Pain med dilemna

[JudyS]

I didn't really know where to put this, but I did have knee microfracture surgery and cleaning out a large amount of scar tissue in Dec and my knee still hurts so I picked this.

I had extensive back fusion surgery 4 weeks ago. While in the hospital the whole 10 days I was in excrutiating pain, never got below a 10. I did consider crawling to the emergency room even though I was an inpatient to see if I could get help there.

OK sent home with 60 10mg percocet tabs and directions to not take more than 4 in 24 hours. I was lucky if they lasted 3 hours getting my pain down to a 10. I was a little excited that it was finally below a 10or 12. My doc even said he thought my pain was a 15 in the hospital. I had some vicodin at home , took extra at times, but it ran out fast. My primary care doc gave me a prescription for 70 percocet 10 mg tabs up to 8 in 24 hours. When I filled his I did take the 8 for about 3 days, it really helped a lot.

Ok now when I saw my surgeon last week at just under 4 weeks and I am worried about running out we start a pain med conversation. I show him the bottle from my primary care. He only wants me to take 4 per day. Finally agreed for maybe a week I can take 6. REason is he is afraid I will become addicted . I have been taking them for several months, maybe even since June (hip replacement). I have been taking 4 a day, in pain most of the time as they run out so quickly if I take more and my pain was so intense I spent 10 days in tears. The last 4 with new seizures which I swear if heavy pain can bring them on that did it.

My dilemna. I think if I call my primary care he might give me the same script, not sure. How do I then go to see my surgeon at my next apt and tell him how many I am taking as I got a script elsewhere? Also they are friends and when I saw my primary care after I got out of the hospital he called my surgeon while I was there . It was a rather teasing phone call telling him he put me in so much pain and that he was giving me a prescription even though I already had one.


I sure hope this makes some sense adn I know a lot of you end up getting pain meds from primary care rather than surgeon so what do you say. My surgeon is a great guy. He went off BLue Cross (my insureance )at the end of 2007 I have had major surgery with him twice and never have to pay anything. Also for my many office visits just the regular co pay. He knows of my job loss and always tells me he will support me in any way . How do I show up taking more than he wants me to?

Thanks all
Judy
I think i am off to take a nap, I just took my bedtime meds instead of morning meds.

 

[Jamie]

Judy, my feeling is that you need to be up front and assertive with your surgeon. He flat out is putting a "maybe" worry of addiction above your well-being by permitting you to be at this level of pain. I think you need to be frank with him and tell him you cannot continue with the level of pills he wants and you may need to go elsewhere to your primary physician to take care of your pain management program. And if you need to, switch to your family doctor for that part of your recovery. It doesn't mean you wouldn't see your OS anymore, just that your family doctor will be prescribing pain meds. I do think both doctors would be unhappy if you obtained prescriptions from each of them and used them both. I don't know how you are functioning at all with the level of pain you describe. Maybe the two of them need to talk again too. But bottom line is...you need to look out for YOU and be assertive in your treatment. Tell the surgeon this just is NOT cutting it!

 

[Grandma]

Judy, I think I really understand where you are coming from.

This past Monday hubby and I drove (4.5 hrs) to the hospital for my Pre-Op stuff, and was hoping for and actual class situation where many of us would ask questions and go away feeling more optimistic about surgery and recovery.

What in fact happened was a one hour interview type appointment with the admitting clerk. She was very nice, however, was not able to say exactly what my particular Dr. would do or handle things such as catheters, pain meds, as she does all pre-op interviews not just orthopaedic ones. Off I went to normal pre-op blood work, x-rays etc.

My final interview was with the anaesthesiologist. She might as well have dumped a bucket of ice water over my head!

She absolutely freaked out over my current usage of Endocet (5mg/325mg) of 10 per day. She informed me I had no reason for such strong pain medications and certainly not that many per day and I should immediately stop taking the Endocet and start taking Tylenol Extra Strengh and that should do it. When I tried to explain that without taking 2 Endocet every 4 hours I could hardly function I was in so much pain and that even then I still had some pain but at least it was bearable. Her answer was that since Endocet was not taking the pain away I would be just as far ahead taking Tylenol X. She did relent to the point that if I wanted to I could take one (1) Endocet before bed to help me sleep through the night.

She made me feel like a total faker! Like I was making all this up just to get my hand on a narcotic drug! For Heavens sake, I am a 61 year old grandmother!!

I have been torn between anger at her and guilt on me needing such strong pain meds BEFORE surgery. Is this extra pain what happens when you put something off for 5 years after you’ve been told you are bone on bone just so I would be over 60 when I had it done

I tried to do what she told me to, I honestly did – but after 48 hours of shear agony and barely being able to walk even with my walker I gave up. I have gone back to the Endocet only 1 every 4 hrs. which is still a lot less then I like. I know it helps with the pain but sure not enough as I see it.

Now I am terrified about what will happen AFTER my TLKR which is Wed 18th Feb.

How do you fight a Dr. that might just refuse to give me enough pain medication to keep me comfortable enough to do all the exercises I need and want to do during my recovery.

Any suggestions would be so very appreciated. I’m sure I can’t be the only person to have this problem – it’s hard to argue with someone that is so much more educated and knowledgeable than me.

 

[calling_all_angels]

Judy,
I think Jamie said it all. It is wrong for anyone to allow you to be in pain!!!
I can not wait till one of your Doctors go throught any of the things that you have been through. I bet they would be singing a new tune then.
^i^

 

[JudyS]

Actually all my docs are great and understand pain and how much surgery causes except my spine doc. Well, he is great just has a problem with pain meds after surgery. I think he feels he fixes you and you should be better. He asked me last time if the pain level was better than before surgery. I had him repeat the question and of course answered no.
He really did try it all when I was in the hospital and even sent me for a CT incase he had broken anything in there.

I have an apt with my primary care doc this week. Seeing they are friends I will ask him what is up with my surgeon expecting you to be pain free after surgery. I will have him call my surgeon while I am there again too and have them figure out what is acceptable to prescribe. When I left my surgeon's office he did tell me it was OK to take 60 mg per day of percocet for a few more weeks.
I think I am just worrying about this so much due to my most painful hospital experience.

Hey the sun is shining, I'm going to take my dog for a walk later and see how long I last. So far 7 minutes is the record!!!
Judy

 

[calling_all_angels]

Judy,
Have a nice wlak with your Doggie, It is way to cold today to be out long. I will think of you being out in the sunshine.
^i^

 

[Weezy]

My GP has it right:

"No doctor has the right to say 'you shouldn't hurt that bad' or 'you don't need pain meds' or 'I don't want you getting addicted so I won't prescribe you pain meds' UNLESS and UNTIL he or she has gone through the exact same procedure--after having lived with the debilitating pain for decades."

I could have hugged her when she said that (and she also called my previous OS a couple of colorful names).

It is difficult speaking up about pain control, but Jamie is right. Hang in there and keep advocating for yourself!

Weezy

 

[Josephine]

Agree with all that has been said - be assertive and demand your rights. You have a right to be as pain-free as any meds will make you excluding the point of overdose, of course!

 

[Judles]

How was your doggie walk? I hope you didn't go out after taking your PM meds! This time you're probably more happy going for that walk than your pooch is! Be careful!!

 

[JudyS]

I went upstairs to take a shower. My back hurt to much so I lay down to rest for a few minutes. It ended up being over an hour. Then my 2 oldest who are currently in Germany for a few more days called. That was nice. Then my parents called. Now I am eating as I got pretty hungry. Have not made it outside yet. I will after eating my peanut butter and banana sandwich!!!
Judy

Unfortunately my pain meds do not really make me happy, just able to do a little standing or walking with pain at a 5 or 6 level!
So when we go doggie will be happier than me. I am timing it to see how long I can walk though!!!!
Judy

 

[Judles]

Judy,,,,,watch that peanut butter! And please take the right meds tonite! Hope you're feeling good!

 

[JudyS]

I took the dog all the way around the block. It hurt , but good to be outside. Good thing my knee still hurts after the scope, keeps me from walking to far until I see my knee/hip surgeon!!!

After this morning's attempt at 10 mg of percocet instead of 20, I took the 20 at 1pm and the 20 at 7pm so this evening I feel ok. I did also take 2 naps today and stayed home except for my trip around the block. So on 20 mg I can say my pain is a 4, the lowest ever.
My hip area is starting to ache more and more though!!!

I guess I still need to heal a lot!!!

Judy

 

[Judles]

Judy,,,,if it ain't one thing, then it's gonna be another! My hubby's been hacking all week, I finally drove him to the emergency room,,,it was bronchitis! He's the world's worst patient(he takes care of everyone & totally ignores himself,,,,grrrr!) but after he took such great care of me after my RTHR, Its my turn to give him tender loving care,, I used to call HIM nurse Ratchett!