I was prescribed Vicodin 5/500 to start to manage pain due to a disk herniation to L5 and S1. The herniation of S1 mixed with my job duties made my tailbone beneath S1 go at a slant. Much like the / symbol. Anyhow, after seeing a chiropractor for quite some time with no relief, that is when I decided to go to a General Practice doctor, who gave me the Vicodin. She gave me 3 months worth of refills and told me to see her back in 3 months to adjust medicine levels if we needed. And she suggested an MRI.
This doctor, from the get go told me that she wasnt comfortable prescribing opiates and "wasnt going to create a vicodin fiend." She prescribed me the pain pills and told me not to ask her for refills. So I went and got an MRI, which I payed for out of pocket. After proof from the MRI results, she lightened up some. But still insisted that surgery and/or a change of jobs (come on, really?? Easier said then done) was likely the only thing to help so I needed to find a pain specialist and a job with insurance to cover the costly treatment. Or to simply find another doctor that is more comfortable prescribing pain medicine. Her reason was not wanting me to become dependent on pills at 24 years old. Well, so what am I to do? Live my life like a broken 70 year old man @ only 24?
So my question here is..
How can I ask a NEW doctor for stronger pills then my current 5mg Vicodin? I feel very nervous to ask, due to how I was treated with my first experience in getting treatment for my pain. And I am reading that it is very common for GP's to manage patients chronic pain, is it true? Because it seems like my personal experiences are making it seem like GP's dont want to touch chronic pain cases.
Any advice would be sooo appreciated.
P.S. I have had a back injury for years now, and tried many things.
Jack99, thanks for your input. But I don't plan on being a zombie for my whole life. I am not trying to get prescribed oxy or morphine or anything. Simply something strong enough to prevent the pain. Just because there are a handful of people who abuse them (like everything else), that shouldnt automatically dismiss people who really benefit from them.
Also, thanks Gypsy. Maybe I wasnt clear enough. My doctor agrees that I need surgery or managment with pain. I make 10.50/hr and do not have any insurance. So of COURSE I want relief and OF COURSE i can not afford back surgery . The reason I am trying to find a new doctor, is because my previous one told me that she isnt comfortable prescribing pain meds to ANYBODY.. and she personally told me to find a new dr or pain specialist. Why does everybody asume the worst when someone asks for pain relief. And I have tried MANY other things Gypsy. NSAIDS, Topicals, shots. So I assure you, this isn't a drug seeking case.
Answer by jack99skellington
I would recommend listening to your doctor. There is a reason they don't like prescribing opiates to people.
Otherwise, you might want to look into visiting a chronic pain clinic. They can help you not only with medication, but with learning how to live with chronic pain. You can't go through life as a zombie. Hope this helps.
Marc - I hope you get the help you need. I have a cautionary tale for you. When I was young, my father had a back injury like yours. He became increasingly dependent on medication, until he was addicted. Our family life took a real bad turn, it destroyed us, literally.
The only thing that helped him was learning to manage his pain. The medication didn't help, and his multiple surgeries didn't help much either. I
Answer by cobra2140
I have lived with 5 ruptured disks (and counting) for over 7 years including an almost total loss of L5/S1 with spurs and a cracked S1 so I understand your pain. My doc has prescribed Vicodin, Lortab, Percocet, and Darvon-N. I have settled on Darvon because it doesn't give me the side effects the others do and relieves enough pain that I can manage the rest myself.
I agree with the doc that you shouldn't think about more meds and higher doses, those meds are only a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Personally I have discovered what causes my pain to worsen and try to avoid them as much as I can. That may not be possible all the time for you but anything that can help, will. Doing back stretches and my daughter walking on it and helping to pop it regularly helps with pain relief for me.
Unfortunately the only way to get this fixed is going to be surgery. You need to look for a Neurosurgeon who can help with that. In the mean time a chiropractor and some cortisone shots will help.
Answer by Gypsygrl
I work for a family medical clinic and we do not treat chronic pain. Treating a patient that only wants pain meds is not helping the problem it is only covering up the cause, plus becomes an addiction problem next.
You already say you want stronger than what you were given, already to move on to another doctor that will prescribe pain meds for you. All this is very typical of a patient becoming dependent on pain meds. They carry around copies of their MRIs to prove there is a problem, worry over the next prescription, change physicians often, etc. Stop and get your problem fixed at your age so that you don't have to rely on pain meds all the time.
Plus no, you don't have to depend on pain meds and I know because I have severe stenosis of the area you are talking about, have 2 disc bulging in the Lumbar area, degenerative arthritis of the spine, 2 areas in my neck also that have slipped and cause 24/7 throbbing pain. Every once in a while I will take a darvocet just so can get some sleep, other than that strongest thing I take is Tylenol Arthritis caplets and I work sometimes 10 or 11 hour days. I know that it needs surgery and am working toward having just that because I am not going to be depending on a pain med to go thru the rest of my life. I'm much older than you are and I deal with it, you can also.
Answer by Doctor J
Hi Marc. I am a retired Chiropractor.
First, you need to understand that Vicodin (or any pain med) will NOT cure the cause of your pain. So, pain meds are not effective treatment, but only temporary pain masking care.
Suggestions:
1) a neurological evaluation by a good Neurologist
2) an evaluation by a different Chiropractor. Chiropractic is a highly skilled form of health care. There is a wide range of skills amongst Chiropractors (just as there is a wide range of skills amongst medical doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc.). Finding a different Chiropractor, one with better treatment skills, may be worth the time and effort. Note, if any Chiropractor's treatment is going to be effective, you will begin to see some improvement in the first 2 to 3 weeks. Long term treatment may be necessary, but some improvement should be seen fairly quickly. It is unreasonable for ANY type of treatment to continue for long periods of time if the patient is not responding to it.
3) evaluation by an Occupational Therapist may also be helpful in guiding you in managing your work activities.
Best wishes and good luck.
Answer by Douglas B
I suffered with back pain for over 30 years but was finally able to get rid of the pain and have been living an almost normal life since. Back pain and the disc herniation that you have are both caused by one thing, pinched muscles in your back, the muscles are pulled so tight they wreck the space between the vertebrae. Once you release your back muscles you will be rid of the pain and your back will at least let you perform the way you should be. I can't tell you how the disc are going to react with no pressure on them but it has to be better than letting them remain trapped where they are. Getting out of pain is going to be better than where you are right now. Here is how to release the muscles in your back as well as the lumbar back for that may be needed as well:
Back:
(do from a sitting position)
Place your left hand on your left leg next to your body. Place your right hand over your left shoulder and find the muscles next to your spine and firmly press on them and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your body forward and to the outside of your left leg, keeping your left arm fairly straight as you do. When you reach your lap remain there for another 10 seconds, release the pressure but rest there for another 30 seconds. Then reverse your hand positions and do your right side.
Lower Back, Lumbar:
While sitting place your hands behind your body just above the buttocks and press in on the muscles next to the spine and hold. After 30 seconds slowly lower your self forward as far as you can. Then release the pressure but hold your body there for another 30 seconds. Move a few inches down and do it again and keep repeating until you reach the end of your tailbone.
For best results relax your body first by taking a deep breath and exhaling then remain this relaxed.
What do you think? Answer below!
Orignal From: I need advice on how to talk to my doctor about pain.?
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