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#745548 - 08/12/08 05:36 AM
pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
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ROSE22
Board Addict
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 312
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i have been working with a new primary doctor to treat the pain.
the primary reffered me to a spine specialist.
the spine specialist offered a book as a treatment plan, and said i would be a candidate of injections.
the mri results came back,and i have nerve damage,bulged discs,and scar tissue all along my spine.
when i saw the spine psecialist,he offered one treatment,the shots, and thats it.
i have discussed this with my mom and ex hubby(he was in the accident with me), and we have all agreed that shots are not the way to go.
i do not agree to spinal injections. period.
heres where the problem comes in....the primary feels that i have pain management from the spine doctor with the injection, which i havent decided to do.
the primary says the spine doc needs to deal with the pain and medicine managemnt, although the spine doc said he does not do medicine,only shots.
i am nearing the settlement faze of the lawsuit against the woman who hit me,hence causing all these problems.
i am almost forced to stick it out with this doctor ,until my case is over.
i am still unemployed,and have no idea when i can work again.
i am trying to find stable medicine managemnt,as i have tried every other treatment,chiropracotrs,accupuncutre,massage therapy,dietary changes, mind body healing, i have done it all.
the only thing i havent tried is the injections,and im not sure if i want something stuck in my spine.
besides the shot, if the pain comes back, will they still not offer any medication?
then what?
i decided not to see the spine doc again,because he offered one treatment,and that treatment is not a option to me,not at this time anyways.
so, the primary is not going to treat the pain because he said i have the spine doc to do it.
i have no one managing me now.
i found this out over the last 4 days.
i am in a sudden and unexpected withdrawl.
neither doctor is treating the pain.
can they force me to get a shot?
can they force me into a corner with only one way to get out?
the only med that have offered is the vicodin, which is short acting,and i have been on it for the last 2 years.
i dont want to be on this short acting med. ultimately, if i had to chosse between shots and meds, i preffer the meds, but longer acting meds.
the primary says the spine doc needs to treat me, but the spine doc is offering one treatment, thats it,and if i dont get the shots,then i dont get any pain management.
if i get the shot,and it doenst work,then i still have no pain management.
i would love to have the money or insurance to try to find another doctor.
i should stick it out until my case is over.
but sticking it out means, no managment unless i get the shot.
what do i do?
this was my last shot at getting help. i am emotionally a wreck. i have no strength to see yet another doctor.
can a doctor force me into a treatment i am not comfortable with?
they cut me off of meds suddenly,and gave me one option to treat the pain.
how do i get past this?
no patient should be forced into a corner.
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#745572 - 08/12/08 06:36 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: ROSE22]
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stevevi
Threadhead
Registered: 05/07/08
Posts: 901
Loc: epharmacywatch.com
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Rose,
This is my experience with shots/spine specialists.
I have had 2 back surgeries and am probably looking at a third down the road. In all instances, I was "forced to get the shots" first. Now, I wasn't really forced, but they are unwilling to do anything else until you try their treatment methods, so in order to get to the surgery stage (or any other stage you want to get to), I had to endure the shots first. I'm sure the insurance companies have a lot of input in this respect, as they don't want to pay the money for a surgery if a shot will suffice.
I have had many, many shots over the years (the most recent, last month). Sometimes they help for a while, sometimes they are a waste of time. They are always, in my case, a necessary evil to continue treatment. I don't think, except in rare instances, the shots can do you any harm.
When I agree to the shots, my doctors are willing to go along with anything else I want ranging from meds to surgery, but the shots, and often therapy, have always been a prerequisite.
Good Luck.
Steve
_________________________
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please - M. Twain
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#745594 - 08/12/08 07:18 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: stevevi]
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bacchus1
Newbie
Registered: 02/28/07
Posts: 27
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I have had sort of the same problem in the past year. It was an L-5,S-1 problem. In December and January, I had the epidural shots. It was a series of three, spaced a couple of weeks apart. It was done in a hospital setting with the flouroscope, etc. ( I can say that during the second series of shots she said "Whoops I missed and we are going to have to do this again!" Even that did not cause anymore discomfort that the other two) I found no relief from the shots. Just a prerequisite for insurance reasons I believe. And later on in May went ahead with surgery. However, I can tell you that for me, it was not a painful or stressful experience at all. I was in and out in 20 minutes, was able to drive myself home, and return to work for the rest of the day.
No problems.
I can not promise the same experience for you....but just wanted to let you know it's not all bad.
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#745678 - 08/12/08 09:49 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: bacchus1]
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Bluefairy
Threadhead
Registered: 06/27/07
Posts: 836
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I would try the shots. I have them for another reason, so they are not in my back but my abdomen. I do know others who have had them done, including my mom about 2 weeks ago.
I know this former co-worker who could not walk or stand for more than 10 - 20 minutes at a time that has returned to the casino business and has no problem with a 9 + hour shift on his feet.
All experiences can vary, but if you do not at least try them once it is unlikely they will treat you further. Narcotic pain meds are considered on a long term basis if other things do not work, the lack of willingness to try other treatments/procedures is considered a red flag.
It is similar to a doctor seeing a migraine patient for the first time that refuses to try a tripitan and tells the doctor they want hydro or demerol, and oh by the way allergic to codeine and darvocet. They are not going to help you under those circumstances.
Please do not feel I am being harsh with you here, I am just repeating what I have heard said to others by PM doctors, what it says on the walls of my pm clinic, and what the literature on pain management I have received states over and over.
_________________________
Come out, come out, wherever you are ......
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#745736 - 08/12/08 12:43 PM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: martind]
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DanielWA
Veteran
Registered: 02/27/07
Posts: 552
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I have to agree with all prior posts, and also ask if your spine doc is also a pain management doc. If he is not, then he will not be able to treat you for pain long term in most cases.
I also wanted to ask exactly what injections they are requiring. They usually start with the cortisone, series of 3. I have had these several times, but the injections that has helped me the most was the RFA's, where they burn the nerve endings.
For the most part, doctors usually try to start with the least evasive procedures, and then go from there. When my pain specialist was doing these procedures, as long as I did what was asked of me, unless I had done it in the past and it was not beneficial, I was prescribed pain meds.
Most people do not want to be on opiates for long periods of time, so they not only do these things to help you with your pain, but they also have to follow protocol, to show that they have done everything they can before prescribing meds long term.
Unless, because of lack of insurance or a plan that you have personally worked out with your doctor, you most likely wont be getting meds unless you have jumped through their hoops.
If it's possible, start with the injections...you will have a much better chance of getting something for pain. Best of luck!
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#745779 - 08/12/08 02:17 PM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: chloebaby]
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Bluefairy
Threadhead
Registered: 06/27/07
Posts: 836
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what it says on the walls of my pm clinic I'm just curious, what do the walls of the clinic have posted? Do they actually say the shots precede other treatments? I ask because I have debated the shots/pm clinic for some time now too. Thanks!
There are all sorts of signs and posters up, including :
(all paraphrased, memory not that great)
A: says that you may be prescribed narcotics on first visit
at physician's discretion, however a refusal to to attempt any other suggestions but narcotics cannot be accommodated.
B: A treatment plan is an agreement between you and the physician to attempt to manage your pain. It is an inclusive effort, and may take a combination of things for your to experience relief. You cannot pick and choose which parts of the plan you want to participate in.
C: Attention Migraine patients. Please do not come in and refuse any medication but Lortab or Demoral. Statements such as: I am allergic to Imitrex and Codeine, I cant take those preventive medicines, I only want what I know already works, will be met as a refusal to co-operate with treatment plans. We cannot help you if you are not willing to help you.
right next to that one is a big poster to physicians on how to spot drug seekers, with that migraine scenario as one of the examples. In handwritten words on sheet underneath, if all else fails, we will prescribe narcotics, just do not demand them.
D: my favorite - There is no such thing as a magic pill that will fix all of our aches and pains. If we knew of one, we would have stock in it and spend our days and nights doing everything we can to help you improve your quality of life. Since we are here instead of at the beach, you can be assured it does not exist.
_________________________
Come out, come out, wherever you are ......
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#745936 - 08/12/08 07:41 PM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: ROSE22]
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MrsDoodle
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 04/20/05
Posts: 1153
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Rose~
May I ask what your main reason is for resisting the injections? I can tell you that I have had injections into the spine 2 x's and they worked moderately well and gave me relief for approx 3 months each time. OTOH, I had one set of injections (steroid) in each shoulder and that worked like a miracle straight from God. The lidocaine or whatever that was in the injection worked immediately and I was out of pain when I left the office that day. The pain never returned. I went into that office unable to raise my arms at all, in pain that was so severe that I wanted to cry all the time. Opiates did nothing for it although I was not on anything stronger than Vicodin.
Point being that I relate to your feeling of being pressured into something that you do not want to do. However, I think that in this case, the injections might be a reasonable thing to try. I know that sometimes they do nothing, but when they work they are really something. In any case, I think it might be hard to find any doctor who will want to write an Rx for long acting opiates without first trying some type of injection. While it is true that the injections are more invasive than the medication, being on opiates long term does have life altering side effects. Honestly, I would give everything I own to be able to go back to the point where injections could help me.
Good luck to you. I hope that you soon find a treatment plan that works for you and that you are able to obtain some decent relief!
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#745953 - 08/12/08 08:10 PM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: ROSE22]
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mistyblue
Member
Registered: 05/28/08
Posts: 133
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Hi Rose,
Rose are you fearful of the shots? Some people are because they fear shots in the back. Of course I am not advocating anything that you are dead set against, but if you are kind of on the fence about it, I think that you should try the shot treatment the doc wants you to do. No, of course he can't make you, but he can intepret it as being resistant to his advice. And as another poster said, they usually start with injections as they have a protocol to follow.
I was going to an ortho doctor awhile back and he wanted to try cortisone shots in my knee. And I had them done, and they did nothing for me, but I had several of them. The second time, I was prescribed meds for "breakthough" pain. It was constant, as the shots did not help, not breakthrough. I do not think you have anything to be fearful of if that is the case, and perhaps they will help. But I do think the doctor will prescribe something if they do not.
Good luck, Rose 
Misty
Edited by mistyblue (08/12/08 08:11 PM)
_________________________
Just the thought of you
turns my whole world
a misty blue
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#746046 - 08/13/08 05:31 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: mistyblue]
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fisher56
Enthusiast
Registered: 10/02/07
Posts: 220
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Hi Rose,
Wow, shots? I had them a few years ago, only cortizone, but I have such a fear of shots!!! Especially in a area such as your back!
After that, I went to a pain mgmt. dr., Thank goodness, he didn't even mention shots, and neither did I. I had some good records, so got a rx. Just something I have to live with for years to come.
As one of the posters said, it costs alot of money! Especially if you don't have insurance.
I can't even stand to have blood drawn!
Just my 2 cents worth, if I frightened you, I didn't mean to, just posting my experience.
Peace,
fisher
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#746050 - 08/13/08 05:35 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: mistyblue]
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ROSE22
Board Addict
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 312
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wow,thank you for the honest support and advice!
you guys have no idea what it means to me to have honest and caring advice! thank you!
this post may be long,but i want to share with you the newest happenings.
let me clarify one thing, the spine doctor said "he does not beleive in western medicine,he does not prescribe medication, and the injections are only a bandaid."
he wants me to cope with the pain,naturally.
i cant see how i can deal with the pain,as i just got my mri results back yesterday,and i am waiting for the spine doc to call to discuss treatment plans.
i have 2 bulged discs in the cervical, 3 bulged discs in the thoracic, and 2 bulged discs in the lumbar region, and lumbar spondylosis in the lumbar region. also, i have mild protrusions in the cervical,and nerve damage in the lumbar and cervical.
do you get all that?
am i a candidate for that many shots?
i am absolutley terrified, i had no idea there were that many problems.
i hadnt had a mri of my spine since march of 2006,and the only dianosis the doctor offered was fibromyalgia.
that diagnosis never sat well, which is why i saught a new doctor. which brings us to today.
primary doc reffered me to spine doc, spine doc said injections or nothing.
with the amount of problems in my spine, no insururance, fear of injections, no medicine.....i am feeling realy sad.
let me clarify one thing, the spine doctor said " i will never prescribe medication, 99% of my patients get the shots or they deal with it."
it sounds to me like if i get the shots,and they dont work, he still wont treat the pain,with medicine.
what confused me the most is, if you read about what the spine office has to offer
-return to work therapy
-multi faceted treatments
-medicinal managemnt
-counseling
-massage therapy
-physical therapy
-injections/surgery
the doctor offered only one of the treatments. the injections.
i consider this false advertising. he never did a exam, he never looked into my records.
--------------------------------------------------
from what i have read from you guys, it sounds like if i get the shots, i may get releif or i may not. if i do not get releif, then he has nothing else to offer.
morally, the shots do not fit my beliefs.
if i give in,against my own gut feeling, i still may be at square one.
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#746571 - 08/13/08 09:20 PM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: ROSE22]
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dpalmento
Newbie
Registered: 02/07/08
Posts: 29
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let me clarify one thing, the spine doctor said "he does not beleive in western medicine,he does not prescribe medication, and the injections are only a bandaid."
he wants me to cope with the pain,naturally.
i cant see how i can deal with the pain,as i just got my mri results back yesterday,and i am waiting for the spine doc to call to discuss treatment plans.
i have 2 bulged discs in the cervical, 3 bulged discs in the thoracic, and 2 bulged discs in the lumbar region, and lumbar spondylosis in the lumbar region. also, i have mild protrusions in the cervical,and nerve damage in the lumbar and cervical.
do you get all that?
am i a candidate for that many shots?
i am absolutley terrified, i had no idea there were that many problems.
i hadnt had a mri of my spine since march of 2006,and the only dianosis the doctor offered was fibromyalgia.
that diagnosis never sat well, which is why i saught a new doctor. which brings us to today.
primary doc reffered me to spine doc, spine doc said injections or nothing.
with the amount of problems in my spine, no insururance, fear of injections, no medicine.....i am feeling realy sad.
let me clarify one thing, the spine doctor said " i will never prescribe medication, 99% of my patients get the shots or they deal with it."
it sounds to me like if i get the shots,and they dont work, he still wont treat the pain,with medicine.
what confused me the most is, if you read about what the spine office has to offer
-return to work therapy
-multi faceted treatments
-medicinal managemnt
-counseling
-massage therapy
-physical therapy
-injections/surgery
the doctor offered only one of the treatments. the injections.
i consider this false advertising. he never did a exam, he never looked into my records.
--------------------------------------------------
from what i have read from you guys, it sounds like if i get the shots, i may get releif or i may not. if i do not get releif, then he has nothing else to offer.
morally, the shots do not fit my beliefs.
if i give in,against my own gut feeling, i still may be at square one.
You are right, Rose, I think this is false advertising. It sounds like an attempt at getting as much money as he can without any guarantee of providing any results. So many medical places have these signs all over the walls about their holistic treatment for the patient's mind, body, and spirit, and then the patient feels that was a misrepresentation of what actually takes place. Actually sounds more like "adult consent" but feeling like you've been raped.
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#746682 - 08/14/08 05:28 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: dpalmento]
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ROSE22
Board Addict
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 312
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i called the spine doc, to see if he would talk to me over the phone about the mri results.
the reason i asked for this is i didnt have the $100 in gas money to drive to his office,and i am in terrible amounts of pain, so bad i cant sit for more than ten minutes.
his office is 3 hours away.
i am staying with extended family during this time, sitting at home alone was leading me to have wierd thoughts and huge depression. i came here,to my family, to protect myself from myself.
i asked him to go over the results, and he refused. thats fine, i am not going back to him for his one option.
you would think with the amount of sh=t in my mri results, any doctor would understand why i have such pain,and have limited mobility.
last night i sat up doing research for a new pain center, and i found a new place.
the first vivst,they ask that you bring a driver with you,as they do imediate injections for pain releif.
i dont know what type of injection, but i have the right to refuse, but i am going in with all options open.
what turns me on to this place is the doctors are all members of the american association of pain medicine.
not to be sarcastic, but to find a pain center that uses pain medicine for pain releif, is asstounding!
what a thought!
i am taking your guys advise, to be open to some injections, as i do need releif.
if it doesnt work, atleast they offer more options
------------------------------------
i send a big hig and thank you to all who posted their replies here, and offered honest and trusting opinoins!
we have to control our health care and trust ourselves.
no one lives in our body,but ourselves.
thats the biggest lesson learned.
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#746687 - 08/14/08 05:35 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: ROSE22]
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stevevi
Threadhead
Registered: 05/07/08
Posts: 901
Loc: epharmacywatch.com
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I think you are on the right path, Rose. As I stated before, I suggest the shots, not for the relief they do/do not offer, but so you can move in to the next stage of hopefully getting some meds that will help you.
It is sad that this seems to be the way the medical world works these days, but it is. The doctors want their money for the shots, and the insurance companies seem OK with that, as long as they don't try the cheap, sensible solution first. Crazy stuff.
_________________________
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please - M. Twain
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#746764 - 08/14/08 08:44 AM
Re: pain managmnet,only one option given,what now?
[Re: iris]
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ROSE22
Board Addict
Registered: 01/16/07
Posts: 312
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i am sitting here in horendous pain.
i have been off of any meds for 6 days, not long, but long enough with the amount of pain traveling up and down my entire spine.
the primary doc said the spine doc is treating the pain,there fore he cannot.
problem is, the spine doc is not treating the pain either.
injections or nothing.
i am so desperate for releif,but do not know what to do or who to see.
going to the e.r. is out of the question.
every doctors office i called said i need to see a specialist, but no specialst is available with me having no insurance.
this is such a hopeless and painful spot to be in.
i have attacked my medicine cabinet but tylenol is not cutting it,even after taking 5 in 5 hours.
technically, i have 2 doctors supposedly treating this,the primary and the spine doc, but yet i am not receiving any pain releif.
how can this be fair?
any ideas as to what to do?
i am awaiting approval from a new pain clinic, but it could be another week before they see me, if they see me.
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#746945 - 08/14/08 12:59 PM
Re: pain managmnet,o | | | | | |
