Chronic Pain ideas, can anyone help?

[bigperm20]

The problem is that they know almost as little about addiction today as they did 50 years ago.

They keep trying to "treat" the addiction epidemic through regulation; and in the case of illegal drugs- prohibition.

I have addicts in my family as well who have been clean and sober for years.

The way they describe it, drugs aren't the problem. The drugs are a "poor solution" to the problem. So what is the "problem"? It varies from person to person, but usually is a combination of heredity, mental illness, and spiritual issues. With work on the latter being the solution most of the time.

Yet our govt spends our tax dollars to lock addicts in prison, when a much smaller amount could be spent to help them learn how to live. Prisons are full of drugs, too. So they usually get worse/institutionalized.

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread. Just disenfranchised with the War on Drugs.

 

[stewball]

I use cold it helps and also have Lidocaine Gel the dr prescribed.

As far as long term pain relief, the tramadol & motrin works , using the hydrocodone for "breakthrough". When I wrote this post last night I was probably at a 10.


I really like the "rewards" system idea- and Xena will benefit!!! (she loves the idea and loves toy mice) I collect stickers, so hubby says every week I can get a sheet of stickers for my collection, if I got all my walking in.

I know some days are better than others, and I am seeing a pain specialist. Currently we are doing 100 mg tramadol & 800 mg motrin for standard, and 7.5 mg/325 hydrocodone for breakthrough pain. I don't have a history of addiction, so I can handle any narcotics, I just am not crazy about stuff like Oxy- it seems overkill.

Also, I was accused of being a drug seeker the other day because I said I thought i needed a hiugher dose of something. My nurse friend at church said that to me

Thanks for all the support here!! It's great to know I have people who understand. One of the most frustrating things is not being able to drive yet. I also miss work big time, and can't go back until the fall when school starts again.

Some friend. Tell her to try your pain and see how she gets on.

 

[stewball]

I really wanted to emphasize this part I put in bold:  it really helps to grit my teeth and get through that first half.  After that, the latter half doesn't seem so bad.  It's facing that whole 30 min head on that seems so hard.  I agree with everything else that everyone has said but as far as tackling the exercise, I really wanted to emphasize this point.

I'm sorry the nurse friend said that to you.  Pain is subjective and not all pain meds are equal.  What works like a charm for me might not touch your pain, and vice versa.  And as @bigperm20
mentioned, taking pain meds when you're at a 10 on a scale of 1-10 is almost useless.  Its HARD to get the pain back to a reasonable level.  Then throw in an ugly "drug-seeker" statement or fear of becoming addicted and you've got unmanageable pain.

A word on addiction to narcs:  I know people who were addicted to narcs and what they told me was they were addicted to a high that they get from the drugs, not pain relief.  So please take care of yourself and talk with your pain management team.  They know your situation best. 

I suffer from chronic depression. It's like being told to 'pull yourself together'!

 

[stewball]

Strengthening your leg muscles will help with the pain; if you have good muscle support it takes the pressure off of your joints (and hardware). So instead of thinking it hurts too much to walk, remind yourself that walking is going to help lessen future pain. 

Drugs sometimes help with pain but are not a good long-term solution for the rest of your life. You need to find real solutions that will help now and in the future.

If I were you, I'd also look closely at my diet and remove inflammation-producing foods such as dairy, wheat, processed foods, etc. Yoga and / or meditation would also very helpful, with the mind over matter approach (it works). Your body is at a disadvantage now, and needs all the help you can give, it's not going to go back to the way it was. But with work on your part you can end up even healthier than before the accident. Hope you figure it out.   

Aren't tomatoes and potatoes in that group of to be avoided foods?

 

[Norachan]

That's a nasty break! No wonder you are in so much pain.

I broke a few bones when I was a kid after I came of a horse. I was going to fast, the horse slipped on the mud and pitched me into a tree. Don't do that! It's really scary and painful.

A few things that worked for me were swimming, which allows you to exercise the muscles and improve your circulation without putting any pressure on the bones that are still knitting back together, and yoga. Yoga is great as you can start with the easy positions and gradually build up to the more difficult ones and it also helps you to "open" the joints that might not have been injured in the crash but, because you have changed the way you sit and walk because of the broken bones, are under increased pressure.

There are also breathing techniques which can help you manage pain.

Have a look online to see if there are any qualified yoga teachers in your area. Most yoga teachers are self employed, so you could negotiate having a one-on-one lesson at home tailored for your needs.

 

[nebula]

Hi Everyone

Again more great suggestions. I had a gym membership until my wreck that is now on hold. THey have a swimming pool AND hot tub Now, they also have water aerobics classes which I would do twice a week. I am going to reinstate my membership, if for nothing else- just to get access to the pool and hot tub (It is only $10 a month!)

I have lost over 100 pounds since my wreck and still losing! So I know that will help great too.

Also, a fellowship ankle specialist in Dallas may be able to see me, and think about a fusion because my regular orthopedic surgeon doesn't want to do it, so I am getting a second higher qualified opinion.

 

[peaches08]

I suffer from chronic depression. It's like being told to 'pull yourself together'!

I'm not sure what you're getting at with regards to my post.

 

[jodiethierry64]

Hi Everyone

Again more great suggestions. I had a gym membership until my wreck that is now on hold. THey have a swimming pool AND hot tub Now, they also have water aerobics classes which I would do twice a week. I am going to reinstate my membership, if for nothing else- just to get access to the pool and hot tub (It is only $10 a month!)

I have lost over 100 pounds since my wreck and still losing! So I know that will help great too.

Also, a fellowship ankle specialist in Dallas may be able to see me, and think about a fusion because my regular orthopedic surgeon doesn't want to do it, so I am getting a second higher qualified opinion.

Water is great for exercise with injuries, as long as it's a heated pool. I do that but be prepared when getting out of the pool. I can barely walk. You're weightless in water so when getting out you feel so heavy. When you have problems walking it does make it tricky. I'm surprised that your physical therapist didn't have you in pool therapy.

 

[peaches08]

 
Hi Everyone

Again more great suggestions. I had a gym membership until my wreck that is now on hold. THey have a swimming pool AND hot tub Now, they also have water aerobics classes which I would do twice a week. I am going to reinstate my membership, if for nothing else- just to get access to the pool and hot tub (It is only $10 a month!)

I have lost over 100 pounds since my wreck and still losing! So I know that will help great too.

Also, a fellowship ankle specialist in Dallas may be able to see me, and think about a fusion because my regular orthopedic surgeon doesn't want to do it, so I am getting a second higher qualified opinion.

That is incredible!  Terrific job and you should be so proud of yourself!

As far as water exercises, I think they are terrific non weight bearing exercises.  You may want to clarify with the doctors what they want you to do, weight bearing or non.  However, I wouldn't let that deter you from doing water exercises in addition to weight bearing exercises like walking...hey, that could be part of the rewards system too!  "I get to do water aerobics twice a week if I walk 30 min every day" or something like that.

 

[stewball]

I'm not sure what you're getting at with regards to my post.

Not your quote. What that nurse said about bring too needy regarding pain medication. People telling me to pull myself together. Sorry if I didn't explain myself properly. Ok?

 

[peaches08]

Not your quote. What that nurse said about bring too needy regarding pain medication. People telling me to pull myself together. Sorry if I didn't explain myself properly. Ok?

Gotcha.  The nurse friend wasn't very supportive of Nebula, and in that I'm familiar with injuries like Nebula's, I have no doubt that she's experiencing pain while trying to rehabilitate.  It's a terrible spot for a fracture.

 

[stewball]

Gotcha.  The nurse friend wasn't very supportive of Nebula, and in that I'm familiar with injuries like Nebula's, I have no doubt that she's experiencing pain while trying to rehabilitate.  It's a terrible spot for a fracture.

Gosh. I tbought I'd put my foot in it somewhere.

 

[peaches08]

Gosh. I tbought I'd put my foot in it somewhere.

Your post was confusing to me, so I mentioned that I didn't understand instead of making unnecessary and wrong accusations.  It's clear now, and I agree that the nurse friend could have handled things differently.  I know in my clinicals I've been very frustrated FOR my patients feeling so much pain, because they're afraid of asking for pain medication until they are at a 10 on a pain scale of 1-10.  They're afraid of becoming addicted, or afraid that I will think that they are addicted.  So people sit there in incredible pain because of nurses like this one.  It's so unnecessary and frustrating.  Yes, I believe in using distraction, guided imagery, music therapy, and anything else in conjunction with pain management.  But calling someone with an injury like this a "drug seeker" is pretty heartless. 

 

[bigperm20]

If you think that's bad, get a load of this: about a year ago I was in the hospital for a month and a half. I had a MRSA infection/abscess on my spine. I became infected from one of my epidural steroid injections. I almost died basically. I was in the worst pain I've ever experienced, and I've been through lumbar fusion surgery.

When I got out of the hospital, I went to fill my pain medication at Walgreens. I was on a high dose as I was in tremendous pain for a month and a half. The pharmacist accused me of "Doctor Shopping" b/c the specialists at the hospital were different doctors than my regular regular pain Management docs. He refused to call the hospital. He told me to leave and not come back. I was so shocked and in so much pain from standing so long, that I just left. Haven't shopped there since.

This is what our tax dollars (aka the DEA) are doing. Scaring healo care providers into becoming "police".

 

[oceanbreathes]

The whole pain med issue is frustrating for ALL those involved: doctors, nurses, and of course patients.  I've been that uncomfortable patient before, fearing I'd be labeled a "pill seeker."  I've always had a bad habit of downplaying my pain, too.  I've also known people who struggled with opiate addiction..

"I suffer from chronic depression. It's like being told to 'pull yourself together'!"  

Empathy for you as well!  I do, too.

 

[peaches08]

If you think that's bad, get a load of this: about a year ago I was in the hospital for a month and a half. I had a MRSA infection/abscess on my spine. I became infected from one of my epidural steroid injections. I almost died basically. I was in the worst pain I've ever experienced, and I've been through lumbar fusion surgery.

When I got out of the hospital, I went to fill my pain medication at Walgreens. I was on a high dose as I was in tremendous pain for a month and a half. The pharmacist accused me of "Doctor Shopping" b/c the specialists at the hospital were different doctors than my regular regular pain Management docs. He refused to call the hospital. He told me to leave and not come back. I was so shocked and in so much pain from standing so long, that I just left. Haven't shopped there since.

This is what our tax dollars (aka the DEA) are doing. Scaring healo care providers into becoming "police".

OMG!  I have to plead ignorant here, but is there nothing that you can do?  I would have called Walgreens corporate and made a stink about it.  I can certainly appreciate feeling so bad at the time that leaving was all that could be done at that moment.  I would think that the limits of liability are about 2 years, but I am no legal eagle so...?

 

[bigperm20]

I sent a nasty email to their corporate office. I would have pursued it further, but at the time I could barely get out of bed to bathe, cook, and clean. I really wasn't in the right frame of mind to go to war with Walgreen"s. I really doubt there's much that could be done, other than trying to get the guy fired. I was so upset about it, I just let it go. That kind of negative energy isn't good when you are very sick.

 

[red top rescue]

I think Colorado has the right idea.  MJ is not addictive and is really quite helpful with chronic pain.

 

[peaches08]

 
I think Colorado has the right idea.  MJ is not addictive and is really quite helpful with chronic pain.

Marijuana has it's own problems, like anything else.  I have never heard that it was not addictive, and have friends that feel that they simply cannot stop using it.

 

[Norachan]

 
Marijuana has it's own problems, like anything else.  I have never heard that it was not addictive, and have friends that feel that they simply cannot stop using it.

I think it's habit forming rather than addictive. Also taking anything deep into your lungs, tobacco or marijuana or whatever, is bad for your breathing. Having said that I think that it does have a lot of potential that hasn't been fully explored because it's seen as being a "drug" and therefore bad, as opposed to a medicinal herb.