My Pm Doctor Suggested I Find A New Pm Doctor (Page 2)

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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Rawdog,

I was petrified to stop the Oxycontin that I had been on for years. I read everywhere it only helped for WD's. Suboxone does work for pain. Does it take away ALL the pain, No. But neither did the 120mg of Oxy, 30mg of Flexeril, Ambien to sleep or the Xanax I ate like candy. My quality of life did change. I now can sleep in the same bed with my husband without pain. Just sleeping with his arm around me caused pain, if I rolled over; pain, etc. It is so nice to be some kind of normal. Yes, I still use my wheelchair for long distances, but then I can get up and walk. I still tweek my back out. But my level of pain, anxiety and depression are much lower and bearable. I know I will never be pain free.

I wish I could have waited to take meds until my son was 18. They re-herniated 3 discs getting him out. He always knew mom couldn't pick him up by the time he was 2, but he enjoyed climbing up into my lap. With all that pain, who could wait? My son is and has been a sympathetic kid his entire life. I've had to choke down some awful breakfasts' in bed, made by my boy. Give Suboxone a try. Maybe then you can see your grandchildren. Just try, you can always switch. Suboxone doesn't make you feel high like Methadone.

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Hi Lisa! Our stories are alike with the exception that my RSD occurred due to the surgery. My life was miserable and non-existence until recently. Due to all the new regulations and the opiod epidemic PM physicians are now having to look at alternative medicine. I live in Nashville, TN and go to Vanderbilt. They have a center known as "Osher Intergrative". They have other centers so please look them up. They offer classes of living with chronic pain that meet weekly. That class helps because you get to be with others like us and we don't feel so isolated. They also offer accupuncture, massage, Tai Chai, yoga and other classes that could be of benefit. Keep your faith, keep praying, and check out alternative medicine. Medicare pays for some of the classes. Good Luck Lisa and don't give up. P.S. I've not got back to driving yet but I can and do have more mobility than I have had in the last 6 years. My balance is also improved. All improvements are slow but I'll accept ANY improvements. My disposition has greatly improved. GOD Bless.

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Are you talking about suboxone?if so, after being on morphine and oxy's, i was having side effects so i had to switch after years of opiods.i was told it helped with pain.well i certainly have no pain control.i have been with my pm dr. For 7yrs. I feel like he doesnt know what to do and has given up on me bout 3 yrs. Ago.i live in Canada and now the max. Morphine for pm is 120mg..which is nothing when you suffer daily with pain..they need to worry bout the street drugs, and go after them and let the pain sufferers get what they need.its the bad deeds of others that create us sufferers who are doing it legally.

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Lisa, many people have given you good ideas and yet you only answer the people who listen to your poor me. If you were in such bad shape any doctor or hospital wouldn't turn you away. You can't see your grandchildren, no child would do that to their mom unless it was their last straw for you to get clean. Your child believes you are a drug addict and doesn't want his kids around it. Total respect to him. You were/are on enough to put a large animal down. You became dependent on your meds. Not intentionally but it happens to everyone.

Your PM Doctor booted you because A) your drug panels came up too high in the concentrations of your meds-over taking them. B) found something else in your body. C) he was audited and your name was flagged because of all your meds, and your doctor was afraid to lose his licence. D) now some doctors can't write for 30 day scripts. You need to call your insurance company and go to detox. Then you will learn what really hurts. They won't let you go through withdrawals. Sorry to say, I do think you are an addict. If you weren't your doctor would have had you admitted to the hospital. Just because it has a title DDD, Failed back syndrome (that's my favorite) doesn't mean you need meds for it, or that it causes pain.

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Please get a lawyer.

Everybody: get lawyers. Enough is enough.

If somebody else can do it, it means he can and he won't. I reckon he has his reasons; I'd be curious to know what they are.

I wish I could be more helpful. Alas, I'm in similar straights as far as finding a new doctor.

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Alas a lawyer wont do any good my friend. I am a paralegal and have spoken to many lawyers. These are the new laws and these PM doctors are not breaking any laws.... unfortunately there is no legal recourse for us...

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MEE,
I have givin subs a try they do ABSOULTY NOTHING for my pain they rot your teeth out (So do opioids) they make me depressed and I wanted to blow my brains out after a month on them!! But that's just me,I know,suboxone has helped a lot of people and turned their lives around just not for me!! I'm not knocking anyone for taking them or having them help people just not for me I guess. I've tried it all but I truly know that these oxymorphone ER'S I take are the bees knees the only other pain med that comes close are the 75 and 100 microgram of Fentynl but are just such a last resort since theirs nothing stronger to go to after that and once you build a tolerance your screwed not to mention the withdraw if you miss a dose(life changer) but that's just my 2 cents

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Lisa I have a doctor that I'm 90% sure will help you..... Honestly you sound pretty much just like me and I'm also going to the greatest surgeon in my opinion and in everyone else's opinion that I've referred them to,However I don't usually refer people to these doctors that I do not know because of people that actually doctor shop for pain medication,but in your case I'm willing to break my own rules because you honestly sound sincere and I know exactly what your going thru I've had 2 surgeries on my neck the second surgery was so painful but was definitely worth it it was called an open door laminectomy (not sure if I spelled correctly) and I'm going for surgery on my kids first days of school but my boys are both seniors and my daughter is going to 8th grade and I wanted to postpone it cause I've never missed my kids opening days of school ever but I can't take this walking with a cane and coming down my stairs either backwards or on my ass anymore! so I'm going to give you my email address and I hope all the information I give you can help you,these doctors are great and so are my surgeons,I hope to hear from you soon. My email address is {edited for privacy}. Until then hope your as comfortable as humanly possible.

Editor's note: In order to abide by our privacy policy, we are unable to allow personal contact information to be displayed on our site.

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RAWDOG these oxymorphs are they equal in strength to morphine sulfate? Im down from 3 60mg tabs a day and its like taking nothing and so many people have told me including you to switch to the oxymorphs. Are they long lasting like time released like the morphine sulfate so i can ask my PM doctor for an evev switch? I go see him again july 14. Would appreciate your input. Thank u my friends!!!

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First to Goldie, what microgram of Fentanyl were or are you on? And may I ask where you live now that your having problems getting the same meds you did in Colorado?

And to Lisa, like I said the morphine ER'S ABSOLUTELY SUCK. The only mg that ever did anything were the 100mg and it's just so hard to get a doc to write for that high of a mg. They always want to give EVERYONE I know the 60's. Now about the oxymorphone, it's a GOD SEND. I'm not talking about OPANA'S, two totally different things. And yes the oxymorphone ER'S have helped me so much with my pain and others I know I turned them onto them and they say thank you for telling them about them. I get the 30mg ER's made by Impax/Global. They're a mustard color. I refill tomorrow. I've been getting them for a year and a half now. But I'm not sure how long this will last since a couple of weeks ago it was all over the local and national news that their forcing Endo to take them off the shelves or else!! But I don't understand as they are tamper proof and abuse proof. I used to get Opana years and years ago, the 15mg ER's and they were garbage, DIDN'T do anything for the pain and sometimes came out whole in my stool. They were the plastic TRF formula. I don't know how long before they try and do this to the generic (oxymorphone). I started a thread called ENDO RECALL through this site so if you have any info or just want to share please go to my page. Hope I answered some of your questions but once again that's just my 2 cents.

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It's like this, the stronger meds you get the stronger meds you want.. All of those meds cause major problems. Do the research!! Sounds like you don't want to be better. Sounds like you just want stronger meds. If you truly want to get better, get yourself into a long term rehab and get off the junk. Do the research on all of those meds. Enough said!

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Get a prescription of the oxymorhs. Put some In water.. You will then see what you will be putting in your body... They turn into a glue like substance and it is extremely thick. Then, if you put it in your body, just saying, no hope for ya!!

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I don't know if what i tell you will help but anyways have you tried going to a sports doctor my sister is going to one and she has severe problems though not as severe as you but close anyways she says the sports doctor she sees has been helping her tremendously

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Seriously, Sounds like you have tried everything. Maybe consider going to a Medical Marijuana doctor. From the research I've done, it really helps.

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Kat, first of all its my body and yes I have seen someone put one in water. It's no different than the tainted food we put in our body from the GMO'S to the pesticides that are sprayed on our veggies and berries. I've been doing this awhile and aside from my pain problems I'm healthy as a horse. And I stopped smoking marijuana about 15 years ago. I hate it!! You can judge all you want but once again it's my choice, my body and it's helping MY PAIN, but thanx anyways.

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What is your problem. You obviously are on here to hurt people who luve in uncontrolled pain every single day of their life. There is no hope for you... Shame on you Miss....

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I got the impression that Lisa is on a fixed income and may not be able to afford medical marijuana. In Delaware its $100 just to get the card (if your income is under a certain amount the state will subsidize it) but i bought 2 little bottles of the tinctures and it was $170. Granted she should at least look into it to see if it would help. It did nothing for me but everyone reacts differently

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Dear Patty. Yes my dear a very fixed income. I may be only 47 but being on disability is very hard. I am only lucky that i made decent money as a paralegal before i became totally disabled years ago. Still 1200 a month is pittance....and no help from the Government by means of Welfare.

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Instead if Mary Jane there is CBD oil. It happens to be legal everywhere. My husband vape it. It helps with his pain anxiety and sleep. I tried it, and it does give you the relaxing feeling without the THC.

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Dear Wife. Thank you very much for your suggestion. At this point i am willing to try anything!!!!

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