Why is it easier to get illegal drugs than help from the medical community???

reply to post by kthxbai


Good point. I will print out a guide today and have hubby help me.

"Honey ATS says you have to come poke me!!......
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.....
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Err not like that!"

He will be so excited!

Im going to keep this simple. Blame the former for the latter.

Yes,it is that simple.

And if anyone here has a brain they'll realize what I mean.

I understand your situation and have been through the wringer with pain issues. Rather than bore you with all the details perhaps I can help by telling you a few things I have learned over the years. Sometimes when you go to a s
Iding fee/community clinic the staff will act as though your issues aren't seriuos enough to warrant something stronger than tramadol,or it worked for them so it will work for you,etc. When the fact of the matter is that they aren't even allowed to prescribe anything stronger at the same time pretending that they could if ot wasn't all in your head. You can tell because they won't have a DEA no. on the script they write, and by their attitude. The good thing, though, is that you are building a treatment history. This is important because in the future when you find a good dr. They can see that you haven't been seeking care for pain meds only. It is important to mention things like any alternative therapies , chiro care, meds you have tried, what has worked for you and what hasn't and why. Don't give them your life story , but mention how it impacts your life , that these sare the best years of your llife and you feel guilty about your husband taking care of you,that you want to function,etc. Anothrer very important thing is that a dr. Will feel much more comfortable prescribing pain meds if you have had them prescribed in the past by another dr first. It sort of takes any liability off of them. If there is any history of drug or al
cohol abuse in your family do not mention it . It will be held against you, because statistically you are more likely to abuse your meds and even if family lives in figi there is a risk for theft by and diversion to family members. If you meet anice pharmacist be nice back. If they. Know you well and you are in a jam they are 1000 times more likely to do what they can to help you and they can do a lot more than most know. There is a non narcotic shot you can get at the hospital called toradol that was effective for my pain. If you haven't tried it before, you should. Tbc......

Originally posted by nightstalker78
Im going to keep this simple. Blame the former for the latter.

LOL Love it! =) Not in my nature but still too good. =P

reply to post by bangoli


Yeah I got that they were limited on what they could prescribe. I think if I was seen by the "teacher" I would have been able to get anything but because that won't happen I am letting it go. I am taking all they will give me... went in this morning for blood work. Any medical tests they will do I can use that when I see any real doctor.

The silly thing is that I asked for something that wasn't even scheduled and he couldn't write that. IDK if they are in bed with a pharmaceutical company and can only write their stuff or what. I know they are in bed with the hospital. (So to speak.)

It is a little frustrating because the doctor I have been seeing this whole time hasn't even written most of the stuff on the records. So all a new doc will see is "looks to be in minor pain". Well unless you look sick I guess you are not right... But he thought I was in enough pain to (very reluctantly) give me norco. Last time I went in I was in tears about it and still that visit was listed as "minor pain" so no clue there. Then when he did the knee hammer thing it nearly shot me across the room screaming because it jerked my back. Thanks doc! =P I know he has to test it but still boy it hurt!

I don't have any receipts or paperwork to show about the physical therapy or chiro stuff. Hopefully they will accept that I have done it but idk. Will have to find that out. Talked to my husband last night and he is still wanting me to go ahead and do the MRI regardless so that we can rule out anything major. We would also have that step out of the way to go to doc. It would also let us know if the neurologist is the right direction to go vs. rheumatologist.

I have many times thought hard about going into the hospital but I know that shot and just breathing their air would set us back so much financially that it is just not a possibility.

Cheapest MRI place I could find was $225 more from cash price if I did payments. Of course this is a discounted rate but still more than I could afford to pay full outright and the total for the payments was just more than I could really convince myself to do. Knowing all the other bills coming up... the total was a fight for me.

Just called MRI place. Talked to Jennifer.

This is not exact but the best of my recollection...

J: Are you coming in from a clinic or what doctor do you go to?
P: Well it is a clinic I guess. (The word clinic is in the name.)
J: Are you on a sliding scale there?
P: Well no they don't do that but I am now also going to a free clinic in *town*.
(I proceeded to explain how the free clinic worked and that they did not have an "agreement " with a MRI place so they couldn't get me one.)
P: Do they need to write the order? (PA-C I have been seeing for the last year had put in the order a couple weeks ago.)
J: No they don't have to.... OK so I am going to put down your deposit price and lower the payment total by $200. Just pay us $25 a week if you can so that you don't have to come up with big payments and you will be set.
(This makes the total for payments only $25 more than the cash price pay.)

Now a difference of $200 may not seem like much to you guys but to me it is all the difference. With rent coming up, electricity, gas, phone, internet, 2 credit cards I got way back when and have been paying minimum payments on and trying to pay off with every bit of extra I have, $60,000 in student loans from 2004-2010 when my ex-husband didn't work and I paid everything and went to school with 2 babies.

So I put this here because I found one person who defies what we know to be true in this day and age. That many people are just out for the money and could care less for others. They will not generally go out of their selfish ways for anyone.

From one conspiracy theorist to another. I put this here so that those of you who pray... please pray for this woman's good health and that she receives all her promised blessings from God. Those that don't pray to say a silent thanks for me for her helpfulness and that others may learn from her and blessings like this can spread. A pay it forward type thing where everyone benefits.

Jennifer I know you may never see this. But you have helped me so much and I will always appreciate you. Though this MRI may not show anything it is a huge step to figuring out what is wrong. You have forever been burned into my mind for your kindness and generosity. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

reply to post by pslr2301


Thats odd..when I was younger I had to use the medical indigent adult program in my area and they actually sent me to a specialist for treatment.....

reply to post by rangersdad


Unfortunately the one I am at does not have that right now. Believe me I asked! =) I am still looking for other solutions on the indigent care though.

Just in case any of you check back in here to see what I have done... I did go get the MRI. The doctor at the volunteer clinic I see actually took me seriously once he saw my mri. He called a few of his doctor friends and got a consensus that a neurologist would be a good step to have a test done to check how much damage was done to my nerves. (...HAHAHAHAH $350-$1500 for test ...)

Then it is basically pain management or surgeon. The previous doctor that originally ordered the MRI called me to let me know what lab report says, (...guess he felt bad for thinking I was just an addict...) and told me pain management was my only option besides surgery. Glad I did the MRI but need to find a doc with other options lol. Physical therapy doesn't have a clue what to do with me now that they have seen the mri.



The image on the left is a standing up view of me as if I am looking toward the left. The disk that is black with the yellow line through it is showing that it has gone into the spinal canal. The image on the right is looking inside the canal is if standing at my feet and I am laying down. The disk encroaches into the canal blocking 50% of the normal space. The yellow box shows the area to focus on. I have included an image of a different (normal) disk for comparison.




BTW radiologists must have a little kink in them. =P The MRI is almost naughty! Or maybe I am the one with the kink!!

I feel your pain!

I was in an accident last year and was constantly turned down by doctors because I didn't have ADEQUATE insurance!! Yea they wouldnt take the insurance I had which was only PIP since I don't have actual health insurance, can't afford it. I am required BY LAW to have PIP insurance and yet I couldn't find a doctor to take it! It took me 3mths to find a doctor who would take it and when I did he was a complete and utter JERK! He made it clear he didn't like PIP accident cases because it was more paper work for him and less money! :O I was shocked at what he said to me and his treatment of me showed. He didn't do a damn thing but charge me 80 bucks for a foam neck brace I could have made from fabric and foam at Wal Mart for 10 bucks. I have still never gotten an MRI of my back which I know I need. I have constant back issues and am currently 36wks pregnant and let me tell you how horrible it has been with these back problems. I am in tears often over it and it is so frustrating. When I went to the ER for my accident they didn't do jack either, they just wanted to shove friggin lortabs down my throat and i refused them. I handed the script back to her and said "no thanks they make me itch" and what does she say and do? She hands it BACK to me and says "take benadryl with it." I looked at her and said are you F'n kidding me? I told her I did not want them and she could keep the script. Well fast forward to about 3wks ago. I went ot the ER due to severe heartburn from pregnancy and the ONLY thing they seemed concerned about was in their system they had it showing I was on lortabs! I was like um I am not even here for pain meds let alone lortabs. I had to tell her that was from my accident last year and I never even took the script! I was so upset because I knew they thought i was there for pills which really upset me. I am pregnant and I am the last person to take pills, hell I don't even want an epidural or meds while delivering because of the side effects to me and my baby!!

This country is messed up when it comes to health care.

reply to post by pslr2301


I wonder if you have fibromyalgia. You may want to research any doctors' feelings on this, because many are unaware of current research in it, and blow it off.

You don't want to spend the money to see them, to then tell you nothing is wrong when it obviously is. My wife was in the same boat until finding the right docs who then led to at least a more comfortable life.

Unfortunately, it involves narcotic prescription drugs, that have more hoops than getting illegal drugs...

It's ridiculous. My wife has been on painkillers for years, and yet each time, it seems as if everyone treats her as some kind of junkie. She doesn't even take her fully prescribed dosage so she stays alert. It's damn frustrating.

reply to post by pslr2301

Then it is basically pain management or surgeon.

Pain management...definitely. Almost everyone I know who has gone the surgery route ended up either not feeling any better or feeling worse (and of course STILL needing the pain management anyhow), so thousands of $$$ for nothing.

reply to post by mblahnikluver


I love that... You pay money to just WALK IN THE DOOR! The neurologist at the college in San Antonio was half the cost of the others to walk in the door. "They will bill for the rest." o.0 Oh yeah? What exactly is "the rest"? Physical therapist told me... "well IDK about going to neurologist. Basically you will get a 'Oh yeah it looks like you have a problem right here *points to l4-l5 disk*'".

As for a diagnosis it is a start. I have to say I felt extremely validated when I brought the MRI disk home, popped it in and immediately (ok after 5-10 minutes of trying to figure out how the program worked) saw the nice black disk. Ohhh that doesn't look right.... I know that isn't my only issue and I am convinced that my upper back and neck have issues as well but at least I can hold my head high and bust out my little printed picture when the doc looks at me as if I had track marks on my arms and am asking for another hit.

So far, they have me on 6k mg of robaxin a day. 6k! Yes. No typo. That seems a little excessive to me. How the hell is 6k mg of a muscle relaxant / pain reliever (that doesn't do anything but make me feel drunk) better than 20mg of norco a day??!?!? "Oh well, you see, norco is habit forming. But this Robaxin is great! It works for some people and you only need enough to kill a horse to maybe think about touching your constant pain! It is win-win!!" Ohhh ok. >.> Whatever.

Potential side-effects include: drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, flushing, blurred vision, and fever. Serious side-effects include the development of a severe skin rash or itching, slow heart rate, fainting, jaundice, persistent nausea/vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, mental/mood changes, clumsiness, trouble urinating, signs of infection. If taken in large amounts at once or more than directed or as prescribed, dysphoria or suicidal thoughts may occur.[7] In addition, methocarbamol may cause urine to turn black, blue, or green. However, this effect is harmless.[8] Because of potential for side-effects, this drug is considered to be a high-risk medication for the elderly.

Source (Wiki)

There is very limited or inconsistent data regarding the effectiveness of metaxalone, methocarbamol, chlorzoxazone, baclofen, or dantrolene compared to placebo in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. There is insufficient evidence to determine the relative efficacy or safety of cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol, orphenadrine, tizanidine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, and chlorzoxazone.

Source (PubMed Extract)

Believe it or not a normal general practitioner is actually not bad for cash pay on office visits if you call around. They generally have a steep discount for no insurance. Only problem is that you may not find a good one first go. If you go to a different one after that you may be "doctor shopping". And then you REALLY won't get help. =( The MRI place I went to also discounted my MRI because of no insurance and then further because I was going to a "clinic". Thank you Jennifer! =)

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Unrelated: Will you be using a midwife? My sister did that and her experience was sooooo much better than mine through the hospitals! =) So jealous of you. I have 2 but could have a dozen more kids and be quite happy.

Originally posted by Gazrok
reply to post by pslr2301

 

I wonder if you have fibromyalgia.

I have wondered that myself. I have done some research on it myself. The "points" that each resource talks about are strange though. I have all the points on the back of me and my knees but none of them on the front. All of them hurt at different times. I have the anxiety, depression and headaches. Free doc says that my entire back hurts because I am adjusting myself to compensate for the lower back problem and it is causing all of the back / neck / headache problems to domino in response.

I also have sleep fragmentation as evidenced by a sleep study done a couple of years ago. Basically all of the yummy side effects of sleep apnea and none of the fat! Doc said at the time... "Well usually that is cause by pain or trauma". But I didn't stop breathing. Just come up to near / complete awake @6 times an hour. This was after taking an ambien. I do not take them ambien because I hate the drunk tired feeling all day long the day after. So I asked to be taken off. Guess that makes me a horrible drug addict. Unfortunately, the doctors don't take that kind of thing into consideration.

Hypochondriacs and those diagnosing for attention aside, we know what is happening in our bodies. We feel it. I wish I could find a doctor that would realize that. I do not want to self-diagnose but I have thought often about the fibromyalgia these last few months. There is a local clinic that is decent on price and they are not far. Getting out of the free clinic and seeing a M.D. and not a PA-C might help me gain a little speed on getting a real response. I have wondered to myself if I go in to this different doc, tell them that I have been diagnosed with fibro, and then basically tell them to prove the other doc wrong if it will serve as a catalyst. If they have to find out what is wrong to prove that I do / do not have fibromyalgia then I would at least be further along. That is all assuming that the doctor would care enough to try. Would it be a bad thing to self-diagnose this one time?

ETA:
Or just tell the free doc... "Hmm, I wonder if all of this is related to my fibro... >.>" "What?! You didn't tell me you had fibro?" "No? Hmm, it must have slipped my mind. So anyways, back to that... what now doc?" "Oh well, you don't have that." "Oh yeah? Prove it!"

P.S. I kind of have some worry that someone might be offended that I am "joking" about fibromyalgia. I am NOT. I would NEVER. After all this time in constant pain I know what it feels like to be hurting and either no one cares or no one believes you. I am looking for answers and discounting anything. Most days it is either laugh or cry. Though my husband cares about me and doesn't want to see me hurting he just doesn't get it. He tries but doesn't get it. The kids don't care. =P They are too young to really step outside of their boxes. Besides there is a video game they could be playing or a phone call they could be interrupting. Please don't anyone think I am downplaying the seriousness of any disorder, disease, or medical problem. Thank you all for listening! I appreciate all your responses more than I could convey.

*******
Unrelated: Is there a way to be notified if someone has responded to a thread you started, quoted you or "reply-to"d your posts? I have tried to find it but haven't had much luck. If there is a "how-to" thread you could direct me to I would be much obliged! =)

Originally posted by Gazrok
reply to post by pslr2301

 

Pain management...definitely. Almost everyone I know who has gone the surgery route ended up either not feeling any better or feeling worse (and of course STILL needing the pain management anyhow), so thousands of $$$ for nothing.

My mother-in-law has a cage around some of her spine. She has had the surgery and is still in much pain. She also went to pain management (the same one I have been referred to and haven't done anything about. Their prices are a bit steep. I found a better price in Austin I may look more into.). She said that the pain management doc she went to tried the shots in her spine and he could't even find the right spot to shoot up. Did this 3 times. Then he offered to fry her nerves there because the shots were useless. Her response: "You couldn't even find the spot to do pain shots in... WTH makes you think I am going to let you go in and fry ANY nerves when you can't seem to even find my spine much less a little nerve IN it!?" Love my mother-in-law. She is a strong short little heifer. =P

I have an appointment with the free clinic doc in 3 weeks. If he cannot give me a better solution then the methocarbamol then I am out. He also gave me felden but haven't found out much about that and it is a little steep to get on a whim. If it is going to cost 1/4 of a paycheck (generic) there is no way I am going to splurge on it without a little research. Not much info on it out in the deep blue web of wonders.

reply to post by pslr2301


You definitely want a skilled doc doing those spinal injections. Yikes!

Though my husband cares about me and doesn't want to see me hurting he just doesn't get it. He tries but doesn't get it.

Well, I am EXACTLY in that guy's shoes, so if he ever wants to talk to someone in a like situation (or you do), feel free to U2U me. My wife and I have been married 9 years, and she's had the diagnosis and treatment for Fibro for about 6 years.

Sad thing is, there is an herb that can help with some of the issues of Fibro (and is much milder than some of the prescribed meds for it), and in some states it is legal for the condition, just not my state.

reply to post by Gazrok


Thanks for that. I think he just changes direction when he feels he can't fix it. Must be nice to be ADHD and not have to focus on anything too long. =P We have been friends for @13 years and married for 1. I think that around here I am pretty much on my own. I don't have anyone around and family lives too far and is busy with their own things. That is partly why I ranted on here. At least to get it out to SOMEONE.

LOL Yup I have heard it works well but not legal in Texas either. If I continue to fight too long for help and get nothing I might just have to move up north.