So I'm a 29 y/o Totally and Permanently Medically Retired Disabled Veteran that was medically retired back in 2019. I have POTS, EDS, Epilepsy, GERD, Levoscoliosis, Spondylosis, Osteoarthritis, Post Thoracotomy Pain Syndrome and PTSD(mainly presented with anxiety and severe insomnia). While I was in the Army I was a Paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne Brigade based out of Vicenza Italy.
While in I sustained numerous injuries and countless surgeries. I had multiple head injuries with concussions, two that knocked me out. I broke my right ankle twice. Tore the labrum in my left shoulder. Herniated L4. Tore the labrum in my left hip and fractured my Femoral head and broke a piece of it off that was floating around the socket which ended up requiring two surgeries. The one that really did me in was a ruptured diaphragm and herniated my stomach into my Thoracic Cavity and resulted in 6 surgeries at Landstuhl and then 2 at Walter Reed. After I got out in 2019 I saw a civilian surgeon down in Orlando. His name is Dr.Farid Gharagozloo. He is an Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgeon and was with Advent Health but now runs his own institute. The surgery he performed was an Open Thoracotomy and did an Esophageal Valvuloplasty. He told me the damage inside was extensive and in typical fashion, the military did a TERRIBLE job. I had to have my diaphragm and hiatus completely reconstructed, and even had to have necrotic tissue removed from my diaphragm and parts of my chest wall. On top of that I had 3 tumors removed from my lungs. Dr.G (everyone calls him that due to how long his name is) told me that this particular surgery is one of the most painful surgeries you can get. They kept me in a Medically induced coma for about 3 days afterwards to help with the pain. I had that surgery back in 2019 and I still have pain and issues that stem from that injury. DrG and my Neurologist think I developed Epilepsy due to the head injuries and damage to my Vagus Nerve. The very first seizure I had I fell and dislocated my left shoulder, tore the labrum, fractured T2-T5, L3-L5, herniated L4-L5, herniated T5 and have multiple bulging disc's (don't have the report in front of me so I can't remember).
Well the least few months my pain has been literally soul crushing. I'm homebound and essentially bedridden. I haven't been able to work out. My back feels like it's collapsing on itself. The surgical site of my Thoracotomy is killing me, I can barely sleep because of the pain. The pain is so overwhelming its like the lights are on but nobody is home. I can't think, concentrate, I'm constantly dropping things, can barely hold a conversation with anyone. I've been typing this out for over 30 minutes to make sure it's coherent enough and that I don't make to many fucking mistakes....
This is what my Pain Management Team currently has me on:
-Oxymorphone ER 20mg 3x daily -Klonopin 1mg 3x daily -Depakote ER 500MG 1X daily -Diclofenac 50mg 2x daily -Baclofen 10mg 3x daily
I've been on this treatment protocol since November/December of last year. And it's worked very very well up until about 3-4 months ago. I've pleaded to have my Oxymorphone ER increased or have them add in an immediate release opioid because the way my body metabolizes things, it takes on average 90 minutes or more just for the oxymorphone to start slightly working. So if they would just work with me instead of being the medicine Fascists they are, I might actually be able to function again. Because I draw the line, when it starts becoming difficult to be intimate. Again if they increased my Oxymorphone ER to 30 mg over the 20 or added in an Immediate Release like 4mg Dilaudid or 15mg Oxycodone but I'm getting nowhere. And I'm losing hope fast. I'm increasingly withdrawn, have nothing to say, I enjoy absolutely nothing.
So about two months ago I asked about an intrathecal pain pump. And I the pump ideally I'd like to get Dilaudid because IV Dilaudid has always worked the best for me. Even more so then Fentanyl, IV Fentanyl and patches have NEVER done anything for my pain. Unfortunately Oral Dilaudid has poor bioavailability and does not last long at all. Which is why it would perfect as a Breakthrough while my oxymorphone kicks in. But I digress. But in the pump I'd ideally like Dilaudid, Baclofen, and then whatever else they feel like throwing in there to make the ultimate pain killer cocktail. Two of the 3 doctors on my team advised against it and said my pain can be managed with just oral meds, BUT IT NOT AND THEY'RE MAKING NO GOD DAMN EFFORT to improve it. The other doc, who I tend to favor more because she doesn't have a God complex and will actually converse with me and have a discussion about all the possibilities of whatever we may try. She said that it's possible and they have pain patients with pain pumps who they still treat with Breakthrough pain meds and other treatment options. But like the others she said that they think my pain can be controlled with oral meds.......I swear, I've been civilized and polite with these people but they're coming close to being acquainted with a part of me that I don't like showing. And I'm not saying that to sound like a tough guy, I'm a 29 year old guy who wants to be able to live again and not be reminded everyday of why and how I'm in the position I'm in. And be remembered of the 7 buddies I've lost along away the way. And it's ironic because they tell me to manage my PTSD and that'll help my pain as well(which I agree), but I tell my therapist, my pain is a constant fucking reminder of the things I had to deal with. When my pain is controlled I can actually accomplish work on my PTSD and move forward. I'm 29, engaged, set to get married next year to an absolute beautiful SAINT of a woman and I need these people to help.
So after all my info I've thrown out there, are there people here who would RECOMMEND an Intrathecal Pain Pump? Because I'm just about out of options and I need my life back.
Thank you in advance and apologies if the language bothered anyone, bad habit.
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