I broke my neck in the summer of 2010, thus my journey began dealing with chronic pain, 24/7. I hate having to take pain meds, but I hate the pain more, and usually only have my pain to a 5-7 on a scale from 1-10 every day. I was able to control my pain with my doctors help for 8 years, until the "opioid epidemic" started punishing legit pain suffers who never abused pills or doctor shopped, and the government metaphorically came into my doctors appointments and decided MY pain will be controlled with only this amount of medication. So for 2 years I have had to live with horrific pain that makes me just want to die, because I no longer am allowed to take the dose I took for 8 years that controlled my pain, where I could work and feel normal and have a LIFE. My depression and anxiety has become also unbearable. Trapped in a body of pain, knowing there's no relief for more than an hour, two if I am really lucky, without icing and laying down, and throwing up. And because "I don't look sick" so many people and even family don't understand the pain, the migraines, the agony, that makes me just not want to go on. I fight every day 24/7, fight pain, fight depression, and anxiety, I fight to WANT TO STAY ALIVE, because I dread each day, the dread of fighting all of this constantly is taring me apart, I am so fucking tired. And I know there are thousands of other suffers like myself who have had their pain management taken away pretty much, and I feel you! I know what you are going through!! You're not alone!!! Just know that even when the days seem impossible, WE will somehow make it.
Invisible Pain: I broke my neck in the... - Cloudy with a Cha...
Invisible Pain
Oh woman.... I’m so sorry you’re in such pain.
I don’t know where you live, but my GP here in West Sussex is very happy to prescribe opioids and I am happy taking them. My pain is partly arthritis and partly because I had cancer and the medication (to prevent the cancer returning) also causes pain to most of the women who have to take it.
Please please, for starters, talk to your pharmacist about pain killers and what you can and can’t do. He or she may be able to help you approach your doctors again for help.
You should not be left like this.
Please keep us posted, and I wish you well.
Thank you so much for your sweet words and encouragement. I live in the USA, and after Donald Trump was elected, he put into motion the opioid guidelines that are so absolutely ridiculous for Chronic Pain suffers who are being treated under a doctors care and supervision. Like I said previously, the government took control of our pain management, and the opioid epidemic punished the legit patients who take opioid medication for pain, and have punished thousands of us who NEVER abused these medications. The logic behind it is just absurd, and as a chronic pain sufferer, even with my doctors, I have NO rights, I have to live with what the US government will "allow" for chronic pain. Thus my rage and indignation.
Oh dear this does sound awful. I am personally am not a fan of your Trump government (and indeed my sister moved to the States some fifty years ago and is campaigning against him right now).
There is negative publicity about opioids here too. There was a recent tv programme about all the negative effects and no interviews whatsoever with pain sufferers who’ve benefited, just with those who had bad reactions and difficulties coming off the medication. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Nothing adverse happens here!
My heart goes out to you
Have you been able to chat to a pharmacist about your problems? Over here, pharmacists are not used enough, they are really the experts on medications. I don’t know whether you would have access to a consultation with your local pharmacy business?
Also, do you have access to somewhere that you can get advice about anxiety management, such as CB therapy, which might help take your mind off it?
Yes I do have a pharmacist who answers any questions I have, but here they do not have any say in what medications or doses of medications can be taken, it is all up to the doctor, but pharmacies are now obligated to send the government all info on each patient and the medication they have to take. It's so intrusive and the government asks pharmacists to release personal medical info, and doctors now have to as well. I never thought it would come to this, in the USA, where our personal medical info and records are no longer personal and confidential.
I have tried CBD and medical marijuana but it's so expensive here, and the insurance companies do not pay for any medical cannibis. Vicious cycles.
Oh dear oh dear! I don't think we can get cannabis here either.
The system here is that, if a pharmacist reviews your medication, and thinks there could be an improvement, he writes to the GP with his professional views. The doctor can ignore him of course!
Just as an example for you, my husband felt his blood pressure was too low, so we went to our pharmacist who reviewed everything - a half hour visit - and presented our doctor with the facts. My husband then saw a nurse at our GP's surgery (what you call an office) who specialises in medicines, she discussed it with our GP and, hey presto, the doctor agreed with the pharmacist that my husband was being over-prescribed, and changed the medication. So it does work here! This was a few weeks pre-Covid, though!
You may or may not want to hear this, but you have been in my prayers.
I suffer in pain too from sciatica and spinal stenosis. I am so desperate for pain relief I have thought of joining a methadone clinic, and my husband is totally against it. I only reference this clinic because I am an addict in recovery. I don't want to take anything that may cause me to relapse. I used to take Kratom for the pain and I got hooked on it so I am not on Subutex. I am now hooked on that. The fact that I am hooked on anything is very depressing for me. I don't know what to do.
I know the horror of trying to deal with chronic pain, and the anxiety and depression that comes with it when it isn't controlled. I think it must even be more difficult in your situation if you are a recovering addict, because the only things that DO help pain are opioids, prescription medication. I feel that I am seen as an addict because of the pain management meds, and that's how doctors and pharmacists treat us, like we just want to "get high" when it's just about trying to have a life not completely taken away by chronic pain. I feel your frustration too, and trying to live with constant pain makes my depression and anxiety out of control.
Have sjogrens ?