I am writing today because I had a horrible experience yet again with another doctor. I was wondering how many others have had these things happen to them. first let me say I had shingles in my eye then encephalitis, since then I have had post herpetic neuralgia, fatigue, neck pain, 4 bulging discs in my back, headaches, shingles 2 more times and now TN. so I am forced to goto pain management because my primary says he can no longer prescribe ANY pain meds due to all the new regulations. I was only getting vicodin 7.5 from him and dealing ok with just that. Now I have TN and need pain meds but I cannot seem to find any doctors that will write a prescription for me ! yesterday i saw a pain doc that shined light in my eyes, bent my head and neck all ways, then pressed on my face and started an episode. he told me he dosent write pain medication scripts, what PAIN MANAGEMENT DR im confused ! and so he also told me that he will not treat my pain until i quit smoking because he believes the TN and other nerve pain is from smoking not the shingles 3 times or the brain injury where the myelin was destroyed ! go figure today my neck hurts so bad and i have nothing for pain and I know its from him messing with it. IM SO AT THE END of my limit for pain........
While smoking may make it worse, it did not cause your pain. I also know most pain doctors will not write narcotic pain scripts at the first appointment, but the fact the doctor that saw you was so dismissive is just wrong!
Are you stuck with this person, or can you request another doctor?
Im fine with them not writing it on the first visit but how is it ok for him to use my smoking against me , its not illegal and its not hurting him, I think it should be illegal for them to ride on such a high horse ! I can request another one but of course then down here that is considered doctor shopping ! yes I am doctor shopping , trying to find a doctor with a freaking heart and that dosent assume that everyone is a junkie !
It is not ok. He was dismissive, and rude, and I do not blame you for being angry.
newmustangsally said:
Im fine with them not writing it on the first visit but how is it ok for him to use my smoking against me , its not illegal and its not hurting him, I think it should be illegal for them to ride on such a high horse ! I can request another one but of course then down here that is considered doctor shopping ! yes I am doctor shopping , trying to find a doctor with a freaking heart and that dosent assume that everyone is a junkie !
Can you find one in a new group… See if find one online with good reviews!
I am so sorry for your terrible experience! I too have been dismissed by that at a pain management clinic. I am sorry you had to go through it. I am angry for you. So many Doctors just love the power they hold over us. It makes me sick! It will be ok. You CAN find a Dr. with a heart. Unfortunately it might take a little bit of time. We are always here for you in the meantime.
(( hugs )) Mimi
If your TN is from smoking then mine must be caused by practising yoga too frequently prior to ATN! Now I get almost no exercise since the pain started and guess what...my symptoms have not improved:/ Sorry for the rant, I just can not stand arrogant doctors any longer. And I don't understand why pain management doctors wouldn't prescribe pain meds...is there something wrong with the US? It's just that I've heard the same thing from several people on here and elsewhere.
also been dismissed by pain centers they just give up .....was sent to a "Pain Psychologist" who said the poor doctors get frustrated too at not curing the pain so they give up and her RX was "breathing"
I'm in a similar boat. Pain specialist is worthless at treating pain.
The first follow up after my initial consultation he said he thought it was from smoking and caffeine, and to stop both. The thing is, I didn't smoke before the TN started, and repeatedly said that, I started when things got really stressful 6+ months after the pain started.
He doesn't know anything about nerve related pain, he sent me to a shrink and TMJ specialist who just poked my face and said it seems to be nerve related, and I have a follow up with the pain specialist's assistant, not even him..... Completely fucking worthless. I still have to go to my neuro to get my meds.......even though the same neuro sent me to the pain specialist because he was out of ideas....really frustrating.
I'm new to the forum and every story I've read is like I wrote it myself. I know just how you feel. I even have a spreadsheet with every doctor I've seen, the reason why I've seen them, and what the outcome of the appointment was. I give a copy to every dentist and doctor I see. I feel that they all think I'm crazy, except for my awesome neurosurgeon. However, even my awesome doctor will not prescribe Ativan for me. No doctors like giving out addictive medicine. What gets me is there is a legitimate reason to request addictive meds with TN. Sometimes, I feel it leaves people no choice but to self medicate, which can be even more dangerous. I've too have been dismissed, ignored, and patronized by most health professionals and I so know you're frustration. I'm grateful for Trileptal; it is the only thing that works for me. Keep looking for the right doctor who couples medication with compassion. They are out there. If you ever can come to VA, look up Dr. Sahni...just an amazing guy.
Isnt it crazy that the pain doctors have no idea about the disease that is know as the most painful condition known to man! or that they they wont give pain meds when they are labeled as pain management ! this is as bad as the freaking pharmacist who refused to fill my legitimate prescriptions and when i went above her head she told the manager that i threatened her and she was scared and she had a witness ! WOW a witness yet i was in the car going through the drive through as I get sick of walking into the pharmacies just to be told they dont have my percocet or that they wont fill it with no reason and Ive been told that they have the right not to fill my script with no good reason. Something needs to be done in this country for the honest people who need pain meds.
Where do you live where a pharmacist can do this???? I'd go to the next town over!
Have you tried Lidocaine face patches???
Can take the edge off!!!!
i live in pinellas county florida, its in the clearwater st. petersburg area and I was shocked to find out that they can refuse to fill prescriptions too ! I even contacted the news and they interviewed me but they kinda screwed me cuz they titled the segment "the crack down on pill mills is working" and they talked a very small amount about how people who need pain meds are having a hard time getting their medication. My case is very rare and has many different weird things involved like i cant have vaccines because the docs werent sure if that was what caused my encephalitis and i have had shingles 3 times once in the eye and twice in my ear but i have also had MRSA 4 times mostly on my legs from shaving so I must carry it.so I wont get the shots of botox for fear of it causing E again and im scared to get injections in my back or the one that was offered in my trigeminal nerve up my nose which scared the hell out of me ! anyway the TN is pain is mostly in my eye and my teeth so i havent ever tried a patch on my face. I been taking neurontin but its not cutting it !
Have you ever used lidocaine mouthwash?
There is a nose spray
Maybe there is lidocaien eye drops????
Sorry you are in such a pickle!
I'm waiting for Medical Marijuana to hit all the states ---- works for nerve pain!!!
Lidocaine eye drops are used to numb the eye for surgery. I have come close to asking my primary care doctor to send me to the neuro ophthalmologists at OHSU to see if they would prescribe the drops to me for eye pain.
If you are having that much pain it sounds like a good idea.
saraiderin said:
Lidocaine eye drops are used to numb the eye for surgery. I have come close to asking my primary care doctor to send me to the neuro ophthalmologists at OHSU to see if they would prescribe the drops to me for eye pain.
thank you guys for all of the ideas, i never even thought of eye drops now that would be amazing seeing as my eye that had shingles in it hurts all the time like its bruised or something. thank you I really appreciate it !
Oh, my last surgery really helped make the eye pain manageable. I also have a really bad hand tremor, and trying to get drops into my eye is challenging. Gone are the days I would have scooped my eye ball out with a serving spoon if I thought it would end the pain.
shadow2 said:
If you are having that much pain it sounds like a good idea.
saraiderin said:Lidocaine eye drops are used to numb the eye for surgery. I have come close to asking my primary care doctor to send me to the neuro ophthalmologists at OHSU to see if they would prescribe the drops to me for eye pain.