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...
I'm trying to struggle through another day of unmanaged pain. I called my doctor's office first thing this morning to leave a message for the nurse to call me. It's after 2:00 and I haven't heard from her, yet.
Last week, I left a message with my ortho doc's receptionist for a call back and I never heard from that office, either.
A week ago, my GP ordered me to stop working and my body wasn't really giving me a choice, anyway. She said to file for disability right away and she'd back me.
She put me a fentanyl patch and then doubled it on day 3. I'm suffering as much or more. I even have pain in more areas and different sensations, too.
All I want to talk to her about is this. Can we increase the dose and even if she won't, I will run out early since she told me to start doubling it so I'll need a new script, anyway. And also, I would like her to write a letter stating my condition and her order to stop working.
It woul be nice to know what she wants me to put for a diagnosis on my application. I have no idea how she will describe my disabilities.
I've gotten nowhere with my list of calls to make today, except for the one to her office. I can't focus or move forward in this much pain.
I've really had i twith feeling like I'm not worth the bother. Is it any wonder I'm depressed?
Cherry (whining...again)
Last week, I left a message with my ortho doc's receptionist for a call back and I never heard from that office, either.
A week ago, my GP ordered me to stop working and my body wasn't really giving me a choice, anyway. She said to file for disability right away and she'd back me.
She put me a fentanyl patch and then doubled it on day 3. I'm suffering as much or more. I even have pain in more areas and different sensations, too.
All I want to talk to her about is this. Can we increase the dose and even if she won't, I will run out early since she told me to start doubling it so I'll need a new script, anyway. And also, I would like her to write a letter stating my condition and her order to stop working.
It woul be nice to know what she wants me to put for a diagnosis on my application. I have no idea how she will describe my disabilities.
I've gotten nowhere with my list of calls to make today, except for the one to her office. I can't focus or move forward in this much pain.
I've really had i twith feeling like I'm not worth the bother. Is it any wonder I'm depressed?
Cherry (whining...again)
Pain just does not seem to take priority with docs. THey figure it can't kill so it can wait. Problem is that we never take priority in this system.
If possible, I'd make an appointment and see the doc to get the script. That seems to be the only way that you get help.
This is the place to vent when you need to!
I get what you are saying, but you need to remember that during office hours the Doctor, nurse, etc. are busy with patients, and they don't have the time to stop and answer your call, maybe this is why they haven't call you today. I speak of what I know, and both of my Doc's return calls after the last patient has left the office, so she might be calling you later.
As far as the Orthopod, if you left a message last week, and they still have not called you, you have every right to call them again, and see if they can return your call after hours. How many patches she gave you? I get 10 and they last me a month, I know that now you are wearing 2, but with just talking to her assistant, and have the Doc write a script that you can go pick up later today, that might solve the issue of running out of patches.
We all have pain, and everyone has bad days, is not how often we get bad days, is the way that we deal with our bad days that usually makes us feel better even when in pain.
Take care,
I also feel you would get so much more help from a qualified atty who could deposition any doctor involved in your care so that the proper medical terms about what you have is documented.
I highly recommend you start a daily pain journal speaking of meds, times of day, level of activities, even having to stop working & how bad it got before you did.
Had it not been for that, I wouldn't have had enough ammo that also helped the court decide my level of disability of RSD many years ago now. I'm sure they didn't read the entire thing but I know I kept it short & to the point writing at least 3 times a day how RSD affected the quality of my life, how meds did, how depression did, etc.
I hope your doctor calls you back today or leave a message with the nurse who can speak to the doctor for you. It's not uncommon for doctors to not return calls to patients until after office hours & if they have to go to the hospital to see other patients, it can take even longer.
Best Wishes
~DIH
doesithurt.wordpress.com
Those were totally worthless for me. In fact , when they titrated from the patch to oral, I was asleep for 8 hours from the first dose of what was supposed to be 1/4 of the same amount that was in the patch.
I don't believe the patches work for everyone. Just like not everyone gets poison ivy rash or chicken pox, not everyone absorbs meds thru their skin. Humans vary so widely that no absolutes can ever be given.
Also, I didn't ask the doc to call me because Iknow that wouldn't happen. I left a message for her nurse to call. It always goes from me to the nurse to the doc and back to me. I know how busy they are. Last week, the nurse told me to call her at 1:00 so I assumed that if I left the message in the morning, she might call me around that time.
I wasn't aware that some people don't absorb Fentanyl through the skin. I assumed that since it was still a low dose, perhaps I just needed more.
My doctor appts. are set up in advance for every 4 weeks. It i next to impossible to get in if you don't have an appt. already. She's only at the clinic on Monday and Wednesday, hence my early call.
Anyway...it's now 5:00 and still haven't heard. I believe I'm going about this the proper way...
Hugs,
Cherry
Tail between my legs...
Right now I am on 100 mcg's of Fentanyl and they helped me but they are not as helpful as the methadone that I am wheening of. Did you read the insert inside the fentanyl box? It says to clean the area with alcohol, let it dry and then apply the patch. I put my patch in the back of my wrist, and then I tape it around with water proof surgical tape that I got at Walgreens, when I take a shower, even though is wrapped around, I also put one of my dogs poopy bag, and then tape it at the bottom so no water can get to it, taking care of the patch and making sure that it stays dry is very important, so revise the way that you use it, and see if it works better.
That's probably why my doctor keeps me on the same brand of patch because they are so different. Maybe thats it too....could be that brand isn't working well for you.
50 mcg is a low dose but some do well on that number, do you have anything for the break thru pain?
Please don't feel you need to apoligize for feeling frustrated, depressed, confused or misunderstood cause we all get that, we understand! I'm glad the nurse called, let us know what the doc said, ok?
Hugs!
Deb
Gentle Hug,
Lynn
BLESSING AND LOW PAIN DAY