re: norcos

[midnitefyrfly]

This in response to thread I posted earlier... I am not sure if I just keep adding to my own thread or if it is better start new each time. I got great responses with my initial post, but none when I replied to everyone. So here is the rest of my info regarding my concerns with norco and how to relieve pain....

I have complex causes of my pain... I have nerve pain because I had a 16 pound belt of skin removed from weightloss from my gastric bypass. Being a gastric bypass patient complicates things because I cannot take any form of ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, and tylenol does not work on inflammatory pain. Anyway, I was living with the nerve pain, not knowing it could be treated because traditional OTC pain meds didn't touch it. I am now on neurontin for it, and it really helps. I always had some degree of soreness in my back. I have scoliosis and some curvature of my spine to the side as well (can't remember the name) and then I hurt myself in a lifting incident. Lifted and turned and I felt this burning ripping pain immediately.

I had to go to the ER, I couldnt barely walk. They gave me pain meds, steriods and muscle relaxers. I could not take them all together, it made me to out of it to watch my kids. Like I said my Dr. increased the tramadol I was on for my stomach to accomodate my back.

After the first physical therapist was causing me more harm (pain) than good, I demanded an MRI.... they only focused on the injury area, but they were able to note a slight bulging disk, some degenerative stuff  and the scoliosis.

The physical therapist tried taping me all over with athletic tape and it just really messed me up. After switching Dr's and getting a new PT, she was able to do manipulations and found my sacroiliac joint is totally locked up. There is a difference in the length of my legs measuring over an inch. She is awesome and even though I hurt really bad the day or two after she adjusts me, we are seeing improvement every week.

I just don't know what to do about handling the pain. It consumes so much of my life. I have to do exercise to get out of bed, I have to take hot showers to relieve pain, I have to alternate sitting and standing constantly. I alternate heat and ice.

I didn't even make it the whole week. My husband gets 5mg vicodin for his plantar fasciatis, and I admit I took some of his. I finally got my script and gave him back some of mine to make up for the ones I took (he works on his feet 6 days a week) and now I am nervous about being short again.

I never thought twice about all these meds until I ran out and felt that horrible feeling. I got a referral for a pain mgmt/addiction specialist and I have to admit I am scared that he will make me quit cold turkey and i will feel horrible. I have soooo many responsibilities between school and 3 kids, I just don't know how I can suffer a really bad week and maybe a pretty bad month???

How do I know that my pain can be managed w/o the meds? after trying for a month to do all the things I already do, but w/o the pain meds? Is there ever a legitimate reason for pain meds? or are they just a crap shoot?

How do I know I have found a good Dr? I am on state insurance and a fixed income. I dont want my Dr. shopping to be confused for pill shopping. I also would like to go to a chiropractor, but of course my ins doesnt cover it and it is pretty expensive. I guess I have to take back my health and stand up for my rights as a patient. I really thought I was on the right track with the dose that I am on and the PT.

BTW I didn't file a police report because the reason my son's friend was staying with us is because her mom (my friend) went hospice and needed a few days to make arrangements. I didn't think any justice would be served because she wouldnt admit to me that she took them.

She also took my psych meds (risperidol) which I am on for Bipolar, so being without both psych and pain meds could have compounded things.

I just feel like Dr's want to hand out a quick fix and then don't  care what happens when you go home. They are quick to cover themselves.... I don't know why my dr. quit pain mgmt. Another patient of my PT had her pain mgmt discontinued suddenly by same dr. as me.

I want a Dr that evaluates my whole person and may give a bandaid for now (pain pills) but looks at long term care including healing, recovery, and avoiding these wicked withdrawals that happen from the meds the prescribe.

I'm worn out just from trying to explain it all, and anybody who reads this, probably knows more about me than any Dr. I have seen :(

[midnitefyrfly]

I did and I got no response.

[quitinoxys]

You should post this on your original thread as creating multiple threads can get confusing.