Dearest Stephaniesue,   I'm writing this to elaborate on AnneBeckett's response...My Mother has GERD/bleeding ulcers too and she has never had a problem with her doctors prescribing her pain medications.  Her pain meds contain little to no acetimenophen (tylenol) in them.  Her GERD is kept under control by Prilosec and various other stomach meds.  Her pain meds are in the family of oxycodone (opana, OxyContin, and sometimes percocet for breakthrough pain).  She is living proof that the pain meds do not interfere with her GERD...I double checked with her this morning to verify this info.  My Mom is almost 70 years old, outgoing, and active because of the help her meds give her.  After all of the botched back surgeries she's endured through the years, she deserves  some happiness and if these medications make that a reality, then I say "GO FOR It!."   Since the moronic DEA got involved and wreaked havoc on the lives of chronic pain sufferers here along the coast, my Mom now has to see a doctor in her home state of Louisiana (we live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi).  This doctor is truly compassionate and understanding of chronic pain.  This new doctor expressed anger toward the 'terrorist tactics' that the DEA is implementing and he did tell Mom this IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE =(  Since Hurricane Katrina, dope heads from around the country have come here seeking to get their "fix" and ruined pain management fo the real sufferers.  Luckily, Mom has insurance & medicare to see this doc.  He has also been her doctor for over 30 years while living in LA.  I have absolutely no insurance, will be filing bankruptcy soon because I haven't been able to work, and I need to see her doc or one who will look at my records, charts, films, etc., and steer me in the right direction.  I hold a bachelors in Fine Art and I can't even attempt to go to grad school for my Master's in this much pain =(...It just sickens me...It hurts just to type I'm in so much pain =(   I know my story probably brings little to no comfort to you.  I just wish there was something I could do to help =(  It breaks my heart to see people suffer so needlessly when the help IS OUT THERE but the doctors are too reluctant to prescribe patients that help (even the Pain Management docs as well as PM&R docs refuse to prescribe any narcotic medication in this area).  This behavior is mind-boggling???  Pain Management docs cannot dispense pain meds anymore?  I'm just not buying that whatsoever.  I could understand if the patient is a Narcotics Violator or something of that nature.  But for those like me who have never broken a law, have NO criminal record, and for damn sure are not 'junkies', I really resent not being able to obtain my medication so I can reclaim my life.   Stephaniesue, please let me know how you're doing either here or at my email address.  I can give you the doctors name in Louisiana if that is of any help.  He was my Mom's doctor for 30+ years.  Until then, I wish you much Peace, Comfort, and Love. Sincerely, L.