I sustained a major injury to my lower back (L5-S1) 15 years ago when someone kicked a stool out from under me. Since then I have tried everything, including the IDETT procedure in 2000 (just made me worse) and major surgery placing an artificial disc at L5-S1 in 2003 (this completely disabled me). With improved technology, they have now determined that my pain has never been caused by a herniated disc, but rather by damage to my left pyriformis muscle, which is now totally atrophied and 1/3 the size of my right pyriformis muscle. I am pretty desperate. If the pain could be controlled, I could return to work. I have no symptoms other than pain. My pain specialist has now reduced my muscle relaxant (the only thing that helps me), while insisting that I increase my narcotic (to a massive dose). The narcotic does very little to help me, while the muscle relaxant enables me to live a near-normal life. Do all doctors have the same preference for morphine over soma and if so why? Without the muscle relaxant, I will return to a bedridden, pathetic mess. While with the muscle relaxant, I am a very functional and happy human being. It seems so cold and callous to deny access to an approved medication that really helps me, while pushing me to increase a narcotic that does not help at all.
Q: Why do doctors insist on morphine?
That does seem like an unusual thing to do. Most doctors tend to stay away from or reduce opioids like morphine whenever possible. I would certainly ask him to explain his reasoning behind this recommendation. Is there some reason he feels it could be bad or dangerous for you to continue on the Soma? If you don't think his explaination is reasonable, it might be time for you to look for another doctor – or at least seek a second opinion.
If you've signed a medication contract, be sure to check the terms of your contract to make sure however you decide to proceed doesn't violate the terms of the contract. Being dismissed for violating a medication contract could leave you without anyone who will prescribe pain medications for you.
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