Pain Management Community

SWITCH DOCTORS!!! I suspect that your doctor is thinking that you are simply seeking pain medication. I am so sick and tired of being treated like an addict by pain mangment "nurses" or being told that we can't give you meds becuase we don't have a diagnosis. It's not my problem that a doctor cannot find a diagnosis, it's their problem or lack of wanting to take the time to get to the bottom of what's going on. I was finally given meds that helped after my doctor actually reviewed my primar care records wherein it was noted that I lost 35 pounds in a matter of a little over a month when the pain started.

Originally they did not listen to me either when I told them I could barley work, could not play with my kids and stopped all sports and hobbies I enjoyed. This is not to mention the fact that my marrriage was on the rocks because all I wanted to do was get sleep when I could. Something as simple as going to dinner or the movies was out of hte question. They wanted some sort of proof that I was actualkly injured.

If you are unahppy with your doctor, tell them you are going somewhere else and request a copy of your medical records. DO NOT allow them to tell you they will send your recrods to a new doctor. Get them yourself and review them to see if they noted in there that you are some sort of drug seeker.

Also, keep a diary of everything that happens and make sure you put in writing that you are no longer going to treat with them and why. If you are not happy with your doctor, leave and tell them why. I had to do that several times before I found someone that I was happy with. I new I was happy with them with my first appointment. They sat with me for an hour and explained after my examination all of hte possibilities. They answered ALL of my questions and referred me to severl specialists to rule out or in certain causes. The very next day I received phone calls from those specialists to set up appointments and the day after that, I received a call form my new doc to make sure I was contacted and if hte medication he prescribed was working.

Remember, YOU are the one in pain and YOU pay for your doctor. If they wont listen to you or treat you like a human being, tell them YOUR FIRED!!

I have the same problem with docs., although mine are psychiatrists. Some where in the new medical training it must be written: "all patients are stupid". The reason you feel rushed or brushed off is because we are now living with socialized medicine run by insurance companies. The aloted time per patient is 15 minutes. Another new medical advancement is the Nurse Practioner - endless tests and lots of vitamins.

Did not read all the posts so I don't know if this was mentioned. If I had to have back surgery I would be darn sure it was a neuro-sergeon that did it.

Another problem with pain treatment is due to the fact that you can't measure it. The same old story if you can't see it then it must not be there.

I do wish you well, your going to have to get mean to get anyone to listen to you.

God bless,

sniper

I may agree with you on some points, but you lost me when you referred to "socialized medicine run by insurance companies". We do not have socialized medicine in the US, when you have that the government would take the place of the insurance companies. That would save us about 30% of the total cost of medical care in the US according to one article I read in the news the other day.

If I need more than the allotted time for a usual office visit with my doctor I simply tell the scheduling person when I make the appt. and she schedules me according to what I need.

I agree about the neurosurgeon, anyone doing surgery on my spine will be a neurosurgeon.

If you are a present or former Marine, I think you for your military service. My son was in the Marines for eight years, including three deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. It take a lot of personal sacrifice to be a Marine. It takes a long time to get used to being at home also.

By the way, it is kind of hard to believe the "God bless" when it is followed by "Sniper".....strange.....

Take care, Annette

Oh marv...I'm so sorry! I am way late to the game here, but I totally understand you! I went to the docs about 3 1/2 weeks ago...urgent care actually, only to be told I was to young for back pain and I just had a strained muscle. I pushed and they sent me for an MRI. L5 herniated disk. When I heard that I remembered when it happened.

Change doctors please! Any back pain is just so terrible, and for it to be so bad for so long is even worse! Go to an Urgent Care if you have to, but change docs! And do not rush into any type of surgery. I ended up at a neuro surgeons office and he said I was way to young for surgery and wanted to try other steps first. I have been lucky and pain free for almost a week now. Just kinda stopped hurting! But don't let some doctor tell you it is in your head and don't let them rush you into surgery. I hope you feel better!

Hi I'm trying to find some answers for my mom!! My mom has had seizure like symptoms for 6 years and she has been to doctors and they tell her its all in her head. the symptoms are she goes numb on the right side of her body,she shakes like she's having a seizure but she's awake though the whole thing and she can talk to you. She gets really hot and her eyes get really fuzzy and she sees dots right before they start. Please if anyone has any information that can help my mom right me back!!! I'm really worried about her!!!!

I have severe and chronic neck and left shoulder pain due to a failed disk surgery wherein the surgeon found all my disks appeared to literally be smashed. I disagree with one member who said surgery should be the last option. No one knows your body and symptoms better than you do, and in my case, I knew surgery was my only option, which was proven as no drugs would be able to take care of smashed disks. The severity of your symptoms also plays a role in whether you should seek drug therapy or surgery. If your symptoms are really bad, again, it is common sense that surgery is needed. Further, even an extra DAY, let alone weeks or MONTHS living with severe pain can break down even the strongest person. When your pain is so bad you cannot even do your ADLs and have no quality of life, even morphine isn't going to help incessant and severe pain. Surgery is always a risk, but having no quality of life is worse than death.

Why on Earth don't you go to a chiropractor? Between car wrecks, falling down stairs, and having babies I have been almost completely incapacitated many times in my life. Every time a chiropractor has managed to fix my back, with no surgery or drugs. Wouldn't you rather just have it fixed and be healthy again than have them doing surgery on you, etc?

Has your mom seen a neurologist yet? They are seizure specialists, they take care of the brain and nervous system. If they do an EEG and it shows no seizure activity then the doctor should figure out what IS going on and refer her to the correct kind of doctor.

I am an old nurse, and have never seen anyone have seizures and be awake and talking to you. I have always seen some kind of mental absence during and right after the seizure. A neurologist would know if there are any types of seizures that would sound like what your mom is going through.

She is lucky to have you to look out for her.

Take care, Annette

Please disregard Ametista, who suggested that you go to a chiropractor. Chiropractors are not medical doctors. Their training and experience pales in comparison with a medical doctor. If a physician recommends a chiropractor, OK. But only a person with "MD" after their name is truly capable of diagnosing your problem.

Chiropractors do not attend medical schools; nor do they complete internships, residencies or fellowships. They are poor diagnosticians because they cannot order and are not well trained to interpret critical radiological imaging tests. Chiropractors use X-rays to enhance diagnosis. Yet soft tissue, such as disc material and tumors, will not visualize on an X-ray. Many patients with spinal problems have been damaged by chiropractors who (because they are not permitted to order an MRI, CAT-scan or myelogram) essentially work in the dark.

Patients with a tumor compressing a spinal nerve root who go to a chiropractor may die as a result. By the time they visit a real doctor (a physician) their tumor may have metastasized to other organs, creating a terminal condition. I'm not suggesting that you have a tumor. But, a chiropractor cannot diagnose that. Do you really want someone less capable than a physician working on your damaged spine?.

If you are in pain, why not go to a real doctor - a medical doctor? Don't you deserve the best possible treatment? Don't you want to be treated by someone who completed medical school and a residency? Try a neurologist, neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeon. The very best option is a fellowship-trained spine surgeon. They can usually be found at or near teaching hospitals.

Trust your health to someone with "MD" after their name. Otherwise, Caveat Emptor!

I'm with Charles on the chiropractor and I'll certainly tell you why. One BROKE MY NECK!!! Good enough? I have no curvature in my cervical spine and he saw that on the X-ray, and even commented on it. But he "ripped" my neck anyway. I had a stinger for at least a week, and when I went and got an MRI, I was told my neck had been broken and healed. This was about a year after the chiropractic incident. They are NOT doctors and shouldn't be allowed to be referred to as such.

Rick

Hi, I just found your question. I have my S1/L5 - L1/L2 levels fused. My last surgery was 4 years ago. My first surgery, I was only 36 years old. I am still in chronic pain that has done nothing but increase since my surgery. I did get better for about 2 - 3 months after my last surgery and thought the worst was over. That didn't last long and I went downhill from there. The doctor that did my surgery labeled me as a "drug seeker" because I was still in pain. I know the humility that I am sure that you have felt. I wanted to suggest that maybe you could see a pain specialist doctor. They do nothing but treat pain. They weed out the drug seeker by doing "drug" test randomly. This way they know the bad guys and kick them out of the program. This kind of Doctor does not (should not) judge you or tell you that anything other than what they can do to help. Pain Docs can give steriod shots, epidural injections, etc to help with pain. Do what you can before surgery. They may help for awhile but that is better than nothing. My doctor gives me what I need to function on a daily basis. I had epidural blocks, physical therapy, etc before the surgeries. I have been seeing him for 5 years and actually he has become a friend! I just want to share this with you. I hope it helps! Susan

I have a question and comment. Preferably to a nurse. I am 30 yrs old and have 2 children and cannot function, etc. clean cook... I have been in chronic severe back pain for 6 yrs now. 10 yrs ago when I had my first child I had an epidural with moderate scoliosis and I had to go through rehab for a few weeks. Still I had no pain. Until I had my other 6 yrs ago. I have had an x-ray and MRI and nothing is showing up. I can not be a functioning mother and wife. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Every other Dr I went to refused to see or treat me thinking I am drug seeking. What else can I do? Thank you.

Dear marv05, I feel your pain, ha ha. I have been in chronic pain for years and was not taken seriously for much of that time. There were times I felt like I was going insane, and the depression was awful. My pain was all over, plus I had migraines. These were in the days before fibromyalgia, which is what I eventually was diagnosed with. Even then there were many doctors who didn't believe it was a 'real' disorder. The point is, you can't give up. No matter how many times you are dismissed, keep at it. Try asking friends or anyone you know about their doctors. Join support groups, ask at the pharmacy. Try different types of doctors. The type of doctor you see will tend to see their specialty in your problem. Orthopedists tend to see orthopedic problems, for instance. Sometimes going to a pain specialist helps because they aren't always that concerned with the cause of the pain as with treating it. Sometimes even if you find out the reason for pain, you're still left with some tough decisions. If it is disk related do you want to chance surgery, or try physical therapy and pain management. I know what it feels like to be in your position and hope that you find someone who will take you seriously. It took me a long time to find a pain doctor who does take me seriously and works closely with me to manage my pain. I've also ended up with other problems that contribute to the pain and am still struggling with the depression. But it is an amazing thing to have a medical person who actually helps. Don't give up. Your quality of life is important for you and your family. Sometimes being young you aren't taken as seriously, but that's just ridiculous. Being young is no guarantee that pain won't be a factor in your life. I hope your family is supportive. But whatever your circumstances I know you will have success if you keep bugging people. The squeaky wheel does get the most attention. Good luck.

OMG hon, don't even get me started on this subject. I've been in chronic pain now for... let me do the math... 16 years... and I STILL deal with doctors who DO NOT LISTEN THEIR PATIENTS!!!!! It makes me CRAZY! And yes, I KNOW I AM SHOUTING!

I dealt with the same this just a few days ago when I had to go to my primary care doc because I tore a ligament in my sleep Sunday night and because that was too impossible to believe he sent me home and told me just "take the pain medicine your other doctor gives you." I finally got in to see my pain doc yesterday and he sent me right away for an MRI and now I am going tomorrow morning for a surgery consult. Guess what? I did tear a ligament in my sleep after all. Funny what happens if you listen to your patients.

There will never be any shortage of doctors who don't want to listen. But there are still some out there who do. So my advice is to not waste your precious time or your precious health, with any doctor who won't listen to or believe you. Keep seeking answers to your health problems and pain until you find them. It makes sense to me that your pregnancies alone could be contributing to your back pain. I have severe spine problems and my doctors have told me not to ever get pregnant because the weight of a pregnancy is very hard on the spine.

So please don't give up. Get angry, demand action, and go find yourself another doctor!

Good luck to you, Cheryl

Hello marv05, I had same problem for 20 yrs. now I am getting help.I was In hospital with 90%leukemia cells, tumors in heart,lungs,spots on liver and a enlarged spline.My back was so sore and full of pain I could not get out of bed without shape pains pain killers would not work just remove the very top edge.The cancer doctor told me not to see a orthopedic doctor but to see see a neurosurgen ..I changed my primary doctor to a female doctor now all my specialist are females and things are happening .the doctor listened test are done waiting on neuro consult now.X-ray shows 8 things wrong in my back.The doctor told me your back is all messed up.She could not see how I was doing things all this time. There is hope .By the way my leukemia is in remission at 0% leukemia cells, heart,lungs,liver,spleen are all fine no traces of cancer. I thank my lady doctors for this and encourage you to not give up the right help for you is out there. archie12