HG, I'd tell them if they want their money, they better respond. If that doesn't get their attention, I'd simply tell them that a formal complaint will be issued on several fronts. Don't use it as an idle threat, do it. There are several avenues per my understanding.
Also HG, consider talking with Dr. Barbaro as the next more extreme course of action. I too wish I had known he was an option before I had my surgery. However, at this ten seconds, I don't really have a right to complain as I'm not in nearly as much pain as you. I'm just pissed that Filler has decided to drop the ball lately.
With regard to your son, I know what you mean. My 16 year old worries about me and I can see him brighten as I have improved. However, there's nothing wrong with a kid seeing that getting hurt is a part of life. It happens, even to the very best of us.
As one who knows who had a parent in severe pain due to rhumathroid(sp??) arthritis, it's not the tears that he will remember. What he will remember is how you handled it. You seem to be a fighter and that's what he will remember, what he will respect and what lessons he will take with him. Not that you cried or were down because of the pain.
So please check your mailbox at the top of this page daily to see if she writes you. I'm hoping the two of you can support each other through this ordeal.
Good luck, Mary
Julie, its all I can do just to type to you folks, could you give me the brand name of your Ellie so I don't have to do research? I just want to BUY HER NOW! Also ,if you don't mind repeating,cuz I think you posted it earlier, what pain meds worked for you??
Mary, I'll look for kims message.If I remember right she was upset with Filler? Shes going back?
Shirley, I knew this would be upsetting to you and I apologize. Menzie, you too. But better to be warned going in, I wish I had been, and definitely wish I had known about Dr. Barbaro as he is not far from Filler, short plane ride for another opinion, but too late now. I will definitely let everyone know what Ever says and when I finally talk to Filler what he says.
In terms of meds, I suggest you stick with opioids at this point. They work better on pain than the stuff Mark suggested. Take them with solid food!! That shouldreduce or eliminate the nausea. Maybe ask for Percoset since the Vicodan isn't working well enough.
If your situation doesn't improve, you will be a chronic patient the rest of your life. And that is when they put you on Lyrica, ultram, & anti-depressents. etc. Ultram has its own set of problems & is a b***h to get off.
Sorry, I have to run to PT now. Otherwise, I would write more about drugs.Mary
Ellie comes from a company called Empi but I gotta warn you that if you get it from them it's gonna be pricey. My insurance paid for mine because my doc rx'd it...and it's one of the more fancy ones. If Margie were here (and not in surgery right now!) she could give you the name of hers as she ordered it online. The ones that I saw on Amazon look like they would do the trick. There is one called Reliamode 700 that looks really good as well as the Reliamed 350. I have not used these brands, but I do like mine because it has mulitple settings so your not stuck with the same "buzz" all the time.
I take percocet. It's more potent than ultracet and vicoden and is an opioid. If I don't eat before I take it, I get queezy but not pukey like I did with the others. And from time to time (like right now) it makes me a little drowsy. It has other side effects for me but they are tolerable compared to the other meds I have tried. Though it works well for me, I do look forward to the day I don't need it. Definitely talk to your doc about figuring out which meds words the best for you.
I hope HOPE hope that Ever give you a call.
Take care,
Julie
HG: Another thing you can try if to use Ice on the area that's sore. Typically, if you have inflammation, Ice is your friend. Not heat. Ice doesn't feel as good, but it's a lot more helpful - kills the pain temporarily, reduces inflammation, and it's cheap. Get a bunch of crushed ice from the freezer, a bag of frozen peas, or better yet, a gel pack from the grocery store (drug section) and put in the freezer for a few hours. The gel pack stays soft and pliable which is easier on the skin. Wrap in thin towel to protect the skin, apply and keep it there for 10-15min. After that, let the skin warm back up, or use some gentle heat. You can usually repeat this every couple of hours.
All: I spoke with my PT today after trying the nerve "flossing" - I thought she was pulling my leg as it were, but nope, "flossing" is real - sometimes called "neuromodulation". Found lots of Google hits on it. Anyway, as we work along, she's pretty sure that my sciatic nerve is stuck in at least one spot maybe more. We're working to find where by doing different exercises, seeing what hurts, what doesn't and then going from there. So far so good with the "flossing". I also have a sore spot near my sit bones that bothers me and I assume is related. She has me sitting on a tennis ball near that area - thinks it may be one or more of my internal rotators are too tight and pull on that area.
The adventure continues..
Mark
H'girl, please, please don't ever feel that you can't tell us all exactly what is happening with you and what Filler's office or Filler is or isn't doing. I wasn't upset , I was more angry for you. And I was thinking they all need to be more on the ball lwhen Filler is putting himself out there as an expert in this area and other areas. Don't ever feel protective toward me. I have been dealing with my problem for 10 years I will deal with it forever if I have to--jsut would rather not. So promise me you won't ever feel that you can't be truthful re: Filler.
I also use a TENS and have one that I have been using for 8 years andit is stilll going strong. But I did recently buy a new one thinking this one may wear out soon. The one I have had is called a maxima II made by staodyn. The new models are all digital and unfortunately bigger and therefore show more when you wear them. I wear mine all the time and it really helps except lwhen I go to sleep at night. Like Mark I ice befoe I go to bed and then put a few minutes of heat on it . Empi is also a very good company and I would recommend their products. That is what Julie has. The one I just bought is called a Neurotrac TENS and I haven't had a chance to wear it enough to say how good it is but it seems OK.
As for meds, low doses of antidepressants are given and I have friends who have had painfor just over 3 months and elavil has helped. Elavil is commonly given for pain over 3 months which is when pain is classified as chronic. I facilated chronic pain groups in the hospital before I developed my own problem. Ironic, isn't it? My sister takes lyrica for nerve pain and she says it has helped her also. I take oxycontin and percocet for breakthrough pain. I resisted going on any meds also until I became depressed and realized I really needed to do something to get relief. I think there are more meds available in the States than in Canada and I haven't even heard of most of the meds everyone talks about on the forum. Oxycontin was pretty well all I was offeredl. Then there is something called the fentanel patch (I think that is right) It is stronger than oxycontin. Go to a website called The American Pain Foundation. It has lots of good information re: pain and pain meds and is a big advocate of getting help for pain. I think you have to experiment and find what works for you. You may not need to be on it forever but don't think you have to suffer endlessly. Most G.P.s are better informed about pain control nowadays
My pain has been not bad today so am hoping the injections have kicked in.
Take care of yourself, get some supposrt locally if you can and try to find a local doc who can help with pain control. And promise me you won't ever not say what's up for fear of upsetting me. I can make my own choises re; Filler and it is best if I know the good and the bad.
I will be thinking about youand hoping there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Shirley
I feel a little guilty posting this, but Mary did email and I wanted to give all some hope. I know that I had none not long ago. I can now say surgery was a sucess. My surgery was also pretty major I had three neorgrapghys and my sciatic nerve goes through my femur artery in which Dr. Filler said that seemed almost impossible he could not fix that part. Also a cluster of blood vessels was going around and through the femur artery in which he removed all. He said my piriformis was so fibrous and full of scar tissue he had to completly remove. I was in surgery for almost seven hours and cut on butt then flipped during surgery and then cut in front.
Even after all of this I am far from100% but at least I am able to finaly go on with my life and actually compete again.
Julie got your message I will try to call tomorrow.
Hugs to everyone!!!
I hope this helps. (I know when I was in horrible pain and people would post they are getting better and there surgery was after mine I would be happy for them, but also at the same time be very jealous). I kept thinking why me. Start thinking positive about your health and I took anti depressants which was helpful. I know its not in your head. Just try to look for anything positive that you can.
Kym from Big Island Hawaii
Thank you all for the out pouring of suggestions, information and concern. It means so much. Guess what?? Ever called.....unfortunately he is not sure what to do but he suggests..Lyrica for the nerve pain to get thru what he calls a rough spot, hmm over 35 days of this is a rough spot, ok. Lying on ice off and on . Continue the vicodan as needed, hello the pain is 24/7. Thats it!!
He will speak to Dr. Filler and ask him if he will fit me in for a call Monday since he knows I have been dealing with the intense pain for over a month but no guarantee. He did say many others have bad nerve pain post op and the lyrica is helpful to them. Ever thinks new adhesions have formed and I'm thinking, overnight, one day no pain next day lots of pain that never stops, you would think that would be a gradual thing. If Filler also thinks thats the case, I asked what then? He said I would come back for a new MRN to confirm and then a guided injection of Wydase or Wybase (SP)to break up the adhesions.
I told him how disappointed I was with the follow up care from Filler, that he seems uncaring and too busy . Ever said he takes too many patients and is overwhelmed, I said thats totally in his control and is unfair to ALL the patients. I asked him if Filler gives up on people who he can't quick fix with surgery and he said not from what he has seen so far but he hasn't been there long enough to know if thats really true. Then he said...e-mail me after you finally talk to the doctor and let me know what he says because we don't really have anytime to talk much to each other about the patients!!!!! So my friends, thats it. I know I'm relieved, NOT! SO... any info on Lyrica would be great as I guess thats all I get after spending, well you all know how much that is, except my bill remains mostly unpaid as of today. Hope is fading..............HG
But it is loaded with side effects and needs to be closely monitored -gradually increasing dose & then tapering off the drug when you want to stop. You can't aburptly stop taking the drug without risking seizures, severe headaches and possible other problems.
This is not an "as needed" drug. It is used long term, for chronic pain.
My doctor says most patients can't tolerate the side effects - even if they are getting pain relief. It makes you very sleepy, mentally foggy, etc.
I have a vague recollection that Kim said her pharmacy would not fill the prescription for Lyrica because it was from an out of state doctor. And her pharmacist said it doesn't fix anything & most people can't tolerate it. Is that right Kim??
I really hope you get to talk to Filler soon.
How do you feel about going back to him for an neurogragh & injection to break up scar tissue?? MAry
I had UHA and switched to Summerlin a few months before my surgery. Up until then UHA paid for all my tests. I think it was the no pre-authorization they are using against you. Lots of people have to see specialists on the mainland, have emergencies ect. They should at least cover it at the non-participating provider level. Thanks, HG
Whew!
Take care,
Julie