Now what?

I wanted to add one more comment

I in no way blame the nurse I talked to, for giving me the advice she did.  I don't think that I explained my situation or my contract with her either.  So I am not blaming nurses for this situation, I've just learned to make sure I explain my situation and my contract with the nurse too.

I did not want any nurses to take my comment as blaming a nurse for my confusion & not properly making sure they understood my situation.

Betty

I personally would find a new clininc if your doctor will not even listen to your explanations. Most pain contracts state that you must obtain permission before upping your dose due to an exception. My husband had the same experience. He broke his hand while being treated for chronic back pain. He called the admin to let them know that he would need to take more pain meds than usual due to the injury. When he went to see the doctor, the doctor was very unprofessional. He argued with my husband as he was coming out of versaid after a rhyzotomy.

This is a great doctor who must havd had a bad  or trying day. I feel for the docs too. There are quite a few drug seekers who lie and betray trust and I think they get paranoid sometimes. If after a cool down and revisiting the issue with more informaiton they still act that way? I say find a new doc.

Betty Boop too,

You sure seem to know ALOt about pain and lower back pain. Im interested if you have any info for me? ive been dealing with my pain (chronic pain by far) for mroe than 3 yrs. No injurys, no nothing. Its like i just woke up this way or something. Had surgery, it failed. I acually had 14 different typs of injections and have took almost every medication in the book. I took myself off pain meds since they didnt work anyway, and i have a tens unit (nerve stimualter) which helps a bit, at least takes the edge off. Any advice? my docs are great, i dont have a surgeon right now, b/c i didnt agree with what the last one said, but what do i do??!! they say its never going to get better, only worse as years go on, and im only 24!!!!!!!! i dont want to go through surgery but i dont want to go through this pain for the rest of my life either....oh ive been so depressed from this i cant even tell you. Its horrible. Im at my witts end i dont know what to do anymore.

Hello Kimberly

I'm not sure how, but I must of missed your post reply message or something, so sorry for the delay.

I don't really think I know anymore than most others who've been dealing in pain for the past 6 or more years, but thank you any way.

Have you tried any alternative therapies like message, chiropractor, etc.  I'm not sure, as you did not mention what your films show in your spine and exactly what type of surgery they did, but there are a great deal of chiropractors who would possibly give you some advise or help too.

I've found many message therapy techniques as beneficial for reducing the intensity of the pain, so since you not really wanting to be on meds, etc.  Then I think Message therapy is worth a try.  Have you considered acupuncture or even reflexology.  Many alternative therapies can be very helpful in dealing with chronic pain and I support trying any of these that may hold off surgery (if that's what you want to do) and can help you to deal with your pain in a positive manner.

I've found with my own situation, that I have to use multiply treatments for me to keep any type of control of my own situation.

Let me know how your doing & take Care of your self.

I always find it sad to hear a young person having to deal with this type of pain, so I hope you can find some alternatives to help you along your journey of pain treatments.

Betty

Thank you Betty Boop,

I just feel like i have to take everyday as it comes, some days im ok, some days im just not. Ya, for awhile there i felt like this was SO unfair that i have to go through all this and im only 23! ive had this back pain for about 5 yrs now, and yes, ive tried it all. 3 different chiro's, massage therpy acually hurt me....ive always been VERY curious about acupunture although im not sure if it would work at this point. My tens unit helps in the fact that it numbs up my back and if i wear it long enough it will numb it up so much that i cant even feel my hand touch my low back. I had l3-4 and l5 surgery in Aug of 2006 they did whats called an IDET procedure im not sure if you know what it is, you should look it up on the internet if your interested b/c i dont even know how to explain it!!! its a less invasive (but very expensive!) procedure where they use a needle and go through a catheter type thing and he sucked all the juice around my discs and what not. I dont know, thought it would help, wore a brace for 7weeks that was HORRIBLE and he said once i took the brace off id notice a difference and dont get me wrong, i did!!! and then that feeling was GONE. so i felt like i was back at square one. Like i said the TENS unit helps, but i need more help. i want someone else to see in the seattle area that can give me some good advice. Ya know? someone to think up some different thoughts about whats going on with me and why it seems to be getting so much worse. :( did you say you have a list of good doc's to see in the seattle area? what area are you in? just wondering..... either way someone HELP!!! lol...some days i feel like im going out of my mind, other days i do better......?? its so weird how fast it can change. I guess thats just the way it works.

Unfortunately, with most pain meds, the doctor can't refill them early. The "pain police" keep a close eye on narcotics and more than a few docs have been in trouble for being kind. Not to mention that insurance won't pay for a refill unless enough time has lapsed. It's really a mess, I know. I take methadone, morphine, fentanyl pain patches, Xanax, plus other meds for other problems. I can't get any of those filled until the 30th day. And, for some reason, both docs & pharmacists keep forgetting about those nasty 31 day months and make you wait an extra day.

I try very hard to save back at least a couple or more throughout the month when I think I can go without it, so I have a spare if something happens. I wish you the best of luck. But please, remember, that pain disrupts your life if you are 23 or 53. It doesn't hurt one bit less just because you are middle aged. Nothing is worse than having my beautiful 3 yr old granddaughter say, "Nanny, can you pick me up?"

Try and keep your emotions at a calm level as well. My pain triples when I let myself get upset.

Hang in there, okay?? Char