Your doctor threatened you. BTW, it is against the law to undertreat someone's pain. Are you aware that at some point your body becomes tolerant to the medication and you need more to achieve the same level of pain control. This is not "addiction" this is "tolerance".There was a recent lawsuit California that sued a physician for "Elder Abuse" because he failed to provide pain treatment.

I know it is difficult and expensive to find another doctor. Now that I realize my pain doctor cares more about his license than me I am going to Beth Israel Pallative Care Center in New York.They care!

BTW, it is time for chronic pain patients to start a civil rights movement. We need to "march on Washington". We need to find legal counsel to represent us so that we can be treated with justice and require that focus be put on those who are breaking the law.

Our struggle is about POWER.  They want us to believe we have none, but we do. If I am forced to go to another pharmacy, which is a major inconvenient and I would have to pay someone to pickup my prescriptions.  They have the power to inflict emotional abuse on me and others. This untruthful and negative information will be passed on to my next pharmacy. Just like negative information is written in my medical records and passed on to the next doctor. I was denied appropriate medical treatment and because of the lack of treatment I am terminally ill.

We must hold others accountable for their behavior. We must take back our power. It is difficult because our illnesses create barriers to just doing basic life activities, but we must take back control of our lives.

When do we know it is time to the draw the line? We draw the line when conditions become so unbearable that to do nothing will harm our body and soul.

Take Care

Redhen

The only person that can amend a prescription is the doctor that wrote it. It is a crime for anyone other than the doctor to change a prescription. The pharmacist has to call the doctor and have the prescription reissued. Check with your insurance company to find out if they are refusing to pay. In my case my insurance company wasn't the problem. Contact your state's pharmacy board and file a complaint.  I made a copy of my prescription so that I had proof and complained to walgreen's district manager. It got results. 

If you can find a new pharmacy. Be aware that chronic pain patients are easy targets they can't catch the abusers and diverters of pain medications so they harass us.  Keep track of when your refills are due. Do not depend on anyone to track this for you. Keep your doctor informed of your difficulty.

I have a new doctor. He is excellent. I filed a complaint with Walgreen's and the pharmacy board. they were reprimanded. I changed to Rite Aid and have been treated with kindness and respect.

Thanks, but where would I get $240 per prescription? I am on a medical plan/prescription plan that I continue to pay and paid for during my 40 years of work and contributing $$$ to Social Security and Medicare.

I am female, black, and in a wheelchair. I have been subjected to extreme abuse since I became ill and worse since I started using a wheelchair and it has become worse since I started pain medication. 

The latest study says that blacks are the ones most likely to have difficulty filling their pain prescriptions. Something needs to be done about the sexism, racism and ableism that exists within the medical and pharmacy industry.

Recently, my new cardiologist got in my face for no other reason than my sex, race and because I use pain medication. Told me that there was nothing wrong with my heart.  I delayed going to the hospital recently because I was confused and upset. I ended up in heart failure and was admitted to the hospital. The doctor that did my original diagnosis showed up because the new doctor refused to see me, although the procedure is for the patient's doctor to visit them while they are in the hospital. He confirmed that I have severe cardiomyopathy and that blood flow was blocked and blood pooled in my heart because of dehydration and physical strain.

BTW, it is not just white doctors. Black doctors and black pharmacists are just as culpable and also do not provide appropriate pain relief to black patients with chronic pain. There is a unacceptable amount of black on black discrimination. No one addresses the issue of how black patients are treated by black doctors, because the automatic assumption is that because both are black, black patients receive better healthcare. This is not necessarily true and is a subject that must be investigated.  

There is a major flaw in the studies that state black patients are not discriminated against by doctors, because black doctors have the same statistical outcomes regarding race as white doctors. None of these studies take into account the black on black discrimination that is prevalent among blacks.

The psychological effects of racism, including self-hatred, Stockholm syndrome, rewards to assimilate and accept racial stereotypes in order to progress in one's chosen field, and the need to appear "not like those other blacks" has resulted in unacceptable levels of black on black discrimination.

This is a subject that is just beginning to be addressed and discussed. Equity can never be achieved until the psychological damage of all forms of discrimination are addressed and treated. 

     Your letter encouraged me today. I just took a break from writing to my hospital's patient advocate. My previous pain clinic put information in my medical record that I refused to sign a pain contract. They surrounded my bed and attempted to force me to sign it just minutes before I was to have an epidural injection. When I refused to sign, they withdrew their approval regarding my ride home. I had always used a Taxi and now all of sudden it was no longer okay. They told me it had to be a friend or a family member otherwise the hospital would be liable. I knew this wasn't true.  A friend or a family member probably does not make a living driving a car/van 10 to 12 hours a day. Also this was the taxi company the hospital calls to pick up their ER patients when medical treatment prevents the patient from driving home. I had to undergo the procedure without conscious sedation. It was so painful he only did one injection in my spine and stopped.  

     Later that week I met with my doctor. I had already read a Sharepost about being aware of what we sign and agree to. Their contract did not follow any of the Pain Association's guidelines. It gave them the right to call the police if they "suspected" that I was altering my pain prescriptions. It said I had to undergo urine testing, but not how my urine test would be protected and it gave the police access to my medical records.It offered me no protection. Anyone had access to my urine sample including the nurse that had threatened me. They had already engaged in retaliation because I complained. They forced me to undergo a painful procedure because of their retaliation. I knew they would tamper with my urine sample. I am a child of the 60's. I knew my civil rights were being violated. Everything I believed in and marched for during the 1960's would be meaningless if I signed it. I just couldn't sign it. I told them I was going to find a new pain specialist.

     This new nurse threatened me because I was too sick to come in for an appointment for an epidural injection. She told me if I missed my next appointment she was going to stop my medication.  I told her not to threaten me. I had done nothing wrong. I was coming in three times per month, once month to see the doctor, although I was only on 3-6/5mg hydrocodone per day and 30 mg of MScontin twice a day, once a month for the epidural injection and once a month to see a therapist because of the abuse I had suffered.

     After my complaint they actually accused me of abusing drugs due the scars on my right hand from all of the IVs. My skin and veins are fragile because I take steroids every day and my veins are difficult to find. It takes two to three sticks before most techs can start an IV. One time I was poked more than 12 times. Many times they used a light or hot compresses to get the veins to stand out. Several times they have used my thumb because they couldn't find a vein or my blood pressure was low because of an adrenal crisis and/or my heart problem.

     I will never forget how this doctor that I thought trusted me was yanking on my hand so he could get a better look. I found a new doctor and signed a contract with him. I haven't had any problems with him, but the ER and the cardiologist at the new hospital are a problem and I had to go to a new location of my former hospital. Now there are repercussions and my medical care is being delayed because of this untruthful information.It turned out that I was sick and having muscle cramps and chills because I was not getting enough steroid medication and was nearing an adrenal crisis. They are life threatening.

     I do not fit the profile of someone that abuses drugs. I do not drink, do not smoke and never used any type of recreational drug. I do not have a criminal record. I have a forty year work history. I have wonderful children that love me very much. We have an excellent relationship.I never abused my medication, never refilled early (contrary to what my former pharmacist said}, never lost or had it stolen.

     Another time, I came in to the ER with a blood pressure of 210/110+ and a severe headache. One ER doctor said I was trying to get drugs. Thank God, the other doctor did not agree. I ended up in intensive care and hospitalized for eight days because of my heart. The heart specialist told me, that I am a good person and not to let anyone change me. He heard and saw what they were doing to me at this hospital.

     Although, I had been hospitalized at their hospital for chronic pancreatitis and two adrenal crises they sent a psychiatrist to see me. One of the top endocrinologists in the US diagnosed the adrenal insufficiency. One of their own gastroenterologist diagnosed the idiopathic chronic pancreatitis. Because I can not drink alcohol, they believe my blood pressure medication and/or the steroids caused it. One of the top rheumatologists in the nation diagnosed the Polymyalgia Rheumatica. Their top orthopedic surgeon prescribed my wheelchair because he said the arthritis was inoperable. All of this information is in my medical record. Their psychiatrist said, "there is nothing wrong with you" "You don't have any of the medical conditions you say you have and you are taking too much pain medication". I was taking 4/5mg hydrocodone per day 15mg MScontin twice a day.Their pain specialist evaluated me, he said I wasn't taking enough pain medication. 

     I was forced to leave the hospital and go home. My daughter took me to a different hospital and I did have pancreatitis.  My gastroenterologist finally contacted me and told me to increase my MScontin until the Pancreatitis went away. When I moved to another State, they discovered that I have obstructive cardiomyopathy. The blood flow in my left ventricle is blocked and pools inside my heart. There is a possibility that I have pulmonary hypertension.

      I received no treatment for my heart in my former State. In fact, they kicked me out of the hospital and told me to go see a psychiatrist. They told me nothing was wrong with me. Although their nurses had documented that my blood pressure was 235/105+ the doctor told me that it wasn't that high. They made no effort to control my blood pressure and they ignored the results of the echocardiogram. One month later, in the new State, they diagnosed me with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy. My old GP had put me on Diclofenac a drug heart/stroke patients are not supposed to take, but she refused to follow the consultive reports from two pain specialists that said I needed to be on a more effective pain medication, 10mg of hydrocodone 4 times per day.

      I was denied medical because these people believed that I was a drug addict even when I was not taking opioid medication. Yes, I believe I am treated this way because I am Black. This was confirmed by a White nurse when I told her that they were abusing me because of my race. She says, I am from California and you are the first Black person in this State to complain about the racism at this hospital. I work here and I know they are racist, but Black patients never complain. That is because they know that this information will be put in their medical records and like me it will be almost impossible for them to receive medical care.

      We are powerless to do anything about this situation because people have been indoctrinated to believe that anyone that takes pain medication is an addict.

     When I tell my story people are shocked. It is unbelievable. I was raised to believe that all I had to do is work hard and I would not have to be concerned about discrimination. I believed in living an honorable life. I was devastated when I found that being honorable did not matter.

     After the Diclofenac incident, I found a new doctor. I traveled to another state for a second opinion. I was only going to be here temporarily. Pain specialists prescribe for out of state patients all the time as long as the patient is willing to show up and check in when asked. It was a schedule three medication and a national pharmacy so they could prescribe across state lines.The new doctor refused and stopped my pain medication without notice. The Rheumatologist I traveled to see was unwilling because I was in the state temporarily, but prescribed a lower dose of medication on a temporary basis. I was hysterical and in horrible pain and desperately looking for another doctor.

     Then the doctor in my old state said he would prescribe for me until I returned. Then his staff members got involved and convinced him not to. I was crying in excruciating pain. A medical assistant from my former state, called the Walgreens pharmacy, got my address and called the police. It didn't work out like she thought it would. I had been crawling around on the floor for two days. All I could do was cry. The police said, "We are not going to leave you in this condition". They called an ambulance to take me to the hospital and I connected with a pain specialist here in the new state. Unfortunately, I had to leave my children and grandchildren and move here permanently.

     My current pain specialist is wonderful. He discovered that I have small fiber polyneuropathy. It had gone undiagnosed and untreated for years. His staff is supportive and they believe in appropriate pain management. My race has never been a factor.

     There is also wonderful side to this story. When I was trying to find a doctor, one of the pain networks sent out a nationwide call for someone to help me. A nurse here answered the call and gave me a list of names of people that he trusted to provide good care. My current pain specialist is one of the people he suggested.

     I keep going because of people like them and you. You understand and care. Knowing I am not alone helps tremendously. I wish you the best and hope your health will improve. Thank you so much for listening.

Raymond. The best possible place for you to go is to a Board Certified Pain Specialist. It is difficult to forget the abuse because the true abusers are not held accountable. Chronic pain patients are easy targets. Although I have a wonderful Pain specialist I continue to be harassed other medical staff and even paramedics. unfortunately I have several "co-morbid" illnesses. I have been denied medical care because of my use of chronic pain meds and two life threatening illnesses were left untreated. Understand I cannot walk, bathe and use the bathroom without pain medication. I have been blessed to have a doctor intervene on my behalf; he implanted my defribrillator and saved my life. Not only was the fact that I was in ventricular tachycardia ignored, but after surgery they ignored a blood clot that extended all the way from my brachiocephalic vein, through my subclavian vein to my internal jugular vein. While I was in the first hospital the nursing staff stopped all of my pain medication without my consent and without my doctor's consent. They were so busy concentrating on stopping my pain medication I almost died. They sent me home and I passed out twice and had to use my medi-alert necklace. Without any proof whatsoever the doctor at the second hospital believed the paramedics when they said I was faking and had overdosed on pain medication. I have never exhibited any addiction behaviors and my pain specialist would have confirmed this fact, but guess what, they refused to call him.

My defibrillator recorded the fact that I had passed out due to SVTs, but they sent me home with the blood clot in my neck. My son came and took me home to Oregon. In a little tiny hospital in a small town in Oregon they found the clot. I was dying. The first hospital told the Oregon Hospital that I am a drug addict. thank God, they ignored them.

I needed a referral from a PCP to the coumidan clinic in oregon. Because of the lie regarding my drug addiction the PCP refused to see me, which meant that they were going to let me die. I had to beg and cry and told them I wasn't asking for pain medication or any medication only a referral so that I could continue the coumidan to stop the blood clot. They demanded the name and phone number of my pain specialist although I never asked them to prescribe any medication.

Why is it easier for me to ask a doctor for drugs to commit assisted suicide, but I am required to beg for coumidan to save my life and denied medical care because I take pain medication to relieve chronic pain that has been documented and evaluated by four board certified pain specialists, an orthopedic surgeon, a physiciatrist and a hospital foundation that donated my wheelchair?