If possible, I would prefer to receive my answer from a pain management physician if one is available. I have been treated by a Board-certified physician in Naples, Florida, for over 13 years. I have remained stable and have worked as an infusion RN while maintained on 40 mg Methadone daily for cervical radiculopathy and radiculitis, ( traumatic injury in 1993 with fusions and nerve damage) neuro pain in the area of my left greater trochanter/femur ( sustained a fall taking my garbage out and shattered the trochanter and fractured thefemur and now have a titanium rod, dynamic screw...bolts and plates. The rod extends into the left knee, but I now need knee replacements from Erosive Osteoarthritis and the docs are scratching their heads on what to do with the knee) and pain in both feet, ankles, and toes. Both knees are bone on bone, but the osteoporosis is a roadblock as the docs are concerned with the healing process. Bottom line, if there is a joint, I hurt there. I cannot take Neurontin as I suffered a pseudo-DIC syndrome and bled from every orifice until they got it stopped. I take Celebrex, but will eventually have the same issues I have had with all the other anti-inflammatories...GI distress. I have been through numerous medication protocols and finally found that the Methadone and Celebrex gave me enough relief that I could function and not be a slug with pain. I have minimal family and want to remain independent. I am doing my best at the age of 62 to function without being a burden to society. The problem is I recently moved to be nearer my daughter, who has my granddaughter and so I wanted to be closer to them, My pain management physician, who is Board certified, wrote a letter for me to bring to the new doc (he referred me to the only one he knew in Atlanta but she has retired) along with some of my records. He gave me three RX scripts with post-dated not to fill dates so that I would have my medication while securing a pain doctor. The problem is that I have been trying for almost 3 months to see someone and it is impossible. I cannot see a Rheumatologist at Emory until July, and I cannot see a pain management doctor because I do not have a referral. I cannot get a referral because I cannot get a doctor early enough. My insurance does not require it, but Emory does. This is frightening. I do not know what to do. I am terrified as I know what the pain is like and my docs told me that I could not just stop the Methadone after being on it since 1996. I was told by one PCP to just stop taking it! And I was told my an internal medicine doctor that he would not see me because he did not support treating anyone with Methadone unless he or she was an addict, and even then, he could not treat with Methadone. He wouldnt take me as a patient! It is scary. I have never encountered this kind of treatment. I am staying with friends and if I cannot move....I just do not want to do that to anyone. No one should have to deal with my pain. I do not know where to turn. I do not want to have to drive 10 hours to Naples just to get my prescriptions. I want to go back to work but know it will be impossible without my medication. My hands are so very painful as well. It is so depressing and I dont know what to do or how to get help. I was told by the registration desk at Emory that the pain doctors do not prescribe opoids for non-cancer pain. Please...where do I go as I will be out of my medication in less than a week. I have been trying to get in with someone for almost 3 months.
Hello, As a first line management, you can take analgesics like Paracetamol or Aceclofenac for pain relief. If symptoms persist, it is better to consult a physician and get evaluated. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Shinas Hussain, General & Family Physician