Chronic Pain

Following the advice of friends, i am reaching out to a community of people with similar experiences...
my husband and best friend has had chronic pain for 5 years. he went through hell for 3 years trying to find a regime that balances his pain and his anti-anxiety. and that regime worked. he relearned how to walk, re-met and married me, started a record label... amazing things that doctors and friends said he'd never do. now the primary care doc is going to cut the meds. next week. so we have had appointments with surgeons (they can't do anything), massage therapists, acupuncturists, pain management specialists, and therapists... which of course affects his anxiety...
as his wife, partner, and best friend, i am watching him slip away from me. he, like others in posts i've read, lashes out at me, asks why he should even bother, etc... i am a pretty strong girl, but am worried that i won't be able to help him.
i don't anticipate getting anything but empathy and understanding here, but i'd also like to hear how others have dealt with the psychological side of the chronic pain. there are few people that have the kind of relationship my husband and i have. it's a gift and a blessing, and i would walk through fire in order to help him find peace...
thanks for reading my sap! i'm glad i found this place!

Hello

Its really nice to meet you and Welcome to the Chronic Pain Connection!

I'm really sorry about you & your husbands time of distress, it's so frustrating when we are on a good treatment plan and all of a sudden it's stolen out from under our selves.
I wish I knew why we had to go through these difficulties. Did your hubbies doc tell you guys why or what the problem was with his meds??

You & your husband must have an incredible relationship, it shows as it's not very often we find a spouse of a painiac searching the internet for answers or help for the one they love.
I know it's not easy to be married to one of us and you most certainly are a very strong young woman to stand by his side. It's truely a pleasure to meet you.

If or when you feel comfortable enuough to share a little more of your husbands situation and why his doctor seems to be backing out of his treatment. Then I might be able to offer some more idea's, suggestions and thoughts.

If you'd rather communicate privatly, your welcome to send me a private message by clicking on my name by my icon and then click on the invite to private discussion to send me a message.
Otherwise, if you could share a little more then that might help for us to offer suggestions.

Welcome & Take Care
We are here to help you
Gentle Hugs
Betty

Thanks for the welcome, Betty...
Basic facts of my husband's condition:
he has two herniated discs, a pinchd sciatica, numbness and neropathy on the right side of his body, limited range of motion in his neck, and a generalized anxiety disorder and PTSD on top of it. It's all connected: when he has pain, his anxiety goes through the roof, then he stresses out with the anxiety and blows up his back muscles, and he has debilitating pain... we had it all balanced on a regime of norco, an anti-anxiety med, and flexeril... then the primary care PA we were seeing moved to a new doctor in the practice, and he said he wouldn't allow her to refill the norco or anti-anxiety anymore. He never saw my husband, didn't read his chart, didn't talk to us or anything, just called at 5:30 on a Friday and told us we had two weeks' worth left, and then we were done.

we live in the suburb of a major metropolitan area where the doctors are in a good ol' boys system, and getting an appointment is like pulling freakin teeth. so our fear is now we appear to be drug-seeking because we made multiple appointments within a two week period just trying to get someone to understand and agree to help. so far (a week into it) we've hit brick wall after brick wall. we have 7 days left.

i appreciate the welcome, and was looking forward all day to coming back to the site to check in: something to look forward to.

thanks so much...

Hello again MMBF

Awe! This is a very distressing situation and my heart goes out to you both. Doctors normally give a 30 day notice and this is just rediculous that the new doctor will not help or honor the PA's previously established patient care.
I'm sure you've already asked to see another doctor in that same clinic and you mentioned that your hubby has already been to pain clinics, I know it's really hard to get into another doctor once your a pain patient. I think that they all say they don't treat pain or dispense opiate pain relievers over the phone when your trying to make an apt and your right, it really is tough once your out hunting for a new doctor.

Here is a link to the American Pain Foundations Resource locator, try the different points of interterst that could possibly help you. http://www.painfoundation.org/ResourceLocator.asp

Once your over at the APF website, you might want to even call their offices and they can possibly direct you to another patient advocacy group, as they have one of their own called "Power over Pain" and they too might beable to help.

If you have any questions or even want to talk more about your situation. We are here for you and your not alone anymore in your quest for hubbies proper treatment.

Take Care, I'm here for ya and will do or find what I can to try and help you both.
Hugs
Betty