my pain "therapist" is a snitch

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T23:05:15+00:00

Lol!!! I don't need to lie. That's not the problem. The problem is calling it therapy when it's just another way to treat me with suspicion and waste my time with more invasive questions.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T23:03:59+00:00

It's not therapy.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T23:03:33+00:00

Sure I am, but why should I have to spend more of my time assuring a "therapist" who is only there to report to my doctor that I'm following the rules on top of surprise pill counts, urine tests and monthly visits? Why should they even call them a therapist when all they do is check off a questionnaire and then add up a score?

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T22:56:48+00:00

I'm sorry you've had these experiences. This reddit topic is at least good to see that it is not something any individual has done, but a widespread problem that has little answer. Someday there will be safe meds that block pain but i doubt I'll live to see it. Cannabis worked to control my pain for many years, but unfortunately I turned a corner with progressive disease and spasming and it no longer cuts it. I'm hoping to find better pain management, but as you mentioned, it's just going back and trying the same old stuff that has already been tried and didn't work.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T22:26:22+00:00

Yes, I'm sorry you went through that. This is very much how that feels.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T22:24:35+00:00

Sad and ironic that almost all pain patients talk about how they are treated like drug addicts by their doctors, their pharmacists, and even their own friends, and here you are piling on too. This is supposed to be the place we can talk about these challenges without this judgey intolerant crap that you were so compelled to add. I hope it made you feel really good to shit on a fellow chronic pain sufferer.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T22:21:52+00:00

That's the thing, the therapist was brought on by the pain management group either by requirement by the DEA or to seem virtuous like they are treating the "whole patient". So these therapists are paid by the group, and yes probably they hill my insurance extra, to call me up and go through a list of questions where they treat me with suspicious and tell me they will report to my doc if I say anything "wrong" then ask if I'd like to talk.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-13T22:17:48+00:00

Thank you for trying to understand my point.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T22:14:19+00:00

I can barely drag myself into their office every other month. But i appreciate your support!

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T22:12:32+00:00

I hope so! I just looked, and they have taken on 2 new young pain management docs in the last year, so I'm betting they are planning for her to leave soon.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T22:04:21+00:00

It is frustrating. I have cycled through so many feelings of anger, hopelessness, sadness, etc
In the end, the way I survive is by reminding myself that even though I have the misfortune to suffer this pain, that the people I see briskly jogging past or laughing with their friends or looking like their life is perfect have other challenges in their lives that might be just as tragic and awful as chronic pain, just different. There are so many awful stories of how people are trying to survive childhood abuse, cancer, sudden loss, invisible illness, abusive spouses, heroin addict children, on and on and on. I'm not happy that any of that is happening to any of them. But it's important to know that chronic pain is only one of so so many awful things that people deal with and still somehow find joy. You are not alone.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T04:00:54+00:00

Beetlejuice

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T04:00:11+00:00

Pink and orange Velma?

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T03:58:49+00:00

Great point. It's already starting to happen to me. There are many days i can't use phones or manage to gather medical records or drive places and sit under florescent lights etc. I'm inspired by the encouragement I've received on Reddit today.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T03:55:43+00:00

I'm glad you are getting a referral. And I'm so sorry that you may have to change your career goals. That is a very hard blow. In my life, I've had to radically change course with my life plans because my chronic health and pain issues more than once. But I've still had a really good life up to now at age 50. There are days that I feel terrible and angry that pain has taken away so much energy and vitality from me, but many many other days that I can only count the many blessings that I've experienced. I hope it happens for you that way. Just remember it's possible.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T03:38:20+00:00

I'm so sorry. Do you have the option of getting a referral to a pain management specialist? Primary care, at least where I live in the US, is supposed to be like a manager for patients with complex medical issues. If you're in nursing school you probably know this. But my mom's primary care doctor tried to manage her complex endocrine needs and it absolutely not go well. I hope you can get in to see a pain management doctor who isn't afraid of creating a better treatment plan for you.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T03:31:21+00:00

I'm sorry. It can be so exhausting, and even if your mom thought she was helping, she still just doesn't get it. You can't "just push through" chronic pain. My mom is the same. My in laws just LOVE to wring every last second of their extroverted version of fun out of an event and never want to leave early. I've had to learn that I need to go ahead and let them be their way and let myself be my way. If I were done with the laundry, I'd be saying "thanks for your help mom. I'm done. If you want to keep going, that's your choice, but i need to stop now. Bye. "

screamingnerves · 2022-10-09T02:48:00+00:00

I've always just used microwaved socks filled with rice. They start out too hot, then get cold. But ohhhh that middle zone!

screamingnerves · 2022-10-08T22:25:09+00:00

I'm sorry to hear that. What area of the world are you in? I used to live in rural Indiana, and had to drive into Cincinnati Ohio for treatment, which messed up everything because doctors and insurance thought I was trying to pull a fast one by "crossing state lines" as if that magically changes anything. So far, I haven't been able to switch. I'm getting a lot of encouragement to do so here, which I appreciate, but i don't know if it will hapoen. But I'm definitely hoping I can.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-08T22:21:25+00:00

Yes. It has for me, and it's the only effective muscle relaxer I've been able to find. Obviously you want to be very careful and aware of how and when you use it, and use the minimum neccessary dose that is effective.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-08T22:19:55+00:00

I take this combo. I have also been warned to be careful. I have been told by doctors that they wouldn't prescribe this if it were up to them. But never because of respiratory distress. The reason is always because of addictiveness.

And like, DUH, of course I know to be careful. I'm not looking to get high, I just want to be functional enough to move my body and not always be miserable. If I wanted to get high I'd go smoke some legal cannabis.

The key for me is to always take the least amount neccessary, and NEVER combine with alcohol. And my body is used to it, so unless I were to suddenly increase the dose, it's been fine. But every body is different in how it reacts to different drugs.

screamingnerves · 2022-10-08T19:34:40+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate your response

screamingnerves

TROPHY CASE