Pain Medication Shame (Page 2)
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First of all, I hate taking pain meds but I was almost completely bedridden for 2 yrs. They gave me my life back and I'll be grateful for the rest of my life. My insurance company dropped me right before I was gonna have surgery to get some relief. So I had no choice but to go with the pain meds. I've been on oxycodone 30/150 per month (5 a day) and MS Contin 200mg 2 times daily since 2009. Had breaks when I could. My point is, nobody knows what my daily life is like. I feel ashamed every month getting refills. Maybe it's in my head but the staff at the pharmacy gives me that "pill seeker" look. I guess all that matters is my doctor trusts me and he knows my complete history. I know I'm not taking them for fun. I'd much rather be normal. Can anyone relate to what I'm saying?

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I've had pain in neck, cervical area over thirty yrs. In the mornings the pain unbearable, pcp seem to give me run around. Pain clinic I never heard from and I asked for injection now cause of this opiod crisis punishing everyone because of few. I started back working, now they say someone going to show up at ur door if ur on probation. I'm not a crook, just in pain 60 yrs old, last x-rays show bone spurs. So rather than get hooked I wanted injection,. My Dr was to set that up first. Haven't heard anything, it's been three months. Where can I find help please?

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Re: Jack175 (# 127)

My doc wants me to have a back xray, since I was hit by a car at the end of December, and I have been treated well for 2 fractured tibua bones, very painful and have been unable to walk for 2 months. I have had 5 mris in the last 10 years. I do not know and hope the xray does not show anything new.
Sam

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Re: wayne (# 145)

1st sorry about the book! I don’t know what your response to my post has to do with anything I said. I was replying to statements made by Pain man, did you actually read his post? He is saying that pharmacists can order as many C2 pain meds that they want but if they don’t want to dispense these meds to certain people, they will tell them that they are all out of stock because they are not allowed to order anymore. He was basically saying that pharmacists are lying to their patients and withholding meds for legit scripts and I was simply correcting him. I’m just so tired of some people judging pharmacists and techs and doing to them what they feel we are doing to pain patients. We really don’t have any control over how many C2 meds we can get in a week. This is something that the DEA has control of. We really hate having to turn people away or telling our regular patients sorry but we ran out you will have to go without your pains meds for this many days. There’s so many things going on in pharmacies that the public has absolutely no idea about and just don’t understand and some people can tend to be horrible to us and treating us extremely bad you would be shocked if you saw this behavior. I know there are pharmacists and techs out there that can and will judge people on these meds and it really does suck! But I for one am not one of those people so thank goodness there are some good ones out there! I hope you all have or can find a pharmacy with these great people there. I hate the ones that judge or discriminate. I do feel like it’s none of their business and it should be between the patients and their doctors. And that if people are prescribed these meds it’s for good reasons and that both patient and doctor have weighed the pros and cons and risks of these meds. Oh by the way, I may work in a pharmacy but I am also a chronic pain patient and have been on pain meds for 18 years now. So I know first hand what it can be like when picking up these meds. But anyway, best wishes to chronic pain patients out there that feel they are to be made a shamed of when they pick their meds up. I wish it wasn’t this way, few bad apples spoiling it for the ones toeing the lie, being responsible and compliant and following the rules. But have some faith that some people that work in pharmacies actually care about their patients and truly just want to help.

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Re: Maria (# 143)

I am happy that you seem to be working for a Pharmacy/Pharmacist that KNOW they are NOT MEDICAL DOCTORS. They may have a "Doctorate of Pharmaceutical Medicine" but that means they are NOT Medical Doctors and are not qualified to examine or MEDICALLY qualify people to receive prescriptions written by MEDICAL DOCTORS that have properly examined and read the medical records of the patients they write prescriptions for. I have been on Hydrocodone 7.5x 325mg x 120 pills per month for 13 years.

I was offered stronger medications and I have refused them because I do not want to take anything stronger if necessary. I KNOW what it is like to be looked at as a "pill seeker" and YES some Pharmacy's do that EVERYDAY. I do not know where you work but "making money" does not come into the quotient. One Doctor, without ever looking at my records, said "I refuse to prescribe THOSE medications". This "Doctor" was very mean. All I needed was a referral to a pain specialist because my insurance required it at the time. I did not even NEED or WANT a bridge prescription at that time because my pain specialist that I had to move away from wrote me 3 month prescription when I moved. As I said earlier, you work at a Pharmacy that is good. MOST are not. Before you read another person the riot act I would first understand that they are probably telling the truth.

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I could not believe this fell in my lap... Wild Lettuce. Not only does it work better than morphine... it is not addictive & has no side effects. I am absolutely floored at how well this works for pain.

It is from a weed the Native Americans called "Opium Lettuce". It's a weed that grows almost everywhere, but can be ordered online.
When my doc. prescribed Norco when I tore both rotators cuffs & more - I took it 1 time... The Wild Lettuce works better.

Prayers to & for you.

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Re: Pain man (# 9)

This is absolutely NOT true!! I work in a pharmacy and the pharmacists have ZERO decision on how many C2 meds they get!! That is totally up to the DEA! They put limits on how many they will let pharmacies have each week and if we run out there is absolutely NOTHING the pharmacists can do but wait until the DEA will let us have more!! Because of this, we have had to turn away new patients that come in wanting to fill C2 meds, this is not just pain meds but C2 stimulates like Adderall, as well! If we don’t turn them away we won’t have enough for our patients that have been with us for years, and even than we still run out at times. I myself take Adderall and have had to wait a few days for us to get more in stock before I was able to get my med.

And believe it or not unless someone shows some red flags, we don’t give a s*** what patients are filling. Meaning if your getting maintenance meds or C2 pain meds, we really don’t discriminate! We’re constantly slammed and so damn busy each and every day to give it a second thought! And the second you leave we forget all about you cuz we’re so busy helping the next person! And this does not imply that we don’t care about our patients it just means we don’t have the time to judge them on what meds they are on. So unless you actually work in a pharmacy, please just STFU about things you know NOTHING about!! Pharmacists are NOT withholding these meds on some patients just because! If your upset, talk to the DEA and don’t just assume it’s the pharmacists and techs keeping these meds from people! After all we don’t make any money by not filling meds for people!

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Hey mate I'm from the UK and I'm on 100mg of oxycodone, after breaking my knee, femur, hip and pelvis in 5places lost 4and half pints of blood with a metal rod from hip to knee. I have a good Dr but apart from him i know everyone else judges me! Wish they had my pain for one hour. Stay strong pal:)

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I am 60 years old, have a C1+2 fusion and herniations from C4-6, cervicalgia, and DDD. I am inoperable due to fusion. Now NSAIDs have caused extreme grief with bleeding ulcers, etc because the "prescribed dose" is worthless for the pain I go through. They stopped Norco which I was on 25+ years a few years ago with excuses (clean urine so it wasn't that)..never needed more and more and more??
Can't take Nsaids, what does help me, is now refused... Pain management so overloaded in New York... just no answers!? Just suffer! At 60? Great! "Well how dare you ask! Now you're a junkie!"...come on! This is a bunch of rubbish... how about creating a non opioid pain killer that works then? Do something more then kill bill these insurance companies with exorbitant over charges for doing nothing! I speak for many here... very low quality of life for many of us.

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Re: Catryna (# 4)

if you know of some medical marijuana that would do that you'd be a millionaire works great for anxiety depression appetite General all-around Good Feeling for mood but like I said if you really found something that does anything for pain I'll jump on that bandwagon

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I understand your point. I have taken hydrocodone 7.5 x 120 per month for a skiing accident and a back issue. One of the pharmacists where I get my refills (only when the Pharmacy says it is okay) tries to challenge my treatment program every time he is on duty. this has pretty much subsided after I asked him has he ever looked at my treatment plan? Has he ever examined me? (Of course he hasn't--he is not a Doctor only a Pharmacist. He may have a Doctor of Pharmacy degree but he is not a medical Doctor.) I asked him if he has ever even spoken to me to ask what my problems were. Of course he hasn't. I have been offered stronger pain medication but refused it. I understand your shame in getting refills but BEFORE I even attempt a refill I call the Pharmacy and ask if it is okay (time wise) to refill my prescription and when they can have it ready. This seemed to make the rogue Pharmacist lighten up a bit.

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I was in a wreck 10 yrs ago, damaged my spine and after months of pt (made it worse so they stopped), every treatment every Dr recommended, the only thing that is effective enough for me to function and work are narcotics. I got spinal injections twice, first time seemed to help but the second time was awful and instantly worse. They said oh you just have to give it time to work. Never got better. The bone in my back is cracked and disintegrating. 2012 I was in pm getting 120 x 30mg oxycodone a month. They shut down and the way I was treated by another supposedly great pain Dr made me give up and deal with it on my own. I'm at the point I can't handle it anymore. I can't afford $25-40 a pill (when I can even find it), the pm clinic I got into is an absolute joke.

The first Dr I saw was very nice but only put me on 7.5 mg hydrocodone, which really does nothing unless I take several at a time. The next visit they sent me to the Dr everyone hates, he cut me to 5 mg. I'm not going back, it's not worth it especially with how he acts. I'd give almost anything to not be in pain or need anything. I've tried going without. I went 4 months and I wanted to die. I couldn't do anything but lay in bed. I will lose my job if that happens now. Idk what to do. I've been scammed out of hundreds of dollars, I'm not sure yet. I know nobody here is going to prescribe anything that will work, not even Xtampza (sp?).

I just can't live like this I'm so tired of being in so much pain I can't do anything. I've tried so many NSAIDs (forced to by Dr's) that just make me sick and don't do anything. I'm so lost and I'm really scared. I even tried suboxone for a few months (and the pm Dr yelled at me for that) because it can have some pain relief effects, but I couldn't afford $400 a month for something that barely works. I know nobody will share if they Do have a Dr who will actually write anything and I understand. I can't tell if any of the online places actually send you what they claim. I found one that had been around a few years, and probably lost $120 in BTC to them too. If they and the other one I tried don't do anything but take my money then I'm out about $900 total I'll never get back and I don't have hundreds more to waste.

My ex has my son, gets half my check so if I lose my job and can't pay I'll be arrested. I'm at the end of my rope here and idk what to do. I found this site through another one that says they sell, but I'm scared they're all scams and I don't have any more money to try and see now. I'm not a druggie I just want to be out of constant, mind numbing pain so I can function. I'm done with Dr's, getting treated like a druggie and told things like I can't possibly be in that much pain cause I'm too young is too much. I never went to the Dr or took ANYTHING unless I was super sick and had no choice. I never took pain pills or smoked anything never even tried any street drugs. But that doesn't matter to anyone either.

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Re: Curious80 (# 20)

Hey curious80 it's been a couple years since I heard from you on this site. We used to have some good conversations and some back n forth. Just wondering how your doing and if you still check out this site every now and then. I hope everything's going well for you. Was wondering if you had anything new going on, n seeing if your meds are still working for ya. Let me know hope to hear back from ya stay well

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Hello,

It’s almost like I was reading my post because I get treated the same exact way at my pharmacy. I’m 45 and had to have 4 major surgeries on my spine due to a nerve sheath tumor. Ended up with a spinal fusion from L2-S1 that failed.

I’ve been on a bunch of narcotics ever since then. I get serious anxiety whenever the lady behind the counter says “one moment” and I see her talking to the pharmacist. One time I was handed a brochure and was told about rehab. Just like you said, I would love to never have to refill a script again and be normal.

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

I used to be harassed by my pharmacist, I left the place, I have a very nice pm pa, she is very kind,she looks at my mri s and know that I really have bad pain in my lower back, she hasn't threatened to lower my meds, hope I have her for awhile

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Re: Karen (# 121)

Hey Karen, they say you look good because you "present" well. This is something most people don't understand. When you go to see your doctor and you're dressed well, clean clothes, make up is perfect, clean shaven, ever hair in place and well you get the picture!
When you "present" like this the doctor has a hard time understanding the high levels of pain you're saying you're in... I know this sounds a little ridiculous, but I'm related to doctors by blood and marriage and this is how they're taught to observe the patient by they way you "present" yourself to them in their office.
If you're saying you're seriously suffering you shouldn't look your best. That's the way they think, but not all doctors are like that. Just most of them!
So you should look the part if you're in severe pain.
Your doctor doesn't personally know you and only sees you for a few minutes. Those few minutes is where they're observing everything about you including how you "present" yourself to them. So if you look like a million bucks a doctor is going to have a hard time believing you're in severe pain no matter what scans or tests may say!

This is just something to think about before your doctor vist...

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I absolutely get that. God help you if you ever have to go to the ER for a problem related to pain. I’ve had serious back issues and surgeries. When I woke up one day unable to move my neck and extreme pain in my right arm and went to the ER. Had to go 2x bc the X-ray showed nothing, they said “I don’t know what you want us to do!” Like I was just looking for drugs. Turned out it was a herniated disc with spinal cord compression. Needed urgent surgery. I hate being treated like a POS by those who are supposed to be there to help

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Re: John Kramer (# 131)
Keep in mind that back in the 80’s the Democrat Governor Richard Lamm said that older people “have a duty to die”. It stirred up quite a brouhaha. Now that he is 84 he has yet to fulfill his “duty”. He was only 49 when he made his “duty to die” statement. Wonder what he thinks now. Chronic pain patients need to be treated with dignity and respect. I moved to take care of my father who would have died THREE times before he did if I was not there to insist that the “Doctors should be Doctors and let God be God”. I got them to do whatever they needed to do to make his life livable. He lived until he was 94. The weird thing is he had 100% health insurance and every Doctor’s Bill was paid in full—and they still did not want to treat him. I wish I could make all Physician’s be empathetic and treat everyone like they should be treated. Unfortunately, this is not a reality. Even when ALL medical bills are paid 100%.

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I submit my verbiage with the hopes that someone in the viewing audience may find inspiration, or a least a little humor!
Just as big Al Einstein attempted a few decades ago, I too am seeking the allusive "theory for everything."
Having given the subject consideration, The most current group of folks to be trampled upon, taken advantage of, blatantly discriminated against, is the AGED AND THE INFIRMED!
Our former president Obama once referred to aged citizens as "not worth the health care investment." As I approach the big "70", I fear that our government will categorize me as simply another aged brick in the wall, all while making it harder to obtain the pharmacology that sustains me!

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By way of update, I am still amazed that a certain regulatory agency, (that does not even know my name), yet somehow knows more about my medical and pharmaceutical needs than I do!

Having had a rewarding career with the energy sector, I have been forced to retired based the gobbledygook of said monarchy. Simply stated, ME CLIENTELE WILL NOT WAIT ON ME WHILE I WAIT ON MY MEDICATION!!!

For the consideration of the viewing audience, domestic farmers have undergone economic hardships due to Trumps tariffs. To offset the losses, they've been awarded monetary compensation. I wonder if our government will offer compensation for those of us displaced through misplaced judgments regarding the medication that sustains us?

At this point I dumped lots of rhetoric on this site. I sincerely hope it lands before the eyes of someone that has the power to MAKE TANGIBLE CHANGES TO THE AUTOCRATS AND DESPOTS that are messing with our livelihoods!

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Re: Jack175 (# 128)
I am currently out of State but I am going to relocate back to the Sarasota area, hopefully soon. I have lived in the Sarasota area twice now and I want to go back.

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