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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Lisa,
Are you referring to me? I stated facts, that you are unable to currently admit to. Ask why you can't see your Grandchildren. Being depressed I would guses is low on the list. Mention meeting at a park.

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You did a very good thing. I like you live every day and night with chronic pain. I cannot exercise because of a heart condition in which I have to have surgery. I choose not to get hooked on prescription pain meds nor street drugs. There are alternatives to meds. Meditation, acupuncture, mind over matter etc. I'm glad you found a way. I hope others can do the same. I've watched the horrible medical problems that longterm pain meds caused for people I love.

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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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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,

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

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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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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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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 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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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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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, 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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