"no pain history" longish rant

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jendrey
jendrey Member Posts: 377
in Breast Cancer #1
I've been having moderate to debilitating pain in my upper left arm. (It's much worse than my hip pain and totally cancels out any neck pain.) My arm has been hurting for five weeks now without let up. Two week ago I called oncology and was told to "give it a couple of weeks"...

I don't know why I did wait except that maybe I wasn't thinking too clearly I guess. So, last Friday I stopped in and talked with one of the nurses who promised to tell the doctor. Yesterday I get a call back from the same nurse relating the doctor's response.

First some background:
Way back when I started treatment I never had any pain whatsoever. Thus, when my vitals were taken and I was asked if I had any pain I'd say no. But, my pain free existence ended last November. Ever since then when asked if I had any pain, I've said yes.

I always thought it was pointless that they'd ask me because it wasn't ever once addressed by the doctor or NP. I'd mention it only if at that moment I happened to be in pain, but most often I was not in pain at that exact moment. But even if not in pain right then I'd always tell the nurse that I did often have pain.
...

I couldn't believe it when the nurse told me that after carefully reviewing my file the doctor wouldn't do anything for my pain because incredibly there is NO mention of me having any pain anywhere in my medical file. I have no history of pain.

No history of pain. Are they serious???

How is it possible they neglected to record my telling them about the pain I've been having ever since last November? This is so over the top that my mind just goes blank, I mean come on now...no history of pain. No pain reported. Ever.

The bizarre thing is that I get why the doctor wouldn't give me anything for pain because well, here's a patient who all of a sudden is demanding some strong pain meds without a single reported history of pain insofar as what's in my file accordingly.

I know the oncology department is severely lacking in quite a few areas but to not report any of my pain that'd be something almost systematic and why? Why would they do something like this? Maybe more likely they just get to talking and, hell I dunno..

I don't get it. I seriously just don't get how something like this could even be possible.
Do they think really and truly think I woke up one day and decided I wanted to try and score some drugs/meds out of them and that this would be the very best way to go about it???

Seriously?

I think I could put forth a bit more creative effort and go somewhere they don't know me if that was the case.

Wow - just wow.
Thanks for listening.

Comments

  • sinee
    sinee Member Posts: 196 Member
    #2
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    call them back
    and tell them your history has just changed and you ARE experiencing pain, that you can come in today, or go to the hospital and have them question why the doctor won't examine you~make an appointment, insist on one, or find another oncologist~this is just over the top.
    To get some relief in the meantime, when lying down hold your arm above your head on a pillow with your hand slightly higher than your wrist. At least that way, when you go in you can swing your arm and slap that doctor up side his head...lol...ok, don't slap him, hope I made you laugh a little about the thought of it...But make an appointment and tell them where the pain is starting from, traveling to, and that on a scale of 1-10 it is and 11...you have a right to be seen, and heard and believed~ Sinee
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #3
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    sinee said:

    call them back
    and tell them your history has just changed and you ARE experiencing pain, that you can come in today, or go to the hospital and have them question why the doctor won't examine you~make an appointment, insist on one, or find another oncologist~this is just over the top.
    To get some relief in the meantime, when lying down hold your arm above your head on a pillow with your hand slightly higher than your wrist. At least that way, when you go in you can swing your arm and slap that doctor up side his head...lol...ok, don't slap him, hope I made you laugh a little about the thought of it...But make an appointment and tell them where the pain is starting from, traveling to, and that on a scale of 1-10 it is and 11...you have a right to be seen, and heard and believed~ Sinee

    I would think your chart and
    I would think your chart and history would tell them that you are not a pill pusher. If declining pain meds all this time when you could have gotten a script numerous times for your procedures, should tell them you don't have an addiction problem. If you're asking for something stronger now... that alone should be a warning sign to them that something changed.

    Strange... I'd keep hounding them if your pain levels persist.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #4
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    butterflylvr said:

    I would think your chart and
    I would think your chart and history would tell them that you are not a pill pusher. If declining pain meds all this time when you could have gotten a script numerous times for your procedures, should tell them you don't have an addiction problem. If you're asking for something stronger now... that alone should be a warning sign to them that something changed.

    Strange... I'd keep hounding them if your pain levels persist.

    Hugs,
    Lorrie

    ...
    LOL @ sinee! Not a bad idea...a good wallop upside the head. With my luck it'd knock what little sense in - out!!!

    Good point Lorrie, there have been lots of other times when they've 'freely' offered something for any pain I might've been having. My bad.

    Well, that should teach me about being honest with the oncology department.
    Unfortunately. =/

    ((Thanks))
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #5
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    From here on out
    I would ask them if they are noting this in my chart. I often live with minor pain if I know it is appropriate to what I have been through. I think sometimes when one does this others tend to overlook your pain because you are still functioning.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #6
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    laughs_a_lot said:

    From here on out
    I would ask them if they are noting this in my chart. I often live with minor pain if I know it is appropriate to what I have been through. I think sometimes when one does this others tend to overlook your pain because you are still functioning.

    unfortunately the sqeaky
    unfortunately the sqeaky wheel gets the grease. call them up and be insistent. Explain the whole situation, you have had evolving, more frequent pain that needs evaluation, and treatment. perhaps there is a pain clinic you can go to. I dont think oncs are prepared to deal with our other issues, they only know their cancer stuff, and very little about fixing the problems that occur as a result. Ask for a referral. If that doesnt work i thin
    sinee has the right answer. Go Get Em!!!
  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #7
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    Pain is the Body's Alarm System
    Hi jendry,

    Did you have a lymph node dissection? Perhaps your pain is from a nerve that was severed during that surgery.

    I would see your primary doctor and tell her/him about the pain in your upper arm. It could be many things not related to your cancer also. Your primary may be able to prescribe something quicker.

    If it is nerve pain, perhaps amitriptyline or neurontin might help it. It would be better than a narcotic type pill.

    I once had upper arm pain and it turned out to be a good size tumor in the axilla. The tumor had sucked in two nerves as it wrapped around the large arm vein. The pain was coming from them when I moved, ouch! The nerves were telling me, "hey, do something"!

    Pain is the body's alarm system. Never, never let it go on and on. There is a reason for the pain, you need to find out.

    Best wishes,

    Doris
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #8
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    Isn't it amazing -
    how medical staff can 'bugger' things up!
    3 weeks ago I slipped in a rut in the yard and fractured 2 bones in my foot. Didn't go to UC that night but did the next morning. The UC PA didn't think anything was broken as it wasn't bruised. She was dead set that it was Gout so ordered blood tests for that and then added X-rays to the chit. No gout and she didn't see any fractures. She had asked me if I'd takem and meds - yeah - I took one of my Vicodan that I have incase I need it for my arthritis in back. She looked at my list of meds and told me not to take any more Vicodan or reg. tylenol but to increase the Etodolac (for my back). Well Thursday I called in for a refill on my Vicodan and ws told that a 'hold' had been put on it - I still have 3 refills on the last script and the last refill was in June. Seems the UC PA decided that I didn't "need" it. Got my PA's RN on the phone and it was straightened out ASAP. WE have to be our own Advocate.

    Prayers!

    Susan
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #9
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    Rague said:

    Isn't it amazing -
    how medical staff can 'bugger' things up!
    3 weeks ago I slipped in a rut in the yard and fractured 2 bones in my foot. Didn't go to UC that night but did the next morning. The UC PA didn't think anything was broken as it wasn't bruised. She was dead set that it was Gout so ordered blood tests for that and then added X-rays to the chit. No gout and she didn't see any fractures. She had asked me if I'd takem and meds - yeah - I took one of my Vicodan that I have incase I need it for my arthritis in back. She looked at my list of meds and told me not to take any more Vicodan or reg. tylenol but to increase the Etodolac (for my back). Well Thursday I called in for a refill on my Vicodan and ws told that a 'hold' had been put on it - I still have 3 refills on the last script and the last refill was in June. Seems the UC PA decided that I didn't "need" it. Got my PA's RN on the phone and it was straightened out ASAP. WE have to be our own Advocate.

    Prayers!

    Susan

    OK..even supposing that they never
    noted that you had pain before (odd, because then why did they even ask if they were not listening to the answer?) the fact is that you are having pain NOW so it needs to be addressed. And whether or not you have a "history of pain" makes no difference at all to the current situation!

    Yes, call and insist they address this issue...or like sinee says, whack them upside the head and get their attention...(OK this is really mean) then after hitting them, then ask them how much pain THEY are feeling on a scale of 1 to 10...

    Hope you find relief soon,

    Laura
  • ms.sunshine
    ms.sunshine Member Posts: 707 Member
    #10
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    dbhadra said:

    OK..even supposing that they never
    noted that you had pain before (odd, because then why did they even ask if they were not listening to the answer?) the fact is that you are having pain NOW so it needs to be addressed. And whether or not you have a "history of pain" makes no difference at all to the current situation!

    Yes, call and insist they address this issue...or like sinee says, whack them upside the head and get their attention...(OK this is really mean) then after hitting them, then ask them how much pain THEY are feeling on a scale of 1 to 10...

    Hope you find relief soon,

    Laura

    Pain now
    Drs. need to find out what's causing the pain. If this dr won't do his/her job to find out the cause of pain, and refuses to give you meds then ask for another dr. who will. There is more than one doc in town.
    The dr. telling you to wait two weeks when you have had a history of cancer is not a wise decision that dr. made.

    Please do not be passive in persuing this. If you have to change drs.
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #11
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    ms.sunshine said:

    Pain now
    Drs. need to find out what's causing the pain. If this dr won't do his/her job to find out the cause of pain, and refuses to give you meds then ask for another dr. who will. There is more than one doc in town.
    The dr. telling you to wait two weeks when you have had a history of cancer is not a wise decision that dr. made.

    Please do not be passive in persuing this. If you have to change drs.

    ...
    Thanks for all the great replies!

    As a matter of fact, I do have a something, small cyst?, small tumor?, I dunno what but it's been there just above my inner elbow for over ten years or so. At least, that's about when I noticed it anyway. It's about the size of a blueberry. I don't think it alone is getting bigger I think because I've gained so much weight that all of me is bigger. =\

    It's on the same arm that hurts but it hurts farther up about about 3 or 4 inches from my shoulder but on the front part of my arm. It doesn't seem to be the shoulder joint.

    (((Hug_)))
    --only have the one good arm you see!!! lol =)
  • jendrey
    jendrey Member Posts: 377
    #12
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    jendrey said:

    ...
    Thanks for all the great replies!

    As a matter of fact, I do have a something, small cyst?, small tumor?, I dunno what but it's been there just above my inner elbow for over ten years or so. At least, that's about when I noticed it anyway. It's about the size of a blueberry. I don't think it alone is getting bigger I think because I've gained so much weight that all of me is bigger. =\

    It's on the same arm that hurts but it hurts farther up about about 3 or 4 inches from my shoulder but on the front part of my arm. It doesn't seem to be the shoulder joint.

    (((Hug_)))
    --only have the one good arm you see!!! lol =)

    Oh my gosh speaking of advocate
    The other day patient advocacy finally returned my call about the oncology dept. and had the temerity to tell me that they "run 14 other outpatient clinics and as such problems are to be expected." The #1 problem is that the oncology dept. has been without a manager for like a year now so everybody does what they want or so it seems.

    WTF? I promptly told them that their administrative problems are just that; theirs and that it should not have to ever interfere with my medical care.

    I stopped listening soon after that and ended the call.
    Haruuummph!
  • Nana C.
    Nana C. Member Posts: 108
    #13
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    jendrey said:

    Oh my gosh speaking of advocate
    The other day patient advocacy finally returned my call about the oncology dept. and had the temerity to tell me that they "run 14 other outpatient clinics and as such problems are to be expected." The #1 problem is that the oncology dept. has been without a manager for like a year now so everybody does what they want or so it seems.

    WTF? I promptly told them that their administrative problems are just that; theirs and that it should not have to ever interfere with my medical care.

    I stopped listening soon after that and ended the call.
    Haruuummph!

    I had the exact pain!
    I had terrible pain in my right arm and my neck hurt. The pain in my arm was much worse than the neck, but it was still there. I couldn't even hold my grandchild, the pain was so bad. The doctor did a MRI and I had two bulding disks! I would get epidural shots every 6 weeks. The day after the shot the pain would be gone. Hope this helps.

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