Help Please!!!! I screwed up with the pain mgmt doctor

[Greg]

Hey Greg,
Boy I know what you mean about this insurance thing. I'm still paying for my MRI from Aug. '08 at $50 a month. Our insurance used to be 80% like yours then it went to 60/40 when I had that MRI. Now it has gone up to 70\30 with a $5000 out of pocket for big stuff which is what I will have to pay for the ADR trial if I have it done. How bad is your L/4? What were the disco results. I am absolutely terrified of a disco. However, I think $5000 is a small price to pay if this adr would make me painfree. I love to hear the stories that say "all of my presurgical pain is gone" Just think how great that would be! But my negative thinking tells me with my luck I will be way worse than before, won't be able to work, go bankrupt and lose my house. Please don't let any of my negativity rub off. How is your pain today? Do you have any meds at all? Have you been taking meds a long time? Sorry for all the questions.
Linda

I have been up since 4:30 this morning Sleeping is a hard thing to do and I fell asleep early last night which means i get 6-7 hours before the pain is too bad to continue laying down. I had 2 percs left last night and tried to not take them today but after 1 hour of doing every stretch/exercise I've been taught I had to give in. And yes I have been on meds for a while, detox sucks!

As for the discogram, the results were a 100% confirmation that L5/S1 is the main problem and L4/L5 is pretty bad as well. They inject your disk with 1 cc of contrast dye to replicate an inflamed disk. They dont tell you what disc there doing and the dr did 1/2 cc, gauged my reaction and then the other 1/2. When he did L5/S1, after he put in the 1/2 cc (4 drops of liquid) he could tell my pain was so intense he didnt inject the other 1/2 cc. I told hem before the operation I didnt want any pain meds afterwards b/c I didnt have time to hang around and be monitored because I had other appointments. 2 minutes after the L5/S1 injection he had a nurse inject me with 100 mg of fetenyl....unfortunately with my disc jammed up against my nerve it didnt work. I probably could have received more and cleared up the pain but I live too busy of a life and had to go.

As horrible as the discogram was, I am glad I have the test results now. With xrays, MRI's, and standard teachings to doctors, they see my problem as not something that SHOULD cause as much pain as I have. With the discogram results I now have a little more proof to convince these doctors how dabilitating my pain is and when I dont have meds (that work) I dont want to do anything. Still it is hard, like all of you know, to convince the doctors that we need something stronger. On top of that I think I have the worlds fastest metabolism. They would prescribe me something and say it should last 6 hours......yeah right! 2 hours tops and I'm back to hurting. This is another situation I have with meds and they dont believe me and think I just want more stronger meds to get high or sell them or something.....ugh Sorry, started to vent there a little.

[Justin]

Hey Greg,

It sounds like you are having a rough day. I'm sorry that your pain is getting the best of you.

When you see your new pain management doc on Tuesday, you should describe your pain in detail and the way in which it is affecting your quality of life. Hopefully, they will put you on a long-acting (sustained release) pain med and another short-acting pain med for breakthrough pain.

I agree with Linda 100%--you are too young to be going through all of this. I can truly empathize with you. Feel free to vent all you want here at SPS. We are here to unconditionally support all Spine Patients and we encourage everyone here to just be themselves--as Spine Patients we truly understand that there are good, bad and absolutely rotten days. In the end, what I am trying to say is that feel free to vent away--we get it.

Greg, you have done your homework and you have become a well-informed patient. This is key to moving forward and is very empowering (as cheesy as that sounds). Also, I received your PM and I have a few ideas that should open up a few doors.

If you need anything at all, feel free to contact me anytime.

[Greg]

Good luck on Tuesday, Greg.

UPDATE: Just got back from the dr appointment

How can some doctors be so uncaring when you are in a time when you need your help the most?

I just got back from the Dr appt...this is the original dr who started my treatment and sent me to the pain mgmt clinic. This dr is a nonbeliever in pain medication After explainging the entire situation, what I have done recently and want to do in the future and my immediate needs right now. She basically used the fact that I had violated the contract with my PM doc as her excuse to give me no medication. Her advice was since it caused me my issues with the PM doctor that it should be a wake up call to me that narcotics are not the cure for me and I should wean off of them. How do you wean off meds when you DONT HAVE ANY TO TAKE????

I could not believe the way this visit went. The only good thing that came out of the visit was I convinced her (against her recommendation) to send in a referral to a new PM doctor. She never liked giving me meds before and I new she was going to relish in the fact that with my pain contract violation, she could give me the ultimate NO to my request for some relief. She had I should go to my primary care physician which has told me before when I asked for some meds that they do not do pain management and I needed to go to the dr I hate so much.

I put my life (and ability to enjoy it) in the hands of these doctors and they deny me the only treatment left to help cope with my situation. I made a rush appt with my primary care dr for 2:15 today and I WILL NOT leave there until she gives me SOMETHING. Who knows how long it will take to get in with the new PM dr and if he will even accept me.

Ill keep you all posted but the my hopes have been smashed with a bat and I have never felt so depressed.

[Cindylou]

Greg, I am so sorry for how things went at your doctor appt. this morning. Time and time again I hear these stories of poor bedside manners, and lack of compassion on behalf of the patient. I do think your young age is working against you too. It is just so unfortunate. I hope your afternoon appt. goes better. I'll be thinking of you. And hang in there.

[ajj1001]

Thinking of you Greg. Its awful that you are having to go through this.

[Greg]

I put my life (and ability to enjoy it) in the hands of these doctors and they deny me the only treatment left to help cope with my situation. I made a rush appt with my primary care dr for 2:15 today and I WILL NOT leave there until she gives me SOMETHING. Who knows how long it will take to get in with the new PM dr and if he will even accept me.

Ill keep you all posted but my hopes have been smashed with a bat and I have never felt so depressed.

I tried to stand behind my statement of not leaving the doctor's office until this doctor gave me a prescription. SHE LEFT ME! She literally walked out of the room we were in while I was talking and ignored me.

They said they do not prescribe medication to treat chronic pain issues. Even though I explained over and over (probably why she walked out on me but not very professional) that I was not there to have her do my pain management. I just needed a week or 2 script to bridge the gap while I am getting into a new clinic. How could she morally do this to me? It's not like I dont have all the medical tests showing ALL the problems.

I WANTED TO START CRYING I never thought I would get so emotionally wound up about this. I have never felt so helpless before and am SOOOOOO GLAD I have you guys to listen to my venting.

So screw waiting for the new pain management place to call me for an appointment. I will be calling them immediately to get the ball rolling

[Justin]

I tried to stand behind my statement of not leaving the doctor's office until this doctor gave me a prescription. SHE LEFT ME! She literally walked out of the room we were in while I was talking and ignored me.

Hey Greg,

I'm sorry today was not what you were expecting it to be. Personally, I have been treated by physicians that do similar things to what you stated above. In my opinion, it is unprofessional and unnecessary.

They said they do not prescribe medication to treat chronic pain issues. Even though I explained over and over (probably why she walked out on me but not very professional) that I was not there to have her do my pain management. I just needed a week or 2 script to bridge the gap while I am getting into a new clinic. How could she morally do this to me? It's not like I dont have all the medical tests showing ALL the problems.

If I am reading the above posts correctly, the physician that stated they do not prescribe medicine for chronic pain management is your primary care physician, right? Most primary care physicians do not treat or write scripts for chronic pain management. Even with the gap in treatment that you explained, many will still not write for narcotics--often times it is a clinic policy. At the very least, she should have referred you to a clinic/physician that does write for schedule II drugs. There are many physicians that will see your pain for what it is and will treat you appropriately (this can include the use of narcotics).

I WANTED TO START CRYING I never thought I would get so emotionally wound up about this. I have never felt so helpless before and am SOOOOOO GLAD I have you guys to listen to my venting.

So screw waiting for the new pain management place to call me for an appointment. I will be calling them immediately to get the ball rolling

Pain can be overwhelming, as you know, and it can creep into every aspect of your life--until it "controls" you. We are here for you; feel free to vent as much as you like. I hope that you will be able to get into a pain management clinic soon that will be able to help treat your pain.

Good luck and keep your head up. If you need anything, please send me a PM, email or catch me on person-to-person chat (I would talk by phone, but my cold has got the best of my voice ).

[Cindylou]

Justin said everything, and then some, of what I would have offered Greg. My primary care physician turned me away one time too, when I was in between getting back to my pain clinic. She finally broke down and gave me some Ultram, because she said she could tell I was in alot of pain. It's not very strong, but it was better than nothing. They also have the "no" policy for pain meds. Chronic pain can absolutely be overwhelming, and I hope you get your appt. scheduled asap at a new clinic. Hang in there Greg. I know it's not easy.