OK, so I have been getting Norco from my doctor - 120 10/325's a month for my back - I honestly have moderate facet arthropathy in my L4 L5 and L5 S1 - had an MRI proving it a year and a half ago. I literally have pain 24/7. Well, as you all know, after a while, the meds start NOT WORKING as well after a while, and I'm a bartender, so it's not the best job for a bad back. OK, please don't judge... I know this is stupid of me to have done this... Well I had signed a pain management contract w/ my DR, but my dumb A$$ decided to go to my old doctor and get more pain meds because they weren't working as well. I tried nudging my Dr for more or different meds but he said I'm too young to top out on the meds. (he is right, but I didn't care, I just wanted to be out of pain). WELL.... after 2 months of doing that, I got a call from BOTH Dr offices - they chewed me out and asked who I wanted to stick with, that I couldn't "Dr Shop" - Duh... so I chose to stay with the Dr I have the contract with. BUT I know he's gonna chew me out when I see him... what the heck kind of good excuse can I give him as to why I did that? If I tell him they're not working well, then he will stop giving them to me. I was thinking of saying someone I knew was sick and didn't have insurance so I helped them? I'm so scared to go see him now - I feel like such a lame a$$ for doing that, but I have to face the music sooner or later... any ideas?
People in pain will do things that those without pain can never understand. Tell him that and if doesn't work turn on the tears. Have you tried a chiropractor? I asked this not knowing what you said meant.
I don't think telling your doc that you gave away your meds is going to fly. He will just have you pegged as a rec. user I think that if you say the drugs aren't working, the doc won't take them away maybe think about physical therapy or acupuncture
Thank you - I've been to physical therapy, chiropractors, all kinds of massage, etc. and nothing helps - and now the meds aren't helping as much at all, and I'm super afraid to tell him that because I signed a contract saying that I wouldn't do what I did. So geez... I dunno what to do now. You're right about saying I gave them away, looking at it from an outsiders point of view, it does sound lame. See I've asked him so many times, "is there ANYTHING ELSE that will help me, preventative, vitamins, etc." because now my left leg from the knee down and the top of my foot is constantly half asleep, and he just says "only surgery will fix it and you're too young, here's your script". So maybe I could tell him I was thinking of changing doctors because I wasn't getting anywhere with him? Or I wanted to try someone elses point of view? And they just gave me meds too? Arrgh! Thank you guys so much - you all ROCK here so much! Happy 420 btw
You may just be forestalling the inevitable ,then. Mine got so bad ,I had surgery on it back in '74. Still had to see a chiropractor after the surgery. May be time. But ,make sure you are not in some podunk hospital if you decide you can't take it anymore. Use a big time surgeon by checking them out. Nurses will tell you the truth about surgeons. Good luck and I'm sorry you're in pain. People without back pain---just have no way of knowing.
Well my Dad just had back surgery 2 years ago - they cut him 8 inches in front, and 8 inches in back, a vertical cut and replaces 3 of his fused disks with titanium and I saw what he went through and my Lord I don't want to do that. Plus what I have is degenerative and Dr says if I have surgery now, I'll have to have it done again later too - Thing is, I'm 36 and Dr says my back is in the shape of a 65 yr old ex football player. Arthritis runs in my family, both sides, my younger brothers are having back pain now too - just sucks. Sorry to hear about your back Scratcho - that's horrible. Thank you for the advice. Wish I could just find someone that isn't a doctor to get this stuff from - then I wouldn't get in trouble if I needed a few more a day to get me through. I just don't know how to find "those people" - I guess I need to make an appt with my dr soon and face the music and the arse beating he's going to give me - When the nurse called me she said "you know he can report you for this, but he's not going to this time, if you stick with him we will continue your narcotic treatment" - I just don't wanna go face him!!!!!!!! Gonna have to take a damn xanax before the visit so I don't barf on him - Thanks guys!!
also, you might want to check this out Curing Arthritis Naturally with Chinese Medicine http://bluepoppy.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=370&ParentCat=33
Acupuncture you think will help? I haven't tried that. But I will look into it for sure. I guess where my nerves come out at the facet joints, they're being pinched or crushed or something because the bottom half of my left leg has been half asleep for 5 months now - when I stand up, my lower back slides and pops in or out of alignment. I remember I went to the mall w my fiance and I couldn't even walk through the mall because I was in so much pain, I would sit down as soon as I had a chance, luckily we were shoe shopping, so chairs were available. But I'm 36! This just isn't right. But as soon as I pop 2 norco's - I'm fine. And they don't work unless I take 2 or 3 of them. Ughh! I run out early because they just don't work the same anymore.
This is a situation where honesty is probably the best policy. Just say you were in pain, the current meds weren't doing the job and you wanted a second opinion. Whatever you do, don't tell him you were trying to get another prescription to give away. For one thing, he probably wouldn't believe you, and for another, it's illegal. He'd probably take you off narcotics altogether. I have a similar problem with my back due to deteriorating discs. I mean, I tried everything. Physical therapy, rest, weight loss, ice, heat, a back brace, epidural injections and several different medications. Finally I had surgery. A spinal fusion, which didn't work. So I'm basically on vicoden permanently. Surgery of this type is a big deal, so consider it only as a last resort.
Happydude_60 sounds about right. Tell him that your current treatment hasn't been adequate, and you needed to find another way to deal with the pain. He's the doctor, it's his responsibility to keep you pain free. Just make sure you're effectively communicating your level of pain to him. If he still won't switch your meds or up the dose then you need a new doctor.
You know what... you guys are RIGHT! SO RIGHT. I've asked him SEVERAL TIMES and he never has a decent answer for me. And over the last year, I see him every 3 months - I have NO insurance, so I pay $80 for a visit - I ask him for Compazine to control the nausea when I take the pain meds, and EVERY SINGLE TIME he says, YES NO PROBLEM - but when I get out of there I realize there's not compazine on the script - so I call the office, and they say "Nope you have to come in AGAIN FOR A VISIT for him to prescribe it to you" - and I tell them I WAS JUST THERE, and they say, "oh well, sorry, make another appt" - That kind of stuff really irks me bad with his staff and with him - but still isn't an excuse for going to another doctor after signing a contract - but you're right - I'll just tell him, DUDE, I'm in a LOT of freakin pain and sometimes I need more than 4 a day, not all the time, but sometimes it's so bad I can't stand for more than 10 minutes and I'm a bartender, what do we do all day? Stand!!! And happydude - I am SO sorry to hear about your back - sounds like this will be an uphill battle for the rest of my life. Yay, thanks Mom and Dad for the great genes! J/K!! Thank you all, really, I truly appreciate it And thank you for saving me from further embarrassment by coming up with an "excuse" for what I did - Imma just tell him "Look, I've got no insurance, I can't afford the injections, physical therapy, so this is the only thing people offer me that actually works, and sometimes 4 a day isn't enough" - and I will apologize and pray - He's a nice guy by nature, so hopefully he doesn't rack me too hard. Definitely taking a 2mg xanax before that appt!! Fo sho! Yikes. Hugs to you all! oxoxo
