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Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain Due To Trigeminal Neuralgia
Question: I stole 12 vicodens from a neighbor as I had Trigeminal Neuralgia and was desperate, in fact if I had a gun I would have taken the left side of my face off. On that day I also called my pain management doctor who never received my message. In April I did have the surgery for TN. I also am status post Cauda Equina Syndrome since 1998 and am left with chronic pain and now needs my knees replaced. There are many anti-seizure and anti-depressants I can't take, my allergy list is quite long. I have now been labeled an abuser. I have gone thru cortisone shots, ablations, tens units and spinal cord stimulator trial, pain psychology. I am unable to stand longer then 10 minutes without screeching back pain. The meds allow me to function and do the things I am left able to do. How do I ask my doctor to trust me again or do I change doctors.
Brief Answer:
Talk honestly to your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
This is a very difficult problem. It certainly sounds like you will need narcotic pain medication to relieve your pain and help you get more functional. I would suggest that you talk honestly to your doctor about your pain and desire to be more functional in your life. When I get into this type of situation with one of my patients I sometimes will give the patient only a week of pain medication and then have them follow up with me in a week. I may ask them to do a drug screen as well and sign a controlled substances agreement saying that they will not take narcotic prescriptions from any other doctor. Eventually once I am able to trust that the patient is not abusing the medication then I will go ahead and prescribe it once a month. If your doctor agrees to this it is very important that you take the medication exactly as prescribe. I hope this helps and good luck to you.
Talk honestly to your doctor
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
This is a very difficult problem. It certainly sounds like you will need narcotic pain medication to relieve your pain and help you get more functional. I would suggest that you talk honestly to your doctor about your pain and desire to be more functional in your life. When I get into this type of situation with one of my patients I sometimes will give the patient only a week of pain medication and then have them follow up with me in a week. I may ask them to do a drug screen as well and sign a controlled substances agreement saying that they will not take narcotic prescriptions from any other doctor. Eventually once I am able to trust that the patient is not abusing the medication then I will go ahead and prescribe it once a month. If your doctor agrees to this it is very important that you take the medication exactly as prescribe. I hope this helps and good luck to you.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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