I was just diagnosed with degenerative disk disease, route nerve impingement, and arthritis in my back and I am in a significant amount of pain. The doctor gave me Motrin 600. It does nothing for my pain. He didn't give me any advice on how I can help my back. I tried to go to Urgent care and they turned me away. What do I do and why don't they care?
2007-11-25 02:23:29 · 7 answers · asked by xoxo 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Pain & Pain Management
Pain is subjective, meaning the doctors can't really see it for themselves. It can be very difficult to be treated properly for pain.
I also have DDD and arthritis in my back. I was referred to physical therapy, then I saw an orthopedic doc, who didn't do much for me, finally I am now in a Multidisciplinary Spine Treatment program. I don't have complete relief and I flare up, but it is better controlled. I have head steroid injections and RF ablations (where they go in and burn the sensory nerve thought to cause the pain.) In addition I was in physical therapy focusing on the spine, occupational therapy, and seeing a psychologist for chronic pain.
If you are getting nowhere with your doctor, ask to see a pain management specialist. You deserve and have the right to be treated for pain.
Search Yahoo! groups for chronic pain, you may find some very good information and support!
~Good Luck.
2007-11-25 02:55:38 · answer #1 · answered by Jax 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DDD or Degenerative Disc Disease is not a Disease but part of the normal aging process. The discs dehydrate as we age, starting 25-30 years of age. Not sure where the nerve root impingement comes into DDD, that is usually found when the Discs burst and the nice jelly material comes out and touches the nerve roots, but with DDD the Discs are intact, just get smaller, shrink miles away from any nerves. Arthritis I assume is Osteoarthritis, normal wear and tear seen in people over the age of 30. You are seeking pain medication for pain that is caused by the wrong clinical criteria, so they think you are addicted to drugs, that is why they do not care. Good Luck
2007-11-25 05:17:31 · answer #2 · answered by gillianprowe 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They are most likely unsure if they can help you with out making things worse for you. Secondly they are afraid of being sued for something that went wrong or something did not work. For people in the Medical world insurrance against being sued by people they treat is $65,000 a year and that has to be paid every year or that person no longer is in the medical world.
If that person is getting his or her butt sued off or in trouble all the time, they could not afford to have a life style that they would want. so that is why they are like they are.
only going after cases that they really know a lot about.
unfair I know. Some doctors are not that way you just got to hunt and huny, They are out there Good Luck.
2007-11-25 02:42:17 · answer #3 · answered by Paul G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
>depends on how busy the place you have been ...how many are the doctors are avail that time and how many are the patients are there?
>try to cosider what time you are with the doctor...if you are the 50th patient...
>or sometimes doctor are so emotional detached to thier patient so you pressume the dr is does not care...
>try to observe the clinic/hospital you visited and see how big it is...then try to calculate /balance the situation itself...
>maybe you should ask yourself maybe you should extend more understanding to the doctor and people around you...
>im just trying to be more balance to the situation itself not only you...
>but if you are correct on what your instint try to say... then look for another doctor...
>may the blessing be....
2007-11-25 02:48:44 · answer #4 · answered by bonita 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
majority of "pain meds" including such as OxyContin, only take the edge off pain they dont kill the pain that would more like morphine but even that does not do it 100% most dr.s don't want to give hard core pain meds cause of the rampant abuse im sure that the dr has his or her reason maybe past history is involved i dont know, but medicine in America is over perscribed good luck
2007-11-25 02:35:51 · answer #5 · answered by halicon2000 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
it seems they do not care because your pain is not life threatening. there are several thing you can do to help the pain.
discs degenerate because the have been injured and dry out..so hydrate yourself properly each day...about a half gallon
of plain water. avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol. see a physical therapist to do traction on your low back. you may want to try chiropractic care also.
good luck
2007-11-25 02:35:30 · answer #6 · answered by fretochose 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Try an external analgesic. With the higher doses of pain killers comes the higher risk of abuse and higher risk of heart problems.
2007-11-25 02:35:34 · answer #7 · answered by JZ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋