Rick.Edwards@p0.f113.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Edwards) (02/02/90)
Index Number: 6549
[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet]
I have come to regret my previous stance on taking pain meds...
About 2 years ago, I heard there was going to be a release of some
medications to the OTC market...one of them named TYLENOL # 3
Waiting and waiting...no such development. SIGH...I then tired of
waiting, and went to verify what I had heard, wrote and called the
FDA, various pharmacies, and discovered no one knew nutten about
it...So apparently the individual had his facts wrong.
I'm seriously concidering moving to Mexico, where all this stuff,
and more is available legally without precription. I once was down
there and gobbled up about 2-3 dozen Talwins inside of a month.
It's about that time to pack it all up and move down there once
again, maybe to stay this time. Ah, truth be known, I hate it down
there, and what an excuse to go...sigh.
What can folks do in this situation? It's getting to me...had a
heart to heart convo with my doctor this evening, didn't have an
appointment, just showed up at his office, and told Genny (his
nurse) that I had to talk to somebody...she asked the doctor if he
could see me...He did. We yakked about 20-25 minutes, and he ended
up having the nurse give me 75 mg of Demerol and 25 mg of Vistaril,
and gave me a prescription for fifty 25 mg Elavil to take once a
day. I slept a lot after getting home, pain relief!! But that can't
be a habit...it is frustrating to want to help yourself and be
turned away due to lack of insurance (Have MEDICARE but won't cover
Pain Clinics) or money....
Feeling sorry for myself? Perhaps...perhaps I'm
frustrated,
I'm at a loss...feel sorta helpless and feeling not in control.
Tell me...what would YOU do....how do I handle this?
Thanks for listening.
...Rick
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!106!113.0!Rick.Edwards
Internet: Rick.Edwards@p0.f113.n106.z1.fidonet.orgJean.Prophet@f33.n135.z1.fidonet.org (Jean Prophet) (02/04/90)
Index Number: 6579 [This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet] > > Feeling sorry for myself? > Perhaps...perhaps I'm frustrated, > I'm at a loss...feel sorta helpless and feeling not in > control. Hey, hang in there .. !!! You sound a bit desperate (and depressed) .... You can always 'talk' to anyone HERE !!! (or in CHRONIC PAIN echo) .... I think everyone here is in some kind of pain and no one can feel what the other person is expierencing (espically me as I'm only a 'support' person). But I CAN listen, I CAN sympathize, I CAN be here for you to let your problems out to. I hear what you are saying and Buddy feels the same way at times ... Helpless, feeling not in control (I think that's the worst feeling he has), in pain and totally frustrated ... This is a BAD day ... Tomorrow will be better ... Just keep thinking that. Take care now, Jean -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!135!33!Jean.Prophet Internet: Jean.Prophet@f33.n135.z1.fidonet.org
Rick.Edwards@f113.n106.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Edwards) (02/12/90)
Index Number: 6652
[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet]
Thanks Jean for your message...
I has a question first....this echo is the Chronic_Pain
echo...at least thats how I have this area set up, and what I'm
recieving as "Chronic_Pain" from my distributor....Is this not
right? Is this coming into another echo? I recieved some replys
via netmail and each of them alluded to my message was in another
echo...as you did:
> (or in CHRONIC PAIN echo) ....
Anyhoo, that aside, I really appreaciate the messages that were sent
my way. I am feeling much better, and less depressed...gee, looking
back at the original message I wrote, yeah, I guess I did sound a bit
depressed...ouch.
I had a real bad day that particular day, and the pain was
overwhelmingly bad...Not that I have any major problems, just
the disabling arthritis affecting my upper back and ankles, the
muscles in the back were unrelenting in spasms and no relief was being
found in the excercises I do to help that from occuring. Pain in both
feet wouldn't allow me to walk without exquisite pain so it was tough
getting out and about...had surgery on both feet, unfortunately the
problem was made worse with the rt foot, and nothing can be done about
it, just have to learn to live with it....geez that made me mad, the
pain before the surgery was less than it is now. Esophageal spasms
have picked up, guess thats a lot to do with the tension of the back
and the frustration of not being able to move about without hurting.
But at least the spasms aren't as bad as they could be, as I hate taking
the Nitro-Stat.
> I hear what you are saying and Buddy feels the same
> way at times ... Helpless, feeling not in control (I think
> that's the worst feeling he has), in pain and totally
> frustrated ... This is a BAD day ... Tomorrow will be
> better ... Just keep thinking that.
Arrghhh....has Buddy ever seen an anesthesiologist for the control
of pain? In my search of pain clinics, (fruitless adventure) that would
accept Medicare, and discussing this with my physician, my physician
is now waiting on a call back on an inquiry he made, something to do
with a new area that the anesthesiologists are getting involved with,
something to do with "trigger point desensitization" or "blockades"
My doctor sounded optimistic, and well, I'm hoping it may be of some
help.
The Elavil seems to be helping, er, rather it makes me sleepy, so
maybe "today" I'm a bit more relaxed...but yechy feeling'd emotionally.
<dunno how to express that better>
I'm rambling, but did want to stop in and say thank you for your
message, Jean.
G'day
...Rick
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!106!113!Rick.Edwards
Internet: Rick.Edwards@f113.n106.z1.fidonet.orgGary.Bewell@f34.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Bewell) (02/12/90)
Index Number: 6653
[This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet]
RE> ...it is frustrating to want to help yourself and be turned
RE> away due to lack of insurance (Have MEDICARE but won't
RE> cover Pain Clinics) or money....
I was there too, but fortunately mine was a bit different.
What I did was write to the director of the Pain Clinic in
Seattle. Knowing that I was in Canada, the assistant director told
me that it was costly to go to them. He told me that I was welcome
to come down, but he would recommend that I see a doctor that had
trained with them and lived about 200 miles from my home.
Having nothing to lose I wrote the doctor. 2 weeks later I was in
and he started treatment. He was definitely unique among doctors.
If he wanted me to come up to do testing, he would pay for my
transportation and accomodations. He tried everything he could
think of but nothing worked well enough. So at the end of a year,
he sent me to a pain clinic that was covered by Medicare (this was
in Canada.)
Mid-way through this I lost my pension. I had been using hypnosis
during this same period. It was giving me relief without the nasty
side-effects of painkillers and anti-depressant drugs. With no
money I had to stop seeing my hypnotherapist.
I thought about my predicament. I decided that there was nothing
to lose by contacting my provincial board of mental health. They
recommended that I contact the local university and see if any
students were working with hypnosis or biofeedback. I phoned up
the department of Education Psychology and talked to a prof. One
of his graduate students was working with biofeedback. He referred
me to the student and short afterwards I began using biofeedback
for lessening pain (at no cost). The student also made me a couple
of custom-made relaxation tapes for free.
Now I don't know if you are near a university or a training
hospital. If you are it would be well worth your effort to see if
someone there is doing research in pain control.
Personally I am anti-drugs. They tend to end up controlling me and
I hate the coming off the addictive ones.
Anyway this might help you. I at least hope so. Feel free to
write if you have questions or are feeling down.
Gary
# Origin: Total Perspective Vortex, Calgary, AB
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!34!Gary.Bewell
Internet: Gary.Bewell@f34.n129.z1.fidonet.orgJean.Prophet@f33.n135.z1.fidonet.org (Jean Prophet) (02/12/90)
Index Number: 6654 [This is from the Chronic Pain Conference on Fidonet] > it, just have to learn to live with it....geez that > made me mad, the pain before the surgery was less than > it is now. Esophageal spasms > have picked up, guess thats a lot to do with the > tension of the back and the frustration of not being > able to move about without hurting. > But at least the spasms aren't as bad as they could > be, as I hate taking the Nitro-Stat. You know, Buddy said exactly the same thing ... He wishes that he never had to have the surgery .... He also has Esophagel spasms .... Never knew anyone else that expierenced that problem ... The doctor 'played down' this and we thought it was just some side effect .... Doesn't happen all the time - but sometimes he has a terrible time swallowing ... He says it's like something is 'caught' in his throat and it won't go down. > > Arrghhh....has Buddy ever seen an anesthesiologist > for the control > of pain? In my search of pain clinics, (fruitless > adventure) that would > accept Medicare, and discussing this with my > physician, my physician > is now waiting on a call back on an inquiry he made, > something to do with a new area that the > anesthesiologists are getting involved with, > something to do with "trigger point desensitization" > or "blockades" Yes, he has had 3 'nerve blocks' .... not a very pleasant thing to go through ... and it really doesn't help. He doctor wasn't very optimisted about them as he said most of the pain was 'sympathic pains' (whatever that means) so the nerve blocks really wouldn't help much. (and he was right ... they didn't really work !!). > I'm rambling, but did want to stop in and say > thank you for your > message, Jean. We all ramble on and on a little .... but it's sure nice to kind others in the same boat .... At least you don't feel like you are completely 'different' and all by yourself !!! Jean -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!135!33!Jean.Prophet Internet: Jean.Prophet@f33.n135.z1.fidonet.org
Tim.Watts@f1045.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Tim Watts) (02/12/90)
Index Number: 6655
Rick,
I can understand where you are coming from. My pain originates
from degenerative arthritis, and several other problems. My Doc has
prescribed Talwin 50mg IV every three/four hours. While it doesn't
make me pain free, it at least makes it bearable. Sometimes you have
to say, the hell with addiction, I need the medication. As long as
you don't start overmedicating yourself, it can be kept under control.
I too have medicare, however my SSDI income is low enough that I qualify
for Federal Medicaid administered by the State Departmet of Health
and Mental Hygiene, which picks up the cost of the medicare premiums,
"spend downs - e.g. deductibles, and covers 100% the cost of prescription
medication, however, the State demands generic where generic is available.
When I find that the generic is not adequate, the Doctor has to write
a justification for dispensing the brand name. They kick and squabble
about the costs ($55.18 per day X 365 days. See if you are eligible
for federal medicade. If I can help you any more just give me a buzz.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1045!Tim.Watts
Internet: Tim.Watts@f1045.n261.z1.fidonet.org