Oh Cherry, this is the continuing saga of the last two years. "how can I keep on like this...?"

No one has come up witha good answer. I don't know my friend.

I wish there was something I could do to help you, make it better, or make it all go away.

I know how hard it is and, what the alternatives mean. I can only offer you my support and friendship, an ear while you vent and, my empathy.

I hope things improve for you and your pain comes under control.
God bless, my friend.

You're right, Brandi, I must sound like a broken record. The leg pain is something different that started as Sciatica at the beginning of the Summer. It's now involving other nerves in that bundle and both legs. The most recent discovery is Tendonitis in the worst leg and was worse a week later.

So it is a continuing saga wih no direction. I have my regular 4 week check up for scripts this afternoon and she's been talking about Methadone. I don't trust her to know enough to prescribe it through the transition. She's goofed before, but I'm about ready to just take a chance for relief.

But first...2 more haircuts...misery!

oh cherry, we all sound like broken records. i just did half my dishes and chipped a favorite plate. and brought on a flare myself. not trying to hijack, just wish you didn't have to do more today. i just can't put an ice pack on when i'm having the chills...

wishing you the strength to make it through this day!

Your right Cherry ...you do sound like a broken record and I am furious about it. How much more can you take?! How much longer is your dr. going to let you suffer? If she can't help you get some relief from this pain she should have referred you to someone who could by now!!! Cherry; really!;, You need some help and you need some relief. This has gone on long enough and its just getting worse. How much more can you take?
I worry about you all the time. I worry one day I will get on here and not hear from you! I wish you would seek a new dr. out. You need some help. You need some relief from all this pain. Even if you didn't have to work at all, this is more than you should bear 24/7. I mean seriously....she won't even help you with getting enough sleep...blaming it on age?! Give me a break! She really doesn't know how to help you.
Sorry for the rampage, but it hurts me to hear you in so much pain all the time. I wish you would find a new dr.! I know your reasons but it would so be worth it!
Hugs and Much love,
Kim

Kim...I appreciate your concern and I do agree. One problem is the shortage of docs in this area. There's a waiting list to get in. To her credit, she did send me to a pain clinic at our big teaching hospital...it only got me a slight med adjustment, but it was something.

If she talks about Methadone today, I might ask her if she'd consult with the doc at the clinic before experimenting on me.

I doubt there are many doc around here who'd want to take me on.

Sweet Cherry I do hope she will consult and give you a med that will relieve your pain to a level you can live with. I can't help but think that is responsible for your lack of sleep. There is only so much the nerves can take before the body just goes of course.

By now you have probably finished with your appointment. Hope it was productive. I understand about small towns and doctors. Been there done that. You take what you can get or you drive a long way. I think driving might cause you more pain than you need.

Thinking of you, Cherry. I hope the doctor can help you.

Ah, Cherry, something will change for all the efforts that you put out there. Last year at this time I was at the end of my rope and had been for many years and felt like giving up, over and over and over again. I have my journals to remind me. I had an 18 month waiting list for this one specialist and I doubted he could do anything because no one could do anything before him. Pain people before me told me to hang in there because one day, I would find an answer if I just kept pushing.

I didn't believe them most of the time. But a little piece of me thought maybe there was something out there that just might work, but I hadn't found it yet. So far, I hadn't met that person who could help yet. I remember you had encouraged me a few times to hang in there when I was at my lowest of low and the pain wouldn't let up for even a moment and I just didn't want to hold on anymore.

I did find a doctor who made a difference last November. Not a cure, but a big difference, so, hun, lean on us today and be a broken record all you want. No apologies needed. But don't ever think this is an impossible situation. Keep pushing and trying and thinking and that answer will come to you. When it does, we will all celebrate like there is no tomorrow (and then get out our heating pads and ice packs and sit down again).

Something will happen for you. Wish it will be sooner.

big loving hugs cyber mum xxxxxxxxxx

Cherry, so so sorry for your pain! I agree with Kim.......you really need to find a doc that will take an interest and help you. Not knowing that much about Methadone, but isn't that a drug that one takes to get off the hard stuff? This should really be watched.

How you manage to press on is an inspiration to me.

Oh Cherry...

I hope you don't think that I was making a negative comment about YOU being a broken record. I have been on DS for two years and, I was talking about the question in general... we all have that same question come up for us, many times more than once. The question is the "ongoing saga".

I was just wanting to let you know that I have not yet found the answer to that question but, I would be here to support and listen to you.

Much love my friend.

Thanks, Brandi...I do feel guilty when I break down and start a thread about me. It takes a lot of pain and a really low point for it to happen.

My doc did, in fact, sound knowledgable about Methadone and the procedure to make the switch. So...I took my first one this morning. It's a very small dose and will take a while to build up so I don't increase for 2 more weeks. The problem is that she cut my dose of Oxycodone in half! In 2 weeks I'm supposed to half it again, but with only a tiny increase in the Meth.

Needless to say, my pain has been almost unbearable for most of the day. After a combination of everything else I have, I get just enough relief to hobble around and do a few things. I wish I knew how long it will be for this to start making a dfference and what sort of dose might be safe and therapeutic.

Thanks to everyone for your support and concern. I love the Hen House and the hens who live here!

cherry, i can't beleive they can wean us off the same way the titrate us on...so sorry. i hope you can negotiate your schedule with rest breaks for yourself.

wishing you the best in getting through this time. i hope it's goes better than expected.

this kind of treatment is making me very mad. i wish these docs had to walk in our shoes a 1000 miles, then decide what the hell we need. good grief!!!!