[tita]

I have a spinalcerabeller degenaration,with seizures and asthma I live in this nursing homefor 2 years I take alot of meds for pain 1 of them is methidone (i thought that was for junkies but my pallitive care dr said it wasnt)Fenteyl MScontin and Oxicontin all for pain, also and phenobarbital for seizeirs and Oxegen and singulair also Combianvent for asthma Klonipin and Zonagram and Gabepetim,and baclofen Esuximide,also Kepra and Zoloft and Restoril. and SerequelI also am confined to a power wheelchair named (Sparkle)I am in pain alot of the day I used to alsys take the PRN expect now I learned how to deal with the pain first I tell the nurse then I concentrate on this one pic. I have in My room
its of puerto rico and I imagine myself lost in the pic. somtime it works latley not so much I'm tired of taking pills I also have to write in my pain journel (daily pain)
1 being the lest, 10 the worst, I usaully between 6 and 8 I hate being in here,The pain rules my life along with the depression so thats alot of my story

[dottie]

Hi Tita. Nice to meet ya'. I also take Methadone for my pain. But I also know that as my condition deteriorates(degenerative bone and disc disease...)I will be needing more paliative measures.

Right now I am dealing with the death of my dear brother, K.

I notice that my pain level rises and falls according to different stressors.Right now I am at about a 7. I also find that coffee helps me with pain as well.

Well..I have said enuff.

I am sorry that you are in a nursing home. That will be my next step after living here.

I live in a 100 unit complex for the disabled and elderly.

Take good care.-dottie

[wisewoman]

I wanted to say that from my experience professionally and personally quality of life improves when you really treat the pain adequately. Tita, take the PRN meds, that's what they are there for. 6-8 is crappy. I also wanted to tell you that you can hold onto as much control as possible in your life and with your disability. You can become involved with groups like disability rights or you can simply write.... anything you wish. N.H makes people feel so very isolated.

[eskielover]

Tita,

Nice to meet you....looks like you have been around her for awhile, but I haven't met you until now.

From what you have said here, your pain & disability are much worse than what I have ever experienced. My only pain problem is that I have migraine headaches that never went away except for the 8 hours after my 200mg demoral shots I would get every 3 days at the ER.

They did all kinds of tests & treatments including realizing that I had spinal problems in my neck & they did a neck fusion. It was at that time when the pain specialist in the hospital started me on the fentynal duragesic patches. That was a good start, but that dose was only 1/2 of what I have ended up needing.

When you mentioned fentynal in your post, that was when I started wondering if you are on the fentynal duragesic patches for the pain. I am on 2 100ug/hour patches that I change every 3 days. It is great because I don't have to swallow any pills & the narcotic is in my body at a constant rate so I don't end up chasing the pain. Luckily for me, the pain specialist I have now is willing to give me this high of dose (previous ones didn't care if I had pain & thought the pain I was having was breakthrough rather than the fact that they didn't have my pain under control at all).

A previous pain specialist tried methadone on me too & it didn't have any effect of the pain at all. It was a joke & I refused to throw away money on meds that didn't work.

I hope you can get some help with your pain. I know that now I don't have any pain, it sure has made my living life much easier without the anxiety that the pain brought with it.
Debbie

[krzyk101]

I started with Methadone about 6 months ago, and I also thought that it was only for drug addiction treatment. I also was told that this is untrue. I do hope and wish you the best in your battle against the pain, and I agree that if you have a PRN available it is there so you do not suffer, I think you deserve to not suffer any more than you already do, if you are able to achieve results from focus on the picture, that is great, if no results after a certain amount of time if no results, would take the PRN.

Are there any programs or class type things that you are able to take in order to possible live in a less restrictive setting other than the Nursing Home like a partial assisted living facility where you could have more rights and independance in your daily living? I do wish you the best and keep believing in yourself and that you are a good person. Take care and wishing you the best.