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Deeply frustrated: Unresolved pain due to geniculate neuralgia
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (18)Comment receiving replies
This is my second day and second post in this group. It is also the 7th day since I was in my neurologist office asking about a change in medication dose since I am having a horrible flare up of occipital neuralgia and I have called the office every day they were open, multiple times per day, and been told the doctor hasn’t reviewed my case yet. I called and complained to the manager. She was apologetic and said the doctor would call me by 5. It’s now 5:03pm and no call. I’m in pain that’s bad enough I should be at the ER. The only reason I’m not there is I live alone with animals and have nobody to care for them if I end up needing to stay. I’m pretty much nonfunctional. I’m screwing up at work which is really bad considering I’m also a doctor (veterinary surgeon). I saw my pain doctor yesterday and he blew me off. Said he couldn’t help but took my copay, wrote me a script for narcotics, and sent me away. Narcotics aren’t helping me much if at all. Neuropathic meds don’t really help either. I react poorly to most of them. My body and life are falling apart and I have no lifeline. I’m only 40 but I’m looking forward to the end of my life. This is not a suicide threat but simply a thought of relief for when the day finally comes to end my suffering. I would be a liar if I said I wasn’t envious of the patients I’ve put down this week.
Replies to "This is my second day and second post in this group. It is also the 7th..."
I'm sorry that you're having these issues but when you're not satisfied with the care you receive, you need to consider changing doctors. As far as the ER and the issue of not having someone to care for your animals if you're admitted, that is something that you are going to need to address and plan for just in case. It sounds like you're going to be facing a possible hospital stay somewhere in your future.
@drmermaidfish1
I know you have tried everything but consider taking R-alpha lipoic acid 600 mg twice a day. Must be the R type. Take it for at least 6 to 8 weeks to see if it helps. I have CIDP and the R-alpha lipoic acid helps a little with that nerve pain. I wish you the best. I am so sorry that our medical community has failed you.
@drmermaidfish1 Similar experience has allowed me some incite into your situation. First-just because someone has qualified as a "doctor" doesn't mean they have the empathy factor in their personality to truly serve well-especially when their manner causes hope to fade! Also, to desire that the chronic pain, at times unbearable to stop is the height of sanity, and when irresponsibly treated by your physician and with a history of failed pain control attempts, the idea of the end of life with it's freedom from pain starts to seem most reasonable. That is not being suicidal which is unreasonable, that is losing hope which is the beginning of despair. I have been there and maybe that thought will reoccur, but I have found there is ALWAYS a glimmer of hope, no matter how much pain has tried to remove it. It might seem baseless and irrational, but the desire to live is part of the human spirit and I gladly hold on to it, hopefully this might help.
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Neurology assistant finally called me after a week of silence and said the doctor wasn't comfortable adjusting my medications since I'm also on narcotics. He has had me on clonazepam for the last 2 years since I started seeing him so if he suddenly stops prescribing my medications and I go into withdrawal, I am going to sue. They acknowledged that I was in a lot of pain but their only solution for me was to go to the ER if it was that bad. No help whatsoever. Thanks a lot for absolutely nothing. I'm about ready to give up. Screw human healthcare. There is no compassion. That seems to go out the window once you're too old to see a pediatrician anymore.