Off to doc today.

[houghchrst]

Well I finally have an appt to see my PCP today, yes this is the one that prescribed the Buspar for pain when I saw him last because I was crying in pain by the time I saw him after an hour and a half of being in the waiting rm in the hard chairs. Hopefully we will try the Lyrica today. I haven't been on here much lately because the shots in my back have worn off and I have been in a ridiculous amount of pain. Tuesday night, after a day of cupboard cleaning in kitchen ( took 5mg of Methadone to do this), I laid on my bed to watch tv and recover because pain was getting bad and went to stand up and got to my feet and couldn't move because the pain was so intense. Had to sit on edge of bed and just tip over. Back, knee, feet. Burst into tears and called for help and all we could find was a 500mg Vicodin. I don't take the Methadone in the evening because I can't sleep and it makes me severely hyper and I had already taken some earlier in the day and it only had taken the edge off. Knew the Neurontin wasnt' going to work for this pain. Had to call a neighbor who has lupus and told me that if I ever needed anything to call her. She didn't even let the bf finish what he was saying and she was on her way over. 30mg Morphine and a heating pad. Took the edge off the pain but couldn't sleep for nothin. Took the Vicodin yesterday morning and it made me feel sick, dizzy and nauseous and really hungover feeling, which is a first. Laid on couch all day and finally at about 9:30pm had to take a 15mg Morphine (she left me a couple) after fighting it, but it only worked a little and had to take another one at 2:45am. Pain kept me tossing and turning all night long. Felt really hungover when I got out of bed from the meds and lack of sleep. No shot until next Wednesday. Can't wait to see what this doc says. The PM doc said he was going to recommend no opiates or Methadone (don't like anyway) Hurt so bad today I am afraid to do anything. Still haven't showered.

I am sorry I haven't responded to anyone's post (haven't been on but a couple minutes) but just so you all know I am always thinking of yous LOL and hope you are all well.

[Mark N]

What is your PM doctor suggesting if he is taking you off all opiates. With the pain you are describing and the effectiveness of the meds you have taken doesn't make it sound like there will be much pain relief for you. I would stay away from the activities that cause so much pain and try to keep your pain levels down. It is difficult because it can cause us to feel less than human when we can't even do simple things.

I hope the PCP can help control your pain and your PM's plan will work better than it seems it will.

[shotspine]

Christina.....

You haven't come back to give an update from your appt today. I hope that doesn't mean you have been left in horrible pain with no help from your PCP. My heart goes out to you as I have been where you are at and may be there again soon. My PCP has been writing my meds and is now getting very skittish about them. I'm on low doses and haven't asked for any increases since starting these doses 1-1/2 yrs ago. He's sending me to another Pain Mgmt Clinic........here in Washington, they DO NOT believe in narcotics....so, guess I'll find out soon what they will do. I'm very nervous. This will be pain clinic #4, the other 3 were total nightmares.

Wishing you much lower pain levels!!

[houghchrst]

Well I don't know what happened but the level of care I am getting from this place just went up two notches. Maybe it was the fight on the phone with the MA last week. Well the xrays for my hands came back, no bone anomalies but a large amount of inflammation. Doc says he thinks it is Rheumatoid. He says acts like it, smells like it. His wife has it and it took seven tests for it to finally show. In mean time I have topical Lidocane which works for it temporarily. MRI is next on hands. He wrote me a scrip for Ultram. Said he wants to start high because I am one of those people who become drug resistant relatively quickly and tend to develop allergies. So 100mg 2x a day for now. I have two more shots to go, on the 15th, the critical one he says, and then again on the 22nd then I think I am going to ask for a change in PM docs. I was told at that PM clinic that I would have to go outside my county to find a PM clinic that does any more than steroid shots well a little sleuthing on my part proved her info to be inaccurate and this doc is about a mile from me. Am going to request to see her after my shots are done. I am hopeful and only a little sore this morning. It is when it gets to be about 4 in the afternoon that things get bad. Sometimes sooner.

The Lyrica is a no go due to my insurance, I had no idea. The doc mentioned some new biologicals that are supposed to become available for pain and inflammation and says that it will be wonderful for me. I will have to look up what he is talking about.

Thank you all who read and responded. This forum is so active that I don't dare miss a day LOL. I wish you all a pain free day.

[Mark N]

Christina, what great news about your visit to the doctor. Glad to hear things were so much better this time and I hope the pain plan works.

[BrokenBladder]

Chistina thats great news about your doctor!! I hope your pain levels stay down to a minimal level.

Tale Care,

[houghchrst]

Well this is just to say that the Ultram is working quite well for my back. Still a mild ache but livable. Not doing a whole lot for my knee pain and I don't know if that has anything to do with the fact that I have 2 screws and a staple. Lots of swelling and pain in the back of my knee lately. No clue. The Lidocane that I got for my hands works on that pain a little and as for my feet and upper back I am hoping that when I go back we can do something about that. I have Robaxin that I take in the morning and that helps right between my shoulder blades for a short period of time. Only thing that works for my feet is to stay off of them. Yeah right LOL.

Hope you all have a great day.

[Mark N]

Christina, glad to her the Ultram is working on your back pain and I hope you et some relief of from your knee pain.