Pain v. Analgesia

[Frances144]

It may have been said before, but it occurred to me 3 months post-op spinal fusion (not sure if it is working) that some doctors equate your pain levels directly to the amount of pain relief pills you are taking.

I find analgesia very difficult to take as I seem to be hit with most of the side-effects, from diarrhoea to dependency in a matter of days. So I try to reduce and minimise my daily efforts accordingly.

My doctor therefore thinks I cannot be in much pain if I don't take many painkillers. This is just not so. It hurts when I breathe and move but the painkillers don't stop the pain, they just stop me minding so much about it.

I suppose that is my thought for the day.

[ajj1001]

I think it's quite difficult for doctors (and other people) to understand chronic pain. I battle to stay on lowish meds so that some will work after surgery (will probably change after that as I am having no further surgery after this op). i am always in pain whatever I do/take/look like.

[Justin]

It may have been said before, but it occurred to me 3 months post-op spinal fusion (not sure if it is working) that some doctors equate your pain levels directly to the amount of pain relief pills you are taking.

Unfortunately, this is true. This is not to say that all physicians fit this statement, but you definitely hit the nail on the head.

I find analgesia very difficult to take as I seem to be hit with most of the side-effects, from diarrhoea to dependency in a matter of days. So I try to reduce and minimise my daily efforts accordingly.

If you are on opioids (narcotics) to treat your chronic pain, you should be on a good bowel regimen.

My doctor therefore thinks I cannot be in much pain if I don't take many painkillers. This is just not so. It hurts when I breathe and move but the painkillers don't stop the pain, they just stop me minding so much about it.

I suppose that is my thought for the day.

I'm sorry you are in so much pain. Are you seeing a pain management doctor or does your primary care prescribe your pain medications?

I wish you the very best...I know how life-changing chronic pain can be.

[Dutch]

It may have been said before, but it occurred to me 3 months post-op spinal fusion (not sure if it is working) that some doctors equate your pain levels directly to the amount of pain relief pills you are taking.

I find analgesia very difficult to take as I seem to be hit with most of the side-effects, from diarrhoea to dependency in a matter of days. So I try to reduce and minimise my daily efforts accordingly.

My doctor therefore thinks I cannot be in much pain if I don't take many painkillers. This is just not so. It hurts when I breathe and move but the painkillers don't stop the pain, they just stop me minding so much about it.

I suppose that is my thought for the day.

I completely understand where you are coming from on this one. I have been a business owner for 10+ years and have tried desperately to find a balance between manageable pain and the level of pain meds which won't impair my cognitive function. I'm 2.5 years into this effort and am still significantly impaired one way or the other. I have had poor luck with meds which don't reduce cognitive function and the level of meds required to keep pain to a dull roar simply leave me fuzzy-headed and unmotivated. With a recent flare-up that led to discovery of cervical radiculopathy, I'm now going to push forward with a surgical solution as soon as possible. If it doesn't relieve my neck pain, I am going to take charge of my own treatment and demand a better solution (perhaps spinal cord stimulator?). I refuse to accept that I must choose between pain or pain medication as the only options - since both have all but eliminated my ability to function successfully. I have struggled to make accomodations and shift responsibilities, but have seen my business go from quite successful to taking a huge loss.

There has to be a better way - and the answer for both of us is likely to find the right doctor(s) who will understand our goals and work with us to make something happen...

Good luck in your efforts to be pain free AND clear-headed.

Regards,
Dutch

[Catherine]

I have been on opioids for three and a half years this time and on and off of them at several times throughout my life. I have never had a problem with dependence or cognitive function, not until they started me on this gabapentin that is. Now it's getting ridiculous! I'm losing my truck in the grocery store parking lot, forgetting words and I just stop talking in the middle of sentences. I just want to get me repaired and hopefully get off of this stuff. Opioids don't scare me at all like this stuff does.

Catherine

[SemperFi]

I went about 18 years and 2 spine surgeries before getting on regular daily pain medication. What a difference it made in my being able to function. I'm not sure I could have functioned at work on this medication as there was a learning curve of getting my symptoms under control and some brain fog on the meds however I must say~ surgeons were willing to do surgery on me before them and took me seriously before I started the meds altho they take me very seriously since I had 9 years of lumbar ESIs and been on pain meds for that amount of time as well plus the surgeries and my age I think seems to make them take me more seriously (worse for wear/aging I guess)!

Yes it's true doctors might think you couldn't be in terrible pain if you're not medicating but then again not everyone wants to take pain medication and I didn't for the longest time. Those that have ever experienced back pain episodically that is brutal or chronic pain or perhaps any horrible pain can probably better have some empathy. Then again I also think part of the physician not expending too much emotional energy is to be very clinical and maybe some of that means while they hear what you say they aren't listening and/or absorbing the energy you're putting out (painful, angst, etc). Some might and can deflect it well and perhaps others cannot as they cannot function well enough if they do.

I do hope you will get the attention and treatment that you should whether or not you take medication for pain.