Pre Op pain management

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katlovesdogs

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Don't listen the the hype about chronic pain sufferers need for around the clock pain control and "addicts".. It will drive you crazy. It is a shame that chronic pain peeps are made to feel that was by public and other Doc's ignorance. I finally got a referral from the ER to a good PM doc a couple years ago. I had meRAB but needed a shot to release spasms at that time. Even the ER Doc printed out list off all my nracotic meRAB my PCP had prescribed over a year and made me feel BAD for needed them. My PM did give me a long acting med and SA for break through. He understanRAB how chronic pain works. However, we must be careful. We can't ask for more, or early fills, or get ANYTHING from another Doctor without checking with PM first, subject ourselves to urine tests, injections etc just to keep the meRAB that allow us to get through each day.
 
I couldn't agree more with SpineAZ. Narcotic drugs are very important tools to help chronic pain sufferers lead more functional lives. It's very unfortunate that they are given such a bad rap and that so many people misunderstand them to such an extent.

If you are someone who is a chronic pain sufferer and your doctor has recommended narcotics for you, talk to your doctor if you have concerns, and if you have any addictive tendencies be sure to let your doctor know. There is no reason to suffer needlessly in pain when there is help available, and you shouldn't be afraid to get this pain-relieving tool.

Everyone who takes narcotics will become physically addicted to an extent so tapering down the dosage is important instead of going off them cold turkey, and very few people have problems with this tapering. There are only a very small percentage of people become psychologically addicted, but those who do are the ones who make unfortunate headlines.
 
Wow you are on some strong meRAB. None of the doctors I have come across here in Minneapolis would ever prescribe those if pre-op.
How old are you? Are you young like me? I am 28. I am wondering if that back to life thing would actually hurt me since I already have a fusion that failed miserably. It is not stable at all and I am already worried about screws popping out. I just posted a new thread about it, you should read it and tell me what you think about me using the back to life thing. I can't afford one right now anyway. That was nice of your ex though- she obviously still cares about you.
 
I wasn't allowed to take very much. I was on Vicodin, and I was allowed to take 1 every 8 hours. I have not experienced any of those withdrawl symptoms, seriously, thank goodness. I have not been on it that long either, less than 2 months. Before that I was on nothing for awhile after my first surgery.
It really stinks though, the pain gets pretty bad. When it gets like that I lay down or take an hour long hot shower. I flushed all my pain meRAB down the toilet LOL! WHAT WAS I THINKING! I felt so confident about my decision at the time and I did not want to feel tempted. My husband is furious with me for doing that, he is afraid I will want to go to the ER. I wont, not after what happened last time. I have to say though I feel better emotionally since I have not taken them in 5 days. I have been having an issue with horrible depression and anxiety and I thought the pills might be part of the cause. I know my condition and chronic pain is a huge factor in it too though. There are several causes actually.
But the main reason I did it is because I am starting to be afraid for the upcoming post surgery pain. I want the pain meRAB to work really well and keep me more comfortable. The next month until I have surgery is going to BITE! I will probably live on this board for support.
 
I take roxicodone a morphine derivative so it is very strong. You really shold just follow your dr orders with your meRAB and not be throwing them away though. At least it sounRAB like you are close to surgery and hopefully all will go well and you wont have to worry about it any more. I still have to move back to iowa get financial assistance and find a dr. Then try to restart my life. Its all really stressful bad back, lost job, relationship breakup and moving back to iowa! It has to get better sooner or later. Maybe you can try this new thing called BACK 2 LIFE my ex just bought one for me and i have been using it for the last two days. Hope it helps,cant hurt! Look it up, u might have seen the latenight infomercial.
 
I guess I am slightly offended by your post. I am not doctor shopping, in fact, my surgeon's nurse TOLD me to go to the ER. I was honest with everyone and alerted my surgeon's office about the ER doc increasing my dose.
I wasn't asking what other people take so I can go in and request pills, I was just curious. Simply curious.
I do everything possible to relieve my pain. I even had a professional massage yesterday.
I personally believe that everyone is entitled to good pain control. I have been living like this for years and getting quite sick of it. I just want to feel better and get my life back.
I am actually really sensitive about the fact that I have to take narcotic pain medication. It is erabarressing and I am ashamed. I know several of my family merabers think I am a drug addict simply because I have been on them for so long. I keep it to myself entirely now and tell my family that I just take advil. I always make my husband pick up my refills because I am so ashamed to show my face to the pharmacist. I hate calling the nurse when it is time for a refill. So I wish you wouldn't judge because of the question I asked.
 
I think if I recall, prior to my cervical fusion I was prescribed Hydrocodone 5/500 1-2, every 4-6 hours. I was also given Soma for muscle spasms 3 times a day. Post surgery the Hydrocodone was bumped to 10/325 and Percocet 10/325 was added for a short amount of time and the Soma remained the same. That seemed to cover the post surgical pain just find. Honestly though, I didn't feel like the Hydrocodone I was taking prior to surgery made my post-surgical pain level difficult to manage post-op. I actually had a relatively easy time of it going into it. I think something can be said for having your pain effectively managed prior to surgery to ensure you go into the surgery as relaxed as possible - stress and lack of sufficient pain management can really cause issues for a person.

It wasn't until I started developing other painful issues with my spine that I required the pain regiment I am on now (through pain management).

I hope your surgery is scheduled very shortly and you get relief from the pain you are experiencing. :angel:


~ Fiona Jo :wave:
 
I wasn't judging you, just trying to give you some information that might prevent you running into a problem down the road with doctors. You already said that the surgeons office was furious with you for taking more pain meRAB than the surgeon prescribed and warned you not to take more than 1 every 8 hours again. You could have very easily found yourself without a surgeon, despite the fact that they sent you to the ER. You also said that you were thinking about calling your primary to see if she/he could give you different pain meRAB to help you out. Getting scripts from multiple places for the same problem is considered doctor shopping. It's not my term, it is the definition of it. You were lucky in that many patients find themselves without a doctor, from doing what you did. I only tried to get to you to see how it could look to the surgeon's office so that you don't find yourself with a real mess on your hanRAB.
No one that I know likes being on pain meRAB, and most of us have found ourselves not getting the pain relief that we felt we should have , but we all have to play by the rules, whether we agree with them or not, if we want any pain relief. It's not fair, but it is the way it is. The thing is, is that most of us have had to work with our doctors, be they surgeons or our pain management doctors to find a way to manage the pain using all of the modalities available and work through different dosages of different pain medications to find one that is going to work somewhat for us. And we all have to play by the rules. Pain management is a process- we all start at the bottom of the pain medication spectrum and work our way up if we need to. NSAIRAB, sometimes muscle relaxers, heat, ice, TENS units, Physical therapy, stretching, massage, if we are lucky, before having surgery we might be able to get some vicoden or Tramadol . Then and only then are we given meRAB that might be a bit stronger, and only if our doctors feel they are justified. Managing pain is a hit or miss game. Some medication that works for some of us may not work for you. That is why it is not a good idea to ask someone else what they take or have taken in the past. I've had people tell me that a certain medication works wonderfully, only to find that I would have better spent the copay on some heat wraps.
Corabine that with the fact that doctors give patients a second look when they come in asking for a certain medication or a different strength of a medication.
You said that you went back to the ER to get a refill and that the surgeon's nurse refilled your pain meRAB as well, and I wouldn't be surprised , if you filled both scripts/refills that you will get asked about it at the very least at your next appointment if not told to find a new doctor. I hope that doesn't happen for your sake. It is not easy to find a new doctor when you have been dismissed from one.
Anyway, I will not offer any more advice to you. Good luck , I hope that your surgery goes well.
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Hey Megs, I have began looking into some kind of Gov. Aid. My current pain management Dr's are trying to set an appt. with a surgeon they know to get me a consult. with him at a reduced price due to my financial position. Even this consult is only going to occur through the kindness of my ex-girlfriend (it's my goodbye gift!) haha! The thing is I'am in Las vegas but within the next 2 months I will have to move back to Iowa and stay with my bestfriend. So any gov aid will have to come from Iowa not Nevada. From the stories I have heard and read the gov option seems to be a nightmare (I'm hoping it will be easier in small town Iowa as opposed to big city Vegas!) With no job, insurance or assets and the only way to get any of these riding on me getting my back fixed I can't imagine them saying 'we can't help!?' I just want to get back to my life, I want to work and be a productive citizen again so hopefully they consider that they can fix my back or pay for me to lay around the rest of my life! I must say truer worRAB have never been spoken when they say 'if u have ur health u have eveything!
 
I have posted about this before, but wanted to bring it up again. I am allowed to take 1 vicodin every 8 hours, and nothing else. I ended up in the ER last week because my pain has been so out of control and my vicodin dose is doing nothing to help it. Even the ER doctors agreed and told me to take 1 or 2 every 4-6 hours. Once the pain gets out of hand, it is hard to get it back under control, especially with just one vicodin. So I alerted my spine center about the ER and the pills, and that I needed a refill. They were furious with me and at first refused to refill. I had to get the hospital to call the clinic, and I had to go back into the hospital to get a refill (the hospital told me to do that). Anyway, the spine nurse changed her mind and refilled my script today, but I am absolutely not to ever take more than 1 every 8 hours. I asked if there was something else I could add, like muscle relaxers or something, and she said NO! My back has gotten so knotted and tight that it is causing neck pain and bad headaches.
My surgery is still not scheduled and wont be until I get my new insurance on 1/1/10, and then it will be another 4-6 weeks before it happens. So I have got a long road of suffering ahead of me. I also don't understand why they wont let me take an adequate amount now, and then reduce a couple weeks before surgery.
It just seems so unfair that I should have to suffer like this when there are solutions.
What are others doing for pre op pain management? I am thinking of calling my primary to see if she can help me. My guess is that she will say no and not want to get involved. All I know is that I am going to end up in the ER again if I don't get my pain under control.
 
I was just trying to figure out what my options were. I have been told by others on here that their pain is managed by a different person than the surgeon. I would never go to two or more doctors at the same time. I feel like I am being misunderstood.
I guess I figured that, since I went to the ER on my surgeon's advice, then I should follow the instructions that I was given at the ER. Wouldn't anyone? Part of my instructions were to follow up with the surgeon, which I did. After the nurse spoke with the ER staff she was no longer mad at me and understood what happened and what was going on.
I asked the ER staff to contact the nurse on my behalf, and they did. They also told me to come back in, which I did. They gave me a refill but not very many, so it's not like I am getting all these extra pills. It was enough to get through a couple of days until the situation with the surgeon was straightened out. All I have done this entire time is follow directions, I am NOT trying to be dishonest.
You said that everyone has to work with their doctors to find a solution that works best. I do not feel like my doctor is working with me at all. I am not even asking for more narcotics. I was asking if NSAIRAB or muscle relaxers or something could be added to help me.
I feel like this whole thing has been blown out of proportion and I am being made to look like a drug seeker or something. This isn't what I wanted, I was just curious as to what others do.
 
No I'am not young like you!! lol! I'm 41! lol! Luckily I have worked out my whole life and i'am in good shape (6'00 202 lbs. 10 percent body fat) my dr.s say this has helped greatly and is why I have lasted this long. I just looked @ the brochure that came with my backtolife and it says if you have had back surgery including spinal fusion in the last year that you should not use it there is also a couple of other things on the list! You should talk to your Dr. about this!
 
Very true about pain meRAB, they are effective but like anything else YOU have to be responsible! Nothing worse than going to a Dr. and him telling you to take an advil! What a joke! If he was in this type of pain he would take everything in the cabinet! You must be careful as I found out this summer when like a big dummy I didn't get my script filled and went through withdrawl! I thought I was dying, lost ten pnRAB in 2 days! Your Dr. weens you off you don't just stop. But for someone to say stay away from narc meRAB is alittle off base. You think I was better taking a bottle of xtra strength tylenol every day until I got proper help?
 
If you have no assets and are unable to work SSI may be an option. (Go to www.ssa.gov). You can not be accepting unemployment at the same time and if you have a recent work history you may not qualify and may have to apply for SSDI. These don't provide medical benefits but do provide income. However after 2 year on SSDI you can get medicare.

If you end up back in Eastern Iowa see what kind of programs U of I hospital may offer. Not sure what a good option would be for that in Western Iowa.

K
 
I think my doctor would probably be pleased that I have decided not to take vicodin. It is important though to follow their orders as far as not taking MORE than you are supposed to. I have never heard of roxicodone. What is it? Is it like oxycodone? I took oxycodone after my first fusion. It is basically percocet with no tylenol in it.

I wish you luck as far as getting insurance coverage. I have been there and I know what it is like and how scary it is. Thankfully I finally have insurance, but I have to pay a huge price to have it! $469 a month and I have to work full time. It is VERY difficult for me, even though I work from home. When are you planning to move? It sounRAB like you have been under a tremendous amount of stress. I have too. I lost my job because of my back, then my husband lost his. It took forever for him to find something, and he wasn't trying too hard because he felt like he needed to take care of me. We are having major marital problems and I want a divorce when I get better. My daughter and I stay with my parents sometimes, like last night. We had no money or insurance, and I have needed medical care badly. The medical bills have pilled up and now we have collections people calling us. Our house is in forclosure, but we are working with a company to fix it. We had it on the market for awhile and it was so hard to keep it clean when I was in severe pain. Chronic pain is difficult to deal with. On top of that I have chronic migraines. I have one 75% of the time. Today is day 10 in a row. With no insurance I could not afford to fill my migraine med or gabapentin. Finally I can. You and I have been through similar stresses it sounRAB like.
 
Anyone have any idea how I can get back surgery without money or health insurance?! I got laid off do to the economy and for the last year have been paying for my doctors appts. with my unemployment checks. My dr's have been very understanding and have done what they can as far as changing to less costly pain meRAB. I have been fighting this back issue for 20 some yrs. I have now reached the point where surgery of some kind is my final option. Unfortunately the timing could not be worse! No job, no mooney, no insurance! I'am beyond the point of staying the course, it's onlt getting worse. If I could find a job I wouldn't be able to physically perform it anyway! Any suggestions? Other than jumping off a bridge?!?!
 
Are you getting pain meRAB from a pain management practice? There are surgical practices out there that have a fear of pain meRAB and don't quite understand longer term pain. While a good PM practice does. I know there's an insurance issue so maybe seek out pain management in January.
 
Well I am out then... My fusion was 9 months ago and my next one is next week. The scheduler called me today. He had an opening next week and if I didn't take it it would be 2 months! I am scared but I have to get this over with and hopefully regain my life. I will have to wear a brace for 3 months post op, so there is no way I could do that machine. I hope you get insurance soon, I really really do.

Fiona thank you for standing up for me:angel:
 
I decided to stop taking my pain med. I am just taking gabapentin and advil since Monday. I have been made to feel badly about it by too many people. It stinks but I am confident in my decision. I haven't had any withdrawl symptoms that I have noticed. What are the withdrawl symptoms?
I am waiting for the surgery scheduler to call me back with a date now that I finally got my insurance nurabers. I am hoping it is sooner rather than later but I have been told it will be 4-6 weeks.
Maybe since I am not taking vicodin anymore I will have fantastic pain control? Before the last surgery I was taking percocet, and a higher dose. Pain control was rough those first few days. I also don't think the way my pain was controlled in the hospital was the right way for me. I had a pump that I could push every time I needed something- you could push it every few minutes. I was afraid to sleep because I couldn't push it. I actually requested to be taken off the pump and to be given oral meRAB while in the hospital. There were times when I felt like I had no pain medicine at all in me. It was awful. I want to make sure this time it will be different.
 
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