Posts Tagged Doctor
What will my pain management doctor do next?
Posted by admin in Clinic Management on May 11, 2012
Question by ♫Orion’s Mommy♫: What will my pain management doctor do next?
I’ve been to a pain management doctor for my scoliosis and the first visit he put me in a physical therapy program and gave me a script for some patches. The PT made my back worse if it did anything at all and the patches dont work. He said I was too young for pain killers but I need them badly. Whats the next step? if the pt and patches didnt work will he reconsider pain killers?
Best answer:
Answer by Jodie75
Ask him again in a very mature way, no pleading or whining.
Tell him he ought to give you a chance, and if necessary, you’ll even submit to random urine tests to prove you’re not going to abuse the medication. Tell him your quality of life is suffering, you’re no longer able to enjoy social activities or babysit or work at whatever part time job you have. Tell him your sleep is suffering. Tell him you’re simply willing to do whatever it takes – you’ll comply – for him to give you a chance. Say you deserve a chance.
I understand what you’re going through, sweetie. I have serious chronic pain myself – nerve damage from lupus – as well as several kidney infections every year from a complication of a birth defect I was born with. I’ve been battling with doctors for years over pain management issues. It makes me absolutely furious when I’ve been treated like nothing more than a drug seeker.
Unfortunately, for everyone of us genuine sufferers of chronic pain, there are a hundred people who fake pain and/or injure themselves to get pills, people who “doctor-hop” to get multiple prescriptions, and people who try to get prescriptions so they can sell the drugs on the street. These assholes have ruined it for people like us.
I had given up long ago to try asking for pain medication. Unfortunately, I started drinking too much to numb the pain, and overdosed daily on Tylenol (like 12-20 per day, and you know you don’t get high on Tylenol). I knew I was likely doing serious damage to my liver, but I didn’t care. I cared more about my quality of life (which means having less pain and not begging god to kill me every day) than I did about quantity of life. In other words, I would take 2 years of living with less pain over living many years with severe pain every day.
I finally ended up in the hospital with acute pancreatitis, and I told them the truth of what I had been doing. Finally they took me seriously, and did a rush order on getting me into the pain clinic at the hospital. Later, my family doctor apologised to me for not helping me better. He had given me a real bad attitude before.
So now I’m on good painkillers, and they are strictly controlled. I did the same things I advised you to say to your doctor. He was nervous, especially that I had now created a past with alcohol abuse (by the way, I don’t believe I’m an alcoholic, no matter what anyone says. But I don’t drink much now, anyway).
So anyway, I empathise. It is horrible being looked down on by condescending doctors. I have always wished that every doctor have to experience a day of the pain people like you and me suffer. They would quickly get the point.
good luck.
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Can someone recommend a pain clinic or doctor in the Denver Area? Advice for severe pain?
Posted by admin in Clinic Management on May 5, 2012
Question by : Can someone recommend a pain clinic or doctor in the Denver Area? Advice for severe pain?
I’ve been suffering from back pain for a couple of years and it has become extremely intense in the past year. My husband lost his job so we lost our insurance, so I’ve been going to a clinic for the past year. Luckily, he found another job that he’s been working at for about 2 months now and our insurance is about to kick in. I was wondering if someone knows of a good doctor in Colorado. I’d really like to find someone who is caring and compassionate.
It started during my second pregnancy and went away a couple months after the birth of my son. Then it returned when I was pregnant with my 3rd child and got rapidly worst. After my daughter was born it just continued to get a lot worst. I had an MRI and was told I had Degenerative Disc Disease. I’ve been able to get a little physical therapy, unfortunately not a lot due to the lack of insurance. The pain has now spread to my hip. I don’t know if the pain in my hip is connected to the back pain or if it’s something completely different. But I’ve started having a hard time walking and try really hard not to leave the house because I’m so scared of having a pain attack out in public. I’m only 28 years old and have developed horrible depression from being in so much pain. I have kind of gotten used to the constant pain and have been able to manage it with pain meds, unfortunately the pain attacks are so intense I haven’t been able to get relief. I took percocet for the pain and then the doctor added extra oxycodone in addition because after 8 months I became tolerant, plus the pain increased. She recently suggested prescribing oxycontin but I’d prefer not to go that route. I’m hoping with insurance and physical therapy I can start getting relief and wean off the narcotics. I also take muscle relaxers and naproxen, plus anti-depressants. She also put me on Lyrica. I’m having some bad side affects but I’ve only been on it for a few days so I’m hoping they get more mild, I haven’t noticed a difference in the pain yet. I’ve also tried marijuana but didn’t really feel it helped me too much, maybe to be able to sleep at night. I’ve tried ice packs, hot baths, icy hot, tiger balm, ibuprofen, herbal teas, juicing, deep breathing, meditation. Flexeril completely knocks me out so I had to stop taking it.
I’d like to find a doctor who will help me get better control of the pain and give advice on what I can do other then just keep taking more pills. I’ve been doing yoga and stretching but I’m still having a lot of pain. I’d like a doctor who isn’t opposed to painkillers either. I’m hoping to find other ways to get pain control, but untill that happens I have a 3 year old, 2 year old, and 8 month old with a husband who works 75 hours a week and absolutely no one to help me. So I need to have some kind of pain management. I was told I’d never be completely pain free, but I just want to be able to take my kids to the park, and zoo, do normal housework and stop feeling like a complete failure as a wife and mother. It’s really hard for me, I used to play all these sports and run 8 miles a day, even completing marathons, now I can barely make it up the stairs without tears. So if you know of a good doctor, please let me know. Or if you have any advice, I would really appreciate it. Acupuncture, supplements, stretches, I will be grateful for any advice. Thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by juliefannin@yahoo.com
Hi,
I know how you feel although I don’t have children, my spine was injured before I was able to have them. That knocked my dreams away permanently. I know how hard you can be on yourself, I’ve done it too, but that pain is real and as I’m sure you would agree you wouldn’t wish it on anyone and would do anything to be ‘normal’ again. So you have to stop thinking of yourself as a failure! You’re not doing yourself any favors by thinking that way.
I can’t help with any suggestions for a doctor since I don’t live in that area. What I will suggest is to go ahead and give the oxycontin a try. It gave me my life back (to a degree, I have really severe spine problems). I’ve been through 3 surgeries, 1 laminectomy, 1 spine fusion, and then the biggie, reconstructive surgery because my first surgeon horribly messed up my spine with the fusion. The surgery was over 8 hours and left me in critical condition in ICU for 4 days. A low dosage of the oxy could give you a great deal of relief and help to get you off of so many of the other medications. By taking Aleve, or Naproxen, on a daily basis you are hurting your liver and kidneys. Too much for them to filter on a regular basis. That’s why when you will be in long term pain they (doctors) prefer to put us on the pure stuff that won’t harm our organs. Stay on the antidepressant though, that will help with both the pain and the depression.
You could try more therapy, strengthen your core muscles to help take the burden off of your spine. Plus when you do find a good pain management doctor he should have even more ideas for you to try. I highly suggest you do NOT allow them to give you the steroid epidurals. You are of childbearing age and I had 4 of them. They had such severe side effects because of my gender and my still young age. I ended up having to see an Endocrinologist for all of the terrible things these did to me, plus they gave me no relief at all. Not many people ever get relief from these injections. You could also try deep tissue massage and acupuncture.
This is a hard life to deal with, I can’t lie. But eventually you will learn acceptance and learn to deal with what your new capabilities and limitations are. I can suggest a great support forum for you to join. The people on there are like you and I and have been through literally everything. It’s a great resource and a great place to get advice. Just type in ‘Spine Health’ and it should take you straight there, look to the left side and you should find a small column that is the actual forum. Try it, you may find it very helpful. They helped me get through my darkest days. Oh, and I still visit there every now and then, I go by ‘Cateyes’ on there too.
P.S. Someone on there may know of a good doctor in Denver!
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Is It Ethical For A Doctor To Do This?
Posted by admin in Careers in PT on January 29, 2010
A patient had a valve replacement on his heart. He’s been doing physical therapy to make his heart stronger for months now. He’s doing really well, but every so often he has a relapse and his numbers go down. Well the patient doesnt want to do therapy any more and wants to check himself out of the clinic he’s at. In order to check himself he must have the doctors signature. However, the doctor knows his patient wants to go home but is avoiding meeting with him because he doesnt think his patient is ready to leave even though its against the patients wishes. is this ethical?
Strange? Had Appointment With Doctor, Only Saw Nurse (rn) And Was Just Sent To Therapy?
Posted by admin in Careers in PT on January 25, 2010
I don’t have insurance, so i was referred by my doctor to come to his clinic instead of scrapping together my pennies. I waited a month to get in and waited three hours int he waiting room, then the nurse, not a practitioner, came in, looked at my knee and declared that physical therapy would help my pain level . I have a torn meniscus and a tracking issue with my knee cap since Oct. I have had a ton of pain, with no pain meds or x-rays. I did get a shot about four weeks ago and paid cash for the whole amount.
Do you think i should call someone? or be happy that I at least got therapy ( free for me)? Or call his other office, the one i saw him at and see what they say? I just don’t know what to do. i am broken hearted over the whole thing. It was a let down. He told me if the shot didn’t work, he’d get me in the clinic and he’d help me. I just didn’t realize that therapy was that help.
Shin Splints? What Kind Of Doctor?
Posted by admin in Careers in PT on January 23, 2010
If you have ever had “shin splints” or nagging shin pain, you know how frustrating and discouraging they can be. Mine have become so bad that they hurt while I’m sitting here right now, and I haven’t gone running or any sort of physical activity in 3 weeks. I’ve already tried one of those running and walking shoe stores and got an evaluation from the staff physical therapist. got fitted for a quality pair of running shoes. Pain persists.
Anyway, If you have ever gotten treatment for Shin Splints, what kind of doctor did you see? what did they do for you?
My options are Orthopaedic Surgeon, or Podiatrist, I could also try a Physical Therapy Clinic but I don’t really want to trust the “doctors” there.
What Type Of Bachelors Degree Should I Go After 1st When Wanting To Get The Doctor Of Physical Therapy Degree?
I’ve recently finished highschool and I’m trying to find out what I need to get the career I want in life, please help me out, thanks!
I’m particularly interested in the Orthopedic specialty of Physical Therapy which I want to advance in when in the field but Will they be requiring a certain bachelor’s, or type of DPT(Professional or Transitional)?
And I’m not sure I understand the requirements or difference in a ‘Professional’ Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree and a ‘Transitional’ DPT; I mean does one of them require a bachelors in physical therapy and the other something else or what? What should I take for wanting to go into ‘Advance Clinical Science’ DPT later when I’m in the field?
I read in -> http://education-portal.com/articles/Doctor_of_Physical_Therapy:_Degree_Overview.html <- that for typical coursework it's advised to do masters or bachelor's work in a related subject such as physics, anatomy, or biology.. does that mean I should get like a bachelor in Anatomy degree or should I stick to Bachelors Degree in Physical Therapy (i picked those two in particular because they interest me) or something else?
Ps. I'm female and wanting to be a Physical Therapist in the USAF
Thanks so much for taking the time to read! Information and tips are highly considered and very much appreciated!
Is Physical Therapy A Better Career Choice Than Becoming A Doctor?
Posted by admin in Careers in PT on January 9, 2010
Yeah I know doctors make a lot of money, but life style wise, and salary wise.
If I Get A Doctor Of Physical Therapy Degree, Would That Be Enough Education 2 B An Anatomy & Physiology Prof?
I want to be a professor of anatomy and physiology, but I want to get a D.P.T. degree to work and earn some money. Is there an anatomy and physiology graduate school? Or do I have to get a Ph.D in Biology?