Pain is an every day part of life. Please Help!

I'm so sorry you're going through all this pain cr@&! I have a herniated disc which is tormenting me right now, via my right leg. I also have arthritis in the knee on that side. Aleve doesn't help much. The only thing that helped me a lot was physical therapy, which I had a year ago. Thought that might have permanently fixed things but nooooo. I hope to start pt again soon (seeing my primary Tuesday). Hope we both feel better soon!

Wish I had some info or words of wisdom to help you Bak, but since I don't I am posting to bump this up so others will see it. Hope you find some relief soon.

bak94,

I don't know what you have access to, but I just went to a pain clinic in my Cancer Center and it changed my life! My oncologist gave me Vicodin but refused to do more than that. I've been in pain and felt helpless for about a year now.

The pain clinic looks at it in a totally different way than docs. They're thinking is, get rid of the pain before it gets bad. It's easier to control if your on top of it as opposed to trying to play catch up.

Please see if they will refer you to a pain management clinic. I wish you the best and hope you find the help you need!

I'm so sorry you've had to go through this!

bak94 - I am SO sorry you are going through this. Chronic pain just makes every day miserable.

I have to echo what the others have said about Pain Management Clinics. In 2006 - way before BC - I went through a ten week Pain Management program at Kaiser. I was in horrific pain from fibromyalgia, several orthopedic problems, and multiple spinal issues. Even though my background is in medical counseling, I learned so much about the anatomy of pain, and how we do have some ability to control it ourselves.

I also earned the right to refill my Vicodin (now Norco) prescriptions at any time, as my docs were assured I would use it wisely. The one thing we learned was that if we are taking drugs to eliminate pain completely, we are abusing them. If we are taking drugs simply in order to be able to get out of bed and function during the day, or sleep through the night, that's an appropriate use. Most of us will never be completely pain-free, but we can get it down to a manageable level, that we can learn to live with.

When I had my BMX and recon, I used the same principles I learned in the program to manage my pain. I also took the meds (Norco and Valium) around the clock, 24/7 as I was recuperating. There is no catching up to acute pain.

After Exchange, I was miserable with the vice-grip, Iron Bra feeling. The PS said there was nothing he could do. The PT department was useless. I finally found an awesome Myofascial Release Massage therapist who reduced my Iron Bra feeling by about 90%. She said I had a huge build-up of scar tissue - ironically around my drain holes! She worked around my implants, as well as on my back. It was grueling, but so helpful. 

Later on, when I developed even more back problems, she did MFR on my muscles surrounding my spine. That helped considerably.

Now I am receiving acupuncture treatments from a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. I've only gone for two weeks, but after the last one, I could tell a difference. My MO had referred me for joint pain associated with the Femara I take.

I'm so sorry you are trapped in between two docs. If you could find a Pain Management Program or a Pain Clinic, I think you may find professionals who understand what you are going through.

Hope you find some answers - and some relief - soon!!!

It is insanity was on steroids for another medical condition for 7 yrs and learned those steroid shots alleviate inflammation but as wear off increases the severity of pain!

The worst part steroids as they wear off for pain more quickly before safe for another dosage. There are reasons doctors avoid pain killers pending were you live, insurance, medical licensing, crime rate & etc. 

• Unfortunately, prescribed pain killers rank highest criminal distribution than illegal narcotic drugs. 

That main reason as fighting illegal distribution some regions enacted medical license reviews if the prescription level meets a specific level upon a doctors registry it looks unfavorable as not discriminated under the same investigation as medical malpractice. The DEA has arrested doctors offering their prescription pads for sale long before Micheal Jackson died overdose dispensed by his private doctor. These registries also increase the high cost practice medicine that's medical malpractice insurance. I've seen too many really good doctors give up the profession due the frustration of this. 

This is more an impact areas that have a very high propensity illegal prescription distribution activity....Many have unknowingly voted it into local legal code under the term tougher illegal drug laws summary not reading the full description of the bill passing into law. 

Even, federal level funding towards medicare & medicaid reduce spending on prescription pain killers. It's the reason for part D drug coverage. I remember part D drug coverage didn't exist everything was housed under one plan. Low-income & elderly usually produce main resource not deliberate suppliers but victims that criminals have targeted. Even, pharmacies get hit with protocols handling them especially stage 3 pain killers (opiate/morphine based). It's the maddening aspect getting quality cancer treatment very practices protecting society's safety well-being is a hard shuffle destroying a society's health well-being.  

I hope once getting ahead the pain with prescriptions, able find alternatives providing further grasp: I use infra-red laser therapy, sound frequency therapy with subliminal, anti-inflammatory diet, meditation breathing and herbal therapy. 

The reason alternatives desire freedom driving a car just a short change scenery keeps me sane. My area if car accident, regardless necessity or not instigator accident a control substance is a criminal offense with jail time. The doctor can get a dressing down too a disability license registry tag & prescription as both require a doctors signature.    

Sry to hear about your pain bak94, you might want to add, try out some of the natural things for pain, like Noni juice from Dr. Becker, only reason I mention him is because his noni juice is pure.  Another thing to try would be Bromelin, it's from the pineapple, which is good for pain, we found with mom, and also, Astragalus, which also helps with pain and side effects of chemo.  Mom, didn't like taking pills, only if she had to.  The other thing I take now, don't have any cancer, or anything, thank God, is called Miracle Heart, it has quite a few herbs, which is also good for pain.  I am sharing this as a personal experience and when I was mom care-giver.  You might want to visit her webpage on the her journey through cancer.  GBU all!

www.espiesfaith.com

bak94 I don't know if you've tried this but sometimes calf cramps are caused by a potassium or sodium deficiency.  You can also try calf stretches.  I know what you mean about pain.  I am glad that you found some docs that you like and who are willing to listen to you.

I have been taking pain meds since my surgeries- 5 total.  I also get lymphatic massages (not very often because of the cost), practice meditation with the help of a therapist.  I take Percocet, started with Vicodin which did not help much  My PCP is very understanding, he said if (when) the drugs are not effective - then he would refer me to a pain specialist. 

What do you do when you can't take pain meds anymore?  I don't know how much more of this I can tolerate. I love my children and my husband, but I feel like I'm more of a burden than a help. I can see where they would be better off wih someone else. 

Do NOT relocate to Delaware if you need oral pain meds.

Find another doc. Try to get a good one that is board certified for palli.care. Most people think it is hospice, but it isn't. You can get it at any time once diagnosed, and not just for cancer.

Too bad you are in Washington. I know a good one at Penn in Philly.

Hope you get some relief soon. Nobody should be in this type of pain--it steals your soul.

I spent more than 2 years trying to get pain management for cancer and conditions that went back to birth--while working and commuting.

Seems like so many docs can't take an accurate history. Or, they do not understand that , "I am on Disability" means 'Do not write for anything high priced.' When you send them an email with detailed information on the pharmacy, location and telephone number, call it in there. When you tell them the dose and quantity, in their language, that's what they should write. If I took a med based on a script from a resident, not the 'Top Doc' I made the appointment to see last year, I'd be dead. The pharmacist caught it too. They are your best friend when it comes to meds management. They know what you are taking.

Somehow, the docs do not read you chart too carefully. Heads are buried in laptops, like they really hear you while you talk and they hunt and peck at the keyboard. Mistakes on records, and while I stand guard with a family member, make me nuts. Many of the ones 50+ are clueless about how the main computer works, and can't spell for beans.

I had better care in some Socialist countries. The US is #1 on healthcare spending and ranks with deeloping nations when it comes to treatment. My parents were in medicine, we all had lifelong illnesses (me from birth) and I worked in post-graduate medical education. I know good care from bad and I expect good care.

This may sound awful, but checking out soon is a relief, not only for medical care, but a number of issues.

Grngrl,

I hope you are feeling better these days. I'm single and hae the same thoughts sometimes. If someone doesn't find me housing that is not in a high rise, ghetto, or the hinterlands, I may check out early. I'm not going to wait around in misery, in a bad housing situation, waiting to die. I want to enjoy my time left peacefully. My dog is what keeps me here.

Bak, i am sorry to hear about your pain, i have the same problem, back pain, bone mets on t9 spine, my surgeon had to put rods to protect my spine from collapsing, my surgery was done in sept 2014, since then my back pain got worse, i was taking hydromorphone, it helps but i had to take them every 4 hours, i have no qualit o lif now, like you i am still young, 57 years old. i am curious how long you had pain? I hope you find good pain med. I am also still trying to find an altenative pain med myself. Good luck for both of us