1. < Spine Health

Chronic Back Pain for Years

Posted by jlfisher56 @jlfisher56, May 2, 2017

6 back surgeries (extensive cervical and lumbar fusions) with neurological complications. Left with chronic pain. Accident happened in Nursing career 1992 and worked with first fusions until 1999 (failed fusions). At my age, and as a former nurse educator, I never wanted to had to rely on medication/s for the severe pain. Having thoroughly exhausted exploring sites using non-pharmaceutical methods, using psychological methods, biofeedback, trying to accept my limitations, i.e., I still believe somewhere...out there...is hope. The strong medicine has caused gastroparesis, further complicating my health problems. They are too numerous to write and I will not focus on them. I am looking for "help" and guidance. If I can be of assistance to anyone throughout their trials, (perhaps similar to some of what I have gone through), I will.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Spine Health Support Group.

lioness | @lioness | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for..." + (show)
@lifetime

Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for a pap smear and/or a mammogram. One time, he said to me, "You know, I don't really care if you EVER want me to schedule them. I am PAID as a doctor to SAY I care, but truthfully, I couldn't care less.".
I left there thinking that maybe all doctors secretly feel this way, and maybe my doctor was just being exceptionally truthful to me and I should feel honored.
Perhaps this explains his attitude about my back pain now..???

Jump to this post

@lifetime my civilian Dr.is concerned about my health not there image

REPLY
lifetime | @lifetime | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for..." + (show)
@lifetime

Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for a pap smear and/or a mammogram. One time, he said to me, "You know, I don't really care if you EVER want me to schedule them. I am PAID as a doctor to SAY I care, but truthfully, I couldn't care less.".
I left there thinking that maybe all doctors secretly feel this way, and maybe my doctor was just being exceptionally truthful to me and I should feel honored.
Perhaps this explains his attitude about my back pain now..???

Jump to this post

How blessed you are!! I am so happy for you.. you are a wonderful, caring person and deserve no less!!!

REPLY
lifetime | @lifetime | Jun 21, 2018

I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, and just feel too guilty because I am bringing all my back pain/doctor problems to this forum.
I will then say good-bye and thank you to all..I just have to defeat my own problems and handle my doctor the best way I can...
But....Thank you again, with all my heart.....

REPLY
22 replies
cognac | @cognac | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, and just feel too guilty because I..." + (show)
@lifetime

I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, and just feel too guilty because I am bringing all my back pain/doctor problems to this forum.
I will then say good-bye and thank you to all..I just have to defeat my own problems and handle my doctor the best way I can...
But....Thank you again, with all my heart.....

Jump to this post

@lifetime, just something to think about. You have used language like "very desperately", "ruining my life", "feel too guilty" which leads me to believe that perhaps you are also very depressed. If you go ahead and get a pap smear and a mammogram, the ob-gyn might be on another "team". He/she will at least be another person to whom you might be able to speak without repercussions from your pain doctor. And if you mention how depressed you are, maybe he/she can refer you to another doctor who can prescribe what my doctor and I found after 2 years of trying different meds - Cymbalta. (I know it will be time consuming and a pain seeing all the different people, but you got to admit it might be a good idea to get the pap and mammo exams.) Anyway, Cymbalta. It's an anti-depressant that is not addictive, levels out your mood, and helps chronic back pain. It helps me. Let me make this perfectly clear. I am not a doctor!! I am not a nurse!! I have no medical training whatsoever!!! But I have been through the wringer with doctor after doctor, nurse after nurse, MRI after CAT scan after MRI, etc. etc. etc. And since I'm devious by nature, I've learned a few ways to sometimes, if I'm lucky, play their game and sometimes win. If you truly wish to say good-bye, I will respect your wishes. I wish you the very best of luck. But I also truly hope you will stay in touch and let us know how you're getting along. @cognac
PS. If I'm thrown out of this group for what I just wrote, I wish all the other members of the group good luck in finding pain relief.

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "The support and encouragement i have gotten here has been just unbelievable!! I have never gotten..." + (show)
@lifetime

The support and encouragement i have gotten here has been just unbelievable!! I have never gotten SUCH CARING even close to this!!! I can't stress that enough!!
Sadly, I have severely re-hurt my back over and over these past few years especially, because my doctor told me I had absolutely no limits on what I could do. I have leaned over many times to pick up heavy things, only to be "frozen" in gut-wrenching pain, and not able to straighten back up for at least a week. I really thought my doctor knew best.
I sadly have no family near by who can help. I live alone (my fiance died unexpectedly several years ago due to an unknown congenital heart condition) and must do everything myself. My doctor always said that it was OK.
I have no other health insurance, or recourse.
One hard and ugly truth I have learned over and over about the VA hospital here.. if you slight a certain doctor, not follow what he says or try to turn him in, you PAY for it a hundred times over. I hesitate to even mention specific circumstances as most people would probably not even believe that any doctor could EVER stoop to or dare to do such things.
The more I try to complain or try to stand up for myself in even the smallest way, the more certain doctors can (and do!) get back at you. It becomes so brutal and traumatizing, over and over and over. But it is REALITY.
It makes it worse, I believe, that I am a woman, as certain male doctors will shamelessly and openly harass and cruelly sexually abuse women patients, with no fear of reprimand whatsoever.
PLEASE PLEASE NOTE: MOST DOCTORS here are VERY ethical and VERY kind to all. I just happened to have gotten the very bad one or two.

Jump to this post

@lifetime keep that positive attitude, without iT a person is lost.
JK

REPLY
coquifoife | @coquifoife | Jun 21, 2018

I, too, have had terrible back pain, fibromyalgia and all over pain. My PCP prescribed Cymbalta for the back pain and fibromyalgia. Didn’t cure it, but it is better. Worth a try. Good luck.

REPLY
coquifoife | @coquifoife | Jun 21, 2018

I also have gastroparesis. I’m having my 3rd gastric emptying study next week. There is a new procedure to fix that. It’s called G-POEM. Google it. If you have questions, let. Hug!

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, and just feel too guilty because I..." + (show)
@lifetime

I have been doing a lot of serious thinking, and just feel too guilty because I am bringing all my back pain/doctor problems to this forum.
I will then say good-bye and thank you to all..I just have to defeat my own problems and handle my doctor the best way I can...
But....Thank you again, with all my heart.....

Jump to this post

@lifetime What cognac says has merit to it if a Dr does say you need something for depression besides Cymbalta there are other meds also like Lyrica ,savella I wish you the best and if you feel like communications again we,'ll be here to listen

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for..." + (show)
@lifetime

Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for a pap smear and/or a mammogram. One time, he said to me, "You know, I don't really care if you EVER want me to schedule them. I am PAID as a doctor to SAY I care, but truthfully, I couldn't care less.".
I left there thinking that maybe all doctors secretly feel this way, and maybe my doctor was just being exceptionally truthful to me and I should feel honored.
Perhaps this explains his attitude about my back pain now..???

Jump to this post

@lifetime I think there are certain things that they must suggest to you but they cannot push you if you don’t want them. For instance it was suggested a long time ago that I have a colonoscopy. I refused it and my PCP did not push it at all. She had to suggest it though. Eventually I knew two people in their 50s who died from colon cancer so I did end up having colonoscopies. That is probably what your doctor was trying to say — that it was up to you, but he had to mention it.
I hope you don’t leave the group, we do care. I hope you find a doctor with whom you are more comfortable. I think the suggestion by @cognac is a good one. That will be another doctor that hopefully will be on your “team” and be supportive of you. It can’t hurt.
JK

REPLY
JK | @contentandwell | Jun 21, 2018
In reply to @lifetime "Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for..." + (show)
@lifetime

Every so often, my VA Primary Care doctor will ask me about making an appointment for a pap smear and/or a mammogram. One time, he said to me, "You know, I don't really care if you EVER want me to schedule them. I am PAID as a doctor to SAY I care, but truthfully, I couldn't care less.".
I left there thinking that maybe all doctors secretly feel this way, and maybe my doctor was just being exceptionally truthful to me and I should feel honored.
Perhaps this explains his attitude about my back pain now..???

Jump to this post

@lifetime. I have become very skeptical of many doctors. I do still go to a gynecologist and I love him, he really does seem to care, and my transplant surgeon and almost all of the doctors that I have had at MGH have been wonderful. I think though that with the doctors working for the hospitals, basically having 9 - 5 jobs because hospitalists take care of the patients if they are unfortunate to require hospitalization, has created doctors who care very superficially. It’s just a job to many of them. I really hate this system. If you are sick enough to have to be hospitalized, do you want to see a doctor with whom you have developed a relationship, or a stream of strangers who are hospitalists?
JK

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.