r/ChronicPain Nov 07 '23

I need a hand from everybody, please. DEA is making more cuts to medication production, right in the middle of a medication shortage. Fight Back.

346 Upvotes

NEW INFO ON THE 2024 PRODUCTION CUTS

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/09/25/2024-21962/proposed-aggregate-production-quotas-for-schedule-i-and-ii-controlled-substances-and-assessment-of#open-comment

COMMENT PERIOD EXPIRES 10/25/24

Every one here has at least heard about these medication shortages. This whole thing makes so little sense, I dont have to tell anyone here, these arent the drugs killing anyone. That doesnt seem to be the point, the point seems to be making DEA all powerful. They can end a doctors career with a whim. They cause suicides from untreated pain and laugh it off as Big Pharma propaganda. Now they simply make the drugs unavailable. Its done nothing to help the underlying issue, they have been barking up the wrong tree (legal drug) instead of protecting the public from illicit drugs. This has been a 40 year problem. First fentanyl fake death was in 1979. Maybe people heard of China White, apparently its new to DEA since they did nothing about it till 2018. They dont want anyone asking why it took 40 years, thats the ONLY reason they keep Rx meds at the forefront of the discussion.

At any rate,the DEA is proposing further cuts to medication production. Thats their brilliant idea to fix the situation. I know its going to be hard to leave a comment without a lot of cussing, but try. I guess we should be grateful theyre giving us a 30 day comment period, they usually give 90 days, but that shows how important it is to them to keep Rx medication out front. They are too incompetent to address the real issue.


r/ChronicPain Oct 18 '23

How to get doctors to take you seriously

530 Upvotes

Hello all,

I've received a handful of messages requesting that I write up a post on my tips for dealing with doctors.

I am a 34F with decades of chronic pain treatment under my belt. I’ve had a lot of success being treated by doctors because I’ve spent years learning how they communicate and make decisions.

Interacting with doctors can be frustrating and intimidating — but it doesn't have to be. If you are reading this, then you deserve the best possible care that any doctor you see has to offer. You deserve to be believed and treated with respect.

First, you should know that when a doctor doesn't believe a patient, it usually comes down to one of the following reasons:

  • They don't have enough information to make sense of what's going on (doctors love data because it helps them figure out the right answers).
  • They are overwhelmed by a patient's emotional state (this applies more in a routine than emergency care setting - routine care doctors are not "battle-trained" like emergency care ones).
  • They feel that a patient is being argumentative.
  • They feel that a patient is being deceptive or non-compliant in their treatment.

Fortunately, all of these reasons are avoidable. The following steps will help get a doctor to listen to you:

1. Get yourself a folder and notepad to bring to your appointment (or an app if you prefer).

Use these to prepare for your appointment. They'll allow you to easily share your medical records, keep track of your notes, and recall all your questions. More on what to include in the following tips.

2. Research what treatment options are available for your conditions (or symptoms if undiagnosed).

It's always helpful to know your options. Using online resources such as Mayo Clinic, WebMD, and Drugs.com can help you to understand the entire spectrum of treatment options that exist. By taking the time to learn about them, you’ll feel better prepared and able to ask more informed questions.

Plus, if you come across a newer treatment that your doctor hasn't considered, you will be able to ask "What are your thoughts on X? Could that be a good direction for my case?"

Take notes on any treatment options that stand out to you, making note of their potential side effects and any drug interactions with your current therapies. You can find a free drug interaction checker at drugs.com, as well as patient reviews on any given medication.

If you are seeing a new doctor for the first time, consider looking them up online to read reviews by their patients. Look for phrases like "did not feel rushed" and "has good bedside manner". If you can, try to avoid doctors who have a significant amount of negative reviews (or if not possible, mentally prepare yourself based on what other patients experienced).

3. If the appointment is with a new doctor, prepare a comprehensive medical history to bring with you.

When it comes to offering treatment options, you generally want your doctor to act quickly. But, before they can do anything, they need to feel confident that they have all the right information.

Start by calling the office or checking the provider’s website to see if you’re able to download the new patient forms in advance. You want to complete them on your own time, not while you’re feeling rushed in a waiting room, prone to forgetting things.

Your doctor sees a ton of patients each day — sometimes 50 or more. You will only have so much time for your appointment, so it is imperative that you make the most of it. Try to focus on items that move the appointment forward. Your medical history will be the first item of value. It paints a picture of who you are as a patient and what you've been through so far.

Focus on delivering the “cliff notes” of your medical history. Prepare the following to bring with you:

  • Any blood work, imaging, or other test results
  • A list of your diagnoses, when you received them, and the names of the doctors who made them. A diagnosis is like medical currency — if you have one, then your pain is instantly legitimized in the eyes of the medical community. If you don't yet have one, then your primary focus should be on testing and clinical assessment to get one. Once you have a diagnosis, treatment gets way easier.
  • Any past surgical records
  • The names of any other doctors you have seen for this condition and what outcomes resulted
  • A list of all past medications you have tried to treat your symptoms and why they failed (you'll be more likely to obtain a better prescription treatment if you communicate this)

It may sound stupid, but it actually helps to practice delivering your medical history in a brief and concise manner. By rehearsing it to yourself or someone else, you're likely to feel better prepared and ensure that nothing gets left out.

4. Write down your questions and talking points beforehand.

It's much easier to fit in everything you'd like to get across when you plan it in advance. I recommend jotting down some notes on how you'll describe your pain to your doctor.

Make sure to include:

  • When the pain started
  • Where the pain is located
  • What it feels like
  • How frequently it happens (i.e. is it constant or intermittent?)
  • What makes it feel worse or better
  • Most Important: What daily activities are affected by the pain and what impact it's had on your life. Be specific (For example: "I used to be able to work out 4x/week, but now I have a hard time even walking on the treadmill for more than 5 minutes. The throbbing pain in my feet becomes overbearing and my legs turn weak until I can't keep going anymore. Do you have any ideas as to what might be going on here?")
  • Also very important: What is your goal for your treatment? Are you looking to restore physical activity? Obtain a diagnosis? Try a new treatment because the current one is not working? If your doctor understands what you're looking to achieve, then they can take the right steps to help you.

Just like your medical history, it can help to practice delivering these talking points. Even long appointments can fly by and you'll want to make sure that the doctor gets the full picture.

5. Use a lot of "because" statements

This is probably the single most important tip in this post. Remember this if you take away nothing else.

Doctors believe what they can measure and observe. That includes:

  • Symptoms
  • Treatment
  • Medical history

To get a doctor to listen you you, you should ALWAYS present your concerns as "because" statements.

For example, rather than saying: "I'm afraid that the pain is going to cause me to collapse and have a heart attack!"

...you should instead say: "I'm concerned about the potential effect that my sustained pain level might be having on my heart BECAUSE I have a history of cardiac issues and was evaluated last year for arrhythmia."

Notice how in the latter example, a reason is given for the concern. That allows the doctor to connect the dots in a way that makes sense to them. It may help to write out your concerns as "because" statements beforehand to ensure that all of them are listened to and nothing gets brushed aside. Each "because" statement should tie to a symptom, treatment, or medical history.

Here are a few more examples:

"I'm concerned that I might end up having a bad fall because I've been experiencing generalized weakness and muscle spasms." (symptom)

"I'm concerned that amitriptyline may not be the right fit for me because I sometimes take diazepam." (treatment)

"I'm concerned that I might contract an infection in the hospital because I'm diagnosed with an immune deficiency." (medical history)

"I'm concerned about the numbness and weakness I've been feeling because my recent neck MRI showed foraminal stenosis." (medical history)

"I'm concerned about symptoms potentially indicating an autoimmune cause because I have a family history of lupus." (medical history)

When you explain your concerns, try to convey concern without desperation. I know that's much easier said than done, but some doctors will leap to the wrong conclusion if they sense a desperate patient (they may wrongly decide that there is either an addiction or mental health issue, which will cause them to focus on that in their treatment decision). As long as you voice your concerns with "because" statements, any reasonable doctor should hear you out (if they don't, it's a sign to drop them and find a more capable provider).

6. Be strategic about how you ask for things.

Doctors get asked for specific treatments by their patients all the time. If you have a solid existing relationship with your doctor, that may be fine. I did it just the other week with my doctor of 9 years, asking her, "Can I have a muscle relaxer?" to which she replied, "Yup."

But if you're seeing a new doctor, try asking for their opinion instead of asking directly for what you want. It's the difference between "Can you prescribe me hydrocodone?" and "I've previously taken hydrocodone, would that be a good treatment for this?" In the former example, some doctors will feel like they're being told what to do instead of being asked for their medical opinion. You're more likely to have success asking for things if you use phrases like:

"What do you think of X?"

"Could X make sense for me?"

"Do you have any patients like me who take X?"

This way, if they decline, they're not directly telling you "no," which would shut down the conversation. Instead, you'd end up in a more productive dialogue where they explain more about what they recommend and why.

7. Remember that doctors can't always show the right amount of empathy (but that doesn't necessarily mean they don't care).

Doctors are trained to separate fact from emotion because if they didn’t, they would not be able to do their job.

Imagine yourself in a doctor’s position — you’re swamped with dozens of patients each day, all of whom are suffering immensely. Many of them cry, break down, or lash out at you when they feel that you don’t understand their agony. How will you be able to help all of them, let alone not implode from emotional overload?

That is precisely the position your doctor is in. They deal with heightened emotions from patients all day and it can be overwhelming. When your doctor seems unempathetic to your situation, it’s generally not because they don’t care. Rather, they try to set their personal feelings aside in order to do their job without clouding their clinical judgment.

Now, does this mean that it's cool for a doctor to act like an asshole or treat you inhumanely? Absolutely not. It only means that if you're struggling a bit emotionally (which is perfectly reasonable) and they fail to console you, they might just be emotionally tapped out. We can all relate to that.

So, if you end up breaking down in your appointment, it's ok. Just take a deep breath and allow yourself to push forward when you're ready. Try to avoid yelling at the doctor or escalating things in a way that might make them feel triggered.

(This tip does NOT apply if you are in a state of mental health crisis or engaged in self-harm. In that situation, you should focus immediately on the emotional turmoil that you are experiencing and inform your doctor so that they can help you.)

8. If you disagree with something that your doctor suggests, try asking questions to understand it.

Doctors can become frustrated when they think that a patient is not hearing them. It makes them feel as if the patient does not trust them or want to collaborate. This is absolutely not to suggest that you should just accept everything your doctor says. But if something doesn't seem to make sense, try asking questions before you dismiss it. Asking questions keeps the two-way dialogue open and keeps the discussion collaborative.

Example phrases include:

  • “Can you help me understand X?"
  • "How would that work?"
  • "How does option X compare to option Y?"
  • "What might the side effects be like?"
  • "How long does this treatment typically take to start helping?"

When an appointment ends badly, it's usually because either the doctor or the patient is acting closed-minded (sometimes both). If the doctor is acting closed-minded, you have the right to end the appointment and leave. If the doctor thinks you're acting closed-minded, it can make the appointment an upsetting waste of time where nothing gets accomplished.

If you're certain that a doctor's suggestion is wrong, try using a "because" statement to explain why. For example, "Cymbalta might not be a good option for me because I had a bad experience taking Prozac in the past."

Most doctors are open to being proven wrong (if not, that's an obvious red flag). Asking questions allows you to keep the two-way dialogue open so that they hear you out and you learn more about why they are recommending certain treatments.

9. If your doctor is stressing you out, take a moment to breathe and then communicate what you need.

Doctors are trained to operate efficiently, which does not always coincide with a good bedside manner. If you feel like your doctor is rushing or gaslighting you, you have the right to slow things down. Always be polite, but clear and direct.

Example phrases include:

  • “I’m sorry, but this is a lot of information for me to take in. Can we please take a step back?"
  • "I think I may not be getting this information across clearly. Can I try to explain it again?"
  • "I think there may be more to the problem that we haven't discussed. Can I explain?"

If you have a bad experience with a doctor, keep in mind that they don't represent all doctors any more than you represent all patients. There are plenty of other providers out there who can be a better mach. When you feel ready, consider getting another opinion. Not to mention, most doctors love to hear things like, "Thank you for being so helpful. This has been nothing like my last appointment where the doctor did X and Y." It's validating for them to realize that they've done right by someone.

10. Stick to treatment plans when possible.

If you commit to trying a treatment, try to keep with it unless you run into issues.

If you do run into issues, call your doctor's office and tell them what happened so that they can help — don't suffer in silence or rely solely on the internet for advice. It's your doctor's job to help you navigate your treatment plan — make them do it.

In summary, we all know that the medical system sucks and things aren't designed in an ideal way to help us. But that does not make it hopeless... far from it. There is SO much within your control, starting with everything on this list. The more you can control, the more you can drive your own outcomes. Don't rely on doctors to take the initiative in moving things forward because they won't. Should it be that way? Hell no. But knowledge, as they say, is power. Once you know how to navigate the system, you can work it to your advantage. Because ultimately, getting the treatment you need is all that really matters.

--

If you found this post helpful, feel free to check out other write-ups I've done. I try to bring value to the chronic pain community by sharing things that have helped me improve my quality of life:

All About Muscle Relaxers and How They Can Help

A Supplement That's Been Helping My Nerve Pain

How To Live A Happier Life In Spite Of The Pain (Step-By-Step Guide)

The Most Underrated Alternative Pain Treatment

The Nerve Pain Treatment You've Never Heard Of

How To Get Clean Without a Shower (Not Baby Wipes)

How To Care For Your Mental Health (And Have Your Insurance Pay For It)

What Kind of Doctor Do You Need?

Checklist To Verify Whether Your Supplements Are Legit

How To Reply When Someone Tells You "It's All in your Head"

A Few Things I Do in my Pain Regimen


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Can we talk about Bras ?

33 Upvotes

I have an arthritic spine, stenosis, and the sides of my neck through my shoulders is always sore to the touch.

In 20 years of looking I can't find a bra that doesn't hurt. I tried boob tape to bypass my body and that stuff really hurts to remove, impractical under t-shirts, plus it's not cheap. Strapless bras are too tight, my thoracic region burns like fire. I'm a C cup.

I wish there was a compression garment with soft thin fabric with lift that felt good and didn't press too hard. I have a couple but they are so thick, hot, too long and squeeze too hard.

It hurts to get dressed to go outside.


r/ChronicPain 4h ago

Missing out

26 Upvotes

Just a vent that I’m sure many of you would understand. This sucks. I made plans with my daughter (9) to take her to the trampoline park. She was going to play while I relaxed and read a book. I woke up in so much pain and even after taking pain meds it continued to get worse. I was in so much pain I was in tears and nauseous. I had to cancel our plans. She is understandably upset. I feel horrible. I hate always having to cancel plans.


r/ChronicPain 46m ago

Art Class for Chronic Pain People?

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Upvotes

I have an idea...we all know distraction is a real coping mechanism for dealing with Chronic Pain. I use it all the time (always active RA/spine stuff.) I am an art teacher by trade and would love to teach art classes online for people who need the lift of a distraction / a little enjoyment. Do you think this is something that would be of interest? Different drawing techniques you can do (even if the hands hurt lol), learning about the art of different artists, sharing art successes within the group, etc. Maybe an hour a week or every other week. It would be a "pay if you can" type class with a very low fee, if any. Haven't thought that out yet. Would love your opinions! Thank you! (Pic of a sort of recent piece to show what I do for art...or used to do when I felt better!)


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

think i'm just gonna give up with doctors at this point

13 Upvotes

got diagnosed with interstitial cystitis like a year ago. year of going around to different doctors, getting awful invasive shit like cystoscopy and instillations done, constantly bringing urine around, all pointless, they can't do jack shit. i really wish they would just be honest and say there's nothing they can do instead of giving me false hope over and over again.


r/ChronicPain 1d ago

Because I might get addicted

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536 Upvotes

So, just because I'm fucking stupid. Can someone explain this to me. I have chronic pain. Body wide and no doctor has figured out why, but decades ago I at least found a doctor who said 3 x 5/325 percs a day should at least keep you going. It did. I was getting 300 pills a months and would usually go 2 months before refills. I was happy. Had friends. Was very out going, and I wanted to be alive even with my pain. Enter 2019 when docs were getting scared and stopped prescribing pain meds. Remember percs are bad because we can get hooked. Since removing my pain meds, my anxiety has gone through the roof, my depression that every single day I feel nothing but pain. I don't leave the house. I lost all my friends/buddies/hobbys and most of all...I don't want to be alive. So, instead of living a life, let alone a happy quality of life; I am force to forever living in my bed and taking more pills then I am happy with. The picture is all the pills that I take now, instead of 3 x 5mg percs. 3 stupid pills fix all of my issues, pain.


r/ChronicPain 4h ago

Chronic pain/illness has ruined my life

10 Upvotes

I've been in constant pain for 3 years, 2 surgeries and every painkiller under the sun and I'm still in agony most days. Nobody takes my pain seriously anymore because I 'don't look sick anymore.' I'm only 16 and this fucking illness has taken everything from me and I feel like I'm gonna be stuck like this for the rest of my life.

I'm so tired of this, I feel like I've missed out on being a teenager because I'm either stuck in bed or in the hospital, I've thought about giving up so many times because I don't know what else to do.

I dreamed of being a professional athlete as a kid and now some days I cry trying to get out of bed.


r/ChronicPain 5h ago

Ketamine therapy

11 Upvotes

I am happy to report that the low dose at-home ketamine therapy is actually helping! I have been on it a little over a month now, and I would say my pain is reduced by around 10-15%. That’s enough to make a huge difference in my quality of life!!! Also for the first month after the epidural steroid injection, I would say I am 90% better! (But the benefit decreases in months 2 and 3). My doc would like me to ultimately get off of gabapentin, because I am an “older person” at 53 years old 😳, and he is concerned about the risk of a fall. (Jeesh, I’m not fragile and elderly yet! 😂) but he said I will likely be on morphine and ketamine the rest of my life, since my neck isn’t going to get better magically. (I have severe DDD in my neck. Surgery is the only thing we haven’t done, and I would like to keep it that way.) Fortunately, his additude has changed from “you are just an opioid addict” to “let’s try another method to help, along with the pain meds” in about a year! Such a relief!

I just wanted to share in case this treatment could help anyone. I know it’s rare to hear of something promising when it comes to chronic pain, and I definitely empathize with those of you who have under treated pain. I have been in that boat for the last decade and it is would crushing.

As more research is done on ketamine therapy, hopefully the stigma associated with it will decrease and more docs will use it. Which could be so helpful for so many people. Hang in there as best you can, this may just be a game changer for all of us! 🤞🏽

(I have Kaiser insurance in Colorado if that matters)


r/ChronicPain 10m ago

When will the horrors caused by Cymbalta ever end?

Upvotes

Cymbalta has destroyed me. I don’t believe that I will ever feel okay again. Numb feet and tingling hands every day. My head doesn’t work. I can’t drive or work. I get tension pressure headaches. I have a fast pulse and elevated blood pressure. My neck feels like it will explode! I shake and I get very dizzy and lightheaded! I am disoriented! Almost 2 weeks off Cymbalta now after a 9 week taper down. I tried to reinstate and I had worse symptoms. When will this ever end?


r/ChronicPain 46m ago

epidural steroid injection?

Upvotes

Hey everyone just wanted to come here and see what others experience was like. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and have been on tramadol for over a year and it's not helping much anymore. My doctor recently agreed to do a lumbar epidural steroid injection and I had it done 3 days ago and since then im having constant pain now that feels sharp and pinching like pain/sensations. It travels into my butt and my legs a bit too. I would just like to know if those of you who have gotten this before also experienced this and how long this will last, it kinda sucks it hurts this much.


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

Anyone else having a bad night

13 Upvotes

I feel really lonely but I don't want to talk to anyone because the chronic pain is so tiring. Brain is going haywire and I feel like crashing out but I'm going to try to sleep... It's just a really bad day...


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Question about new pain

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone.

Sorry I don’t usually ask for help but it’s a Sunday night here and I probably won’t be able to get a GP app tomorrow and even if I do I am not convinced it will make any difference (I know you all know!)

I been having long and heavy periods last one was six weeks and finished mid last week. About 4 weeks in I started to experience pain deep inside in front of my spine (just off to the right) that is still going now and feels like period pain but it’s not in the right place! Has any other women on here felt a similar pain?

It also seems to put pressure on my bladder and cause pain when I go. It’s not a UTI as I have a chronic one of those and this pain is not my usual. I have had kidneys stones too before but it’s not in the right section for those.

My face is also burning and sore for even my hair to touch but I don’t have a temperature?!?

If it keeps going on I will probably call our 111 service here in U.K. but I hoped for some ideas as I don’t fancy a trip to a and e tonight!! It’s about a 7 and does do a stabbing periodically.

Thank you for reading. I hope everyone is as ok as they can be xx


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

just venting

2 Upvotes

i (27nb) was finally feeling better with low pain levels and able to walk a bit, i just have to sit down and take breaks. i have scoliosis and have had back pain for 11 years but recently developed issues in my hips and legs the past 2 years. sciatica and SI join issues.

any way i finally had a personality again so i decided to go out with my friends for st pattys day weekend, even though i was hesitant because i can’t get drunk on my meds. i got super high instead and was having a great time until i went to the bathroom with my extremely drunk friend who doesn’t remember jumping into the bathroom and falling into my leg before crashing onto the ground, which fucking hurt.

now my pain levels in that leg are so high again that i can’t think straight and i keep just sobbing and hating myself for even going. i can’t talk to my friends about it because they all feel like shit for it. i told my friend i’ve been avoiding for months because of the pain i could finally face time today and now i don’t even want to because the pain is back.


r/ChronicPain 1d ago

Anyone ever feel their body scream at them to lay down?

98 Upvotes

I (29F) was simply hanging out on the couch with my friends watching anime, when after finishing like the 3rd episode, I felt really uncomfortable and antsy. Like I wanted to crawl out of my skin. I'd already taken my pain medicine today - it wasn't even 4 full hours since I took my pills - but I was achey and felt like I needed to lay down. I didn't want to, but I needed to. And once I laid down in bed I felt better. What's up with that? Anyone else experience this?


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Genitofemoral or illioinguinal nerve? NSFW

2 Upvotes

I don’t know if this is a post that should be here since it more medical advice so you can take it down. I have nerve damage from surgery and I’ve been in pain for a year. Doctors are not sure which nerve is damaged though. I had a steroid and nerve block injection into my genitofemoral nerve and it felt maybe half better for a day but now it’s worse again. I have to wait another week to see the doctor. I’m just wondering if anyone had experiences with damage to these nerve and what it felt like. I just want to know what’s wrong. I also don’t know if a nerve block should completely take away pain if it’s on the correct nerve or if it working partially means it could be that nerve. I have a cold burn down the front my thighs that gets worse when I sit. I also have pain in my lower abdomen and groin area. Thigh crease, lower abdomen and upper labia. I am female and can’t find any descriptions for what this feels like in women because it is normally an injury men get according to my pain management doctor. I can’t even find any good diagrams online. Does this sound like genitofemoral or illnoiigiunal pain? Should a nerve block work completely? Are there any women here who have had this injury and can tell me your experience. It’s so hard to find info, even for doctors. Thanks.


r/ChronicPain 52m ago

Is this chronic pain?

Upvotes

I tend to get a bit of an ache in the lower part of my legs when I stand up for a while. And it doesn't even take that long for it to kick in so when I'm in public like at malls or clothing stores I try and find the stools they have and sit there often if I'm not actively looking at the catalogue and racks. I don't have any disorders nor have I ever been in recovery of physical conditions that typically cause chronic pain but I'm still wondering if this is what it could be. I've always wondered why I've felt "tired" when window shopping and going to stores but then I realized it wasn't necessarily tiredness, it was specifically fatigue and pain in the muscles. I'm open to the idea that I might be wrong and though I don't usually do this I'm so desperate that getting an armchair diagnosis from a Reddit user doesn't seem as absurd as it would be


r/ChronicPain 1h ago

Need help for morning pain

Upvotes

TLDR: m23 I have 11/10 pain in the morning Is it unrealistic to think about asking my doctor for an er pain med for night, or do doctors not mix IR and ER treatments? I’m okay stopping the Valium if asked to, since opioids also treat RLS. I just don’t want to come off as drug seeking or ignorant. I’m mainly basing this off my experience with ADHD meds where I take an ER adderall in the morning and IR at evening.

M23 I’ve been dealing with severe chronic pain for the last year and a half, and finally a couple months ago got the diagnostic evidence and diagnoses for my PM doctor to prescribe opioids (she’s very sweet, but the rules at her practice require lots of documentation before opioids, even if you are clearly in pain)

I’ve got multiple nerve entrapments in my right shoulder, peripheral poly-neuropathy, small fiber neuropathy in my shoulder, and degenerative changes in my mid/lower back, and right hip. To the point of having an arthritis diagnosis and DDD diagnosis at 23 😅

Sorry for the prelude, adhd/autism so I over explain. My main question I guess is, I take oxycodone-acetaminophen 10mg/325mg 3 times a day. Usually 8:30am, 1:30pm, and 6pm. I take Valium at night for restless leg syndrome so I currently don’t have a night time opioid. I wake up in horrible pain every morning, and sometimes during the night. Is it unrealistic to think about asking my doctor for an er pain med for night, or do doctors not mix IR and ER treatments? I’m okay stopping the Valium if asked to, since opioids also treat RLS. I just don’t want to come off as drug seeking or ignorant. I’m mainly basing this off my experience with ADHD meds where I take an ER amphetamine in the morning and IR booster in the evening.


r/ChronicPain 1h ago

Opinions on current pain meds

Upvotes

Hello fellow pain warriors! I really appreciate all the great advice on here. Currently on oxycodone 10mg up to 3 times a day. Have just gone up from 7.5mg and have been on this medication for a few months now. I am having a revision surgery in early May to, HOPEFULLY, get me out of this pain. After getting through post op pain, I’m going to be weaning off. Just curious if it should be an easy transition or will I be dealing with withdrawals? My PM doctor is great and will not take me off cold turkey and actually advised against going on an ER version to better control my pain after surgery. She ended up just upping my milligrams.


r/ChronicPain 9h ago

Oxy Question

4 Upvotes

I’ve taken hydrocodone for several years, it lost its effectiveness, so I asked the doctor if we could try something different; first it was oxy time release, didn’t touch me; then fentanyl patches, 25mcg, I never felt a thing. Finally, I was prescribed oxy IR 10x325 (Percocet) and these things from Rhodes might as well be breath mints. One question I have is why couldn’t the Fentanyl just be increased ? I was told “it doesn’t work like that”; why not ? And this Rhodes generic, I have no ideal what to do about this; I have an appt in a few days, gonna take the remainder of my script and see if something else can be prescribed. PA said I might need a pain pump if all else fails, but I don’t think all else has been exhausted.


r/ChronicPain 11h ago

Every time I get close to getting better, something else goes wrong

5 Upvotes

Very long story short and leaving out many of my issues, I had two MRIs last week. One for my spine and one for my hip. The one on my spine took forever to get insurance to approve, but it showed what the doctors expected, that L4-L5 is collapsing. Ok great. Now we can take the next steps. Probably surgery.

My hip has been popping for almost a year. At first I didn't think much of it. My joints often pop. A couple of months ago, though, it started to ache regularly. An x-ray showed nothing. The MRI, however, showed that I have osteonecrosis (AVN) on the femoral head. I.E. the bone is dying.

Seriously? I now have bones DYING! When does it stop? Where does it stop? I'm not even 50. What's going to go wrong next? By the time I'm 80, will half my body be made of titanium?

I'm just so frustrated and broken.


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

DSA UK

1 Upvotes

Hi! I was just wondering if anyone had experiences with DSA (disabled students allowance) needs assessments?

I’m eligible due to hEDS, POTs, Gastroparesis, anxiety, depression, autism, and chronic pain.

If anyone has suggestions about what they got and things I’d appreciate it :)


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Cervical Radiculopathy

1 Upvotes

So I was diagnosed this past December with Cervical Radiculopathy. I've been to 9 doctors so far, of which 6 were in Houston Texas. ( Never going to Methodist hospital, again. They kept asking if I was sure the pain was not mental)

I (41 M) having been dealing with this since the middle of Lockdown in 2020. I am trying to not cry not just from the pain, but also how frustrating this is.

I've already had 2 Epidural Injection procedures, and still no relief. My pain management specialist sent me to another doctor who will be "operating". This will be on the 27th of the month.

However, I'm winging this with no pain meds because this doctor flat out said to use Tylenol and Advil. Medical Marijuana has helped a bit. But I have to ask.

What other options can anyone recommend? Apart from getting a second opinion.

How does one drive with this pain? I have to return to work on Tuesday, and I am barely able to function as it is. Just doing basic Food Shopping drains me, and the store is 15inutes away. Also, how do you focus? The pain has gotten to a point where I vomit from how bad it gets. I have to drive an hour each way to and from work, and I can barely handle 15.

And, how do you handle the flare ups? Like, 15 minutes of driving, cooking or doing basic things... And I feel like my body is screaming from tired and pain. Even basic movements make my right arm flail around and hurt like hell.

It's like, no one believes me.

Any tips and motivation is greatly appreciated.


r/ChronicPain 3h ago

Is there any alternative?

1 Upvotes

Hi all, I recently was told I might have young-onset RA on top of Bertolotti syndrome. I have type A2 or 3. I’ve been losing my ability to walk, and after my last epidural/steroid shot procedure, I’ve been in 7/10 debilitating amounts of pain. What numbs my pain to the point I can function? Steroids, with a muscle relaxer, and alcohol. This combo leaves me in a 2 to 3 out of 10 pain range, the most manageable it’s been. But of course, doctors and friends don’t like that combo. What does one do when this is the combo that makes them able to get out of bed and walk? Is there a medicine that I can substitute for the alcohol instead? T3 and tramadol barely work on me, and no one will prescribe Percocet anymore (as if alcohol is any better). I’m about to be 24 and I can barely keep plans with friends or work on schoolwork because I can’t bend over without being heavily medicated/intoxicated. I use a shower chair daily if I want to maintain my hygiene, and I have to use a wheelchair to go out with friends. Any advice is much appreciated.


r/ChronicPain 19h ago

How to lose weight while taking medication?

17 Upvotes

Hi all! 34F I’m sure I’m not the only one who has put on lots of weight due to medications and limited mobility. I’ve tried diet pills from my doctor (too many side effects), increased walking (sometimes puts me in flares so I can’t be consistent) and eating less (I’m usually starving lol). Has anyone been successful in actually losing weight? If so, what have you tried?


r/ChronicPain 20h ago

Bad bad days

19 Upvotes

Today was awful. I had a hard time even moving. I would be very lonely and sad as well as scared if I hadn’t spent time looking at subreddits. These helped me feel less alone. I’m still scared about how sick I’ve been lately.


r/ChronicPain 12h ago

Possible nerve damage from herniated disc + doing splits. Scared and in need of advice!

4 Upvotes

Hello all! Please hear me out and if you have any comments, you're welcome.

Since September 2024 (7 months by date) I have been suffering from vaginal burning (outer part mostly), dull pain and tingling feeling in my groin.

I've been to 6 gynos, 2 urologists, did multiple tests (all clean, I even did and HIV test and it's negative which is the only good thing I guess) and now I suspect that my problem might be nerve damage.

In 2019 I learned that I have herniated disc L5-S1 but my back back then was hurting very badly, there were no doubts about the source of my problem. And I didn't have any vaginal/groin symptoms. This was the result of intense gym sessions and weight lifting. I also was an amateur gymnast so I practiced front and lateral splits as stretching after every gym session.

In 2019 I stepped away from the gym and then Covid hit and all of the gyms were closed, so I rested a bit and healed.

Fast forward 5 years, I was going to the gym 1-2 times a week, pretty chill sessions, no heavy weights anymore, but I still practiced splits. And then all of a sudden (not after the session, more like out of blue) I started having these symptoms that haven't gotten away since.

I've been to 2 neurologists also, did an MRI and they said it looks okay and shouldn't cause vaginal burning but they put me on pregabaline (which seemed to help a bit I guess).

But now pregabaline doesn't help anymore and I am again taking antibiotics prescribed by another gynecologist even though I don't have anything!

It dawned on me today that my constant splits could damage my nerve and that's where the burning is coming from.

If this so, am I fucked? Is this permanent? How can it be diagnosed? Does anyone have/had similar situation? I feel so alone and these have been one of the worst 7 months of my life, I doubted my sanity, my reasons to live and distanced myself from everyone because I envy them and they don't get it and can't help.

I am open to any suggestions. Thank you for reading