After 18 days PS is Refusing to refill pain meds
I am 18 days out after a DMX with reconstruction and my PS is refusing to refill my pain meds. I have severe burning across my chest and throbbing, occasional stabbing pain in my arm pit. I have tried Tylenol and it is not effective in controlling the pain. I cannot take any other over the counter meds due to having a gastric bypass 8 years ago.
I have been taking the RX as prescribed, am I being unreasonable in expecting continued pain management at this point?
Comments
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That should say refill...not efill.
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From what I was told, the stabbing and burning is from nerves trying to regenerate and heal.....which is a good thing.....and meds won't help alleviate this type of pain. Mine went away in a couple days. Hope yours does the same.
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Sorry you're still in so much pain!
I had the same experience as Obxflygirl--pain and burning, and with my lymph node dissection, the pain in my armpit and down my arm made me wonder if the cancer was back. It was all regenerating nerves, of course, but it took several months to gradually fade away.
Talk to your PS about your pain. There are other measures you can take--non-narcotic meds, icing, exercises. He can also refer you to a pain management specialist if you don't improve.
Take care of you.
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Absolutely talk to your PS about the pain. It's unconscionable that your PS would refuse pain meds, and then not offer you any alternative measures for pain management. He needs to discuss with you about what might be causing this pain and what measures can be taken to alleviate it. Pain is pain and there's no need in this day and age for you to suffer like this. Your PS needs to work with you to alleviate the pain, and if he's unable to do so, then absolutely a referral to a pain management specialist is in order. Good luck.
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Hi Ram ... I am so sorry to hear of your ongoing pain. If your PS won't help you, I hope he will refer you to a pain specialist. Maybe your PCP can help or provide a referral.hugs,
Bren
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Hi I had nerve pain like that after each of my 8 surgeries, first the Mx and then I have had fat grafting 3 times along with removal of my tissue expander and dealing with an infection. It can feel like someone poured boiling water on my chest, this despite being mostly numb. I found great relief using a homeopathic remedy by Boiron called Hypericum. The pain was such that it wasn't helped by narcotics but was considerably reduced by the Hypericum. Good Luck. You can buy stuff like this at most healthfood stores.
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After my reconstruction surgery when I finished my pain pills I was still in alot of pain. I called the plastic surgeons office and they said it was probably nerve pain and blah, blah, blah. The next day my mom seen how much pain I was in (I was crying by this point), and she called the surgeons office telling them I was in so much pain that I was crying and that they needed to do something about it. She finally got through one of the nurse practitioners and she wrote me a script for more pain meds. The NP said that they don't like to write more prescriptions because there is such an epidemic in East Tennessee with abusing pills. I understand there is a problem with people abusing pills, but I did just have a major surgery! I almost think if a doctor is slow to write a prescription for pain meds, they are either really paranoid or maybe they are already doing something they shouldn't be doing when it comes to writing prescriptions. It can be frustrating that's for sure.
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Do you think they just think you really aren't in that much pain? I didn't use my prescription and was able to use just tylenol after DIEP but I was told I was in the minority. People react so much differently.
I would tell them the pain is unacceptable and something has to be done to allievate your suffering.
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maybe you can get an appointment with a pain management specialist?
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Thank you all so much for your responses.
I called again today and was told someone would call me back today. No one called back.
Tomorrow I plan to tell them if I cannot get some kind of action I will be finding another PS!
I tripped and fell a week and a half after surgery and jammed both of my arms when I caught myself, I feel that I may have damaged something or dislodged the TE's, if that is even possible.
I feel so vulnerable and at the mercy of these people who just don't seem to care...
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I hope you are ok. I didn't have te's I heard they can be very uncomfortable and painful. It reminds me of having braces and my teeth throbbing when they were tightened
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To all,
I have a stage 4 breast cancer but I also am a nurse practitioner treating people in pain . The clinic is in the same state as Angiephnx. Ladies, in this era of medication and sophistication in research it is a known fact that if you are in true pain, there is only a 1% chance of addiction. I encourage Ram2013 and others to find a Pain Management Clinic (and not a pill mill). You do not need to apologize or feel guilty. Stage 4 cancer in any state is a reasonable and legal diagnosis for treatment of pain. Be strong but do NOT suffer. There are new topical as well as oral meds that do the trick. Carolyn from Music City
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My neck is giving me trouble again the degenerative arthritis ugh.. I tried heat which helps but I get too hot to sleep i am taking hormone stuff exemestane. I love my hot tub but again I get too hot.
I never seem to get comfortable before sleeping. If I take any pain relief that works it wipes me out the next day.
I am going to start swimming again and do stretching yoga. I am counting down the two years on my ai I have left
Pain can really wear you out
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I have posted extensively on here about my nerve damage during my BMX and node removal.
I am still in severe pain 3.5 years later, and have had new nerve damage added on by a left side thoracotomy in July 2013 (and they had to cut into an area I was already experiencing pain in from the BMX!).
I have and had the burning, the scratchy feeling from clothes (sometimes I just can't stand ANY clothes on my chest), the shocks (they have lessened greatly now but I get them a few times a month usually), the sensations that I can't stand my skin, the pricklies, etc etc.
What I had to do to get the ball rolling was keep a pain diary and I was VERY specific. I had dates, times, what I was doing, where the exactly where the pain was, and the type of pain...dull aching, feeling like I was hit with a baseball bat in the armpits, burning, shocks, scratchiness, etc.
I took that to my surgeon and she started me on Gabapentin (generic Nerontin). I was not getting enough relief. I had other issues and saw a dr. at the other clinic in town and she gave me a referral to a Pain Clinic. Although I never saw her again, I was and am forever grateful. I have seen several doctors in the years and have a really good pain treatment plan.
And I NEVER EVER feel like I am a drug addict looking for a fix from them. In fact, I had to tell them to stop giving me so much Vicodin because I didn't need as much as they were giving me!!!
It is just my opinion but I am a firm believer that the Pain Clinic is the best place for me. They are aware of pain issues on a daily basis and have such a huge database and knowledge of pain conditions from which to draw up the best treatment plans for me! And....my doctors have seen lots of breast cancer patients and understand the pains from surgery and treatments!
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I never got my pain under control in the hospital, because I refused to use the PCA filled with morphine. (Had a bad experience with it after a previous surgery.) So I went home in terrible pain that just got worse. I didn't want to take the Norco and Valium I had been prescribed because I'd read about women who had a BMX w/ TEs and just took Tylenol!!!! I didn't want to be a weenie.
But the pain was excruciating.
I cried every day, begging DH to take me back to the hospital to have those TEs removed, or I would do it myself. Then some wonderful ladies here told me that I was prescribed pain meds for a reason, and that I needed to take them AS PRESCRIBED, around the clock. I started doing that - DH even brought me my 4 a.m. dose with applesauce - and soon the pain lessened. At the one month mark, I was pain-free enough to start fills.
HOWEVER - at my one week post-op with the BS, she read me the riot act when she heard I was taking pain meds. She said I should have been off all drugs by then. Fortunately, I had an appt with the PS that afternoon. I told him what the BS said, and he just rolled his eyeballs. He said if I was in pain, I needed pain medication. He told me that a body that is in pain is stressed, and a body that is stressed will not heal. He said he would give me as many refills of the Norco and Valium as I needed during recovery.
Just a followup to what car2tenn posted above - years ago I had severe chronic pain and was referred to a Pain Management Clinic. I actually attended ten weeks of classes. Obviously, these were for people with chronic conditions like back issues, etc. But even with my medical background, I learned so much about the pain mechanism in the brain!
Car2tenn is absolutely right. There are times when severe pain demands serious meds, and addiction is NOT an issue!!!
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giantgardenlover
Thank you so much! you just made me realize my reluctance to be really instant regarding my care! These people are making me feel like a drug addict begging for a fix, so I sleenk away, tail between my legs, and sit at home while crying in pain. I feel like I am so wrong for wanting these pills! I am sitting here crying with relief finally realizing why I have felt shame which causes me not to advocate for myself!
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I don't understand these doctors. Two weeks after surgery my surgeon acted shocked that I was still in pain, and said that it was "unusual" to be in so much pain. I told him that when he cuts off a body part then he can tell me that I shouldn't be having pain, but until then, I need pain meds. I had a good relationship with him, so he just laughed, but he did give me the pain meds.
Tylenol is not good enough for some people, everyone is different! This is major surgery, nerves are damaged etc. and pain meds CAN HELP this kind of pain. If you go on the boards, you will see that many women have pain many months after surgery. It is 9 months after my mastectomy and I still have pain now and again, which was exacerbated by radiation. There is no need to suffer! INSIST on pain meds, or change your doctor. There are many options between Tylenol and the really addictive heavy duty stuff, if that's what your doctor is worried about (I alternated between Voltaren and Pandiene, depending on how bad the pain was)
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Nerve pain can be excrutiating as I've suffered from it. My husband has MS and is currently taking a combination of nerve painkillers which work brilliantly and they are Amitryptilene plus Carbomazepine although I do think the first port of call for nerve pain is Gabapentin or Pregabalin. Don't like to think of people suffering with pain when there are meds out there that can help.
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When I had my BMX I was given Percocet, which worked to some extent but every nurse who saw me told me I should have Valium since most of the pain was from muscle spasms. At the visiting nurse's suggestion I called my BS to request it. By the time she called back I had fallen asleep, and when I answered she said "well your voice is already slurred so I hesitate to give you anything else"! I felt like someone punched me! She consulted with the PS who did give me Valium and it really worked. My nerve pain was not as bad as yours but it was aggravating. My main issue was muscle contractions. I agree with the poster who said perhaps ask your PCP , anyone! You do not have to suffer.
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giant garden - i have constant pain after MX rt side -previous frozen shoulder and rt shoulder joint/rotator problems since 2005,,,, the MX has made that joint kill. I stopped pain meds - I was only taking one vicodin 5 after dinner - it definitely made the pain level decrease but gave me some umph as I was like yeah no pain - so then I couldn't sleep, the DR said try the 5 mg valium I gave you - I never tried it - probably should have as I didn't sleep 6 wks - got all thrown out of whack - was falling asleep at 6am,,, now trying to get to sleep earlier, wondering - what is your pain plan? can you share or pm me,,, thanks
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My surgeon finally got back from vacation. His diagnosis was that when I tripped and fell the week after surgery I sprained by ribs thus causing all of the extra pain and delayed any recovery I might have made. He prescribed Tramadol (which I don't like) but at least I have answers and a doctor who is willing to help me with pain management.
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RAM, pain is a very individual thing. Not all pain meds work for or agree with everyone. If you don't like Tramadol, tell him! Don't take it if it makes you sick or doesn't work for you. Ask to be referred to a pain management doc. It's nice that your surgeon finally got back to you, but the fact that you had to wait for him to get back from vacation to get pain relief is ridiculous. I also think it's offensive for him to blame you (your fall) for the pain. And I've never heard of a sprained rib or ribs. Totally ridiculous IMO... Big (((Hugs))) to you, and please find a physician who is up on current pain management standards. You are not the problem. Be assertive re. your pain level and what you need! Deanna
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I agree wholeheartedly with dlb823/
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This just makes me angry! I had the same problem. At my post surgery check up my surgeon said I should not still be taking pain meds. I was still in pain! I did just slink off and did not fight, and suffered in pain. I know that there are many women that sail through a double mastectomy, but I was not one of them. I still have severe tightness and some pain 3 years later. Gabapentin does help me a bit. I am glad they are helping you now, but agree that if Tramadol does not work for you ask for something different. Tramadol gives me anxiety. I hope you feel better soon. -
Thanks everyone! I did have my pain meds changed and they are working much better. I wish I could be a better advocate for my own care...I feel very lost right now and feel so insecure it's hard to "get tough".
On top of all of my medical issues my employer called me today and told me my position no longer exists with a new company restructure. They have a position for me but it seems made up and would be the first position cut in any other restructuring that may occur.
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Im sooo gald I came to this thread...but as someone above said, reading about all of us who are still in pain and not getting relief from these ahole surgeons makes me so furious !!
Ram...my visiting nurse called my PS to request my pain med refills because she saw that I was running out of oxycodone and Ativan and could see how much pain I was in. When the PS's colleague called me back..she said "i will refill for you but I am really nervous/concerned..WTH ??? My PS went on vaca the day after my surgery so whenever I call I have to deal with PA's and NP's..I want MY PS not his co workers ! I hope he isn't going to do what she did to me when asking for a refill..I was also made to feel bad/huilty/like I was just looking for pain pills...she made me feel like I was a junkie or something. Two nights ago was the worst night for me since my surg almost two weeks ago. Started out suddenly feeling extremely nauseas then the extreme pain came ! In between the pain, if I was able to PASS OUT (which was almost impossble) The pain was like a rolling air pocket rolling up the middle of my chest and on the left side where the TE is..it felt like someone was ctting thru me with a machete !! I really don't know how else to describe it but it was the WORST pain I ever felt in my life. Granted, I wasnt taking the oxycodone the way I should have because I was scared to run out and have to suffer..but I don't think that mattered Friday night because I DID take it about an hour before the pain came..with Tylenol..it I was still crying so hard that I had boogies running down my face (sorry to be gross but THATS how bad the pain was) . SO..I cant be ON TOP of the pain because then I will run out...this sucks ! I think someone above said "have your body part cut off then talk to me" sooooo agree !!
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ganzgirl2010 I am so sorry you are going through this too! I have also been hording meds and enduring pain that I shouldn't have to go through because I a afraid to run out. My fear comes not only from wondering if they will give me any more, and because I don't want to be made to feel like a junky looking for a fix.
The pain you are enduring sounds horrid, I am so sorry, big hugs honey! They say this process will make us stronger, the problem is we have to get past the pain, fright, victimization and helplessness to get to the other side. I am so grateful to have found this forum to get the support needed to over-come many of obstacles placed in our way.
Nellieduck Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! It really makes me feel less alone and validates that I am not wrong here and I need to stand up for my self.
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Well..Im going in to get my last 2 drains removed today and Im going to ask about refills/pain control..lets see how this goes !
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