Welcome to our new pain management forum

:rotfl: :chuckle

First off - thanks for this forum! The posted links are awesome. Now if I can just get into the one with the alogorhythm. I always tell my patients that they also need to let me know if the pain med is not working, so we can find something that will. Secondly, I also consider the ethnicity of a patient when it comes to rating pain. Their ethnicity and other belief systems also play a major role in how they rate/evaluate their pain.

I too am someone who lives with chronic pain on a daily basis. I am on meds every 8 hrs for pain and on prn meds for break thru pain. There are many days I would rather hurt than take pain med for the break thru pain because of the way it makes me feel. The strength of the prn med is needed for relief, but I do not like the way it makes me feel. I did say at one time, I would love to know how I would feel if I did not take the routine every 8 hour med and was able to find out when I had a severe virus several months ago and could not keep anything p.o. down. All they could give me was demerol IV and I got that every 4 hours. So I got relief for one hour, hurt for 3 hours. The one time I tried it IM, I had nightmares and was so jittery, I could not stand it. When I was able to get the p.o. meds again, and some relief, I said I did not ever want to experience that again. I am so glad for this board. :)

Unless you have lived with chronic pain I do not think you can fully understand the ordeal one has to go through to get your pain to a level that makes you think life is worth living.

I have lived with chronic back pain for ten years. I had a doctor tell me that I was addicted to pain meds after seeing me one time. this was 4 months after a three level fusion. I still have three herniated discs in my neck that make me miserable. but not as miserable as doctors, pharmacists and their techs, and nurses with the attitude that if you are asking for pain medication and are not crying or whatever that you are just seeking meds.

I too am one of those people who have learned to mask my pain. I do not want my husband or children to know the degree of pain I have learned to live with.

I no longer take narcotic pain meds, there are days I would if I had them, but wont ask for them any longer.

as for the smiley faces and the number system they are better than nothing which is what a patient had to deal with before.

And how often do people in chronic pain get asked about depression. It goes hand in hand, living with chronic pain is depressing. It takes away from the quality of life a person lives.

Sorry this is a soap box of mine

Yes, I can really imagine how you feel and fully agree that untreated pain create depression and lower the quality of life. I am in a similar situation with 3 different types of chronic head/neck-pain; cluster headache, migraine and cervicogen headache. I have asked my doctor if we could have an agreement about painkillers; and now I get wat I need on regular basis. I am not afraid of getting NO, because we have this kind of contract.

Of course: if its something acute: she will asess the situation: and give me treatment.

I have been thrue some operations in the local hospital: and there they met me with arroganse and devaluating: The first p.op. day: they told me after a laparascopy and goldbladder ectomi that I could be addicted to the medication, so I had to keep my mouth shout......Well; after sending me home the sec. day, without listening: I come to my doctor with SEVERE pain and bleeding and infection witch they had ignored at the hospital.

I learned something out of this: As a nurse: ALLWAYS LISTEN TO THE PT.-AND DO AN ASSESSMENT IF THE PT COMPLAIN! AND LET THE DOCT. DO AN ***. TOO, IF YOU STILL ARE UNSECURE ABOUT THE SIT.

Also that pt. with cronic pain often need doses in an acute sit. that are much higher than pt. without cronich pain. Often they need something sedative too.

I think doctors and nurses generally do a great job with canser pain, - but when the pt have chronic pain w.out malignancy, they dont know how to treat the pt; because of lack of knowledge. Pt w.out malignancy ALSO need ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT; BUT NOT NESCES. NARCOTIC MEDICATION. SOMETIME THE DOC. HAVE TO ADMIT THAT FEKS. LONG-LASTING NARC. MEDICATION AS A CAPSULE IS THE ONLY WAY TO CEEP GOING. USED CORRECTLY: THEY DONT CREATE THE NEGATIVE SIDEEFFECT THAT ADDICTED PT." WANTED", AND THE PT. DONT "GET HIGH" ON THEESE TYPE OF MEDICATION.

(sorry, my english is so bad , and my lack of practice is still there; but I try! Its hard to express the nuances...)

As a nurse with a chronic and painful condition I am so happy to see this forum. I think there is a tremendous amount we can learn from each other. At leaste that is my hope. There is far to much judgement and lack of knowledge in this area of nursing. Hopefully we can be instruments of change for the better. Yippy long over due.

I too have chronic pain, one hotly discussed here and there as an in your head disease. :angryfire . I have fibryomylagia as well as 4 herniated disks. im curious to know how do you deal with your pain while at work, and if im not being to nosey,may i ask what is your pain due to?? Thanks

Liz

I also live with chronic pain, have you tried a pain management clinic, one that only deals with pain????

LIZ :)

I also live with chronic pain, have you tried a pain management clinic, one that only deals with pain????

LIZ :)

Yes, I have a good experience with pain management clinic: My first impression was: I didn't have to defence my pain: the anestesiologist belived me....And when I got the cryo-therapy (frozening the occipital nerves by skull basis), he told me the second time I come for therapy; You had really severe pain, and treatment out of control; then the nerves got pain impulses continually. The best thing was to get understanding and meet someone who belived your pain!!! The sec. thing to get regular treatment: every 4 th mnd. No have asked to join a cronic pain - learning to live-class. I think I have much to learn from other people; them as well as here! Thank you for shearing your experiences! :)

Yes, I can really imagine how you feel and fully agree that untreated pain create depression and lower the quality of life. I am in a similar situation with 3 different types of chronic head/neck-pain; cluster headache, migraine and cervicogen headache. I have asked my doctor if we could have an agreement about painkillers; and now I get wat I need on regular basis. I am not afraid of getting NO, because we have this kind of contract.

Of course: if its something acute: she will asess the situation: and give me treatment.

I have been thrue some operations in the local hospital: and there they met me with arroganse and devaluating: The first p.op. day: they told me after a laparascopy and goldbladder ectomi that I could be addicted to the medication, so I had to keep my mouth shout......Well; after sending me home the sec. day, without listening: I come to my doctor with SEVERE pain and bleeding and infection witch they had ignored at the hospital.

I learned something out of this: As a nurse: ALLWAYS LISTEN TO THE PT.-AND DO AN ASSESSMENT IF THE PT COMPLAIN! AND LET THE DOCT. DO AN ***. TOO, IF YOU STILL ARE UNSECURE ABOUT THE SIT.

Also that pt. with cronic pain often need doses in an acute sit. that are much higher than pt. without cronich pain. Often they need something sedative too.

I think doctors and nurses generally do a great job with canser pain, - but when the pt have chronic pain w.out malignancy, they dont know how to treat the pt; because of lack of knowledge. Pt w.out malignancy ALSO need ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT; BUT NOT NESCES. NARCOTIC MEDICATION. SOMETIME THE DOC. HAVE TO ADMIT THAT FEKS. LONG-LASTING NARC. MEDICATION AS A CAPSULE IS THE ONLY WAY TO CEEP GOING. USED CORRECTLY: THEY DONT CREATE THE NEGATIVE SIDEEFFECT THAT ADDICTED PT." WANTED", AND THE PT. DONT "GET HIGH" ON THEESE TYPE OF MEDICATION.

(sorry, my english is so bad , and my lack of practice is still there; but I try! Its hard to express the nuances...)

The origins of my pain include severe cervical DDD with collapse that is pressing on my spinal cord, and has a lot of spurring on the left side, Post embolotic (phantom) pain (my most dreaded one. I present with the same symptoms as an AMI), pinched nerve in my groin, and severe osteoarthritis throughout my body. My doctor only believes the arthritis one, and our local pain specialist is a real GROUCH, who due to the multiple side effects I have from drugs, (especially narcotics), He told me he can't help me.

I had a recent similar experience in our local ER. After I got home, I went right to bed, and later woke up with a raging fever, chills, and pain.

The origins of my pain include severe cervical DDD with collapse that is pressing on my spinal cord, and has a lot of spurring on the left side, Post embolotic (phantom) pain (my most dreaded one. I present with the same symptoms as an AMI), pinched nerve in my groin, and severe osteoarthritis throughout my body. My doctor only believes the arthritis one, and our local pain specialist is a real GROUCH, who due to the multiple side effects I have from drugs, (especially narcotics), He told me he can't help me.

I am really sorry to hear that medical staff can treat you in that way, but I am not supprised!

I visited my neurologist yesterday; and she told me that they the last year they have been experienceded that people chemestry systemj is different: some people will respons and tolerate A HUGE DOSES OF FECS. DIAZEPAM UNTIL THEY GETT EFFECT, OTNER WILL SLEEP OF A STILLNOCT IN 4 PIECES. iT HAS SOMETHING WITH THE RESCEPTOR FOR GABA IN THE BRAIN. She told me that maybee I was tolerating huge doses; and not suspecting me being an addict. The way to find out was to make a serum-blodd test, for seeing how much medication it was the moringing after taking feks benzodiasepin. It was a great relief, becaue I allways fet that I had to take high doses. Now I got some scietific explaniation on it. Anyone else who has the same problem?

And for the second: Does anyone has experience with cryo-therapy against intens neck-pain?

:)

I have need for any suggestions - I have a pt in chronic pain who it has been an issue to get her pain meds increased. I was able to get her 3mg Dilaudid q3, but her pain is never under control and she asks for her next dose at least an hour before she is due. (Pinched nerve pain and possible beginning of CA pain). She is allergic to morphine, ASA, percocet and I think NSAIDs also. Can anyone think of some alternative pain therapy that might help? PT, warm compresses haven't worked either. I can't think of anything to suggest - I feel like I only harass the MDs about her uncontrolled pain.

Unless you have lived with chronic pain I do not think you can fully understand the ordeal one has to go through to get your pain to a level that makes you think life is worth living.

I have lived with chronic back pain for ten years. I had a doctor tell me that I was addicted to pain meds after seeing me one time. this was 4 months after a three level fusion. I still have three herniated discs in my neck that make me miserable. but not as miserable as doctors, pharmacists and their techs, and nurses with the attitude that if you are asking for pain medication and are not crying or whatever that you are just seeking meds.

I too am one of those people who have learned to mask my pain. I do not want my husband or children to know the degree of pain I have learned to live with.

I no longer take narcotic pain meds, there are days I would if I had them, but wont ask for them any longer.

as for the smiley faces and the number system they are better than nothing which is what a patient had to deal with before.

And how often do people in chronic pain get asked about depression. It goes hand in hand, living with chronic pain is depressing. It takes away from the quality of life a person lives.

Sorry this is a soap box of mine

No need to apologize... It is having the courage to write what you did that helps people like me to know that I'm no different and that I'm not crazy. Pain and the feelings that come along with it are a complicated thing. People think that they understand pain but like you said, no matter how compassionate a person is, if they THEMSELVES have not and DO NOT live with pain every day of their lives, they can't possibly know how much it wears on a persons soul. It is even harder for many DOCTORS to understand because they think that if I depend on a medicine so greatly that I would contimplate just "giving up" if I thought I had to face life without it everyday, then I must be an addict. Adspecially in my case because in many ways my pain is still a mystery. My body apparently thinks something is WRONG enough that without my meds it is about an 8 HOWEVER THEY CAN'T SEE IT!!! EVERYTHING that they have tested for has come back negative. My Fibromyalgia diagnosis was PURELY exclusion. The fact that I am only 21 makes things even worse because people aren't USUALLY in this kind of pain until their late 30's early 40's, and sometimes even later than that. I was always healthy, never had any sort of chronic pain before I was in Danceline and acting in Highschool, then I got pregnant @ 17... It turned out to be boy/girl twins and I went from 125 pounds to 215 pounds in 9 months. My hips seperated after about 6 months, my ribs shifted and I carried my wonderful children for 39 weeks. I had a scheduled C-section. This was the happiest time in my life, however, it would be the beginning of the hardest time in my life. The pain from my c-section and the muscle pain from staying in the hospital bed 12 hours after surgery really just never went away. The way I explained it at first was that I felt like I was 80, not 18... The doctor who delivered my twins sent me to 1 Rheum. who first tried Lortab and Morphine, (Made me feel weird so then we tried Fentanyl Barely worked and burned my skin. Then she sent me to another Rheum. he confirmed the Fibro diagnosis and put me on oxycontin then sent me back to my Family Doc. That med messed me up and didn't help much either. Anyway through trying all those different meds I ended up on the one I thought took care of the pain the best, Methadone. After trying all the others this med was a miracle 'cause it pushed my pain from about an 8 all the down to a 1 or 2 for the most part. HOWEVER, I have gotten to the point where I am SICK AND TIRED of depending on a medicine that can so easily be taken away (adspecially since my Family Doctor just moved to Colorado and left me with a first year resident who probably has no pain patients. I am getting increasingly worried that it will be taken away JUST BECAUSE THEY CAN'T find anything else wrong with me so I wanted her to start wheaning me. JUST AS SCARY! If I don't do this slowly enough to learn how to deal with this pain through excersise and God knows what else I will ruin my life. I have SO MANY DREAMS AND AMBITIONS, so many people I want to help and I want to be a good Mom and a good wife. I just hate feeling like without this medicine I can never accomplish those things. My Husband, as encouraging as he wants to be, doesn't want me to keep wheaning. He thinks that if I don't say something now and I go ahead and whean off before I'm ready that I will be screwed. I think that one thing that will help is having a more experienced Doctor to help me do this. I started the wheaning with my old Dr. and now with this new Doctor she is just doing it the way she wants to and as quickly as she wants because she doesn't have to care that she has my life in her hands. Right now, I don't know AT-ALL how to deal with pain without medicine and if I look at it as a life long battle, I will never make it. I have a strong faith in God and I think that he could help me with this but in a way I still have this nagging feeling like Fibro should be managable and maybe if there is something they aren't seeing and they find it they could take care of a huge part of my pain so that I can better deal with it. They are leaving me with the impression that I should give up and there is nothing else that could be wrong with me... I apologize that no I am not a nurse but you all seemed like you are quite intelligent AND you know how I feel (possibly you have had more time to learn things that I haven't yet. I apologize for this being so long but please post a reply if ya'll get a chance.

*Sarah