Do I ever understand this dillema! I have cancer, and spinal diseases, as well as injuries to the spine. It took me two long years to get into a pain management center. I went to the same clinic for seven years, and was recently discharged for missing six appointments without 24 hour advanced notice. I later found out other patients were being discharged due to their insurance coverage; though that was not the reason given. It took me another six months to get into another clinic, and am having to wait two months for an appointment! So it's not just doctors who won't give pain meds., it is also how much your insurance is paying as well. Meanwhile; I am suffering so much I can hardly bear it. Yet my doctor won't prescribe me any pain meds. to get me through. I never failed a drug screen, nor did I ever abuse my pain meds.. I also never asked for stronger medication. I know of at least four persons currently at this same clinic just for the meds., not because they actually need them. I wrote my pain management doctor and thanked him for sentencing me to a long period of suffering, while he feeds the desires of known drug abusers. Unlike me, they are not willing to subject themselves to painfull procedeures; they just want the pain meds.. It is these people who cause others to suffer needlessly. If the doctors can't trust their own judgement, then they need to check themselves! If a doctor doesn't understand that a patient with lung cancer needs pain meds., then he should give up his illustrious title of physician!