Frustrated!!!

Ok so I have been in pain everyday for over ten years. After all avenues exhausted, I've been going to pain management for years. I've been on the same medications for a couple of years and its not working as well any more. My pain level stays high all the time now and there are things I can no longer do. I have to walk with a walker or cane at all times. I'm having to go to the er more and more frequently because of the intense pain. I have been telling the pain doctor this for the last few months. Today I ask for help explain everything all over again to the one doctor that is supposed to be able to help me and he says there is nothing else I can do. Do what the **** now. Should I just drive into oncoming traffic and end it now. Sho this is it. I have nothing to look forward to but more pain. I don't understand if they are pain management doctors and you have serious spinal issues with images for payoff why don't they want to give medications to make life tolerable. I don't understand. It makes me so angry. I have two small children and I can't tell them I can't take care if you today. What am I supposed to do?

What medications are you on, and what are the dosages? I know it's frustrating. I was on only 10 mg of Methadone twice a day for SEVERE spinal pain that I'd had for 26 years, and my doc would NOT increase the dosages until I finally fell apart in his office, and I felt like a cry baby but I just couldn't take it anymore. He FINALLY switched me to other meds that were extended release, plus added another nerve pain med, and I'm not pretty "comfortable" although i do have bad days. But it's pitiful when you have to go in and basically humiliate yourself before you get any action.

So I do understand, believe me. You might just have to be your own advocate, and be more adamant about what you need and demand action. He's working for YOU -- you're not workiing for HIM. Tell him you can't take this anymore and you need pain relief! I wish you the best. God bless and take care. Hugs, Lee

Hi. I currently take 30 mg. of morphine 3 times a day and hydrocodone 10/500 4 times a day. This is what I have been taking the past few years.

Cherry, if you've been on this SAME dosage for several years, you've accomodated to it, and it's not working anymore. Your doc is either going to have to increase the dosage or put you on something else. I doubt he'll increase the morphine cause you're already on a pretty high dosage, but he might. You're really going to have to PLEAD your case. You'll have to tell him you're ACCOMODATED!!! You're used to the dosage -- it's just not working!

Do you have nerve pain as well? I would assume so since it's spinal pain. I'm on Opana30mg twice a day with Lyrica 75mg twice a day, and I'm a SEVERE spinal pain patient, and believe me, I did NOT think this would work, but IT DOES. Lyrica NEVER worked for me before, but combined with the Opana, it does work!!! I was flabbergasted. This is the first time in the 26 years I've been a spine patient that I've had ANY level of comfort. I've been on this for about 6 months now, and boy is it a relief. Perhaps you could mention this to your doc, IF you're willing to try it.

But you certainly need something. What you're on isn't doing it, that's for sure. And I hate to think of you suffering like that. Please talk to your doc -- remember, that he's working for YOU. Don't be intimidated by him -- he puts his pants on the same as YOU do. He's NO better than you are!!! Just cause he has an M.D. after his name doesn't mean a darn thing. You have an MS. BEFORE your name, so that makes you just as good!!! God bless my friend, and make him LISTEN. Hugs, Lee

I do have alot of nerve pain. My left hip always feels like it's on fire. I take neurontin 900 mg morning and afternoon and 1200 mg at bedtime. I did try Lyrica for a while but didn't notice any difference so I quit taking it. I think you are right about maybe it's time for a change. I will definitely mention it to the doctor. It's pretty bad when the pain management doctor tells you thats all he can do. I don't understand why the medical community doesn't want to help us and treats us like lepers. We do what we are supposed to, sign contacts, take drug tests, stay with one pharmacy, and they still don't want to help. Hopefully when I move in a few months the next doctor is more understanding and willing to help. Thank you Lee for your help.

Hi Cherry73!
I feel for you! I am just now starting to go through the hoop jumping with my primary about scripts for my pain meds and don't know how long I will be civil with her! It's all the d... laws and politics that are causing us to have to undergo every test in the alphabet just to validate what they already know! It's called PAIN! I also think that the doctors tend to hide behind these laws and mark my words....it's all going to come back and bite them all in the butts! What would happen if they passed the tax on cigarettes? People would quit smoking true but then where would the money come from? Wait until pocket books start getting affected! We all know that's what it's all about! They want to control illegal drug use when all they are doing is incorporating it! I will keep you in my prayers and you do the same for me! God Bless!

Cherry, why don't you ask if you can try Topamax instead of Neurontin? For me, it works TWICE as good as Neurontin, and from what i've found, you don't need as much!! I only have to take 400mg. per day, and it takes away ALL THE BURNING AND ZAPPING. Every bit of it. And I've been on this dosage for quite awhile.

Also with Topamax, I have NO water retention either. With Neurontin, I gained about 20lbs of water. With Topamax, I actually lost the water, but then I lost regular weight, about 10 lbs. People are known to lose weight on Topamax.

So ask him about it. It really works pretty good. Hugs, Lee

Sorry it has taken so long for me to reply. Somehow I missed this one. I was taking topamax along with the neurontin and still had horrible burning nerve pain. I stopped taking both because neither medication Was doing much. In fact since I had to stop most of my medications because of my surgery in December, I only started taking the ones that really seemed to be helping all others I just cut out. My ultimate goal is to get off the majority of my medication and I seem to be well on my way. I am so glad I had the surgery and I'm hoping the results from this surgery can push back my other surgeries or maybe even eliminate one or two of them.