My pain specialist is not listening. At first he/they were open and willing. Now, for some reason, they seem to be suspicious and uncaring..... almost scared, sometimes. They have insisted- and I MEAN inSISted!!- that I reduce my pain meds. I have been forced to reduce my oral meds by more than 70%&n...
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Untitled Comment
Karen Lee Richards
Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at 06:55 AM
It is strange that there would be such a change in attitude. On a federal level, the FDA is considering measures to tighten the restrictions on opioid medications to help curb abuse, but they haven't made any decisions yet. (Read: URGENT: FDA May Remove or Limit Access to Opioid Pain Medications)
It's possible that your state's medical board may be suspending or revoking more doctor's licenses because they are prescribing opioids inappropriately or its drug enforcement agency may be making more arrests of doctors. That would certainly cause pain specialists to be very hesitant about prescribing opioids.
Have you asked your doctor about the change in attitude? If it were me, I think I would probably tell him I noticed a significant change in his approach to treating me and ask if I had done something to bring that about or if there was some other reason that was concerning him.
If the potential for abusing oral medications is his concern, you might want to talk to him about an intrathecal pain pump. A pump provides better pain relief with only a fraction of the dosage of oral meds and there is very little, if any, possibility for abuse. You can learn more about pain pumps here: http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/neurostimulation-and-pain-pumps.html
Good luck! I hope you're able to find out what is causing the change in attitude and find a resolution that provides you with adequate pain relief.
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Untitled Comment
CoCowboy692000
Friday, October 02, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Tell your doctor you are going to fire them if they don't start getting serious about addressing your pain AND mean it! Plain and simple. Get your records, and hit the pavement. Start looking. If that is what it takes, that is what it takes. I have had to do the same thing. To hell with them if they don't have your best interests at heart.
It is strange that there would be such a change in attitude. On a federal level, the FDA is considering measures to tighten the restrictions on opioid medications to help curb abuse, but they haven't made any decisions yet. (Read: URGENT: FDA May Remove or Limit Access to Opioid Pain Medications)
It's possible that your state's medical board may be suspending or revoking more doctor's licenses because they are prescribing opioids inappropriately or its drug enforcement agency may be making more arrests of doctors. That would certainly cause pain specialists to be very hesitant about prescribing opioids.
Have you asked your doctor about the change in attitude? If it were me, I think I would probably tell him I noticed a significant change in his approach to treating me and ask if I had done something to bring that about or if there was some other reason that was concerning him.
If the potential for abusing oral medications is his concern, you might want to talk to him about an intrathecal pain pump. A pump provides better pain relief with only a fraction of the dosage of oral meds and there is very little, if any, possibility for abuse. You can learn more about pain pumps here: http://www.healthcentral.com/chronic-pain/neurostimulation-and-pain-pumps.html
Good luck! I hope you're able to find out what is causing the change in attitude and find a resolution that provides you with adequate pain relief.