i'm new! how do i approach my pm doctor?

I'm new to the forum. I don't know what else to do or who to ask so I'm turning to a forum which is something that I've never done. I get daily chronic headaches. On top of that I get migraines once or twice a week. On top of that, I have glossopharyngeal neuralgea. And if anybody knows about that pain. It is completely debilitating. It's a compression of the ninth cranial nerve which lies behind your ear and effects the nerves surrounding it. When that flares up, I can't talk, I can't move my head, I can't walk, I can't do anything. SO!!! ANYWAY!!!!! Right now all my pm dr has me on is half a perc 10/325 4x a day. 1-4 25mg hydroxizine for my daily headaches as needed, 10 mg baclofen at bedtime and 1-2 300mg trileptal for my gloss neur. HELP!!!!!!!! PLEASE!!!none of this is working! What do I tell him si I can get some relief. He told me that the percs are what were causing my headaches but those are the only things that give me relief!!! And now I'm out of those! Seriously, how can I take half of one four times a day????!!!! Its impossible!!! P.s...forgive the typos. I'm typing on my blackberry! HELP!!!!

What does he say when you tell him you are still experiencing pain? Have you been with the this Dr. a long time so that you've developed a trust with him?

How long have you been on the perc? And I agree, that's not much....

I think rebound and MOH are grossly over rated but that's my HO.

I've only seen him once. I'm trying to figure out what I need to say to him at the next appointment so I don't seem needy. But I'm in pain! I know I need to establish trust with him first. I'm just really struggling here. Ow.

I've been on the perc for prob a year.

Hi and welcome,

I would be completely honest about it. Simply tell him that the current treatment is not working at all, that you are still in a great deal of pain and ask if he would be willing to switch some meds out, etc. It sounds like you might be getting to the point where longer acting pain medications would be better for you. But I would start with the truth. If, for some, reason, he doesn't want to change treatment ask him to explain why.

I hope this helps.

Pain free days,
sailingm

go to a different Dr. that will let you particapate in your treatment. you know what you need or helps.

Welcome to the forum. This site has helped so many of us deal with chronic pain.

I agree with paradox....start with being honest.

I'd also talk with him about referral to a pain specialist.

Most of us have struggled with finding the right doctor...it's a real tough thing to do when you have chronic pain.

How about seeing a Migraine and headache specialist? It's important to note that neurologists and pm specialists aren't necessarily Migraine and headache specialists.

It's possible that your doctor is right that part of the headaches you're having are medication overuse headaches from the Percocet. That can happen when pain meds or Migraine abortive meds are taken more than two or three days a week. I do know what it's like to be told that, but what if he's right? What if the Percocet is causing the headaches? Were you having the daily headaches before you started the Percocet? If it would help, you can read more about MOH at http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/medications-32544-5.html.

Teri