Chronic Pain

[Country_Girl]

Does anyone know of a Dr in the Okanagan who actually believes in prescribing pain medication for chronic back pain. Since moving here I've been unable to get a family doctor and the walk in clinics are a joke. They won't refer you to a specialist or prescribe you anything for the pain. It's like their so afraid now to prescribe narcotics that they oversee even those of us who are actually in pain. Not to mention that T3's kill your liver and the Aceteminophen and Ibuprofin have literally eaten away at my stomache because I have to take so much of it to barely scrape the surface of the pain.

I finally went into the walk in clinic that I've been going too for 2 years now and asked to be prescribed percecet, which is what I've taken in the past and the doctor almost had me in tears, he treated me like a drug addict and basically told me "Good luck finding a doctor to prescribe that". The fact that I have never in my two years of visiting that clinic ever asked for such strong pain medication should have been indicative of the true pain I'm in. So now that the new legeslation and stricter rules have been handed down what are people in true pain supposed to do? Suffer?!

[caffeine]

Go to I Quest. You can access the GP there, through the regular medical services plan. And they have a pain management program.

[Country_Girl]

I contacted I Quest today actually and they said I needed a referrel from my family doctor. Which I don't have.

[Catz]

I have chronic pain.
The WORST thing you can do is get on narcotics.
I am totally against it.
Go see a natural path.

[daria]

Instead of Percocet, have you thought of getting a medical marijuana license? Perhaps if you asked a doctor to use a drug that is not nearly as addictive as percocet, he/she might be more responsive to your request for a prescription?

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuana/index-eng.php
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marihuan ... ex-eng.php

[Country_Girl]

I have tried the Natural Path route before and to be honest it did nothing for the pain. I believe Narcotics are not the answer but for some with sever back pain they are the only answer. That's why they are there as an option. I have had chronic back pain for going on 6 years now and in those 6 years I've been prescribed pain meds 4x for a total of 4 months. I don't abuse it nor do I take it when I don't need it. I see and respect both sides and both opinions.

[daria]

What about a chiropractor?

[caffeine]

http://www.iquesthealth.ca/programs/pain-management/

I know several people who have accessed i quest programs without a referral. But if they are insisting on it, you can also get a referral from a walk in doctor.

Try orchard medical. They are usually good with this kind of thing. ie - Dr. Scott.

[Catz]

I have tried the Natural Path route before and to be honest it did nothing for the pain. I believe Narcotics are not the answer but for some with sever back pain they are the only answer. That's why they are there as an option. I have had chronic back pain for going on 6 years now and in those 6 years I've been prescribed pain meds 4x for a total of 4 months. I don't abuse it nor do I take it when I don't need it. I see and respect both sides and both opinions.

I do feel your pain...12 years back pain, 3.5 years neck pain. The whole thing is shot.
Honestly, as a fellow pain person, as well as, a nurse for 20 years...stay off narcotics.
IMS, massage, deep tissue treatment, take some magnesium and aminoacids. I am very leary on a chiropracter, but have had some say they are God. It does depend on the issue.

The is also good websites and chat rooms for people with chronic pain.
Also, try and stay away from surgery.

[strwbrrydvl]

Wow, I am somewhat surprised you are having a hard time finding a doctor to prescribe you pain meds. It is a good thing though that the docs around here are toughening up, there is a lot of prescription pain med junkies out there these days.
The last time I was prescribed anything heavy was quite a few years back. I had my wisdom teeth out on a Thursday, by Saturday I was in alot of pain and Sunday I was sure I was infected so I went to a walk-in. I asked the doc to take a look to see if they were infected and hopefully give me some antibiotics (they'll usually give you antibiotics for a sneeze so why not?). The doc I seen took a quick glance and told me she wasn't a dentist and didn't know if there was infection (huh? aren't you a doctor?), she then gave me two prescriptions for the sign-your-life-away narcotics and told me to see my dentist.
Perhaps to get something a little bit stronger than T3s tell the next walkin doc you see that you have put your back out and have had an anti-inflammatory narcotic before but you can't remember the name of it. I'm guessing people who go in and complain of chronic pain and ask for the good stuff at a walkin clinic raise red flags for the doctors but if its an ailment that won't last for too long they're quick to hand it out.
What have you tried for your back pain? Narcotics can help when something flares up but you need to find a real solution to cure the pain, not just drugs to mask your discomfort. Have you tried those apparatuses that hang you upside down by your ankles? I've heard that works wonders. What about that Back2Life machine that is always on the infomercials? That doesn't look all that gimicky- it may actually work.

[flamingfingers]

Most hospitals have a Pain Clinic that can see you on a regular basis to assess and help you manage your pain; they are usually manned by anesthesiologists. They can do things like trigger point injections, epidural steroids injections and certainly can differentiate between nerve pain, muscle pain, or functional pain.

Perhaps ask the doc at the walk in clinic if he would refer you to a hospital with this service.

There is also a booklet that they suggest called "Manage Your Pain Before It Manages You." I believe the author is a guy named Cadill (?sp). Might be helpful as well.

[normaM]

you have to get a referral to the Pain Clinic here. Dr Grant Pagdin, who works at IQuest also works at the Mission walk in center... so that should be easy enuff. Up until a few weeks ago he was taking new patients, so I would try and contact him directly. I Quest first, Mission walk in second. Good luck to you

[Country_Girl]

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I finally got a referral to I Quest so I'll start there and see what happens

[xjeepguy]

Glad your getting some where . I know how you feel there , I don't have back pain but suffer gall stone attacks from time to time and oh man when they come on its an all nighter , cant lay down , can't do anything it hurts so badly , just hours and hours and hours of pain . We moved up from the Fraser Valley a couple years ago and went through a prescription or 2 a year there . First time I went to a clinic here I thought I was going to have the cops called on me for even asking about percocet ! I just couldn't believe it , I even brought in my old bottle from my last fill , he wouldn't even look at it LOL . I wish there was something else to use because asking for those around here , well just don't bother at all .

Thank you for all your helpful advice. I finally got a referral to I Quest so I'll start there and see what happens

[quietladyiii2002]

I haveread the posts on this page with a lot of interest.
I have had serious nerve pain since 1985.
The cause of the pain was discovered with a simple exray ordered by a rehabilitation specialist in Kelowna.
I then did the research after the results came in and read about Neurontin.
I asked my doctor if he would perscribe it and he said yes he would, small dose to start.
After 14 years of debilitating pain I was able to function. What a day ! What relief!
There are very few side effects to this medication.
I have been taking it now since 1999 and although I know the injury is there, I can deal with every day on an almost normal level. I hope this post helps a few people, as I know what is like to be misdiagnosed and made feel like a malingerer on top of the misery.