pain

[Mainemom]

I was diagnosed with IC in August. I have had a few flares that were really bad, I had a hydrodistention done in October and was really doing pretty good until about february. Since February I have been in and out of flares and pretty bad ones. I began to do to self-cath's and I got in an infection that was about a two weeks ago I haven't done another since and so Tuesday I went to see the uro and he did a pelvic. Since then I have been in excruciating pain I had to leave work early and took tomorrow off. I really am jsut curious if this is normal to be in this much pain or if i should talk to dr again. He did tell me that he wanted me to start DMSO's so Iwill be doing that in the near future.
My back feels like it is snapping in half most of the time.
Any advice would be great thanks.
Kirsten

[carla_2004]

Kirsten,

I had a huge flare after my last pelvic exam. My usual pain meds were ineffective, so I called the uro and asked for something stronger.

If this is a new symptom- or if the pain is much worse, please call your doctor and talk to his/her staff. Keep us all posted, we care.:kiss:

Hugs, carla

[Dixiefireball]

i personally like heat that helps me i also take perocet for pain dmso at home heprain and marcaine the marcaine i really think is my life saver and klonopins my doctor put me on Flexeril today because they think i have i have a pulled muscle in my back.:mad: so hopefully they will help me i did have blood in my urine also.
sorry i got off the subject i'm bad about that.
but maybe you could start your dmso a little sooner if your uti is gone.
sending you hugs and prayers
:pray: Rhonda

[Mainemom]

Thank you for rapid replies. It is not a new pain it is just very much worse. I have been in contact withthe doctor. I hav an appointment at 9:30 tomorrow and I am hoping that they will be able to start soon but it sounded like monday would be the earliest. But I guess iwill go to bed and lay on a heating pad. My pain meds aren't helping at all and my uro wont prescribe pain meds
so I guess I need to get into my pcp.
Oh well, thanks again for the replies nice toknow i am not alone in this
Kisten

[JessicainArkans]

Yep, Heating pads are a God send! I have supereficial burns all over my back and tummy from using them all the time!
Can you get on any of the lower doesed pain meds first, perhaps Ultram, it works wonders for me now, I have mostly taken them all like many others here, but it is doing the trick niceley!!!
Keep you chin up, this is a hard path to walk down but it does have its forgiving moments too.
Much luck with your search!
Jessica Day
JessicainArkansas

[blue]

Thermacare Heat Wraps are my best friend!

[Sarojini]

Normally I take Darvocet for pain but my uro has me on Percocet right now... I have a UTI on top of my IC and the Darvo just wasn't helping. Also, heat! Like Blue, I love the ThermaCare wraps :)

Good luck finding something that works... :grouphug:


Jen

[ljl765]

I have my patches for pain..which are truly a miracle for me. But there are days when "just because", and not from what I ate or did, it just hurts. I noticed whenever I get an abdominal check up I get a flare for about 4-5 days later..I have no idea why.. Maybe it's my bodies way of saying, 'Leave me alone"?? I also notice bouncing, or being in a car for longer then 1/2 an hour, stress, and being too cold, (shivering) can also make my lower abdominal area flare out and get hard, swollen and very hot to the touch. Does this happen to you, when you flare also?
It's a hard disease isn't it, but we are all here for each other..That's something to be grateful for. I hope it ends soon for you, and you're back to your old self and comfy.

[ChristineW]

I understand the pain your going through..Im dealing with it very often. EVERY day actually. I dont even get pain meds for it, or I do and they dont work..not strong enough. IC stinks..my bottom line! Im 34 and my life is really taking a toll to learn a new way of life...its sad. I understand, Im here if you need to talk.
Christine:pray:

[MakinIT]

Christinew: Has your doc refused to give you pain meds? (Most uro's don't like to give pain meds) Maybe you should go to a PCP...(your GP) they are generally much more sensitve to the pain. I don't know why, and am unsure why uros won't prescribe pain meds. Like, they think burning pain in 1/3 of your body is just a "grin and bear it" thing? It's not like I have a splinter in my pinky. Anyway, my GP was wonderful, my initial uro reluctantly wrote a script for vicadin (doesn't touch it) So I went sobbing to GP and wound up with MS contin (morphine) initially at 20 mgs 2x/day. Since Sept its been 30mgs 3x per day. My new uro also prescribed valium for my spasms. I've been dopey but it has improved as I went off of topamax ( a nuero blocker that is supposed to be used to interrupt pain signals.)

Of course, your goal in life is not to be doped up on pain meds, but for now, they help me maintain my pain. (it isn't gone by a long shot, but at least I live a more normal life....I'm not curled in pain for 24 hours a day.)

DEMAND pain relief...studies have shown patients heal better with them, because you are so busy fighting the pain, that you wind up getting sicker and sicker with the stress....

Tracey

[ChristineW]

Tracey...Do you know I went to my Internist and asked for him to prescribe me pain reliefe and he said...no. Im leaving him. I left and just cried. I felt they looked at me as though I was "looking for DRUGS just to take them"....they make me so angry these drs. Im getting no where fast w everyone, friends and even family are not quite understanding..they try but just arent . They feel, "accept it and move on" I explained..IF YOU HAD A THROBBING TOTHACHE EVERYDAY could you smile and move on..or would you cry and hurt really bad. Well every day I have that toothache in my bladder. Only you guys really understand. This ilness does get you pretty depressed . Im gonna be on phone tday to try and get a pain mgmt dr AGAIN. Not having luck there either.

Christine

[Kimberly31]

Yes you do need a pain mgmt Dr. dont give up!!! You have to remember that you have patient rights! Keep looking it might take time but you will find a dr. that understands and is willing to treat you.
Take Care and God Bless :kiss:
Kim

[ChristineW]

Thanks Kim...I left a msg on another pain mgmt md tday. Hope it works.

Christine :)

[ljl765]

Christine, be tenacious, it may take a few weeks to get in to see a good MD, but a good one is worht it. Try to speak to him/her briefly before you waste your time..to see what their "policy" is...and his.her reputation...I had a bad experience with one, but the next saved my life. I wish you the very best of luck. Be your own advocate, take care of you :)

[MakinIT]

Christine: I guess the only comfort I can offer you right now is that you are not alone in this quest for pain relief. You have to find another internist, as well as the pain clinic. I honestly cannot believe these morons and their lack of concern for the pain. Do some research on the internet for pain relief and stress, healing and take that into the doc. Remember, they are only human and are not experts on our own unique bodies...we are. Many also don't really want to get any more information on specific diseases. They think they know it already, but haven't updated their own information since learning about it however many years ago in med school. (Hey...it's not their body, so why bother....they put their day in and go home...at least many of them, I'm very fortunate to have a caring and concerned team of medical professionals. ) You would think they would continue reading and researching but they don't...they lost the interest in the pursuit of their own private lives...YOU have to take on the research end of it. If you go in knowing what you are talking about, they tend to do a "duh..." look and finally go and look up for themselves what you are talking about.

Good luck to you...Demand your pain relief. Rate your pain in a journal everyday on a scale of 1-10 and specifically describe WHERE your pain is, what the exact feeling is. Also, what it's impact is on your daily life (activities, interactions, sex relationships, etc...) That made a huge difference in how I was treated and looked at by my team. It showed I really was paying attention.

:thumbsup: Tracey

[ljl765]

Yes absolutely keep a chart. This is something an MD can understand..and they tend to take you more seriously..Good luck, and let us know. Don't give up!

[Babs RN]

Hope you're feeling better, and that the nasty ol pain gives you a break.

Hugs,
Barb