I don't think I've ever had a dr actually help me with anything except my carpal tunnel doctor a few years ago... ugh... went to the dr for the back pain... I try to be pretty honest with drs... told him I'm a recovering alcoholic, admitted to him that I've been taking my bf's pain killers, but that I'm not abusing them, I only take them at night so I can sleep through the pain, and only when I really have to. He still questioned me on it and asked if I'm really taking it for the pain... maybe I shouldn't be so honest.
He didn't run any tests. no MRI, no xray, nothing. Had me do different things to see what makes the pain worse, pretty much any movement makes the pain worse. Looked at my spine b/c I told him several years ago I was told i had scoliosis but they hadn't run tests or anything and just suggested physical therapy and I never went... so he looks at my spine, has another dr look at it and they do think I have mild scoliosis. They think the pain is nerve pain and that physical therapy will help...
He prescribed naproxin, same thing as aleve, so I got the pharmacist to tell me how much aleve to take to equal to it. I asked her how that equivilated with how much ibuprofen I was taking for it and she said it'd be about the same... so... great... cuz the ibuprofen wasn't helping the pain. I had asked the dr if this naproxin would relieve the pain, and he said it would reduce inflammation which in turn would make the pain go down... I told him how bad it is, keeping me from sleeping, but he wouldn't give me pain killers for it. Really thinkin I shouldn't tell them I'm a recovering alcoholic... lol
So they set up physical therapy... and want me to come back in 6 weeks. My bf wants me to get a second opinion from our friend's dr, said our friend's dr won't play the guessing game, he'll actually run tests and find out what's going on. So... gonna try to get in with him next week... although I do realize I will more than likely need physical therapy, 'specially if they're right about the scoliosis.
I was advised not to take anything for the pain last night, since I was going to the dr today... so I didn't take anything... was up until 4am in pain... finally fell asleep, dunno if I was just that tired or the endorphins in my brain kicked in that natural pain killer? Whatever it was I finally fell asleep. But I can't be lying in bed in pain til 4am every night...
Sorry to hear you're going thru this, hun. But take a step back and try to see the doc's point. You're takeing SOMEONE else's narcotics and you've told the doc you're an alkie. Of course he will have his doubts. I say that makes him a pretty good doctor. There are too many out there that wouldnt' even raise an eyebrow to that and just write you a script for more meds!
Try to keep an open mind and follow the professional advice given & just see what happens.
Hang in there. You're in my prayers.
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Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.
Doll wrote: Sorry to hear you're going thru this, hun. But take a step back and try to see the doc's point. You're takeing SOMEONE else's narcotics and you've told the doc you're an alkie. Of course he will have his doubts. I say that makes him a pretty good doctor. There are too many out there that wouldnt' even raise an eyebrow to that and just write you a script for more meds!
Try to keep an open mind and follow the professional advice given & just see what happens.
Hang in there. You're in my prayers.
I would have to agree on this one. Once we start playing physician to ourselves, we are headed for trouble.
Three years ago I started having some substantial back pain, mostly in the lower back. After round 1 of physical therapy (which DID help), and some limitations at work, I felt better. However, once I went back to full duties on the job, which included prolonged bending, stooping, lifting, being on my feet all day on a concrete floor, it got worse again. It was then that I was referred on to an orthopedic surgeon, had an MRI done, and was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in the L4-L5 region.
Another round of physical therapy did help, but I can no longer do the type of work that I was doing.
I am always honest with my physician, and early in the physical therapy, he prescribed short-term non-narcotic pain relievers and a mild muscle relaxer. Now I take 800 mg of ibuprofen when it flares up, use a heating pad, and take it easy.
If you're angry for being honest with the doctor, you always have the option of finding a new doctor and not being honest. We have the right to cheat ourselves out of recovery as much as we want. Before I found recovery, I was a master at finding docs to prescribe those 'good' meds :)
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguements and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance-that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~Herbert Spencer
Of course we have a right to proper pain management. Drugs can sure mask the symtom, but in doing so, can also hide the cause. Competent medical assistance needed, and that is a matter of trust. I pray you will receive the very best care from a professional that you believe in.
