteoarthritis.
I do not know about submitting to an exam. Can you postpone it for a few weeks and talk to an attorney?
This is strictly my take...but I smell a worm. I hope you are able to rest some in Cancun.
Please keep us posted...Take care....
Big gentle hugs,
Melinda
and as far as your knee i was in my early 40's when my knee problems started as arthritis
good luck
Good luck.
They're pushing no smoking, which I like, but it IS wrong to take away a right. As long as smoking is legal, I have to put up with it by law, right? So they're taking all employees who chose this Blue Cross PPO, and saying we must submit to a physical with bloodwork b/c they want us to be more healthy. I'm like, duh? It costs US $ when they drop us b/c we refuse their options for what is wrong with us. But DH sees only $ signs and says we can't afford to decline and be forced to pay more for insurance.
Now we HAD good insurance. But they're using health consciousness as an excuse to find out just how many employees and families do have health problems they're hiding. For instance, I'm one of few who sees her Fam doc only when absolutely necessary, Stitches, fracture, etc. DH is same. I don't even see dr anymore when I have kidney stones! I will pass them myself b/c I'm severely needle and medically phobic. So, all insurance really knows is my height, weight and that I have RSD. I see my pain doc every month.
Imagine how many people are like that! But eventually they will get something- law of averages. So insurance is trying to use "health" as a reason to point out all the people with medical troubles so they can either drop us or force us to take the only other insurance offered which is at a large cost.
My DH doesn't get it. All he cares about is paying more $ but he WILL have to pay it when they drop me! My guess is they'll use the RSD and meds as an excuse?
Insurance company lobbies are sick. What these people get away with is sick. Now they are witch hunting, as if it's the 50's and we're hunting so-called Communists. Using Fear is a great way to make people do what you want them to do, and that is what this company is doing. Lives were ruined back then, and lives will be ruined now. B/c there's no WAY this company will pay for things that will come up in people our age.
I'm on night 2 or 3 with no or 2 hour a night sleep, so I may be tired and not able to elaborate the way I wish, but this is a bunch of crap. If every insurance company starts to do this, imagine where people will be?
I'm getting to the point where I am damned if I do, damned if I don't! I need so much to tell my doctor about things that are wrong, including possible skin cancer. It runs in my family and I have a spot that is very suspicious. I need to have the regular annual women's tests, and exams. I have to have my knee looked at. So if I don't have him look at it at the appt., they'll ask why. So will my doctor!
I'm going to have to go through with it although I believe it wrong, but I am sad to say I will be proving myself right and my DH wrong. They will force me to the other insurance, and it will be his fault. He doesn't fight when he should and as he is the employee, I have no say. You should see the ridiculous things they sent out! And if my BMI is up that day, I could be forced to choose between weight watchers or another weight loss group. I'm RIGHT on the edge of being overweight according to their chart. Today I'm not, but tomorrow I probably will be, and all this not sleeping is making me NOT lose b/c you lose when you sleep. The 2 major deals are "Are you healthy b/c of your BMI and Do you smoke?"
No, don't smoke, but depending on the day and water retention, I can hit that line of having a higher BMI. After the breast reduction I need I will be back down, but I can't even ASK about that until this is ALL done. That means all labs, too.
I'll keep ya'll in the loop, because if you have insurance through a big company that uses say, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, you might be next. It's sad as DH works so hard for this company and they're allowing this to go on. Don't know what will happen if I DO have cancer of the skin or breast as I fear possible, but I do know what will happen if I go above the BMI they feel is "right". I get sent to a weight loss program! And with my bad foot, I can't do much exercise.
I guess we're like a test case, but it's good for everyone to know what is happening, b/c who knows who is next?
Some companies are using these "programs" to weed out smokers, those morbidly obese, and those with major or chronic health issues, and that includes spouses. My uncle was one, he is healthy as a horse, but my aunt has breast cancer. They never stated this as the reason of course......but come on, how stupid do they think we, the American public are?
Sad but true.....now that "golden parachutes" are no longer acceptable, they are trying to get their bonuses off saving anywhere they can, including paying less towards insurance.
I truly hope this all works out for you, but please find out what your rights are.
Sending hugs, love, and comfort.
Tonna
I don't understand how they can suddenlty stop oaying for care that they paid for before. But then mine is refusing to fill a script every 30 days as written so what the heck do I knopw.