Re: Visit to another pain clinic

From: ejulian@attbi.com
Wed Apr 3 17:26:17 2002


At Tue, 2 Apr 2002, rowdyladyrose@aol.com wrote: >
>Well...I just don't know why I keep trying. I always thought of myself
>as a
>realist, but I guess I'm really a misguided optimist.
>
>Again, the 'pain doc' zeroed in on the fibromyalgia and refused to even
>consider any other cause for my continued pain. I let myself down by
>crying in front of him, so now he'll also report to my doctor that I am
>hysterical and need more psychotherapy.
>
>Darn it, I'm getting soooo frustrated with these people!
>
>Here's the text of the letter I'm sending to him and my primary care
>doctor:
>
>Dear Doctor Fibruch:
>
>You don’t know how sorry I am that I had to come see you on a bad pain
>day. It’s hard to think through the pain and make my points
>intelligently. My concern is you did not seem inclined to listen to me
>about any of the other medical problems that I have that are
>contributing to my pain. Focusing only on the FMS, exercise and
>changing medications is not what I expected or wanted.
>I tried to get you to listen to me and it didn’t work, so maybe a
>written communication is appropriate.
>
>I have tried several times to ‘exercise through the pain to get to the
>other side’. I get very mixed messages about this issue. Dr. Berman
>told me that if it hurt an hour after doing a certain type of
>exercising, that I should back off. I’ve gone from full water aerobics,
>to Arthritis Foundation water class, and to a self managed class where
>you can do just as much as you can do and not worry about keeping up
>with anybody else. Even just walking a few laps was too much, no matter
>how many times I tried. Then it got cold and going from a warm pool to
>a cold car would have me in bed for the rest of the day. I am planning
>on trying again, but the Arthritis Foundation’s classes are during the
>day and I am currently trying to hold a job. I was hoping you would
>have some idea for a work-around solution for use of the Center for
>Health Enhancement in the evening, besides the full water aerobics
>class.
>
>The PT department at KU Medical Center instructed me to do light
>stretching exercises and walk when I can. They tried some massage, but
>the effects didn’t last. I do stretches every day and try to take
>breaks during the workday to walk around the little park area outside my
>office.
>
>But the pain doesn’t go away, ever. It is not always FMS pain, but I’m
>sure it makes the FMS worse.
>
>Now, about those other problems you waved off while talking about taking
>me off the pain medications.
>I also have:
>· Osteoarthritis
>· Degenerative disc disease
>· Adhesions related disorder (yes, they do cause pain)
>· Bone spurs in various locations, including spine.
>
>What I am trying to tell you is I that I was hoping we could come up
>with a plan to treat these other problems causing me pain. I have
>already had surgery for the adhesions, but they returned. I can accept
>that further surgery is probably not the answer for the adhesions, but
>pain management is necessary. I will be seeing an orthopedist for my
>knee and hip and am scheduled to see a rheumatologist as well.
>
>As for your recommendation for taking me off the Vicodin, your own
>center’s information packet says: “Use of strong medication for pain
>relief rarely leads to addiction.” From your comments, you don’t believe
>this. I do not take the Vicodin ‘to get high’; I take it in order to
>function. Perhaps you should look at the other causes of my pain more
>closely before taking away my pain medication. The dosage as it is now,
>leaves me at about 50-60% functional as opposed to 10-20% without it.
>
>If the alternative medication you are recommending will work as well as
>the Valium in relieving the muscle spasms, I have no problem giving it a
>trial. The Flexeril did not.
>
>I’m sure I looked and acted depressed when I left your office. I feel
>that I had a right to be that way. You did not listen to me and again I
>feel I am faced with a fight over my capabilities, disabilities and pain
>medication. It is very stressful to continually have my needs ignored
>and still try to fulfill my contractual obligations to my employer. I
>came to the clinic looking for hope, even when I knew you did not take
>my insurance. Now, I will be paying a bill for a visit, which to me
>provided no help or understanding.
>
>I hope you treat other patients with more compassion and realize there
>are no single simple cure alls for every situation, especially when
>dealing with a patient with multiple medical conditions.
>
>Who knows if he'll actually read or care? But I'm trying anyway.
>Hope everyone has a 'good' day.
>kcmo rose

--
you sound a lot like myself.  i too have had many altercations with my doctor.  have given him at least a 1' high stack of papers on "adhesions"  we have agreed that when he goes "back in" to remove other tube ovary and uterus, he will make sure i do not have adhesions and will remove them if i do.  we have discussed barrier methods.  as far as pain meds, i suppose he agrees with me that i do not take them to get "high"  i take them to live my life in a semi-normal fashion.  i pray you have at least one or two semi- pain free days.  and i hope your doc reads your letter instead of letting his nurse do it.  give him my e-mail if he has any questions... LOL

may you carry one and do the best you can. as is all any of us can.


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