Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 10:49 pm Post subject: delayed shots
I decided to delay the shots until after my appointment on the 30th with presy hospital in Pittsburgh. They are doing rsd testing and I want to get those results first. I mean what if it is something they haven't found causing my injury to not heal and the shots turn out to be the wrong way to go. What if there is another route and if it is CONFIRMED RSD then they could give me more updated info on the side effects of these shots. I figure its the only body I have and I value my arm even if it doesn't work right. I want all the details first. So although I was anxious to see if the shots would help me feel normal again I figure what is a little longer. I'll keep you posted.
I have some really bad issues with my back that flare up sometimes, they wanted me to go to a pain clinic a few years ago, but I did not go for fear of the steroids in the shots making me gain weight and I did not see where this would be any benefit to me at all.
However, my back is getting worse and worse as years go by, it gets so bad sometimes that the normal medication that they prescribe does not work, I still get up and go to work, seems like laying around does not help it. I tried the chiropratic route, but got really irritated with him when my back is killing me and he wants to talk about nutrition and total health. Sorry, I don't want to go there with a chiropractor, just adjust me and let me go. I may have to pursue the pain clinic if my condition continues to worsen. Hopefully it will not come to that, but I look forward to your updates on here, so please keep this thread updated. Appreciate it.
Read the answer that Lori gave, don't know if I could handle that, you sound like a pretty tough cookie, I think I am too. I would like to see what someone elses experience is like also, the more information, the better, right. Did you friends that had this done have it done on the back also?
Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:52 pm Post subject: car acident/rsd
Hi, I also was in a car accident, in 10/06 I was a back seat passenger in a cab, the driver was talking on his cell phone and driving with the other arm which was in a cast! he changed lanes but traffic was stopped and he hit the car ahead of us at 35-40 mph, I flew out of the seat and hit my shoulder on the pasenger back seat, I went the next day to see a dr and x-rays were normal, I couldnt believe the cab company did not call to see if i was ok as I used them everynight for about 5 months so i had a friend call and the owner said he didnt know about an accident and told my friend to have me call, which i did and when I asked him about the accident he stumbled and said oh yea yea there was a report but stated the driver said no one was in a cab, so I got a lawyer and have seen various drs and now possibly have a dx of rsd after all these months, I know in ca you have to file a claim within 2 years but that doesnt mean the case has to be resolved in two years. I sure hope all goes well with you I can relate to your pain and frustration, I have been in this pain for 15months and now am awaiting auth from my ins for a stellate ganglion block which I hope to get soon so i can return to work. I will keep you posted and you please let me know your outcome. good luck and best wishes to you!
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: RSD
I just went to have RSD testing done last week and I am now waiting on results before going onto the block. My atty. informed me that we can more than likely go forward to settlement in this case if the results are in my favor. I really don't want this diagnosis but I deal with it either way. Its hard to believe the loss of use I have of this hand. Its is not half of it was before. The worst part is if someone comes up and grabs it when I am not expecting it or trying to sleep with it at night. I hope everything turns out well for you. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Good luck.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:29 pm Post subject: car accident
Well my auth has gone through for a stellate ganglion block and a cervical block, I m having it done on feb 14th, I know its the choice for my diagnosis and my pain, though I am scared I need to do this but I have to ask the DR some questions like how long does it last, when will I see results...does anyone have a question that you want me to ask? I see there are a few people in here who are interested in knowing about the blocks let me know I will call Dr tomorow.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject: meds
I am on lyrica,norco, duragesic patch,naprosyn,zanaflex, cymbalta still with pain just released off work in dec due to severe depression and pain. my first pain management clinic which i started going to in aug, well it was like a cattle call just wanted to give me pain meds, see a different dr everytime and have to go over the whole accident everytime, I finally switched to a new painmanagement dr whom are anestheiologist seen him one time and now wants to do the two blocks, which I know are common for RSd and or this type of pain. I urge everyone whom are in chronic pain to search the internet and read all you can. many site to look on. One will be so depressed with chronic pain so keep searching and reading about choice out there, goodnature how bad is your pain? what type of help are you getting? are you on pain meds? here are is a good sites to look at http://www.medhelp.org just do searches on yahoo and keep changing your wording like help I have back pain or chronic back pain.. just keep changing your wording and read. I will let you know when I have my procedure on feb 14th.
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject: lyrica
I was also perscribed lyrica. I have to admit I have continued taking other pain meds cause of my fear of taking this drug. I read about the side effects and they scared me. What side effects, if any, have you had with this med? Do you feel it brings any form of relief? I am really interested in knowing so I can give it a try. I also know where you are coming from when you speak of pain clinics. I had exactly 10 minutes with the doc. She was so quiet it was almost like pulling teeth to get answers. All the info I recieved about the stellate block was a one page letter telling me almost nothing. I had to refer to the internet for furthewr info. My first block is scheduled for Feb. 27. I am nervous but a little excited to see if I can get any relief from this. I have my fingers crossed. Keep me informed PLEASE. I see you go in before I do. I hope you find the relief you are looking for.
Wow, that is a lot of medication for one person to be on, how do you function? I would be out of my head. There is NO way, I would be on all of that medication. I have been locked down on my hands and knees and could not get up and have taken a muscle relaxor and a pain pill, but I can not imagine that pumping all that in your body at one time can be good. Do you know what all the side affects are to all of them individually and combined?
Doesn't it worry you to be on all this at once? Do they do blood tests to keep an eye on your liver, heart and kidney functions? If not they should be. I wish you luck.
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:00 pm Post subject: pain meds/blocks
The only side effect I have on lyrica is dizzyness and I have to admit in the begining i was very faithful taking it but now in the past 4 months with so many more meds to take I have slacked a bit and actually I was on neurontin first but was very dizzy, but not as dizzy on the lyrica. There are many side effects with any medications and you just have to ask yourself as well as the dr and say do the benefits outweigh the risk? and in most cases it does. People on daily maintance of blood pressure and or cholesteral meds have the daily risk also but more of a risk that they will die of a heart attack or clogged arteries that will cause a stroke or a heart attack so yes the benefits almost always out weigh the risk when taking meds, I actually just found out the other day that people on lyrica have a higher incident of having a side effect of suicide attempts , boy that does scare me as I have been so depressed to the point to where i have thought about it but I know I can talk to someone like my dr when I feel really bad.. I really cant tell if the lyrica is helping as I am on so many other meds, but I do know i need to change my cymbalta as I dont feel that is helping me. And yes the Dr is doing blood work for my liver, The pain management dr I use to go to did not check my labs and I finally broke down and went to my primary care dr as I did not feel the last 3 different specialist listened to me, I was feeling that this was all in my head until I felt suicidal! Oh yea and now my blood pressure is up and the dr wants to put me on a bp med so that is another pill along with my protonix to add with the list, never thought when I turned 42 i would be on so many meds! but I am trying to be compliant in order to feel better. Iam going to call my pain dr today I wanted to wait to see if anyone here had any questions he might answer for you all.Goodnatured you need to seek help as your pain will get to you at some point and really distress you more than you are, thats what happened to me and I emotionally feel a little better now that I know its not in my head, I had to see 6 different drs before I was able to say its not in my head so please seek help. I will be seeing my primary care dr this friday and let you know any new scoop after talking to the pain management dr today if I get to speak to him today... Good luck to you all!
Good god girl, you are a walking pharmacy, I feel for you, hopefully this will all be over soon and you can resume your life as close to normal as possible.
I had exactly 10 minutes with the doc. She was so quiet it was almost like pulling teeth to get answers.
What bs it is for the dr to take the little time to spend with you when they are getting paid the bucks. I think you should not look into it that much because they may have a plan on spending less time with those at less risk and may not want to worry you. However, never hesitate to ask what you need to know and remember they are getting paid to serve you!
I agree with this, you should always feel comfortable asking the doctors any thing that you want to ask them, your insurance is paying them top dollar for a specialty clinic, I would not hesitate to call the insurance company and tell them that you expect a better quality of care.
I get really irritated with the healthcare industry, I absolutely hate it when I have an appointment and am forced to wait for what I consider an unreasonable amount of time, they really over schedule. With a fifteen minute appointment, I would say that it is the same case.
Health care has a hiearchy system and that is ok with me. If you work alot you can chose who you may want to see however, do not disregard those in need. We are all humans and we all deserve some sort of coverage. How dare they turn down anyone when in need! Take Care!
