My Pm Doctor Suggested I Find A New Pm Doctor

Hello everybody, my name is Lisa. I have been seeing my pain management doctor for nine years. In the beginning he started me off at regular doses of Morphine Sulfate ER, Roxicodone, Diclofenac, Valium (for my horrific spasms) and Duloxetine. I have had 3 surgeries on my back, two laminectomies and the last one was a complete spinal fusion at L4-5 and S1 wherein they went in and took out a piece of my hip bone and fused it to my lower back along with plates and screws. They went in through my stomach and my back. I was opened in 3 places and the fusion took 17 hours as it was much worse than originally anticipated and my Dr. found another new herniation at L3. None of my three surgeries worked and this is due to an accident when I was 17 years old. I am now 47. I have done everything known to man through years upon years of different therapies, had all the inj's. and even had a spinal stimulator implanted in my back which did not work as my diseases are too far gone. My spine is 98% covered with arthritis. I have RSD. I have a disease called arachnoiditis (sp?) I have spinal stenosis, failed back syndrome, degenerative disc disease, disc desiccation, nerve root impingement…the list goes on.

I saw a doctor at the Rothman Institute. It was one of the best neurosurgeons in the country who told me at 32 years old I had the back of an 80 year old steel mill worker and he had never seen a back in worse condition than mine; ESPECIALLY SOMEONE AS YOUNG AS ME. I was 25 when he first saw me and 36 when he put me on full Disability and told me I would end up paralyzed one day and literally cried with me when he told me after my spinal fusion did not work that there was literally nothing that could be done for me for the rest of my life and that I would be in Mortal pain equivalent to a cancer patient for the rest of my life. And that the only thing that could help me would be medication. I held off on taking medication until my two children were over 18 because I did not want them to see me on any pain medication and before that the only time I had taken pain medication was after my surgeries. So for the past 10 years I have been under pain management care. When I got to the doses that finally helped me I was taking three 60 milligram morphine sulfate pills, four 15 milligram Roxicodone for breakthrough pain, three 10 milligram Valiums for my spasms (which were absolutely the only medication that works for my horrific spasms as I had tried every other anti-spasm medication) and the other non-narcotic pain pills to help stop the signal of pain before it got to my brain.

Literally after years I got used to all of this medication and yes I know it seems like a great deal but as I said he compared my pain to that of a cancer patient. I had to give up a lucrative career as a paralegal and became homebound and extremely depressed. My life completely stopped. As we all know, we have all been cut down to the bare minimum because of these new regulations. After several cuts in my medication, I now take three 15 milligram morphine sulfates and three 10 milligram Roxicodones and he has completely taken me off of the Valium as he said you cannot take Valium with Morphine any longer and put me on 4 milligrams of Tizanidine three times a day, which is now interfering with my liver function.

The last visit I had with him, which was a week ago he took my hands into his and looked into my eyes and told me, "Lisa you need to find another pain management doctor who is willing to help you and give you more medication. I just simply cannot do it, I'm not willing to risk my license. I know you need more medication but I'm very conservative and I just can't do it but I know there are doctors out there that will give you more. I will do anything I can to help you I will speak to the doctors. I will let them know you need more medication and if for some reason you find someone that's great. I will give you all the help you need. If for some reason the doctor's office gets closed down you can come back to me with open arms but whatever medication they have you on I will have to put you back down to the regiment I have you on now."

I feel like I've literally become a vegetable I can't even walk up and down my steps without going down my steps on my backside. I have been living on disability since I was 36 years old and received one check a month. I went from living on $4,000 a month to just under $1,200 a month. I am not used to living like this and it is literally killing me from the inside out. The pain is completely unbearable and most nights I cry myself to sleep and most days I cannot function or get out of bed. Never have I gotten high from my medication because my pain level is just simply too high. I do not do street drugs I don't drink at all not one drop. And I need to find someone to help me before I literally literally die from this pain. I live in North Philadelphia and have been traveling down to Ardmore to see my doctor which is in Montgomery County and I'm willing to go to Center City Philadelphia Northeast Philadelphia or and Montgomery County in the areas off of Lancaster Avenue.

This is my last hope because I'm completely drained and have run out of all hope. If there is anyone who can help me suggest somewhere to go I would be forever grateful. I have been under pain management care. When I got to the doses that finally helped me I was taking 360 milligram morphine sulfate pills for 15 milligram oxycodone for my horrific spasms and the other non narcotic pain pills to help this signal of pain before it got too my brain. Literally after all of these years my body got used to all of this medication and yes I know it seems like a great deal but as I said he likens my pain to that of a cancer patient. I had to give up a lucrative career as a paralegal and became homebound and extremely depressed my life completely stopped. My pain is NEVER below a 10. I have been living on disability since I was 36 years old and one check on month. I pray No one ever has to go through what I've been through. This is not living. It is merely existing. I want to be able to see my grandchildren again whom I have not seen in a year as my children feel my condition and my depression are not good for them to see. I have the most beautiful 4 year old grandson in the most amazing 3 year old granddaughter. Being a Mom-Mom to them was the light of my life and that has been taken away because of my diseases.

My life has completely all but stopped. I need help and I am finally asking for it. I don't know where else to go or what to do. Believe me my heart goes out to everyone who is on this forum as I know we are all being treated unfairly by the DEA as some of us need this medication to merely survive. I have all of the x-rays, MRIs, medical documents, everything you could possibly need to prove all of the diseases I have as I have been going through this for 30 years. If there is anyone who can give me any advice on where to go or what to do I'm willing to travel to Center City Philadelphia northeast Philadelphia Montgomery County as long as it's not too far and Montgomery County like off of Lancaster Avenue is great around the Lancaster Hospital area. I am just desperate to find someone. Bless you to all of you who are suffering through this horrifying ordeal and hopefully the DEA will let the doctors be back in control and help us with what we need. We are not addicts, we are simply people who have been hurt and are suffering horribly and need this medication as a diabetic would need insulin to survive because if I don't end up controlling my pain it will consume me. Thank you for listening everybody and I wish everybody on here well. Thank you my friends. God bless you all.

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God bless you. Your story is so similar to mine it is so unbelievable. I'm sure there are a lot of other people out there like us. Why doctors won't stand up with us or for us is totally so far beyond me. I have thought about just giving up. They keep saying so-called overdoses but most are most likely suicide. They should be looking into why the person committed suicide and not what they did it with. There will be more so-called overdoses slash suicides because as you say and I do understand sometimes it is just entirely too much to merely to exist lying in bed and in pain and can hardly take care of your own needs much less help anyone else with theirs. I just pray that God will show some of these doctors the way. And the DEA will stop interfering with doctor-patient confidentiality. What happened with that? No such thing anymore I guess. I do understand how you feel. I know I am not you. I know different people feel things more deeply and differently but believe me our circumstances are so similar that it is scary and I know there are a lot of people out there just like us. If we don't find the strength somehow to stand up for what's right for ourselves even if the doctors won't stand up for us or with us. I have lived in this bed and truly prayed for the strength to gather enough people or even if I have to stand alone to do what is right to represent people and our situation in Washington this is such a cold inhumane Act. Sometimes I even begin to wonder if maybe they think if we're this disabled we'll never be able to work again. Also the insurance money that goes out to our doctors not to mention the co-pays that eat up our pitiful little social security check that we have paid for out of every check we have ever made. It is our right as an American. It's not a handout. I believe truly that the powers-that-be would rather see people like us go ahead and die and or commit suicide. Either way we're no longer a drain on society as they look at it. I know it sounds a little bit paranoid but just look at the facts, it's downright scary. God bless you. I hope you do find someone to help you. If you do please let me know who the person or doctor is. That would be a blessing to me as well. I live in Florida right now and I'm trying to move back to my home in South Carolina. God bless. Hope you get some comfortable sleep and some comfort throughout the day.

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Thank you for replying Patrick. People who aren't in the kind of pain we are in just cannot fathom the desperation we feel and the anger at our situations. It pains me to hear other people like myself suffer every day with no end in sight. I pray for us all to find some relief...

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Maybe you should go to a Medical marijuana doctor. I have done research as well as people saying that it really does work. The dispensaries I'm told have oils to rub on as well as capsules. They do monitor the person medically and monitor usage. Just saying.. Seems as though you've tried prescription drugs and injections which cause other conditions as well as depleting bones. Something to think about.

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I used to take marijuana for my pain until the pain became too much. Thank u for your suggestion though. I have discussed this with my doctors.

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I ended up going to a Suboxone therapy doctor. Suboxone isn't used for pain in the U S., but I was started at a large dose, because of tolerance. I got sick of the pain management game. My PM cut me off cold turkey from hydromorphone ER, for failing to get yet another MRI that her staff failed to schedule and get prior authorization for. I couldn't believe it. My doctor now is to help get me off narcotics in a year or so. Hopefully, the Suboxone will teach my brain to not require as much. I have scoliosis, SLE LUPUS and several spinal injuries. Let alone no colon or thyroid. I'm not allowed to take NSAIDS. That can, and almost has killed me. It's been a Merry-go-round. Ive never used illicit drugs, etc. I've been on Suboxone now going on two weeks, and it's been a blessing too. My docs are educated, respectful and empathetic. Again the program is for addicts. Whether like us, out of necessity, or those who used for recreation. It has helped my pain considerably for the time being. Cross the next bridge when i get to it.

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If you have pain like a cancer patient, and I believe you do, you should be on Fentanyl patches. I had them when my nerve root was exposed after my lumbar vertebra crumbled due to blood infection/osteomyelitis. I know the spasms of which you speak. A 75 or 100mcg Fentanyl patch took the pain away and I could function. No foggy brain. I had a 4 yr. old to care for at the time.

Please find a Pain Clinic at a University Teaching Hospital in Philadelphia. There are a few. The specialists will be anesthesiologists and should be able to help. You will undergo drug panels every 6 mos. May you find peace and relief soon.

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I feel absolutely horrible for you. I am sadly, one of the people that are responsible for the restrictions being implemented today. I am a former opiate addict and have been clean for 1.5 years now ( if you call methadone treatment clean ) I sincerely don't know first hand how bad the American health care system has crippled the pain management aspect of its healthcare, but I have read enough to be extremely empathetic to your situation and have been through horrendous withdrawals and couldn't imagine having them coincide with the level of pain in which you suffer. The only solution I can give you is one that may not be financially viable or something that you can even consider, but they will take care of you in Canada, where I live. From what I read this is only the beginning of the struggle for people like yourself in America and as sad as it is, I don't know how bright of a future the American government is paving for lower income people, especially ones with the specific problems you suffer from.. other than packing up your entire life and immigrating to Canada, I have heard that clinics in Florida are loosely regulated compared to other states and have read of people finally reaching an end to their problems when they tried out of state physicians. Best of luck, I truly wish you the best.

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Lisa,
Yes, simular story here. 10 years on Oxycontin. 1st back surgery at 14 years old L5S1. Now at 7 back surgeries 3 levels. I was Medically Retired from my State job at 21 years old. I was given 60 days notice to find a new doctor for all my meds, Xanax included.

As your last resort, this is what you do... Go to the ER and tell them you can't handle the pain anymore. You get a week vacation at the Funny Farm with 7 other people who are looking for doctors too. They give you your REGULAR Meds. Eat, sleep, sing Karaoke, watch movies, lay in the sun. During that time the Staff will be working to find you a doctor. (Usually one you already called who isn't takin new patients. You want a young doctor!) At the end of the 5th day you go home with Rx's in your hand with enough of a supply to get you thru to see the new doctor.

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So sorry you are going through this. I have severe chronic pain in my feet from lots of damage but its nothing compared to your pain. I just cant understand why your dr is afraid of lising his license if you have years and years of chronic pain. And i hate to say it but he should have given you some names of another pain mgmt specialist. Since he is in the field im sure he hears alot of who prescribes and who doesnt. Another person suggested medical marijuana and I've tried that and it did nothing (i tried the tinctures that you mix with juice and drink). No that that wouldnt help you but people dont understand its very expensive for someone on a fixed income. If disability is your only source of income you'd never be able to afford medical marijuana

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Have you tried Methadone? If u try it and it DOES help,you could conceivably go to a Methadone clinic where they have no qualms about putting you on a high dose. I've known people to be on as much as 350 mg a day. It lasts much longer than morphine. There ARE draw backs to going to a clinic but you'd just have to weigh that against what you're dealing with now. And of course you'd have to tell them you're an addict(I know u are not). The situation you are in is absolutely ridiculous. Perhaps another country if that's at all possible? I hope you find some a doctor who can help you.

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Sweetheart, I completely understand your problem & your pain. I too have had a brutal back sx due to a pain pump installed and filled w/ incorrect fluid (pumps use Dilaudid, NOT morphine which he used because the morphine crystalizes and within 11 mos. I had a granuloma wrapped around my spine with the 'port' in my belly. I was without the ability to walk for 10 days and did rehab in hosp. I live in Ca. and can't help w/ a doctor BUT I take 5 mgs of Methadone 3x daily and I seem to get by. I have 8 major problems, like no lining in my bladder, called Interstitial cystitis and it hurts and makes me urinate 20 X a day and I need neck sx from C1 to T1. But have you tried Methadone. I hate that it makes you allergic to many things including Twilight Sleep (Versid) which makes routine things like colonoscopies a mess and I've had a pacemaker/defibrillator for 17 yrs. for Sudden Death Syndrome. If you haven't tried Methadone and are willing to be allergic to bandaids, betadine and all Tylenol etc products then give it a try. It's for people w/ real bad pain. Since I'm 65 now, disabled from age 47 and at that time this Fresno, Ca doctor had me on 120 mg of Methadone for 12 yrs. Now that i'm older and a bit wiser, I picked the amount that would just give me movement. Try it Sweets....if you haven't already. Most docs will give it to you. Sorry for everything that you're going thru and my heart breaks for you. Hope you feel better soon. Signed, Ca. gal

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For pain and other ailments try kratom. It works and it's legal and cheap. It will change your life for the better.

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The doctors should have already prescribed methadone for a painkiller. I'm in the UK and they do it here and give high doses which it does last hours longer than morphein but also taking liquid morphein will work a lot faster than the tablets. You could mention you've been told about methadone as its also very cheap for them too. In the UK everyone are being taken off their diazepam too which is causing major health problems.I really hope you get the help you so desperately need x

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I'm so sorry to hear about your pain and your situation. May I ask why you only get 4 Roxy 15's I know people with half the pain your in and get 5-6 30mg Roxies. Yes you do need a new doctor and you should call and ask your doctor to recommend you to someone who can help all these doctors know each other for the most part so I'd start with that and I know myself that the 60mg morphine ER'S SUCK I'd ask for liquid or change it up all together with either Fentynl or oxymorphone not Opana cause they have a recall on them or instead of going to a methadone clinic if you decide to go that route ask your new pain doc to just write,you for methadone tablets they make them in 10mg so those are just a couple of things I thought of hope you find the relief your look I g for soon. Keep us posted please

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Dr's will give you Suboxone to control your pain, as that is what I am taking. Best change ever. It got me off the couch and gave me my life back. I don't go to a clinic. It's a regular doctor who prescribes it. Addicts go too, and they weened off in 10-12 months. I am treated for pain and have been seeing him for 4 years.

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Thank u for responding. Since i posted this my PM doctor cut my meds again. 3 10mg roxys and 3 15mg morphine sulfate a day but this time i was given an explanation WHICH I HAVE NO CLUE IF ITS TRUE OR NOT! He told me the new laws in effect do not allow prescriptions to be written for more than 90mg of morphine a month and since roxys are 1 1/2 times stronger than the morphine sulfate (this is a fact i have confirmed) i cannot be prescribed any more than what i just wrote above as the 3 10 mg roxys equal 45mg of morphine and that plus the 3 15mg of morphine pills all equal 90mg of morphine which my PM DOCTOR SAID IS NOW THE LEGAL LIMIT! I live in Pennsylvania and he said its not just a state thing its a COUNTRY THING!!!! Do you know if this is true!? He continues to tell me he won't put his license in jeopardy and prescribe me more meds but he knows i need way higher doses for the disease i have.... The pain is comparable to Cancer and is simply unbearable...

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Thank u so much. They will NOT prescibe methadone for pain, only if u need help weaning off of drugs.... Thank u for your well wishes, i so appreciate it!

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Thank u so much. I pray to GOD i can find a new PM doctor who can help me as living like this is just exsisting it is not living at all anymore....

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They say Subs treat pain but in my experience they do nothing for pain just stop withdraws. I hate subs it's godsend for some but I just hate taking them thought I'd share my 2 cents

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Hi, I am so sorry to hear about your pain Lisa! And All of you. I sooo understand. This fight to get our medications JUST to have a so called half way normal life each day is crazy! Then to blame all medications for our epidemic in USA on them & all who's on them etc... Methadone was a joke. I got nothing but being REALLY sick. I have live issues & my Rheumatologist put me on the Fentanyl Patch. It was a life saver! But no one down in the south will prescribe properly. I didn't have any issues in 2000-2005 in Colorado... Joke down here. But.. All so ridiculous!

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Lisa,
I meant Boo Hoo for you. You finally don't have a come back on what you need to survive? My exact point!

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So done with you. I see why you call yourself BOO HOO now. I will not lower myself to respond 2 u anymore...

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Lisa,
I don't NEED Ambien to survive. My husband has heart meds that he needs to SURVIVE! What do need to survive? Survive death? I personally never called anyone an addict. I said dependant/addicted but it is both the same thing. You will go into DT's without it and do what you need to get it. Some people doctor shop, others may go to ER's.

You say nobody appreciates the things I say, then why are you the only one complaining to me? I am someone who was lucky enough to realize what that crap did to me, what it does to everyone. None of these meds were meant to be used for years!

I shared my story, and I read yours. It's not like me to compare, but you compare it. Make a list. I got you beat, Boo Hoo. :)

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Well hopefully you will.. Enough said.. I wish you the best.

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Not everyone wakes up behind-the-wheel lost in the woods or has reactions to medications the way some people do. Some of us actually need it to survive not all of us react the way some of you do and none of us appreciate being told we are addicts and none of us appreciate being told maybe we will wake up one day and realize what we are doing to ourselves...

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Kat,

Thank you, again. My husband was on Opana. He had 3 hip surgeries when he was 16 years old. He he was told 15 years ago he needed a hip replacement. His PC Doctor started him on Vicodin, then Percocet. He hurt his neck and needed a fusion, which he had done. He was still taking Percocet for his hip. He put off the hip replacement due to my fears, since during all of this he had 3 heart attacks. He was going to a pain management doctor and she put him on Opana for 5 years. My fears were correct. He had the hip replacement and woke up in the recovery room having heart attack #4.

Luckily my husband doesn't have an addictive personality. We quit smoking together 3 1/2 years ago, he weaned himself off of the Opana, as he never took the entire Rx each month.

So to the "others" I know about Morphine, Opana, and Hydromorphone. It's a running joke when anyone has back pain. They call me to read their X-Rays, and listen to their symptoms, because I am a "professional" back patient. :)

Pain management doctors/clinics, it is disgusting what they charge insurance companies. I can see how they didn't want to lose your business. They make $600+ per person. They charge over $100 to dipstick your U/A. They don't want to help, they want cash. Refer someone and they get a kick back.

Before I get people complaining, my cousin Kristal worked for 2 different pain management doctors, because 1 got shut down.

-Kelly

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They had my daughter on Opana as well as all the rest.. None of it is good for anyone.

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I hate pain management clinics and doctors. They just kept giving my daughter more and stronger meds. I wheeled her in a wheelchair into pain management and when she told the doctor that she was having knee replacement surgery he did not want her to have it. He confirmed what I knew. He didn't want her better. He only wanted to keep her addicted. I told her that I would never take her there again and I didn't. She ran out of meds and begged for the oxymorph. I refused and it was a horrible heart wrenching experience to see my daughter in this condition and begging for pills. She went through withdrawals and it was horrible for her. She is alive today because she got off of that poison. It all started with a back problem. Those pain meds were killing her. I put water in that bottle of capsules and they turned into a thick glue like substance but thicker. Can you imagine that sticking to the inside of a person's body?? I just wish people would see the light. I'm so sorry that you had to go through all of that but I'm glad that the light bulb went off. Doctors tried to get me hooked many years ago because of fibromyalgia. They had me on several meds and pain meds, nerve blocker fentynol patches so strong that I was falling asleep. Nothing was helping and the light bulb went off for me.. It was a voice that said " you are being poisoned" and I thought.. It isn't helping me so why take it. I stopped all meds and was in withdrawals for a week. The strongest thing I've had in many many years is Advil. I thank God for myself, my daughter and anyone who can overcome.. I'm truly happy for you.

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Kat,
Just like anyone dependent/addicted to anything they have to hit their bottom OR be sick and tired, of being sick and tired, I was the latter. They gave me so many drugs they made me stupid. Ambien made me blackout. I awoke behind the wheel, off the road going to get my cousin milk. I woke up at 3:30 am lost in the woods, nowhere near her house! That happen the 2nd night I took it!

I had Fentanel 75mg or 100mg, I forget, it made my skin peel. I had the constipation, 3 blockages, hernias, bleeding ulcers..blood coming out both ways. Doctors said it was due to the Oxycontin I was on. I thought, "Ha, what the hell do they know."

I went thru every medical procedure to fix by back, 7 spinal surgeries. I once sneezed, once rolled over in bed, gave birth to my son, picked up spaghetti sauce, those all caused me to be unable to walk and another surgery.

Your daughter is very lucky to have a Mom like you, who gave it to her straight and got her the help she didn't want, but needed so bad.

Bravo Mom.
-Kelly

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Thank you and you are very welcome.. Maybe they will come to realize what they are doing before it's too late.

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