Checking in.. not doing that great

[cheyriver]

I haven't been around because I had another surgery for ulnar nerve compression of my elbow one month ago. This is the second time in a row my nerve found curled up and crushed under heavy scar tissue. The surgeon decompressed the nerve and transposed it under fat.

I've been having a heck of a time since surgery. I posted about it in the peripheral forum. The surgeon is not saying anything to me whether this is normal or not. I was told to take more pain meds and a referral to a pain clinic. The pain clinic is a yearlong wait! The surgeon mentioned about trying to get me in as soon as possible. However, otherwise I'm not getting any answers.

I did see my family doctor recently and mentioned about all the problems I'm having since surgery. I was actually crying in his office, and he has never seen me cry before. He just said take more of your pain meds. I'm actually considering finding a new family doctor. He's never judged me but somehow I have an offish type feeling when I'm in his office, more so the past 4 months. This doctor is young, I would say in his 30's, same age range as me.There is a shortage of family doctors where I live. I will stay with him until I find someone else.

I see my surgeon in a few weeks for a followup. I'm hoping these symptoms go away by then. If not and I don't get any answers I will have to get a second opinion. The problems are the long waits to see a surgeon plus my family doctor does not seem thrilled to refer me to someone else. I asked before but was told to stay with the current surgeon. In Canada you can only see a specialist/surgeon by referral.

I have been stressed out completely. Family is not understanding of my pain. I have a high pain tolerance but this is affecting me.

I go to physiotherapy and they are having trouble with my arm. Anything we try seems to aggravate the symptoms.

I'm trying to keep my head up although it's difficult at times.

[tic chick]

((((hugs))))chey *bunch,

in my opinion, this sounds like it's going to take a long time to recover from. the fact that the doctor referred you to a pain clinic is what suggests that to me.

i think doctors who have never experienced chronic pain are less likely to be sympathetic to people who have.

keep going to physical therapy. maybe you could learn how to use your other arm better also, if you are right-handed and it is your right arm that had the surgery.

believe there are better days ahead,
jeannie

[Buttons2]

Sorry you are in so much pain Chey. Take all the meds you need. It's possible the surgery was a mistake,and no way will you ever hear that from any doc right? Sometimes we just have to learn to live with whatever comes our way.

On the other hand,it might just be that you need to be more patient,give the nerves time to heal? I hope that's the case.

[joy]

i am sorry for your pain. you have peripheral neuropathy as well, don't you? i think i am correct in that. if so it does take much longer i fear. i hope you get some relief somewhere. it is hard to know just what to do, this i know.

a year, surely with the doctor trying it will be faster. i'll hope so. please keep us informed and i hope to see you are doing better next time.

[Kashis]

I had ulnar surgery and i know where your coming from I feel so bad for you I would change dr's if I were you do what I did find a dr out of your clinic and tell him nothing about your past just let him know the problems your dealing with now there going to turn you into an addict and then turn around down the road and call you an addict and that your doing this for the meds its what happen to me

when I went to a new dr for my migraines all I told him was I was abused and couldn't tolerate the pain anymore nothing about other dr's etc... as I didn't want to be judged as the last dr did he put in my report that I was an alcoholic addict I read the chart I left the office and started on a mission and I thank GOD every day for my dr know I feel I was sent to him as he is the busiest dr in the clinic and did everything he could for me and never gave up it took years before I have told him the reall truth about me

but eventually there going to start saying your looking for pills I just know it gut feeling

find someone else second third even fourth dr until you find one your comfortable with

the clinics are chronic pain clinics and they wean you off drugs and want you to learn to self help and tolerate your pain

I have to say the one that I was admitted to was the best place ever as everyone else got taken off meds mine just got switched and I was the 2nd youngest in the place and the only one labeled disabled I felt awful as there were people with broken necks some with knee replacements and hips etc.... I just felt these people deserved just as much as I got so to say its hard to explain

One pain clinic treated me like a crack head it was awful I quit the program they gave me actiq 80x's stronger then morphine then took me off it was just an awful experiance gave me shots in my eyes and told me I had ptss cause I freaked about it anyway I never want to see anyone suffer like I did

Please start looking for new dr's don't suffer for anyone when dr's are stummped they tend to make it our fault I had this happen one to many times Love N Hugs Krissi

[cheyriver]

I haven't been on the site for awhile but thought I would post an update..

I have seen my current surgeon a few times since surgery. He plans on sending me to one of his colleagues for a second opinion. After this second surgeon sees me I guess he will talk to my original surgeon. My original surgeon will not do anymore surgery on my elbow. I really don't want surgery anyways unless this second surgeon has a different approach.

I did get into the pain clinic and have medications which help somewhat with the pain, thank goodness. I haven't been told I have peripheral neuropathy.

This second surgeon is suppose to be excellent along with being nice and good bedside manners. His waiting list is quite long. I heard someone say it could take a year to get in.

Physiotherapy can't do much for me but I use my arm as much as possible but stop before it gets too painful.

[Buttons2]

Good to hear from you Chey. Hopefully the long wait will be over soon or at least you'll know if surgery is an option or not. Take care.

[Kashis]

I have issues with dr's and pain meds and pain clinics as its terrible how they dope us up then send us on down to a pain clinic were we are called addicts after the dr dopes us up so bad and makes us feel like we are its terrible I have been through some nasty clinics where I had to do urine every week and they treated me as if I was on crack

I hope the pain clinic you go to understands the situation and who you are I went to a pain clinic hosp for 3 weeks and they understood me taught me different ways of coping with pain but didn't treat me as an addict which was awesome I am still on meds but at least they know why now GOOD LUCK GOD BLESS DEAR Hugs Krissi