| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jimmy |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 07:51:38
...and I have back pain and he won't prescribe me anything good. We tried naproxin and sulindac and the best I could get out of him was Tylonol w/Codiene 3. (Actually those aren't so bad, the last time I went to see FB in vermont I took eight and drank a lot of gin- it was good clean fun)
Does anyone have any experience with dealing with doctors?-I've tried convincing him that I need something that works all the time like oc and he suggested as a possiblity (I think he was testing me) methadone ( which is actually prescribed for pain sometimes). He said it's different from other narcotics because you don't end up needing higher doses all the time. But when I brought it up at our next visit he backed off from the idea. |
| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| offerw |
Posted - 03/16/2004 : 11:01:24
quote:
Originally posted by ivandivel
quote:
Originally posted by offerw
Your MD is doing what most MDs are trained to do: address the symptom instead of the cause. Find a chiropractor in your area. I've had success with some of them, especially for simple things like back pain.
Whoa there........... a good medical school trains doctors to make a diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and if nescessarry special investigations. The acute symptoms should be treated but the cause of the problem must also be found and adressed.You should worry if you were prescribed medication without any examination. And yes, anti-inflammatories like you've tried at first would be the first line of treatment. Methadone is definitely no solution. You've got to find the cause of the pain before going to a chyropractor/ physiotherapist. If your MD cannot find the cause let him refer you to a good orthopeadic surgeon or neuro surgeon.
Your faith in doctors are admirable, though not in touch with reality. As most groups, doctors - in addition to looking after their patients, look after themselves. Thus, they tend to prescribe treatment that only doctors can give. Same thing in psychiatry, and probably other areas as well. Nothing unique about doctors, most groups look after their own interests. However, it is very problematic when "treatment as usual" provided by general practioneers shows minimal effect and other interventions do (check out the Cochrane library, bible of evidence based medicine), as is the case for low back pain.
Here, the chiropractors (or however it is spelled) are now included in national health care (meaning inexpensive) as a temporarily arrangement to see wether they should be first line of treatment for certain types of back pain. I collapsed one day with back pain, and was sent off to a chiropractor. Maybe it was all chance, but i recovered very quick. My friend, who collapsed a week later (same problem - i have no idea what it's called in english), went to his local doctor who 1) told him to rest in bed (which is ok as long as you cant walk, but not ok as treatment), prescribed no excercises to recover, and finally got no advice but to rest on how to avoid this incredible pain again. We were both told to take some medicine. I took Ibux for a week to avoid making new "compensation" movements that would cause problems later. He was put on some strong stuff for a month! He stayed in bed that month.
Mmmm, your entitled to your opinion and sure the medical profession has its limitations. Just be careful not to generalise and believe that there aren't well-trained, caring and truly competent medical professionals out there. You might need one someday .........
wilhelm |
| ivandivel |
Posted - 03/16/2004 : 02:08:12
quote:
Originally posted by offerw
Your MD is doing what most MDs are trained to do: address the symptom instead of the cause. Find a chiropractor in your area. I've had success with some of them, especially for simple things like back pain.
Whoa there........... a good medical school trains doctors to make a diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and if nescessarry special investigations. The acute symptoms should be treated but the cause of the problem must also be found and adressed.You should worry if you were prescribed medication without any examination. And yes, anti-inflammatories like you've tried at first would be the first line of treatment. Methadone is definitely no solution. You've got to find the cause of the pain before going to a chyropractor/ physiotherapist. If your MD cannot find the cause let him refer you to a good orthopeadic surgeon or neuro surgeon.
Your faith in doctors are admirable, though not in touch with reality. As most groups, doctors - in addition to looking after their patients, look after themselves. Thus, they tend to prescribe treatment that only doctors can give. Same thing in psychiatry, and probably other areas as well. Nothing unique about doctors, most groups look after their own interests. However, it is very problematic when "treatment as usual" provided by general practioneers shows minimal effect and other interventions do (check out the Cochrane library, bible of evidence based medicine), as is the case for low back pain.
Here, the chiropractors (or however it is spelled) are now included in national health care (meaning inexpensive) as a temporarily arrangement to see wether they should be first line of treatment for certain types of back pain. I collapsed one day with back pain, and was sent off to a chiropractor. Maybe it was all chance, but i recovered very quick. My friend, who collapsed a week later (same problem - i have no idea what it's called in english), went to his local doctor who 1) told him to rest in bed (which is ok as long as you cant walk, but not ok as treatment), prescribed no excercises to recover, and finally got no advice but to rest on how to avoid this incredible pain again. We were both told to take some medicine. I took Ibux for a week to avoid making new "compensation" movements that would cause problems later. He was put on some strong stuff for a month! He stayed in bed that month. |
| jimmy |
Posted - 03/15/2004 : 00:02:45
Good news. I'm taking methadone now. It works really good. My back still isn't feeling so great, but it's nice to have something.
I was looking in my PDR (not the paperback but gigantic hardcover 2001 edition that I bought at a library sale for $3) and they don't even have any pictures of it, and they've got pictures of EVERYTHING.
While I was looking at all the beautiful color pictures, I was wishing it was actually a mail-order catalog. And when I got to the morphine section with all the pictures of vials, pills, and powders, well...I just had to jerk off.
I said, "You have no hard-on till that aching fills your chest"/ Good-bye Lorraine |
| martha_promise |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 21:49:06
Just tell him the Codiene 3 is "bunching you up," he'll hop right over to the narcotics.
Oh yeah and like BLT said, lay off the Tylenol.
~~Polly-ann drove steel like a man~~ |
| astrology |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 14:13:34
my dear friend sorry for the joke:
normalyy back aches are related to continously forced opsitions, i would no reccomend any narcotics, prferably some massages to unlock vertebrae and some good habits when sitting walking, working,
i have some back troubles, not painful but i use to get a backache if standing fo a long time and sometimes my hnd tend to close, If I were you a would have my back scaned to see if there is some muscular knot usually the main cause of pain
i know by many friends with similar troubles taht in Spain doctors only prescribe muscle-relaxing pill, but prefer to use physiotherapy to ammend backs or if there is a bone trouble tehy use surgery
only if necessary
true blue
i joined teh Blue oyster Cult
I 've found no pearl
but dig those toxines.... |
| TheCroutonFuton |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 12:30:15
Okay...most doctors are bureaucrats. I went undiagnosed with a potentially deadly chronic disease for more than 2 years thanks to them. offerw is right on: Go to a specialist. I do think the main reason he's timid towards prescribing you full time pain killers is because most of them are habit-forming. But definitely go to as many doctors as you can until you're diagnosed. Believe me..you want to know what the monster is so that you can defeat it.
 "Join the Cult of Gunn / And Then You'll Be Destined to be a Rock and Roll Star of Epical Proportions!" |
| offerw |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 12:19:25
Chronic pain should be managed by a specialist if the cause of your problem cannot be solved. Your MD or specialist should be able to advise you about getting to a chronic pain clinic.I am not sure how it works in the US but over here pain clinics are being run by the Anesthetic departments of training hospitals. |
| jimmy |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 12:04:13
I was referred to a specialist who didn't see a definite cause- the condition came on a few years ago when I was a bellman at a hotel, also x-rays show a slight case of ( I must be spelling this wrong) scoliosis.
I've tried physical therapy, I have no interest in acupuncture or a chiropractor- I just want full-time pain relief or something very strong to take as needed.
Unfortunatly I was born too late, I want to go back to before physical therapy when they just prescribed shitloads of dope. |
| offerw |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 11:52:28
Your MD is doing what most MDs are trained to do: address the symptom instead of the cause. Find a chiropractor in your area. I've had success with some of them, especially for simple things like back pain.
Whoa there........... a good medical school trains doctors to make a diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms and if nescessarry special investigations. The acute symptoms should be treated but the cause of the problem must also be found and adressed.You should worry if you were prescribed medication without any examination. And yes, anti-inflammatories like you've tried at first would be the first line of treatment. Methadone is definitely no solution. You've got to find the cause of the pain before going to a chyropractor/ physiotherapist. If your MD cannot find the cause let him refer you to a good orthopeadic surgeon or neuro surgeon. |
| apl4eris |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 10:44:40
Ever tried acupuncture? Usually does wonders for back pain, and no need for pain killers. Which might be a mixed blessing...
666 Dunkin' Donuts, a 20-inch veggie pizza from Gumby's, extra jalapenos on the side. And a case of Asahi Dry - |
| astrology |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 10:09:25
dear doctor you've said Capricornius o Sagitarius?
no Cancer my dear patient, Cancer.
true blue
exilee in Porto
Portugal |
| BLT |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 09:28:25
Tylenol's fine if you don't plan on needing your liver in a few years-- especially if you mix it with alcohol.
http://www.envtox.ucdavis.edu/cehs/TOXINS/acetalc.htm
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000929.html
Your MD is doing what most MDs are trained to do: address the symptom instead of the cause. Find a chiropractor in your area. I've had success with some of them, especially for simple things like back pain.
 "Join the Cult of Penguins / And move to the South Atlantic" |
| Newo |
Posted - 02/29/2004 : 08:10:38
Do you guys not have those doctors in cruddy prefabs with a cardboard sign on the desk saying Consultation £/$20 and when you tell them what you want they point to the sign in real Ahem... fashion and then fill out your prescrip?
--
"You one of those right-wing nut outfits?" inquired the diplomatic Metzger.
Fallopian twinkled. "They accuse us of being paranoids."
"They?" inquired Metzger, twinkling also.
"Us?" asked Oedipa.
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