Severe permanent nerve damage to lower Back & right leg into and including foot...3 major surgeries. 1st 8 years ago to fuse sacroiliac area with instrumentation/titanium screws/rods/crowns, DID NOT WORK, surgery again to remove instrumentation in case of allergy... found spurs & hole in spinal duma with spinal nerve damaged from pulling in & out of hole (Surgeon said,"Imagine a rope being pulled in & out of a knot hole in wood< frayed & destroyed)". Repaired hole, removed spur, etc... DID NOT WORK...
3rd & final surgery-Exploratory-Found spinal fluid & another hole, Also A Large bone spur in back area that could not be seen on MRI/Discography< etc... Fixed all they could...Felt they finally found problem, open All Pathways Wide As Possible... Now waiting for nerve to heal as much as it will, told will know as of JULY 2016 what level pf pain I will have to live with.
I AM IN AGONY. During this time myy paim management doctor moved & I was tossed to some guy that wont even check my history, thinks taking way too much meds.
I have always been opiate tolerant all my life (4 shots of Novacaine as a child for 1 filling) Now with taking opiates for 20 years I am even more tolerant.
he has droppped my medication to less than 25% of what I was taking. I now have no life. (Current Meds: Norco 10?325 1 every 6 hours {was taking 2 every 4 hrs},; Totally dropped Some {Was taking 1 every 3 to 4 hours (Got down to 1 every 6 ( Normal Dose): Put on Baclofen 20 mg 3 times a day-Now have constant muscle spasms (Contacted Dr. Told to "Hang in there": SOMA WORKED GREAT (Dr. Doesn't like it-I know the possible issues & have taken it for 20 years, if any damage is done, iot has been done & I accept that & am willing to live with it. At least I can live somewhat of a life. One other med is Oxycontin 40mg 2 x's a day (WAS taking 080 mg every 6 hours with 2 Norco 10/325 in 3 hours /with 350 mg Soma (Both Every 6, just alternated to keep somewhat level pain. Along with Percocet:(Oxycodone/Tylenol 10/325 every 3 hours as needed)
I came off of Fentanyl 100 mcg/hr after surgery by myself-Slowly-100 to 75 to 50 to 25 to off, every 2 weeks changed, & now off. BUT, I would like to have some Actiq/Fentanyl suckers to use for PT (Cannot do PT due to pain level now)
So, My ? is; Wher can I find a doctor who is not afraid of "Narcotic Therapy" ? i HAVE TRIED IT ALL FROM TENS UNITS INSTALLED TO PAIN PUMPS, WHICH MY DR. NOW WANTS TO TRY AGAIN,. SAYS HE CAN DO IT "Right"-i DON'T TRUST WHAT HE IS DOING NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HE CONTROLS THE PUMP? Will he give me enough to manage my pain correctly or play god as he has and destroy whats left of my family, my life and my marriage. Current meds cannot do anything but get to restroom & back to chair. Now having problems with left side due to prolonged siting/laying, Have to try & sleep in chair. Really I pass-out from exhaustion, cannot sleep due to pain level too high. Now am developing other problems such as skin issues "Psoriasis" on legs & in scrotum area. My Backs Skin feels like it is on fire (Tried Lotions/Solorcaine, Benedryl, etc... to no effect) Again, when I tell Dr. he says "Hang in there" what, until I die from pain & other issues?
So, can you help me?
1.Pain level? Need new Dr.?-(I live in Morro Bay, CA A Small town of 10,000-Close to San Luis Obispo, Had to drive to San Jose, CA (Los Gatos, CA for my Surgeon & Other pain management specialist that helped me get my life back--But, It's 3 hours away, & Pain Dr. is no longer there)
Where I live, These Guys Called, "Pain Management Specialists" I would call them "Torture Specialists" have everything in area sown up because they are the only ones in the area I can find & others I call say, "Get off all medicine & then come see me", I tell them, "I won't be able to come see you because I will be in the Hospital."
Sorry I am desperate, (I Will not do it-But, I can see why so many Chronic Pain people are now going to illegal drug dealers to get medicine to help their pain, cant get it from Dr.'s) Nothing personal...
I am a Pastor & cannot minister to my people in the church. And, my poor family is suffering with me & my wife must do EVERYTHING & she is getting tired. We are 54(Myself) & 53 in age. Not too old, But not too young either. (My Nero-Surgeon Dr. John Lettice of Los Gatos, CA Did all my surgeries & is a great Dr. _If you want my history you can call him at 1-408-370-5060: His Pain/Anesthesiologist Dr. Is Dr. Kelly, Finally on 3rd operation woke up not screaming in pain. Put catheter with FENTANYL & Other Opiates Directly to Nerve via catheter, along with Tramadol/Demerol/Morphine/Etc Pump with button for me to push every 10 minutes.... Don't know why Pain pump & Nerve shots don't work. Nerve Shots only make it worse.
So, Summery:
I am on 1. Norco 10/325-1 every 6 hours (6 per day-too low of dosage). (Was On 2 every 4 hours)
2. Baclofen 20 mg every 8 hours (NOT WORKING) (Was on Soma 350 mg 1 every 6 hours)
3. Oxycontin 40 mg 1 every 12 hours. (NOT WORKING) (Was Taking 80mg every 6 hours & the changing to 8 mg Buprenorphine/Subutex every 6 hours evry 3-4 months to help with tolerance)
(Also had Xanax added by Surgeon/Pain Dr. At 2nd Surgery to help with pain)
(Now taking 10 mg Valium--Present Dr. Wants me to stop it immediately cold, with no tapering off--No Way-It Even Says In The medical Literature, Which you know--"Do not stop taking without 1st speaking to doctor & tapering off to prevent severe withdrawal, even death.") Asked him, he said he would send me to a psychiatrist if I want to continue, Hasn't he read the Medical Articles about using Benz....to help with opiates for Chronic Pain Relief?) By the way, I have my Masters of Science in Psychology & wrote my dissertation on "Chronic Pain" and I have a Th.D. In Theology.
So I am Dr. Mark S. Hicks, with an M.S. in Psychology, A Bach. in Psychology with A Minor in Pastoral Ministry. If you put stock in all that learning I am not a dummy. But, Life has taught me a whole lot more.
Anyway, hope I haven't scared you away, Needed to vent a little due to so much pain. ( I am litterally losing my mind to it, which I know how to battle) I have be3en to it all & done it all, tried it all when it comes to Chronic "SEVERE" Permanent Nerve Damage." (That's what my Surgeon calls it & other specialists. I was told, "It won't get any better, Maybe a little, But by July of 2016, 3 years after your 3rd & final surgery, you will know what you will have to live with the rest of your life." (I would have more surgeries, If it will help-But, my Surgeon wants to save it for when I get older, Says too much Anesthesia already. 3 surgeries-1st 13 hours; 2nd 7 hours, 3rd 7 1/2 hours long.)
Help me please. I don't know what else to do.
Call me at (805) 772-2081.
Or my e-mail is below.
Just need guidance before I go crazy...
THANK YOU!
Mark