Chronic Pain

Hello everyone; I am a 26 year old girl from Milwaukee, WI. I have been seeing a pain doctor for over a year due to several accidents I was in that caused me a great deal of constant pain. Previously I had been seeing my ordinary Doctor who I felt didn’t believe how much pain I had been in; and would only prescribe me Tramadol; (which wasn’t working for me what-so-ever).

Fast forward…I was in another accident August 2008; and April 2009; and have even more constant pain. I am currently on a ton of pain meds...Morphine, Percoset, and Tramadol; as well as Trazodone to help me sleep. The Morphine is an extended release, and Percoset I am supposed to take every 4-6 hours for breakthrough pain; and the Tramadol I’m supposed to take two every eight hours. For most people this would be an immense amount of drugs. But I am still in so much pain; and they have yet to find anything wrong with my back. Recently my Dr. Prescribed “Opana” to replace my Percoset because I expressed how it wasn’t working for me. The Opana did nothing for me; in fact; I felt withdrawal symptoms after I stopped taking the Percoset. This weekend I was in so much pain I had to go to the Emergency Room; and they gave me two shots of Diludid; and then they gave me a shot of Demerol. It did NOTHING for me. I was in more pain when I left the hospital because they left me lying in this horrible hard bed for over 5 hours; they just left me ROT. The Doctor said to me, “This amount of pain meds would make someone pass out and go to sleep”. I said to him; “I’m still in a LOT of pain”. He then prescribed me PERCOSET; (what doesn’t work for me); and told me to take TWO every 4 hours. It’s not working for me. I laid in so much pain all day today; missed work; (again).

I am currently undergoing “prolo-therapy” with my doctor; but I have only had one treatment so far; and I know it will take more treatments then that to yield a response. I’m just soooo frustrated….all these drugs that are no good for my body and I’m in so much pain still. I feel like kicking them all to the curb and figuring out a way to try to deal with this some other way! At least then maybe I will be able to keep my liver & other organs down the road.

I guess what I am hoping for by joining this community is support…which I have already gotten somewhat by reading all these posts. It's comforting to know that I am not the only one who deals with this daily. My mom gets ANGRY with me, she wants a ROOT cause and I DON’T HAVE ONE. I don’t know why I have such horrible pain! I know the accidents are what started it and made it worse; but they haven’t found any serious conditions; (I have had MRI’s and many X-rays). People who have not had all this pain just don’t get it…and it’s nice to have some people who do. I’m also hoping maybe some people will provide me with options; or ideas…I feel like if my drugs aren’t working for me; why isn’t my doctor prescribing me something different; unless maybe he doesn’t trust me. I feel like he does trust me; but then why wouldn’t he give me something else?? Maybe it’s time for another opinion. ANY suggestions; support; etc. would be greatly appreciated. I also wanted to mention…that I had some great friendships before my pain; and I feel like they have fallen apart! I missed my Best Friends B-day party yesterday because I was at the ER; and I told her this; and she barely responded to me. I have another friend who I just feel like our friendship isn’t the same at all. It’s really sad; and I would like some ideas from others for maybe saving these friendships….if they can even be saved.
Thanks in advance for any advice!

I am sorry you are experiencing so much pain, perhaps your pain doc can refer you to someone at Northwestern or University of Chicago, you are close enough, you need to find a cause, in order to attempt to treat the pain.
Don't give up, sometimes it takes along time to find the answers, then we aren't always happy with them, but we have an answer.
good luck

I am also in Milwaukee and seeing a pain specialist. I'm very happy with the one I'm seeing, and she has also referred me to a great neurologist at Froedert who is working with me. Is there a way to send a private message to you to give you a referral to my pain doctor? I suffer from chronic neck pain, and upper back pain. Herniated discs in neck and thoracic region, and also some in low back.

Yes, Catherine, you can send a private message. To send a private message to ChronicPainGirl, click on her name in blue at the top of her post. That will bring up a list of options. Choose the first one, "View ChronicPainGirl's Public Profile." When you get to her profile, click on "Send Private Message to ChronicPainGirl." That's all there is to it. She will get an e-mail messages telling her she has a message and giving her a link to the message. I'm so glad you have a pain specialist to suggest for her!

Good Afternoon Pain Girl

It's a plesure to meet you and Welcome to the Chronic Pain Connection. We are all happy that you've joined us and would love to hear from you as often or when ever your up for it.

We have a support Group in the off topic area, at the bottem of the main page. Everone is welcome to join us & participation is at your own choice. Many of us participate daily, and others just when they get around to it or need some help or suggestions on what to do with their situation.

Many of the members have been in pain for several years and have already been drug through the mill of doctors, specialist, tests, etc, just time find a diagnosis. So your not alone. There are many pain pts that it takes some time before a cause it found and others never do seem to get a definate diagnosis and all they can do is speculate on how or why it's happened to them.

Your meds are not all that different than the ones I take myself, so don't feel like your alone there either. I'm sorry that yours have not given you relief and I was also wondering if you've ever tried any of the anti-seizure or Fibromyalgia meds to see if they might help you. If your pain is a problem with nerves, you might find these others to be helpful, as many others do.

Well, I better try and move around some time today. I hope to see you at the Daily Grind, stop in and say hello, ask any questions or just join in anywhere your comfortable.
Nice to meet you & Welcome
Betty