Back Surgery...

[davbrucas]

Regardless whether you want to admit it, Eric, you have been suffering from depression since the divorce. Until you seriously address that, you will continue in the rut you're in.
Start with swimming or cycling 3 times a week. Change your diet. Add in weight training (light weights) and progress from there. You'd be amazed at how much your back pains will improve if you strengthen your core muscles.

I did not go into pain management or other primary care (chronic disease management) specialty for a reason...99% of these patients are the histrionic, woe-is-me types.
Unfortunately, EMTALA says I have to see these patients when they come to the ER.
I've met you and know you're in that 1%, but most of your chronic pain posts on here come across otherwise.

Has it occurred to you that sometimes people exaggerate because they haven't been taken seriously when they've needed relief in the past? That being said, I'm sure you've seen all kinds of crazy shit from people, but at the opposite end of the spectrum, I've seen all the bad shit from the patient side. The whole thing is beyond frustrating, you just basically can't win. I've been fairly fortunate all things considered, but it really drives me mad to see what others go through when just a bottle of pills could change their life, but their practitioner says no.

I'm having a pretty bad day today, too. Stabbing pain in my lower right rear flank. Shoulder blades are achy, neck is tight like normal. I think I slept a bit wrong last night, and the weather isn't helping either. Meds are barely even touching it. And I have to jump through hoops to get those meds. The only time I really notice the hydro any more is the morning, when it's been a long period since I've taken it(the hot tub in the AM helps as well, it's a combined effect). That, and when I suddenly realize I've got about two minutes before I better get to bed because I'm hardly able to keep my eyes open. Before that I was having a pretty good week, though I always start deteriorating towards early to mid afternoon.

Hell, knowing my history a bit while we're talking, do you have any advice aside from me needing to drop this sedentary weight I've put on? I don't want to put on too much because by default you'll have to start hating me!! This has been a good convo, feels good to talk about all this shit and get rid of some of my frustration about the medical field, even if we don't completely agree about everything.

[davbrucas]

And herein lies the problem. The people who are in chronic pain are also "gaming for some dope" to put it down straight. Because they want to stop hurting. They will use many of the same phrases. They may even mention a drug specifically, that they've had good luck with in the past, which is about the worst thing you can do. "Oh my god, he knows the name of a common pain killer! His last name must be Escobar!"



I mean how absurd is it that we have the capabilities to take care of people but then hold it over their head, or even worse, deny them altogether? It's awful. It takes away their humanity. It's humiliating as hell going into a doctors office with chronic pain, because you know all the shit they're thinking, and all you want to be able to do is live your life. Every time I leave my doctors office, I feel like I'm being let out of an interrogation cell. And for the most part, I don't even have trouble with these people! I can only imagine what horror stories are going on out there that aren't in the general publics purview.

I did not go into pain management or other primary care (chronic disease management) specialty for a reason...99% of these patients are the histrionic, woe-is-me types.
Unfortunately, EMTALA says I have to see these patients when they come to the ER.
I've met you and know you're in that 1%, but most of your chronic pain posts on here come across otherwise.

[black2002ls]

On the chronic pain, my last script was a 3 mo supply of Tramadol. Well, a script for 30 pills with 2 refills. This was before the classification change. That script lasted me a year and a half. When I asked for a refill, the doc basically said it was too much trouble. I would only take it when I had a flare up, which wasn't very often.

[black2002ls]

Has anyone had an artificial disk replacement. I know they had some trouble with them back in the early 2000's just wondered if they have perfected it.

I have an L5/S1 Herniated disk with sciatica

I believe there is another thread here on the board that goes in depth on this. I can't remember the board member talking about it though

[Tx Redneck]

And herein lies the problem. The people who are in chronic pain are also "gaming for some dope" to put it down straight. Because they want to stop hurting. They will use many of the same phrases. They may even mention a drug specifically, that they've had good luck with in the past, which is about the worst thing you can do. "Oh my god, he knows the name of a common pain killer! His last name must be Escobar!"

I mean how absurd is it that we have the capabilities to take care of people but then hold it over their head, or even worse, deny them altogether? It's awful. It takes away their humanity. It's humiliating as hell going into a doctors office with chronic pain, because you know all the shit they're thinking, and all you want to be able to do is live your life. Every time I leave my doctors office, I feel like I'm being let out of an interrogation cell. And for the most part, I don't even have trouble with these people! I can only imagine what horror stories are going on out there that aren't in the general publics purview.

I couldn't have said this better myself. The Dr's, in far too many cases, treat you like a fiend for needing meds to function day to day. Hell, I can't take the stuff that so many can that tend towards addiction, it makes me ill. The strongest oral pain killers I can take us tramadol/ultracet.

[Mike]

I'm curious about this too as I have l4l5 and l5s1 herniated.

Have you tried hitting yourself?

[Tx Redneck]

Has anyone had an artificial disk replacement. I know they had some trouble with them back in the early 2000's just wondered if they have perfected it.

I have an L5/S1 Herniated disk with sciatica

I'm curious about this too as I have l4l5 and l5s1 herniated.

[black50]

Has anyone had an artificial disk replacement. I know they had some trouble with them back in the early 2000's just wondered if they have perfected it.

I have an L5/S1 Herniated disk with sciatica

[slow99]

Can you show them an MRI? "Yeah, this doesn't look like it hurts at all."

With that said, 9.5/10 "chronic pain" patients that come into my ER are gaming for some dope...

I look them all up on the national narcotic database and they have 5-7 narcotic/benzo Rx per month (30-90 pills each) from 4-5 different providers. Not happening.

And herein lies the problem. The people who are in chronic pain are also "gaming for some dope" to put it down straight. Because they want to stop hurting. They will use many of the same phrases. They may even mention a drug specifically, that they've had good luck with in the past, which is about the worst thing you can do. "Oh my god, he knows the name of a common pain killer! His last name must be Escobar!"

I mean how absurd is it that we have the capabilities to take care of people but then hold it over their head, or even worse, deny them altogether? It's awful. It takes away their humanity. It's humiliating as hell going into a doctors office with chronic pain, because you know all the shit they're thinking, and all you want to be able to do is live your life. Every time I leave my doctors office, I feel like I'm being let out of an interrogation cell. And for the most part, I don't even have trouble with these people! I can only imagine what horror stories are going on out there that aren't in the general publics purview.

[davbrucas]

With that said, 9.5/10 "chronic pain" patients that come into my ER are gaming for some dope...

I look them all up on the national narcotic database and they have 5-7 narcotic/benzo Rx per month (30-90 pills each) from 4-5 different providers. Not happening.

[davbrucas]

I'm sorry...I refuse to write prescriptions to chronic pain patients. It's actually against most hospital policies...thankfully. It's like roadkill and buzzards. Once you start doing it, they ALL start showing up with their whiny, over-exaggerated complaints.

And I do not have much compassion to begin with...

I'm one of those "hardass doctors." But there's a reason I do not open a pain clinic...I cannot deal with the histrionics. Not worth the money.

I hope I never have to deal with chronic pain myself. I'm sure my views would probably change. But until then, you pussies "rub some dirt on it and get back to rowing with the rest of the slaves."

Have some compassion man. Peoples lives are hard enough without having their doctors basically stop just short of caustically calling them liars, because they're under pressure from the DEA. If you help ten people, but inadvertently write for one guy that is faking, isn't that worth the cost? You have no idea how grateful those ten people will be. It can literally change their entire life.

[Rick Modena]

But until then, you pussies "rub some dirt on it and get back to rowing with the rest of the slaves."

lol.








"The beatings will continue, until moral improves!"