astrophel2
Board Addict
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 309
Loc: Georgia
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I took a tumble about 5 weeks ago, and I suspect that I was a little too tipsy to break my fall (although I don't particularly remember it). The next day, my shoulder was grotesquely swollen, and my index finger and thumb were numb. I had it x-rayed... it wasn't broken, but the doc thought I had radial nerve damage, and said that if the numbness didn't go away in a few days to have it followed up. Well, it's 5 weeks later; the numbness has subsided for the most part, but I get sharp, stabbing pains in my hand and fingers throughout the day. It's very uncomfortable, almost like the way your arm feels after it's been "asleep" for a long time and you've just released whatever pressure was on it. At its worst, I just want to chop my fingers off.
I've seen two doctors since then. The first was a sports medicine specialist - he did a bunch of little physical tests and concluded that i had radial nerve damage, and suggested that I get a referral from my PCP so I can have more elaborate tests done. He told me to take aleve in the meantime. My PCP prescribed #20 7.5 Lortabs to take "every 4 to 6 hours as needed," and said that she could probably get me in to see an orthopedic in about a week. I got a call from her office, however, and my appointment isn't until the end of december. I know #20 aren't going to last me until then, so I thought I'd try a records OP. All I have as far as records go (at the moment) are an x-ray report indicating that I have shoulder pain, but that it's not broken or dislocated, a referral form with "radial nerve complaint" written on it, and the actual label from my recent prescription (which I thought I read was sufficient for some pharmacies). Would this be sufficient?
Sorry if this was too verbose!
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-Melissa
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yawkaw3
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/22/03
Posts: 1193
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Depends on the OP, but the x-ray report is fine. If it indicates you have pain or mentions a diagnosis that is good enough. Might want to email NWW to see if that will suffice, I have a feeling it will.
-yawkaw
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shelley077
Newbie
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 37
Loc: Indiana
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I know you could have more then one thing going on, but has anyone thought of carpel tunnel??? I get this and it includes all the symptoms you describe, doctor also stated it can affect your nerves clear up to your shoulder.
Just a thought.
Sorry you got hurt....hope you feel better soon!
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PrivateRealm
Threadhead
Reged: 03/18/03
Posts: 904
Loc: usa
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If you have the diagnostics and vital reports as well, I think you will be just fine.
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KeriAnne~~~
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take - but by the moments that take our breath away."
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Horace
Journeyman
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 81
Loc: Earth
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Astrophel2:
just curious -- but did you ask your doc who rx'd Lortab for more, explaining the situation: that you are in pain, that it is persistant, that as it will be a while until you see an ortho-MD, that you'll need more Lortab?
My main reason for using an OP was that it took me a while to get meds from a doc (in mean time, had a doc who knows me rx some stuff, but didn't want him to do it again, b/c he wasn't the main MD on my case). So for me, an OP was good so that if I ever got injured, again, god forbid, I could at least have some temporary pain relief.
Probably not very wise, many MD's would say, unless you consult with them first, but then, I don't like waiting 5 days in intense pain to get some vicodin or whatnot.
Anyway, long rambling message to simply ask the point about which I am curious: did you ask your doc for more? If so, what did she say?
Horace
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owmyback
Member
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 108
Loc: PENNSYLVANIA
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Quote:
I took a tumble about 5 weeks ago, and I suspect that I was a little too tipsy to break my fall (although I don't particularly remember it). The next day, my shoulder was grotesquely swollen, and my index finger and thumb were numb. I had it x-rayed... it wasn't broken, but the doc thought I had radial nerve damage, and said that if the numbness didn't go away in a few days to have it followed up. Well, it's 5 weeks later; the numbness has subsided for the most part, but I get sharp, stabbing pains in my hand and fingers throughout the day. It's very uncomfortable, almost like the way your arm feels after it's been "asleep" for a long time and you've just released whatever pressure was on it. At its worst, I just want to chop my fingers off.
I've seen two doctors since then. The first was a sports medicine specialist - he did a bunch of little physical tests and concluded that i had radial nerve damage, and suggested that I get a referral from my PCP so I can have more elaborate tests done. He told me to take aleve in the meantime. My PCP prescribed #20 7.5 Lortabs to take "every 4 to 6 hours as needed," and said that she could probably get me in to see an orthopedic in about a week. I got a call from her office, however, and my appointment isn't until the end of december. I know #20 aren't going to last me until then, so I thought I'd try a records OP. All I have as far as records go (at the moment) are an x-ray report indicating that I have shoulder pain, but that it's not broken or dislocated, a referral form with "radial nerve complaint" written on it, and the actual label from my recent prescription (which I thought I read was sufficient for some pharmacies). Would this be sufficient?
Sorry if this was too verbose!
Melissa- I totally agree with Yawkaw. fax any record with an ailment and a photo-Id to NWW, and you'll be set---eddie
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astrophel2
Board Addict
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 309
Loc: Georgia
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The doc who prescribed the Lortab wasn't going to give me anything at all at first. When I asked if I could have something for the pain until my orthopedic appointment, she looked at me skeptically (or maybe it was just my imagination), and asked how much pain I was in. With honesty, I told her that at times it only hurt very little, but that I also got intense, aching, stabbing pains in my fingertips that make me want to gnaw my wrist right off! She seemed to lighten up a little, mentioned something about darvocet, asked if I had been sleeping all right. When I told her that I hadn't slept at all the night before, she became sympathetic and reluctantly said, "We'll get you some Lortab, then." (Nevermind that I didn't go to bed only because I was cramming for a test!)
I've been a lurker for quite some time now, and have read many threads about unsympathetic doctors, being humiliated by doctors, doctors labeling charts as "drug seeker," etc. Perhaps I'm being overly paranoid, but I'm hesitant to ask my doc for more pain pills. I pretended to be completely clueless as to what "Lortab" was when she asked if I've ever taken it. I'm afraid that if I give her the slightest impression that I'm some kind of drug seeker, she'll prescribe ibuprofen for kidney stone pain one day, and the OP's (god forbid) would all be dead.
She initially prescribed #20 to last for "about a week," which is when she thought she could get me in to see the orthopedic. My appointment isn't for 13 more days. If I take them according to the bottle, they're only gonna last 3.5 days. Unfortunately, one pill before bed is not making sleep a possibility tonight, so here I am typing at 5:45AM, waiting for the additional 2 I took to kick in (along with some ambien).
And while I'm sleepless and rambling, I'd just like to say how happy I am to be a part of this community! I've browsed many net boards, but the nicest and most intelligent people are right here on the drugbuyers board!
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-Melissa
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astrophel2
Board Addict
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 309
Loc: Georgia
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I faxed my (negative) xray report because "LEFT SHOULDER PAIN" was written on it, a copy of a referral form with "Left arm radial nerve complaint" written on it," and a copy of my prescription label for the #20 Lortab to NorcoWorldWide...
But gosh darn it...
I forgot to fax my ID! I scanned two photo IDs and sent the image as an attachment in an email to them. Think that's acceptable?
My consult is at 9am this morning. I'm a little nervous; this is my first! 
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-Melissa
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shelley077
Newbie
Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 37
Loc: Indiana
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Well, sounds ok to me.
Also, know what you mean about the "look" when you ask for pain meds.....have been through all that, as well as the playing dumb about different pain meds.
I actually miss-pronounce the name of the pain meds, they usually prescribe.
Good luck with your consult!!!!!!!!
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astrophel2
Board Addict
Reged: 03/11/03
Posts: 309
Loc: Georgia
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I had my surprisingly quick-and-painless consult at 9:45am, and was prescribed #90 Lortab 10 with 2 refills. I guess the records were sufficient after all, but I'll be faxing them more in a couple of weeks anyway!
Ah - I'm finally inaugurated into the world of record-requiring OPs. 
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-Melissa
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LordBA
Journeyman
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 61
Loc: AZ
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Good for you astrophel2!! It's a pretty good feeling knowing that you're gonna' have the relief you need for quite sometime now, huh? I wish you the very best, and I really hope your condition improves soon!
Take care,
LordBradass 
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I will be more polite and will use less bad words :-) - signature courtesy of drugbuyers.com
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MadandMsG
Member
Reged: 12/17/01
Posts: 127
Loc: PNW
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Congrats on your first consult. Now that you have that one under your belt, when your refills run out maybe you can try one that gives you a better deal. (better consult price, more refills, better prices on meds)
I love your "location" name. I named my daughter that and when she was little Jo-Ja is how is pronounced it herself....accent and all. Boy was I proud since we are from the West Coast without a hint of any accent. Unfortunately as she got older she now pronounces it the way we all do. I was sad to see that go!
Have a good one!
Mad 
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