A Question

In 1989 I was t-boned by a car doing 50 MPH. I ended up having two discs removed and fusions done. The fusions failed within three weeks and allowed the vertebrae to settle down on each other and the nerves. For almost 20 years I never found a doctor willing to prescribe me anything to help my backache for fear of creating an addict.

I had much of the same symptoms you had: cold feet followed by feeling of water dripping down my shins, swelling of the ankles, feet, and shins with small blisters that would turn into open sores. Stabbing pain that quickly jumped from place to place, inability to urinate while standing, popping sensation at the point of the surgery, severe hip pain, insomnia, and on and on.

Within the past six months I suffered severe chronic hyperventilation episodes lasting 45 minutes. Gasping uncontrollably for air and ending up exhausted and unable to stand. Then I had congestive heart failure over Thanksgiving. I had a huge argument with a cardiologist who was narcissistic and, so I changed HMOs. The doctor I have now did a workup and said the heart failure was a result of the hyperventing and took me off the Lasix. I don't miss it.

But, he asked me how I was otherwise. I mentioned my back injury. He sent me for full x-rays and determined the space between the vertebrae was decreasing. He asked me what kind of medicine I wanted. I chose hydrocodone, carysoprodol, and Ibuprofin. He gave me them all, He said, if I got addicted, he'd stop the prescriptions.

For the frst time in 20 years, I am pain free.

Thanks for your informative series,
Glenn Flowers

What surprised me was the discovery of how many people have some form of chronic pain. Despite appearances her eon Townhall, I am not exactly a social individual. I enjoy writing, I like arguing, but I am not much of a joiner . However, when I started having problems my wife quite kindly looked at message boards and medical sites and found out a lot of very helpful information.

One of the things I discovered from her research is both how many people have some sort of chronic pain and how few have it properly controlled. It appears that pain doctors are inclined to return to a more aggressive view, or rather, they were, but recent DEA suits have kind of had a chilling effect.

Which is why I feel the need to write on this specific topic a bit more than I once did.

It is funny that you mention the Lasix. I seem to be especially sensitive to cardiac side effects. One of the medications they tried for my condition was clonidine. Supposedly it would help with my swelling issues by improving circulation. Instead it gave me all the symptoms of a heart attack, pain, numbness, in my arm, racing heart, everything.

And I think you have given me another topic on which I need to write. even without the fear of prosecution, doctors have also had something of an excessive fear of addiction, which has caused some problems with pain management as well. But I suppose that will have to wait until I can put together a decent essay.

I am glad you are enjoying my posts. I should have one or two more tomorrow, so please check back.

And though you posted on my other blog, let me welcome you as the first comment on my new blog.

At your service, sir.

Glenn