Attention: People w/Chronic Pain...*A VALUABLE Tool to Help You Talk to Your Doctor*

[Richard_smoker]

THIS IS FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN.

I've noticed an awful lot people in this forum with pain that they are afraid to consult a physican concerning... At the last moment, I decided to make this a new thread so that it would be easy for all to locate.

The reason for this post is to help solve the #1 problem between doctors and patients--ESPECIALLY for people in pain. Most physicians equate chronic pain with drug addicts--at least on some level. So, trust is ESSENTIAL. This paperwork will eliminate MOST of the problems with communication and it will HELP build communication and TRUST. *If your physician does NOT end up feeling comfortable prescribing adequate pain relief, then ASK HIM WHERE HE CAN SEND YOU TO GET RELIEF! REMEMBER THAT EVEN THOUGH ANY DOC CAN LEGALLY TREAT PAIN W/ANY MEDS THEY WANT, THIS IS WHAT PAIN SPECIALISTS DO FOR A LIVING!!!

#1 PROBLEM W/GETTING ADEQUATE PAIN TREATMENT:
MISCOMMUNICATION & MISUNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PATIENT & DOCTOR!

This is a CHECKLIST that will help you to COMMUNICATE with your physician...

You can import this post (the part that starts w/"Pain medication checklist") into Word and then fill it out to give your primary care doc or a pain specialist on your 1st visit.

This information will tell the doctor a LOT, and it saves you AND him TONS OF TIME... It will save you both the AWKWARDNESS of having to ask you about drug & alcohol abuse and then YOU having to look him in the eye and say "YES" or "NO." (don't you HATE that shit?)

Plus, this sheet could save you TWO OR THREE VISITS and TONS of needless drug trials because you will have already DONE MOST of his 'investigative' work. Plus it's PAPERWORK!!

Paperwork = PHYSICAL DOCUMENTATION THEY CAN PUT INTO YOUR CHART!!!

Said yet another way: this means that if you're nice and compliant with his recommendations, etc. and the doctor doesn't CATCH YOU in any blatant LIES, then this paperwork is considered "PROOF" of what medications you've already TRIED, and what medications that you're WILLING to try!!! This paperwork is PROOF of your willingness to help him to help YOU. comprende?

Remember the GOLDEN RULE:
"DRUG ADDICTS" AREN'T WILLING TO TRY ANYTHING!!!
"DRUG ADDICTS" WANT THE DRUG THEY'RE ADDICTED TO!!

any doctor you go to will need to get this information from you ANYWAYS, so taking this form will take a lot of the work away from him/her. Just DON'T do the usual drug addict thing and say that you're allergic to every-fucking-thing except the drug you want! I CAN'T STRESS THIS ENOUGH! IF YOU DO THAT SHIT, DOCTORS WILL *HATE* YOU AND THEY WILL BE STUBBORN AND FIGHT AGAINST YOU, AS WELL AS YOUR RIGHTS FOR ADEQUATE ANALGESIA BECAUSE THEY 'KNOW' WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

THEY WILL IMMEDIATELY LABEL YOU A DRUG ADDICT. You say, "I'm allergic to codeine, all anti-inflammatories, nubaine, and morphine," and they will "KNOW" (even if they're wrong)... they'll KNOW that you are a lortab or dilaudid ADDICT.

This sheet is very friendly for both of you.

BTW, take this on your FIRST visit! The 1st visit is when they do the history, etc. and they WILL ask you about former prescription drugs, OTC meds, and they WILL ask you about illegal drugs, alcohol, and nicotine.

Don't lie about the cigarettes--they can smell them on you.

If you're an alcoholic, then you MUST put indicate that you are a somewhat-regular drinker. When they draw blood, they will KNOW if you're lying! (by your enzyme profile)

REMEMBER: LIARS DON'T GET TREATED LIKE HONEST PEOPLE!

Print this out, fill it out, and it will give your doc an idea of how much pain you're in, what does and doesn't work for you, AND I think it might be a useful tool just for educating yourself on the hierarchy of pain treatments and medications. also, feel free to write in any side effects you didn't enjoy out in the margins.

When you hand it over, tell them that your cousin, nephew, aunt, mom, (who is a nurse or medical assistant or student) gave it to you because they know a lot about doctors and they wanted to save you AND him/her the grief of having to remember everything you've tried in the past.
Cheers! -Dick

Pain Medication Checklist

This sheet lists many medications used by patients with chronic pain. Please complete it to help your physician plan the best possible treatment for your pain. Place a check in front of the name of each medicine that you now use or have used in the past. If you think that you may have taken a medication but are not sure, place a check mark next to its name. The generic names are followed by common examples of brand names (in parentheses). Please write in the names of medicines that you have taken that are not listed on the lines labeled "'other." Thank you.

Non-Prescription Pain Relievers

_____ Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Datril, Phenaphen, Panadol, etc.)
_____ Aspirin (Bayer, Empirin, etc.)
_____ Aspirin and caffeine (Anacin, Synalgos, etc.)
_____ Buffered aspirin (Bufferin, Ascriptin, etc.)
_____ Effervescent aspirin (Alka Seltzer, Bromo Seltzer, etc.)
_____ Enteric coated aspirin (Ecotrin, etc.)
_____ Ibuprofen (Advil, Nuprin, Haltrin, Pamprin, etc.)
_____ Choline salicylate (Arthropan)
_____ Salsalate (Disalcid)
_____ Triple salicylates (Trilisate)
_____ Other

Non-Steroidal Antinflammatory Analgesics

_____ Carprofen (Rimadyl)
_____ Diclofenac (Voltaren)
_____ Diflunisal (Dolobid)
_____ Etodolac (Lodine)
_____ Fenoprofen (Nalfon)
_____ Flurbiprofen (Ansaid)
_____ Ibuprofen (Motrin, Rufen, Ifen, etc.)
_____ Indomethacin (Indocin, etc.)
_____ Ketoprofen (Orudis)
_____ Ketorolac (Toradol)
_____ Meclofenamate (Meclomen)
_____ Mefenamic acid (Ponstel)
_____ Nabumetone (Relafen)
_____ Naproxen (naprosyn, Anaprox)
_____ Oxaprozin (Daypro)
_____ Oxyphenbutazone (Tandearil, others)
_____ Phenylbutazone (Butazolidin, Azolid, etc.)
_____ Piroxicam (Feldene)
_____ Sulindac (Clinoril)
_____ Tolmetin (Tolectin)

Prescription Analgesics

_____ Buprenex (Buprenex)
_____ Butorphanol (Stadol)
_____ Codeine
_____ Dezocine (Dalgan)
_____ Dihydrocodeine (Synalgos-DC)
_____ Fentanyl (Duragesic, Sublimaze)
_____ Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Hydrocet, Hycodaphen, Hy-Phen, etc.)
_____ Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
_____ Levorphanol (LevoDromoran, etc.)
_____ Meperidine (Demerol, Mepergan, pethidine, etc.)
_____ Methadone (Dolophine, etc.)
_____ Morphine (MS Contin, Roxanol, etc.)
_____ Nalbuphine (Nubain)
_____ Opium (Pantapon, Laudanum, etc.)
_____ Oxycodone (Percocet, Percodan, Roxicodone, Tylox, etc.)
_____ Oxymorphone (Numorphan)
_____ Pentazocine (Talwin, Talacen)
_____ Propoxyphene (Darvon, Dolene, Darvocet, etc.)

Muscle Relaxants

_____ Baclofen (Lioresal)
_____ Carisoprodol (Soma, Rela, etc.)
_____ Chlorphenesin (Maolate)
_____ Chlorzoxazone (Paraflex, Paracet, Chlorzone, etc.)
_____ Cyclobenazprine (Flexeril)
_____ Dantrolene (Dantrium)
_____ Diazepam (Valium, etc.)
_____ Methocarbamol (Robaxin, Marbaxin, etc.)
_____ Orphenadrine (Norflex, X-Otag, etc.)
_____ Other

Anti-Anxiety Agents/Sedatives/Sleeping Pills

_____ Alprazolam (Xanax)
_____ Amobarbital (Amytal, Tuinal, etc.)
_____ Aprobarbital (Alurate)
_____ Chloral hydrate (Noctec, Somnos, others)
_____ Clonazepam (Klonipin)
_____ Buspirone (BuSpar)
_____ Butabarbital (Butisol, etc.)
_____ Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Lipoxide, Limbitrol, etc.)
_____ Chlormezanone (Trancopal)
_____ Clorazepate (Tranxene, etc.)
_____ Diazepam (Valium, etc)
_____ Doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin, etc.)
_____ Flurazepam (Dalmane, Durapam, etc.)
_____ Halazepam (Paxipam)
_____ Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistrail, etc.)
_____ Lorazepam (Ativan, Alzapam, etc.)
_____ Mephobarbital (Mebaral, etc.)
_____ Meprobamate (Equanil, Miltown, Equagesic, etc.)
_____ Oxazepam (Serax, etc.)
_____ Pentobarbital (Nembutal, etc.)
_____ Phenobarbital (Luminal, etc.)
_____ Prazepam (Centrax)
_____ Secobarbital (Seconal, etc.)
_____ Talbutal (Lotusate)
_____ Temazepam (Restoril, etc.)
_____ Triazolam (Halcion)
_____ Compoz
_____ Nytol
_____ Sominex
_____ Unisom
_____ Nervine
_____ Quiet World
_____ Sleep-Eze
_____ Other

Steroids

_____ Cortisone (Cortone, etc.)
_____ Dexamethasone (Decadrone, Hexadrol, etc.)
_____ Hydrocortisone (Hydrocortone, Cortef, etc.)
_____ Methylprednisolone (Medrol, Meprolone, etc.)
_____ Prednisolone (Delta-Cortef, Prelone, etc.)
_____ Prednisone (Deltasone, Metacorten, etc.)
_____ Triamcinolone (Aristocort, Kenacort, etc.)
_____ Other

Antidepressant Analgesics

_____ Amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep, Triavil, Etrafon, Limbitrol, etc.)
_____ Amoxapine (Ascendin)
_____ Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
_____ Clompiramine (Anafranil)
_____ Desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofrane)
_____ Doxepin (Sinequan, Adapin, etc.)
_____ Fluoxetine (Prozac)
_____ Imipramine (Tofranil, Janimine, etc.)
_____ Isocarboxazid (Marplan)
_____ Maprotiline (Ludiomil)
_____ Nortiptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor)
_____ Paroxitine (Paxil)
_____ Phenylzine (Nardil)
_____ Protiptyline (Vivactil)
_____ Sertraline (Zoloft)
_____ Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
_____ Trazadone (Desyrel, etc.)
_____ Trimpramine (Surmontil)
_____ Other

Phenothiazines

_____ Acetophenazine (Tindal)
_____ Chlorpromazine (Thorazine, Promapar, etc.)
_____ Fluphenazine (permitil, Prolixin, etc.)
_____ Mesoridazine (Serentil)
_____ Perphenazine (Trilaton)
_____ Prochlorperazine (Compazine, etc.)
_____ Promazine (Sparine, Prozine, etc.)
_____ Thioridazine (Mellaril, Millazine, etc.)
_____ Thiothixene (Navane, etc.)
_____ Trifluoperazine (Stelazine, Suprazine, etc.)
_____ Triflupromazine (Vesprin)
_____ Other

Other Psychotropic Drugs

_____ Chlorprothixene (Taractan)
_____ Clozapine (Clozaril)
_____ Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine, etc.)
_____ Haloperidol (Haldol, etc.)
_____ Lithium (Eskalith, Lithane, Lithobid, Cibalith, etc.)
_____ Loxapine (Loxitane)
_____ Methamphetamine (Desoxyn, Methampex, etc.)
_____ Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
_____ Molindone (Moban)
_____ Pemoline (Cylert)
_____ Pimozide (Orap)
_____ Other

Anticonvulsant Analgesics

_____ Carbamazepine (Tegretol)
_____ Clonazepam (Klonopin)
_____ Phenytoin (Dilantin, diphenylhydantoin, etc.)
_____ Valproic acid (Depakote, Depakene)
_____ Other

Circulatory System Agents

_____ Acebutolol (Sectral)
_____ Atenolol (Tenormin)
_____ Diltiazem (Cardizem)
_____ Enalapril (Vasotec)
_____ Ergonovine (Ergotrate, etc.)
_____ Ergotamine (Ergomar, Ergostat, Cafergot, Wigraine, etc.)
_____ Isometheptene and acetaminophen (Midrin)
_____ Isradipine (Dynacirc)
_____ Labetolol (Normodyne, Trandate)
_____ Methysergide (Sansert)
_____ Metoprolol (Lopressor)
_____ Nicardipine (Cardene)
_____ Nadolol (Corgard)
_____ Nifedipine (Procardia, Trandate)
_____ Pindolol (Visken)
_____ Propranolol (Inderal, etc.)
_____ Timolol (Blocadren)
_____ Verapamil (Malan, Isoptin, etc.)
_____ Other

Gastrointestinal Agents

_____ Antacid (name[s])
______ _________________________
_____ Cimetidine (Tagamet)
_____ Famotidine (Pepsid)
_____ Metoclopramide (Reglan)
_____ Misoprostil (Cytotec)
_____ Nizatidine (Axid)
_____ Omeprazole (Prilosec)
_____ Amphetamine (Benzadrine, etc.)
_____ Ranitidine (Zantac)
_____ Simethicone (Mylicon, Gas-X, etc.)
_____ Sucralfate (Carafate)
_____ Other

Vitamins and Supplements

_____ Multivitamin (name[s]) ______________________________
_____ Vitamin A
_____ Vitamin B Complex (name) ___________________________
_____ Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
_____ Vitamin D
_____ Vitamin E
_____ Vitamin K
_____ Niacin, nicotinic acid, vitamin B-2
_____ Phenylanine, DLPA
_____ Pyridoxine, Vitamin B-6
_____ Tryptophan, 1-tryptophan
_____ Other

Mood Affecting Drugs

_____ Cocaine
_____ Crack
_____ Heroin (diamorphine, diacetyl morphine, etc.
_____ LDS, lysergic acid
_____ Marijuana, cannabis, hashish
_____ Peyote, mescaline, mushrooms
_____ PCP, phencyclidine, angel dust
_____ Other

In an average week, how many of these do you usually consume?

_____ Cups of coffee
_____ Cans/glasses of beer
_____ Ounces of whiskey
_____ Cans/glasses of cola
_____ Glasses of wine
_____ Cigarettes

Reputation Comments on this post:

	Damn good post, liked the list
	Great post on Information on Chronic pain management
	very important topic to bring up, thanks!
	GREAT TOOL

[Fantasian]

I know im dragging an old thread up here but i notice you mention steroids in Pain management. Ive posted several times about my acute pains that i get per week and im looking for an alternative to opioids, so far all i have is strong traquilizers like Lorazepam or diazepam which literally knock me unconcious. How to steroids treat pain? Do you think they would be able to help a undiagnosed abdominal pain. I have been given every test under the sun with still no luck.

Thanks for the advice.

[rocco_blitz]

Swim has been trying to get his doc to prescribe him methadone.Swims doc says that he can not write schedule 2.But Swim had hernia surgery a few days ago and the surgen found out that swims primary care doc had already been giving him lortab 10/500 on a regular basis.So after the surgery the surgen told swim just to take his medication that his primary doc has been giving him for the awefull pain.Well swim ran out of the lortab cause he doulbed up on it from 4 a day to 8+,now swim knows the danger of this with his liver etc,,,,Well swim calls his primary doc and tells him that the surgen told him to take the lortab,swim complained that the lortab was not helping and swims primary doc wrote swim a script of tylox,which is a schedule 2.So swim caught his doc in a lie and wonders if he should mention it since methadone is also a schedule 2 and swim knows that methadone would not only help with his pain but save his liver.Swim had ask his primary doc to prescribe him methadone a long time ago with no luck.Swim primary has been prescribing lortab 10 to him for almost 10 years,Swim knows and feels that methadone would be much better for him but how should swim approach his doc again with this question.First doc said cant write schedule 2,then writes him tylox.Swim doesnt want to piss the doc off and get booted.........any suggestions would be app.

[yahouda]

Hi,
Another problem GPs face when perscribing narcotics long term is the question from "the College of Physicians and Surgeons", What else have you tried, or what specialists have you sent him/her to for substantiation and or alternatives.

My doc told me once that he was afraid to be the only one in the boat and that my chart (regardless of things I had done on my own) did not show that HE had tried alternatives methods of treatment.

Now that I've had Xrays MRI's and that other one that sends electroshocks through you he doesn't feel as lonely because my chart is full of opinions that let him off the hook.

The doctor at the Spine Clinic that I see (not my reguilar gp) tole me that I would have to be crawling into his office on all fours before he would recommend back surgery.
My response was that if it wasn';t for all the narcotics I was taking, I would be crawlling.

He said"I rest my case."

Whether it is warented or not if you are taking large amounts of narcotics and are highly opiate tolerant I hope you never have to go to an emergency department for a pain related problem.

I had a Sciatic attack that was so bad that if I tried to hop to go to the bathroom the pain was such that I almost passed out. I called an ambulance to take me to the hospital and when I told them how much opiates I was taking per day they treated me like a drug addict and let me suffer for 7 hrs, (even though I had enough of my own medeication with me to kill me) which they told me not to take. They also told me to stop scraming because there are sick people in the hospital.

It wasn't until they saw the xray that they did an about face and promptly pumped enough juice into me to kill a horse.

That was the most painful and scariest night of my life and I hope it never happens to you.

Y

[Nagognog2]

Where I live, we have no gun laws. This came in handy for one fellow whose wife was in the local hospital in terrible pain from her chronic back problem.

The doctor would not give her narcotics, saying he was afraid to make her an addict (she was in her 60's), or get his license pulled. So her husband showed up carrying his shotgun. The doctor changed his tune, but called the police.

He raised such an outcry on his wife's behalf that a new, more competent doctor, was assigned to her that would prescribe. All charges were dropped against the husband. In that the hospital had no posted rules against carrying a firearm - he had not violated any laws.

[rocco_blitz]

Yeah when swim had that surgery,in the recovery room the nurse keep asking him if he was a drug addict?Swim said what the hell you bloody mean,nurse replied this is the most pain meds that I cam give you.Swim explained well before the surgery that he had a very high tolorence to most pain meds.So the freaks in the hospital sent swim home in much much pain and with no relief in sight.I sure hope swiy go through that kind of treatment in a hospital.Swim has to pay for that............Just dont seem fair that most people with a high tolerence gets treated as if they were a h-user or something.Bet if swim was a ruler of a country with same problem the outcome would be different.

[rocco_blitz]

Swim will get to go se his surgen today hopefully do some good.Swim is going to complain about how hospital treated him.

[nancydrew]

Originally Posted by Fantasian

I know im dragging an old thread up here but i notice you mention steroids in Pain management. Ive posted several times about my acute pains that i get per week and im looking for an alternative to opioids, so far all i have is strong traquilizers like Lorazepam or diazepam which literally knock me unconcious. How to steroids treat pain? Do you think they would be able to help a undiagnosed abdominal pain. I have been given every test under the sun with still no luck.

Thanks for the advice.

i had a really nasty bought of chostochondritis, basically severe omg i want to die pain every time i coughed because the cartlidge and joints in my ribs were all out of sorts. the best course of treatment i was told was anti inflmatories like a simple advil, but cannot take those due to gastro issues. i was given some tylenol 3's and send home. they pain still wouldn't go away and no one would give me a narcotic cough supressant. my pain clinic doctor gave me a pack of methlyprednisone and it worked like a champ for my costochondritis related pain. now i am a pain patient for many other reasons and it did not work for those, but that it my experience. it certainly has some effect.rrr

[BakaBilly]

Semi Related.

SWIM recently went into the ER for an IBS/Chron's flare up.

Somthing was wrong with SWIMs liver so they kept him for 4 days.

SWIM is always honest and told the ER that he had smoked pot for pain.

When SWIMs tests came back negative for pot but positive for opiates everyone went from caring and welcome to negative and bitchy.

[hoodabudda]

Originally Posted by rocco_blitz

Swim has been trying to get his doc to prescribe him methadone.Swims doc says that he can not write schedule 2.But Swim had hernia surgery a few days ago and the surgen found out that swims primary care doc had already been giving him lortab 10/500 on a regular basis.So after the surgery the surgen told swim just to take his medication that his primary doc has been giving him for the awefull pain.Well swim ran out of the lortab cause he doulbed up on it from 4 a day to 8+,now swim knows the danger of this with his liver etc,,,,Well swim calls his primary doc and tells him that the surgen told him to take the lortab,swim complained that the lortab was not helping and swims primary doc wrote swim a script of tylox,which is a schedule 2.So swim caught his doc in a lie and wonders if he should mention it since methadone is also a schedule 2 and swim knows that methadone would not only help with his pain but save his liver.Swim had ask his primary doc to prescribe him methadone a long time ago with no luck.Swim primary has been prescribing lortab 10 to him for almost 10 years,Swim knows and feels that methadone would be much better for him but how should swim approach his doc again with this question.First doc said cant write schedule 2,then writes him tylox.Swim doesnt want to piss the doc off and get booted.........any suggestions would be app.

kinda old thread but knowing the difference between a schedule 2 and 3 is not common knowledge,except to drug abusers mostly.at the very least it would show that you have an interest in drugs and to know which drugs and preperations are which schedule is kinda sketchy.although if he actually used the word schedules 2 swiy could say swiy googled it and saw they were in the same class of drug.mabey swiy could hint at it in a roundabout way like say tylox dosent work long enough and ask if there is a slow release formula or a drug that lasts longer.mabey swim will end up on oxycontin. would be kinda funny to check off every thing on the list except feyntanal and morphine and go to the doc w/ it.

[beentheredonethatagain]

I had been going to my primary care doc and describing my back pain to him, he wrote me a rx for hydrocodone 100 pills for the month , take as needed for pain on the bottle, okay i did and it was running out before the end of the month , so I called him and asked for refill, because it was early of course he declinded. I then call my isurance co. and filed a grievance. Two days later they send me to a pain managment doctor, who started the correct treatment for chronic back pain. so the way to get anywhere is not to yell at doctor , but go over his head. they will jump to attention and get you the help you neeed.