Pain and more pain, what to do.......

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monkey5

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i have been in terrible pain two days now, she, the pm Dr. stated that i basically need to give the meRAB one more week to work. Who in thier right mind would suffer two weeks like this? She didnt seem to care about anything else i mentioned, good thing i was able to sleep easier last night. But i am not sure what i'm going to do if i cant move again tommorrow all day. Any suggestions? Do these people not care or what? I know not all pm and or md doc are all good but when do you know if you need to find a new one.? I told her i can't even barely move. I still cant believe it as well that testing wise there is nothing wrong, how can one be like this and nothing show up? According to them i have all the tests to done to man kind, yeah right one test does not tell all in every situation right. I know this ,but is it time for me to switch md if thier going to go on one test holding the ball in the court to say that nothings wrong? I am entitled to a second and third and even fourth opinion if i feel i need one right, if i had cancer or something you would get a second opinion right? I am not satified because i have had one plain MRI without contrast and not getting any relief to show the reason i cannot stand up straight and not walk right and not move off the couch without a scal 10 of pain w/meRAB being in my system almost two weeks and feel like someones jabbing a needle in my leg with nothing being wrong. I am lost here but yet i could wait one week to maybe get pain relief when i go to my next appt. or i could wait months to see a new dr. right.
Thanks for being here monkey
 
Maybe you should ask about switching meRAB? I got myself into a terrible pain cycle a few weeks ago. I went to the ER on valentines day, and then again 8 days later. I have lost quite a bit of weight in the last few weeks. My pain finally seems to be under a little bit better control, and I have a different medication now. You are always entitled to as many opinions as you want. That is strange that your tests aren't showing any problems. Which tests have you had done besides the MRI?
 
What meRAB did they give you?

Here is what I think you should do. Make an appointment with a totally new, regular internal medicine doctor, and just start from square one. Make a journal about everything you've been through, and tell this new doctor your story. Have them give you a referral for a specialist. Finding the right doctor can be really difficult. In my opinion, there are a lot of rude and egotistical doctors out there. Surgeons especially are egotistical. I even have a couple in my family. I kind of understand what you are going through, I am not sure if you have followed anything from my story. Just don't give up, there is a doctor out there who will help you.
 
meg, i have had an Mri dated 2/24/06 stating:
There is partial sacralization of the fifth vertebral body. The left transverse process of L5 contacts the left sacrum.
Spinal canal demonstrates anterior epidural fat from L-4 L-5 down into the sacral region.
Then i had bone scan done stating: The anterior images demonstrate subtle increased activity anterior aspect of the left SI joint. In review of plain films, this corresponRAB to transitional L-5-S1 segment, with partial saralization on the left.The subtle increased activity probably corresponRAB to Pseudoarthrosis of the transitional segment at L5-S1 on the left.Impression:Aubbtle activity left SI joint probably related to transitional L5 segment with partial sacralization. There is only mild activity at this location, and this is not clearly pathologic. However, this could be a source of pain.
I hadthemost recent in 4/26/2007 Findings:
Transitional element at lurabarsacral junction is felt to representa partially sacralized L5 with a with a broad transverse process on the left forming anomlous articulation with the upper sacrum. No lurabar disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or root compression.
I still say this is something but they say no even though it's right there in front of them wich i had a rheumatologist that i saw say this and said they need to possibly fuse this together or seperate it. They dont think this would cause me that distress. But my dr. stated that i had someone other dr. so i am not going to be told anything different. How can i get a second opionion with this if because of insurance the dr. is the one that has to refer? And if i go to the er are they going to frown on this or what because i dont need any more drs. against me,
"and i am not saying i'm not willing to give the pm dr. a chance" but i'm not going to suffer noone should have to in the meantime, they can give me a drug test and know i am not looking for a quick fix i just need relief. I was in tears yeterday and this morning because i needed to move fast and i couldnt because i missed an important appt. and my dad calledand knew that wasn't like me.
Take care, monkey
 
I never used a referral to get my other opinions. I just found a doctor and made an appointment. It sounRAB like you need to have more imaging done, if your last test was in 2007. I have no idea what all your results mean, but it sounRAB like there is something wrong, and a lot could have changed since 2007.
Ask family and frienRAB for good doctors. There is no reason why you should be suffering this much.
 
Hi,
Just having read the post from Meggs, Rita27 and monkey 5, I have to say wow I agree agree and agree!! It is and has been a very long and frustrating haul. From one doc to the next, I feel the only one that really wants to help me is my primary doc. But he struggles to find someone that will help. One doc said i just have to live with the pain. I agree with the worRAB about the PT's they are all the same exercises,that cause horrible pain on top of the constant pain i am already in. My son tells me to stop. My PT told me last week that he will see me next tues. and Thurs. then he is done. He said i am getting much worse. I told him well I could have told you that. But whats next I feel like I have exausted all my options!!! I have a blown disc.Chronic back leg and hip pain. Its out of control, I'm on large doses of oxycotin, vicodin,and arabien to help me sleep. It sure helps to read letters from all of you. I feel better knowing there are others that feel my pain to. Take care all
 
Lisa,
it sounRAB like you had a rough time as well like me! I hate the thought of going through five dr. through all this it's like dont we suffer enough without having to go through this as well as the pain! Yesterday i could even go to the bathroom without it hurting under my left leg just from the pressure, kinda like the pain i get when i sit back in a chair. I'm sure anyone with sciaitic nerve pain can relate, it's kinda like also when i lean back in a car or chair i have real bad tenderness in my facet area, gosh that hurts! And on top of it today i have a cramp in my other leg and thats a real pain trying to walk. I hope i can find some one that willlisten soon it's been at least two long years. After my dr. told me i couldnt get a second opinion i even tried to work at my old job for a couple days aweek i hate when i get like that, i alwaysthink well theres nothing wrong with me so i will go back to work.And even though i know i could as far as mentally but physically i wouldnt be able to walk again at least not the way i can now and the exscruiating pain i would be in and the fact then maybe i would get help like a dr. would find out no matter what he would try to find out what is wrong. No i dont want to be in worse pain i just want to find an answer.I have tried to call around and find other opinions but they will not let me in without a referall, os maybe it's time ti find another md.The one thing i did think about was mysteriusly i got into a Rheumatoligist a few couple months ago, and he said of i ever needed to come in again just give a call, I am thinking to go back to him and maybe he could make a referal soon then me waiting a few months to find another MD, do you think this would work? Ithier way i will try, it cant hurt right! Thanks for the reply!
Take care, monkey
 
megs, yes i have followed some of your post. Your having surgery this month right? Right now my pm dr. has me on methadone wich is causing losts of side effects in my opinoin. I get insomnia(wich working on that) I wake up with a headache and feeling like i have a hangover type effect. Probably should find a new md while i'm seeing a pm dr. It will probably let the new dr. know that i am not trying to get med i wanna know whats wrong or at least try right. I just thought this md would get me somewhere, unlike the last but then all she did was have me go to a pm dr. to get meRAB. Wich isnt neccesarily a bad thing but i was hoping she would see where i'm coming from. Take care megs.
Monkey
 
megs,
where do i start, i called around just to an ortho because i am willing to do anything to get these tests done if if it mean struggling with and being patient with the PM dr. but the ortho place said i needed a referall.
And you are very right i have only gotten worse since i fell in March of 2008. My dr. did not seem to care at all. And when i went to the er for this way back when they new i already had a back problem and didnt care and at that time my main focus was my shoulder i couldnt move. Any suggestions? What can i do to get a referal? Should i go back into my regular md and say i am entitiled to have more opinions or further testing or should i let my Pm dr. know this as i do not want to be stuck with more needles ect. and risk more damage then there might be already, am i wrong in thinking this? Thats like my husband said before, why are you going to pt if it hurts you and how do they know their not doing more damage if they dont know what thier doing? If theres nothing showing on tests then what are they doing it for, but the way i look at it is at least thier keeping your body moving and if it hurts they wont make you do certain things. I dont know i am frustuarted these days, and waiting patiently for meRAB to kick in and help the process, i am definetly not a quiter!
Take care, monkey
 
jojo, i feel your frustuartion, can't they do anything for the blown disc? Is the leg pain from this? If i had a blown disc i would go irate if a dr. would help, i would say are you crazy some of the problem might be the disc you think. I dont get this. So your telling me even if they find out they wouldnt help? I have been thinking, i once was referred to a spine dr. and they wouldnt except me and they said it wasnt due to insurance, i just wonder if they didnt want to deal with it you know. You hang in there and i am sure theres got to be a dr. out there somehwere that will help we just have to be persistant and not give up hope! Take care
Monkey
 
Hi monkey, I can sympathize. I have two herniated discs in my neck and a bulging disc in my low back and degeneration in my entire spine. My back, buttocks, sides of my legs, neck and shoulders hurt me terribly every day. Yet I went to a PM doctor and he looked at all my MRI's and said *Your back isn't THAT bad.* What a jerk! I have also been diagnosed with fibromyalgia by two rheumatologists. None of those meRAB are helping me.

I can't take a lot of pain meRAB because of other issues, but I understand what it is to feel this way. I am very depressed and feeling hopeless myself. I can't do anything now. I try to walk for about 10 minutes when I take my dog out, but I have pain from it.

As for PT, I have to tell you that I went 3 times and now I absolutely REFUSE to go anymore. All it does it make you hurt worse. They focus on *strengthening* and do the same things, no matter what your problem is they treat everyone the same. And the ice and heat--well that's OK. I think if you get like a joint replacement or surgery, PT may be helpful, but for pain I think it's a waste of time and money. This is just my experience, for what it's worth.
 
P.S. I think pt is a big joke as well, i think they brought on what i did a few days ago, as i never had that happen since i fell one of the other times and since i was going to pt this pain got more intense especially after doing certain activities!
Monkey
 
megs, i will do that while i am working with the pm dr, especially if i dont think he is going to order testing as well, thanks for your help! And i hope your having a great weekend!
Take care, monkey
 
I wasn't happy with my PT program either. All it did was cause me excruciating pain. I also noticed that everyone else had the EXACT same exercises and routines as they were having me do. I once asked the lady stretching next to me what she was here for, and it was arthritis. Something totally different than me, yet her exercises were the exact same as mine. I didn't have an individualized program for my specific problem. I am actually afraid it caused more harm because my pain has increased significantly since starting that program. They were having me do stretches and exercises that could potentially increase the slippage of my vertebrae, and I am wondering if it did.
 
Hi Monkey5,

I am sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time. When I first started out trying to find the source of my back pain in 2003, my regular MD told me to find a Neurosurgeon or and Orthopaedic specialist. He sent me to PT first as is routine and not very helpful for most of us. I saw 5 different Neurosurgeons prior to making my decision. 3 out of 5 said the same thing, 2 said nothing was wrong or they wouldn't touch me at the age I was then 35 because it would cause years of surgery. I finally decided on Mayo Clinic and they sent me to Pain Management with follow up to the Neuro every 3 months. PM tried injections, Nerve conduction studies etc. After injections showing no help ( several months worth) they scheduled me for a discogram in which they inject dye into your disc space to see if it mimics the pain. If it does, the disc is the problem, if no- it is not. If it is the pain is absolutely excrutiating but only for a few seconRAB as they immediately inject it with novacain or something. That is how they determine for sure it is the source of pain. I went to Mayo in October 05 and had my surgery May 06 so it is not uncommon for it to take some time even if you have gone to many.

If you don't like your PM or don't feel they are listening to your neeRAB, tell your doc you want a referral to a new one. If you just go to one yourself to get a second opinion or to try them out without a release from your current one, you might have to pay for it yourself. But, it might be worth it to find one you trust.

I hope you will get to the bottom of things quickly!

Sincerely,
Lisa
 
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