Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

@hello, I am Peach.
after suffering many months not knowing if this new different pain is my rheumatoid arthritis or my psoriatic arthritis I after two MRI's I now know it is my spine. Two bulging discs and a pinched nerve. Two days from now, Monday, I will go for a spinal injection to hopefully relieve the pain. After that I will get a second doctors opinion for an operation, Yes, at age 80, i cannot stand the pain and being doped up to take away some of the pain. So this woman who does not gamble, will gamble on an operation. Do not know if this wise. Any suggestion please? P>S> perhaps you should know that the pain is so bad that the only way I fall to sleep is when I pass out from the pain. And the pain brings up the blood pressure to a dangerous level even with blood pressure medication. So, once again please, I will appreciate any suggestions please. (Am worried the operation can make me a cripple). Suggestions......

Hello Peach I would wait till you have your pain injection before you make any decisions I've had the shots and they gave me relief for 6 months I had a fractured back that causes my pain.I will be going for one soon.

Hello Mike (@cleane1), welcome to Mayo Connect. We are glad you found us too. I've never been on venlafaxine but I understand it's difficult to taper off quickly. I did find some information about avoiding withdrawal symptoms here:
-- http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/anti-depressants-withdrawal/avoiding-withdrawal-symptoms/

Also, there is an existing discussion you might want to read through on Connect - "Tips on minimising withdrawal symptoms from Effexor (aka Venlafaxine)". Here is a link to the discussion:
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tips-on-minimising-withdrawal-symptoms-from-effexor-aka-venlafaxine/bookmark/?ajax_hook=action&_wpnonce=cdb9c0c99c

I’m also inviting @danybegood1 @jenapower @cathy615 and @targa to join in this discussion to share their thoughts about tapering off venlafaxine.

Mike have you talked to your doctor about a tapering off plan to get off of venlafaxine?

John

@jimhd Since the doctors I am seeing are all in the same health system they share information-even the therapist I was seeing. Things I did not want known and I mentioned this to her on last visit. She was not aware that everyone-even nurses can see my chart. I was horrified when I check my portal and saw this information at the top of my medical chart. These were things from long ago and did not need to be in my medical chart. So embarrassing. She removed the info-too late as once it is out there it does not go a way. I have not attempted suicide since 1995. How far will I get with this info from so long ago...doubtful very far. I mentioned this to the therapist when I saw notes from a visit even though it was in my email. She told me I was over reacting and that the notes were only visible to me...WRONG! She now knows differently-some damning past history that I have moved on from. I think this is bordering on a Hippa violation and believe me not going there again. So no, that therapist can no longer be of help. Struggling at not being terrified. All of that was so long ago. So the PTSD is giving me fits. IWhat I say to a therapist about the past ought not to be revealed in my medical records. I am old and my life is pretty much over and I do far better...trust no one is what I now know. Her ignorance is not her fault nor mine. I hope this therapist learned something-I know I did. PTSD makes things unrealistic i suppose.

Hello Kelsey, thank you for this group. I don't know where to start describing my pain. My chronic pain runs about an 8 without meds. Don't know what I would do if I didn't have them to help me function. Yes I'm just a lil upset and Trump and the DEA about taking away our meds. I have degenerative scoliosis which I just have had my third surgery for. In April of last year I had two rods screwed into my spine starting at about the top of my shoulder blades down to my tailbone. A month later they went in from the front and fused the bottom part of my spine. Just a month ago I fell in the middle of the night and cracked both rods and had to have surgery again. I have dealt with the pain of scoliosis all my life. I started wearing a brace in the second grade until the 6th grade 24/7 except getting out each day long enough to take a bath. In 2012 I learned I also had multiple sclerosis, lupus and in 1999 I was diagnosed as Bipolar. But between the pain from my back, the lupus, and especially the MS I suffer tremendously. Don't know how I will survive trying to deal with the pain completely by will. I must say I'm very scared.

These are pictures of how I could not stand up straight before surgery and the hardware they put in me.

LILG, I understand what you are saying. A lot of us on here do. I have a question, If you knew they were going to refuse you pain meds, would you have allowed them to do the surgery?

Parus. My doctor gave me Morphine. I wanted off. He was the one who gave me the drug, but it HE that wrote on my chart. I too was furious. He was covering his butt.

Peach. I am so sorry. I am 75 and have been complaining about my back for years and years. The last doctor I went to looked at my Xrays and said that I am loaded with Arthritis AND, I have an extra Vertebra in the lower end. NOW WHAT? Think about the surgery. Maybe it is best to take the pain meds. My daughter had back surgery and it worked well. MY husband not so much. Let us know how it all turns out. Oregangirl

Hi Lilgrizz, has your doctor already taken, or told you they are going to take away your pain medication? Do you see your primary care doctor for pain management? My primary care doc was unwilling to continue managing my pain meds and referred me to pain management. It took a couple of tries, but I really like my pain management doctor and she has been very helpful and respectful. And she manages my pain medications very well. I know a lot of people are having this kind of thing happen, but not usually if they're seeing a pain management doctor. I think it's the primary care docs who are scared of these "guidelines" and acting inappropriately. Hugs