MRI failure

[challny]

I went for my MRI today. They told me to lie flat on my back and be still for 25 minutes. I cannot lie flat on my back for even 10 seconds. The pain is terrible. I just can't do it. I tried so hard, but I could not bear it. The nurses were very kind. They said you need a pain pill to do this. Which got me to thinking what kind of idiot doctor do I have who schedules me for an MRI specifically because I have terrible sciatic pain and yet it doesn't occur to him that I might need pain meds to do it. I mean, really. This guy is an orthopedic doctor. All he does is deals with people who have pain. So, the MRI nurses called up to him and lo and behold he writes a prescription for an opioid then and there and they reset the MRI. But I get home, almost giddy that I might get relief after almost 2 months of constant unrelenting pain. Well, these opioids do NOTHING to relieve the pain. They don't touch it. I just don't know what to do. There is no break from this pain. It is 24/7. I want to go out on the streets to get heroin. I need the strongest pain reliever known to man. I'm losing my mind, I really am. I don't even think about my COPD anymore. Have not used any inhalers for a month. All I think about is pain.

[Badbessie]

I have sciatica for over ten years. Unfortunately over the last 16 months it as been almost constant to some degree. Sadly you are in a chicken and an egg situation. You need the MRI to find cause but cannot tolerate the MRI due to pain. Opiates even heroin may not help at all. From my own experiences your doctor needs to look at at a number of options. There are a number of non opiate medications you could try. You could also benefit from help from both physiotherapists and psychologists. My pain management program starts in August, however my assessments have already taught me the importance of keeping moving. In reality it is balancing medications, exercise, pacing and rest to help the situation. Perhaps you would benefit from seeing a pain specialist?

[Patsy164]

Hi Challny I'm so sorry that you had to miss having the MRI and I am really surprised that your doctor isn't doing more for the pain. It is so depressing having constant pain as I too suffer from back pain and have had sciatica recently, not on your scale. Have you spoke to the doctor about pain management? Tell him how deppressed it’s making you feel and that you want to go and get heroin, he must help then. Please don't do the later. I really feel for you. 😘xx

[challny in reply to Patsy164]

Thanks for the responses. I really thought the opioid meds would help, but they are not touching the paid, and I'm eating them like candy. As always, I'm up in the middle of the night in severe pain, cannot sleep. I hate my life.

[sassy59]

Two good replies challny and I agree that pain management could be the way forward. I really hope you get relief soon. Xxxx

[challny in reply to sassy59]

sassy59 Thanks for all your support. It doesn't help that I'm not sleeping, which is why I'm writing all these glum reports in the wee hours of the morning.

[Lemon7]

I have no personal experience of chronic pain but I think I recall that some places have chronic pain clinics you can be referred to for help. Best wishes.

[challny in reply to Lemon7]

Hi, Lemon7 it's funny that a number of caring people on here have mentioned pain management, because when I went to the giant orthopedic clinic yesterday, I entered the lobby, turned right and saw a door that said MRI/PAIN MANAGEMENT ... I should have said, Thanks, I'll take one of each

[Lemon7 in reply to challny]

Think you could try asking to be referred if current treatment proves to be less than helpful. That's their speciality, treating difficult to manage pain. Hope things improve for you soon.

[CELAT06]

Hi, I really feel for you, you are certainly having a bad time of it, it’s so frustrating when you are facing such terrible things and it seems like nothing is being done for you. I hope they can get their act together and find out what is causing you such excruciating pain and finally get you some relief. Thinking of you. XXX

[O2Trees]

I cant really add to the great replies you've had challny. Just hope you find a solution to the pain and can get some peace. Thinking of you xx

[challny in reply to O2Trees]

Thanks for your thoughts, O2Trees . I really want to get this fixed. Hope all is good with you.

[challny]

RedSox all I've done is seen my PC and this orthopedic guy. I'm hoping they will fix me up. But while I'm here, can I ask if you get Netflix? Because the other night I watched a terrific documentary on Ted Williams. I would imagine you are a fan of the Splinter. I'm not even a Red Sox fan, but who does not admire Ted Williams?

[Mooka]

I’m so sorry that you couldn’t have your mri as it’s the best way to diagnose your sciatica. Have you tried swimming. I get the most relief from swimming and do exercises to stretch my back that I was shown at hydrotherapy. I find that leaning forward is the most comfortable position and sleep curled up. I really hope you get some relief soon.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear you’re in so much pain. You say they gave you an opioid painkiller, but I was wondering which one? Whilst this may be completely irrelevant, Tramadol is classed as an opioid, but it’s actually a man-made synthetic and has zero effect on me. On two separate occasions for two different issues where I was treated with tramadol with no effect, I did respond to the natural compounds e.g. codeine or morphine. No one can explain why that’s the case, but I’m led to believe that quite a high percentage of people (relatively speaking) anecdotally experience a lack of pain-killing effect from tramadol.

Whatever it was they gave you that didn’t work, I hope that you get some relief soon. Have they considered trying you on neuropathic painkillers like amitriptyline or gabapentin? If they have and you found no relief, then as some of the other replies, I would also recommend asking for a pain management referral.

[Ergendl]

Same here, suggesting a registered osteopath. They can make a real difference.

[sarcoid123]

You could perhaps try a Tens machine which relieves pain. There are several on Amazon.

I read years ago that people in labour (having a baby!) with pain use a tens machine, so a Tens machine might help your problem. I do hope you find something to help.