Epidurals are for Chicks

While working on a paper during the night shift, I got a patient complaining of severe 10/10 back pain. The guy was wearing a brace, grimacing, could barely walk, the works. I did my standard assessment, got him changed into a gown and called the doc over. The doctor ordered some toradol and dilaudid which I proceeded to give to the patient. After I had given him the meds I told him that I would reassess him in about half an hour. In half an hour, he still was not a happy customer because when I came back into his room, he was ranting on about how the doctors just expect everything to be fixed with a pill (at 0230 that pretty much is the only thing that can be done). I asked him what he would like done because he was given some pretty high doses of pain medication to which he replied, “can’t you give me like a needle in my back nerves so I don’t feel anything?” “Like an epidural?” I asked. “Fuck that shit! That shit is for chicks! I don’t want no fucking epidural bullshit! I want a needle to make the pain go away!” He didn’t take too kindly to my explanation nor did he view the IM injection of toradol as a needle to make the pain go away. I went back to working on my paper because that seemed like the only rational thing to do. And the guy walked out of the department without his back brace.