The drugs are good and bad. I started with tramadol...which is what most pain docs will start you with..iy's a non-opiate. Then, when that stops working, you move on to the opiates....percoset, oxycontin, etc. I've been on fentynol patches and have graduated to methadone. A lot of them barely touch the worst of the pain. I'm dealing with arthritic pain and severe nerve pain on top of it in my legs and feet, arms, hands...lately in my shoulders and hips as well.
The doctor who told her it's her age should be bitch slapped back to med school. I spent two years in hell because the doctor I was made to see said it was all in my head. I basically had to beg for a mylagram. When he got the results, he couldn't even look at me and passed me off to another doctor...I guess cause he knew my trust in him was gone at that point.
What I have is degenerative. It's never going to get better and will continue to worsen. I have to keep adapting to the level of pain. They want you to decide what level of pain you can live with...but seem to always forget that level keeps going up. Sometimes I don't know what is worse...the pain or the side effects from all the drugs.
Be your mom's voice, Don't ever let them play anything down or ignore her. Even the best doctor can forget...they have other patients as well...I think sometimes they unconsciously tune it all out. I don't care what they say,,,if they haven't experienced it then they really don't know...and I don't mean the pain...I mean YEARS of pain and years of people rolling their eyes at you like 'it can't be THAT bad'...I don't think the doctors realize what we go through 'adapting' to the pain. These conditions aren't like a sudden broken arm or getting hit with a hammer...they start slowly and the pain increases as the condition worsens. I put up with it for years thinking it was 'my age' or that my job was too physical, etc...constantly adjusting to more and more pain. Yes, it's amazing what we can tolerate and live with...but everything has it's limits.
I had a relative who had severe emphysema...after a few years of it worsening and constantly fighting to breath...he had enough. I'm having breathing problems with the methadone and am getting off of it and going back to something much milder. I am only getting the 'sensation' that I can't breathe (Thank God) but its real enough to scare the crap out of me. I finally understand what my relative was going through. It must have been a nightmare to live like that everyday. Sometimes the constant pain is like that. There are nights, where it's the third or fourth night I haven't been able to sleep and my legs or back is screaming obscene things at me... I sit on the edge of the bed and think of all the things I would do for just one day...just one,,,where I had no pain at all.
Sorry. I didn't mean to [post here to get into all of this. lol. I hope your mother continues to find relief. I'll say a prayer for her. Just remember what I said. Be her voice with these doctors. I say this for two reasons. She needs to be heard, no matter what...and...as someone in pain, I can't tell you how important and what a difference it makes to have someone in your corner fighting for you and most importantly 'believing' you even if they can't make it a;; better. Sometimes just having someone who believed me and not looking at me like I was whining or exaggerating got me through some dark moments.
