Pain Management ARNP?s

I go to pain management once a month get a checkup urine test for drugs and a form to fill out as to how much my pain level is. Doesn?t matter because they?ll never change my script or anything. I have a ruptured disk in my low back from a drunk driver 20 years ago and a cracked ball in my right shoulder from a work injury that?s the main cause of pain.

Anyway that?s not the subject of this post, what is the ARNP?s that work there ask questions check blood pressure and temperature due to Covid. Well every month I get ask from every girl that works there when I?m going to get my hair cut. It?s half way down my back now and I have no intensions of cutting It anytime soon. Besides that I usually go to beauty college near my home and have been going there for over 30 years. Their the only ones that cut it the way I want plus they always wash and condition my hair every time and also cut it with scissors wet whereas barbers always used clippers and dry cut etc. I just prefer the feminine touch too. Their always checked by their instructors and they correct any mistakes that might be made in 30 years they?ve touched up twice just a small error. On top of that I guess I?m cheap Lol 😂 They only charge $5.00 for everything and I always leave at least a $5.00 tip for the girls. Barber shops are much higher.

Sorry I kinda went a bit deep on the subject just stating the facts. No one even the beauty college makes any remarks about my hair length or the style I might get. But as I stated every girl in the doctor office from check in to check out. Plus I see two techs then the ARNP for my prescription. Is it me or are they making something out of me and my hair. It happens every month without fail and has me wondering what their reasons are for it. Really I believe it?s my own business how long my hair is and I keep it clean and clean and combed always. I?m lucky too I have very little grey hair and have had blond hair all my life. I?m 68 now and most my age are pure white or grey .

It may be u, Susan. If u explained to the girls properly, they mite quit badgering u.:)

Maybe something like? "When u cut yours." "Why do u ask?" "Never!" etc., etc!:thumbsup:

By the way, what's an ARNP?:straightface:

Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner

They have extra training, often a MScN, experience, and licensure that allows them to prescribe medications as a MD can.

I am sorry to hear about your issues, SusanMichelle. It sounds like they can be nasty and painful at times.

It seems to me you are ticked off with the questions about your hair length. Perhaps a question about the medical necessity of shorter hair is in order. IDK if you are seeing a physician specialising in orthopedics or not, but s/he is the authority to ask if your hair length is contributing to your pain issues.

Now, a sermonette about pain management drugs for anyone reading this:
Opioid addiction is a serious problem. There are far too many issues with these drugs getting into the wrong hands including but not limited to overdose deaths. I'm not suggesting anything about you, SusanMichelle, but people on prescription drugs (any drug) need periodic assessment of their well-being by qualified and licensed medical practitioners.

Maybe it's time to say something to them, something along the line of:

I really love how my hair looks long, and it took me a long time to grow it out this long, as I expect you would understand. I have no intention of cutting it, except maybe to trim it up to get rid of split ends.

So, unless my long hair is affecting my treatment, let's not bring it up again. And please tell the other girls the same thing. You can even put it in my chart if you want.

I don't expect this happen again.

After all, you are paying them one way or another.

Maybe they are just trying to make conversation. Have you come out to the pain management clinic staff?

Susan;

I have a similar back issues, Broken back multiple places. ruptured disc from a drunk driver, Constant pain, However a few years ago I purchased a tens (sp) unit and use it 3 times a day on my back. I'm not pain free, but it's lessened the pain considerably.

Mayby the girls at the office are just asking if its time to change your style ?, if you feel they are being disrespectful, talk to the office manager or head physician.

I'd go with the "making conversation" angle. I started letting my hair grow out in 2005 and would occasionally get comments, mostly from aunts and uncles at family gatherings. I don't see them often and, for them, it's the easiest conversation starter.

I've gotten a few compliments on my hair from women, but never have had anyone suggest I should cut it. I could see how it could be annoying, but long-haired-old-guys like us aren't really that uncommon, at least in my world. Unless a comment is from someone whose opinion I truly value, I think I'd just ignore it.

If it got too bad, you could always tell the person "I would never ask you 'When are you gonna lose weight?'". I doubt anyone would ever mention your hair again. But, you'd have to be very humble and diplomatic or risk having an even more tense interaction each time you visit.

If you're in pain management one of the things medical personnel will check is your psychological attitude. Pain can be debilitating. There can be changes to one's personal grooming which will give them a hint as to whether pain is affecting you in a negative way.

As to a cracked ball in the shoulder you should really see a specialist for a shoulder replacement. One of my friends could not lift his arms higher than his chest and experienced lots of pain. He ended up having both shoulders replaced and has recovered total functionality. If pain management has not tried to remedy the cause of the pain I would wonder why they have not made a proper referral. The goal of the pain management clinic (VA) I went to was to correct any medical conditions, if correctable. The goal of the VA pain management clinics is to try to find alternatives to drugs. Once I went to a non-VA primary care facility for an annual male checkup. A male ARNP I never saw before talked to me about my nerve damaged while ignoring why I was there in the first place. I never had my annual physical, but he offered to write me a script for 5 mg of morphine twice a day. No thanks. Never went back as I assumed he was nothing more than a pill pusher.

PS: I haven't had a haircut since before COVID. I'm looking shaggy. Wife thinks my grey curls are cute. When I get back to the VA I know for sure they'll ask questions to make sure I have not fallen off the rails.

I'm the same age as you and though there are still a few bikers, musicians and old hippies (our category) who still rock long hair it's not as common as it once was. I have grown mine out since March, not by choice but by circumstance as I didn't want to have close contact with a stylist at the place I usually go in a local strip mall. I usually keep my hair short and wear a wig when I'm dressed and that helps to avoid the stares in my daily routine. I think at least partially it's our age and the fact that at least where I live older men (assuming that is how you present day to day) generally get it cut off by the time they're 68. There are a few exceptions but usually bikers or old hippies are the most common in our age group but have pony tails and many are the ones we see who have the bald spot in the middle. Mine got too long to hide under a wig but it looks ok from a distance. It's not a long term solution because it's thin on top if people get close enough. I think another thing would be if you wear bangs or style it in a way that most men do not. Most people aren't paying attention to us but some do.

Susanmichelle - have you thought of perhaps telling them you are considering to eventually donate your hair to be made into human hair wigs for women cancer survivors? That ought to hit those 'healthcare' inquisitors between the eye brows.

Ineke

Your hair, your business.

I will echo the comments about Tens units. My SO suffers with back pain and she regularly uses one to ease her discomfort.

I think Bea with the making conversation angle may be correct. No big deal really, I would just shrug my shoulders and say who knows. That said you are there and if you think there is a negative attitude over it I may mention it to the office manager.

They are probably just making conversation. I have hair halfway down my back, a few women I interact with occasionally say that to me. I don't actually like it, but I know they are just making conversation so I let it go.

(Of course, men are not supposed to talk about a woman's appearance, especially in a professional setting, double standards and all..)

Just to say about opioids so theirs no problems I?ve been on them since 1984 thru today. I?ve always had good doctors for the most of it. I?ve never taken mire that prescribed and think I?ve gotten along pretty well. I don?t do recreational drugs, drink, or have other bad habits unless my dressing and the occasional curse words lol live fairly well. Just didn?t want anyone to worry or get the wrong ideas about them.

Enough of that I want to thank you all for the words of sympathy as I can see most understand where I was coming from. I?m going to see where it all goes with the doctor office and I?ll either say something soon or start maybe look for a new doctor as I may want to change to one I used to have many years ago. He was great and I just found out where he has his practice.

I said something recently in private I?m thinking of getting a trim soon my eyebrows waxed (ouch) for the first time. I?ve plucked them on occasion and know it smarts doing one or two let alone the waxing. I?m also thinking of getting a body perm on my hair as well. That?ll probably be the icing on the cake to make me lose my cool when they say something about that. I didn?t mention too that this was the third month out of last 6 months they?ve all made comments about my hair length. Plus I?ve had longer hair most of my life guess I?m a hippy at heart. Lol and the fact that when I was in freshman sophomore years in high school my dad made me have a flat top for just a little over 2 years. Many will remember those cuts, and was rode hard from others at school. Decided then I?d never gave my hair that short again. Lol again thanks for the post left in regards to my post.

Love you all

One tact I've used when faced with thoughtless comments like that is just to good naturedly say "Boy, you guys are brutal". It gives a pretty direct hint that they should back off without any real confrontation. Some people are oblivious to hints, but others will get it. Wish you the best.