severe pain not being treated, unethical?
<!--StartFragment-->
I am a 24 year old female. I have experienced excuciating back and leg pain since August of 2008. In December 2008, a CT L-Spine showed a disc protrusion in L5-S1 narrowing the left nerve root foramen greater than 50%. Despite conservative measures, the severe pain continues. An MRI in January of 2009 showed multi-level degenerative disc disease and "significant neural foraminal narrowing on the left, with near complete obliteration of the foramen." My GP and a pain management doctor have failed to prescribe me appropriate narcotic pain medications at this time; despite any valid reason not to. Don't I have a right as a patient to relief from this incapacitating pain? How should I handle this matter? I feel I am being treated inhumanely.
<!--EndFragment-->
I'm not sure it's a matter of ethics. Different doctors have different comfort levels for treating pain, particularly when it comes to prescribing opioids. Some are very conservative and others are more aggressive. If your current doctors are not helping you achieve adequate pain relief, it's probably time to find another doctor who will treat your pain more aggressively. Good luck to you.
- Thank you for your input
- Ranked Helpful (2)
- Report Abuse
