cut in meds

[lin127]

Hi everyone,

I'll try to keep this brief. I have bad fibro, ddd, 2failed neck surgeries, 3 herniated back disc which I am afraid to have surgery on, I've had 2 shoulder surgeries due to a fall down a flight of stairs, both hands done for carpel tunnel. I had 13 trigger point injections and 3 nerve blocks in my back. I paid for hypno theropy and bought a hot tub. not to mention all the physical theropy I have. I tried tons of anti depressants, muscle relaxers, exercise programs. I pay for a massage when i can.
Then Thank God about ten years ago my pc doc put me on methedone with oxycodone as a bt. I could get off my couch and function. He since passed away. I found another doc who aggreed with the treatment then he relocated and moved. I found a phy assistant who treated me for 3 years, at that time i was on interfuron theropy for a year for hep c that I pick up in the lab where i worked for 25 years. So far I am neg after one year thank God. Now the doc whos practice it is, wants me off all narcotics. I assumed he was ok with it all along because he wrote several scripts himself when she was on vacation.
He sent me to a pm doc that aggeed with him.{no surprise} Im now going to beth isrial in Boston to see what they can do for me. maybe some accupucture might help. I havent asked for a increased all this time in fact i have even decreased the amount of methedone. Urines are clean never asked for an early script. He said who ever started this did not know what they were doing. Then why did he write my scripts?
I take 120mgs meth/day 1 oxy every 4hours if need for breakthrough. I am now on my own trying not to take it.
My husband was diagnosed with a heart condition and parkinsons disease and needs me. Im full of anxiety and totally depressed over this. I wont be able to function without these pain meds. I tried to explain all this to him and told him about all the other things i have tried. But his head is made up. Finding a new doc isnt easy. I don.t know where to even look. He cut the oxy in half last month. Gave me cymbalta and ativan. Now im groggy and dont take it. My councilar gave me wellbutrin and trasadone and that is working better. I see him on the 3 of feb God knows whats in store. Im so stiff in the am i cant move. The pain is always there . the meds at least allows me to handle it. He told me to get another doc if i didnt agree with him.

Don't we have the right to get our pain treated? these meds are made for people in pain and we cant get them. I feel like my quality of life is in his hands and Im powerless.

Thanks for listening. Im sorry for going on and on.
Lin

[Diandra]

Hi Lin,
Yes, you do have the right to get your pain treated but it sure sounds like this doc made it very clear he is not going to the one to give you what you need. I know you said it is not easy to find docs where you are yet, I don't know what other choice you have. You certainly have my sympathy for what this doc is putting you through....it really is not fair.

Best I can suggest is to look at the "sticky" at the very top of this forum. It looks like this:

Sticky: Useful Websites ( 1 2 3 )
David Hosobuchi

Look at the websites where you can find a new doctor and search for someone in your area. With an ill husband, being in so much pain yourself, you do not deserve the stress and there are doctors out there who understand chronic pain and will help.

Something else you can do on this site is post another thread asking for doctors in your area. Write something like "Looking for pain mgmt doc in Boston, MA" or whereever you are from. This forum has been kind of slow lately but there are plenty of good people who help as much as they can.
Or....ask your counselor who gave you the wellbutrin, etc for a referral to a doc who can manage your pain.

I wish you success and welcome to this forum. Lots of good people here.
Diandra

[lin127]

thanks Diandra,

I will try your suggestions, I know there are great people here I use to write here a few years ago. I'll keep you posted. I was able to quit smoking and drinking but this I know I can't do. I was handeling my husbands situation, my pain, financial difficulties cause i cant work just fine until he dropped this bomb on me and ive been a wreck since. the counciler says i can always go to a methedone clinic... I want a caring doc whom cares about me. I hope I can find him.

thanks again,
Lin

[Boxerlover]

lin, the other thing you can do is seach pain websites that feel we do not have to live in pain. I know there are bunch out there and they will usually list doctors. Another option is looking for the websites that rate doctors so if you do get a name, you can look them up and see what other patients have said. I think there are 2 of them that I know of. I would get you these, but I had to do a factory reinstall on my computer and as I was a bad girl and had not backed up anything I lost all my bookmarks. Just google and search you will find them.

I'm sorry your doc is putting you through this especially with everything you have already tried and done and in addition to now needing to be there for your husband, it's not right.

Melissa

[cindybear]

If my docter (new doc) told me I had to get off methadone..(which I have been on and doing great for 7 years ) , I would just get a new Docter and Quick about it..I know it isn't easy..But they are out there...Doesn't he have all your documents from your docter..But it just may be his choice..So if it is,,Then it is going to be your choice and find a good compassionate docter that wouldn't put you through the nonsense..Good luck..Hugs, Cindy

[Mark N]

Your story is what we all fear. We are at the mercy of our doctors and when we need a new one it is a fear the new doctor will take a severe outlook like your current doctor. I hope your search for a new PM goes well and you find a compassionate on that looks at your history to give you the proper meds. At the very least the doctor should work with you to go from your current meds to pain meds he this is better but also willing to go back to what has worked if you get worse. It is ridiculous to make you change the combo that works for you as long as you don't have any complicating issues.

[lin127]

I know! this is causing so much anxiety. I have a list of clinics to call some want referrals so now I have to worry his input will be damaging.
thanks for responding everyone. It helps knowing someone understands and unless you are in chronic pain you dont get it. I have a friend saying maybe its time to give your liver a rest. I am sure he is looking out for your best interest. Narcotics if used properly, do far less damage to the body than tylenol and nsaids.
bye for now
Lin

[drcorish]

I read your post and wanted to share an idea with you. I am not associated with the site but you may want to check out low dose naltrexone.
http://www.savvypatients.com/low_dose_naltrexone.htm. Why not read up on this and speak to your doctor...it can be used safely with other meds and I think this will become a popular and effective pain management med over the next decade. There are other natural remedies also...why not give accupuncture a try...it never fails to surprise me how many people do well with it after giving it a fair try with a competent accupuncturist

[jimac]

Naltrexone can not be taken with narcotics of any kind as it will block them.

[Kira]

Like jimac said... you can't take naltrexone with opioids. It will block them and give you withdrawal symptoms.

[911]

i would be concerned about the withdrawal from all the meds you are on , i know as i am on rather high doses aswell ask for something to atleast help you not go thru withdrawals then deal with the pain by finding a new clinic , it would seem you have everything on your side by doing what most of us do ie: contract, same pharmacy etc, good luck Dave

[lobelsteve]

Funny, but you guys are all wrong.

Low dose naltrexone will not block the central mu receptors and precipitate withdrawal owing to its penchant for not crossing the blood/brain barrier.

But I'm just guessing...

http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/22/2332
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/575536

http://www.wyeth.com/hcp/relistor/home

However, low dose naltrexone ain't gonna help your pain at all.

[Kira]

Funny, but you guys are all wrong.

Low dose naltrexone will not block the central mu receptors and precipitate withdrawal owing to its penchant for not crossing the blood/brain barrier.

But I'm just guessing...


I defer to Dr Steve on this, what with it being his specialty and all...

[Kira]

Steve, is Revia (naltrexone HCl) the same as Relistor (methylnaltrexone HBr)?
http://www.rxlist.com/revia-drug.htm

Wondering if the methyl- group has anything to do with blood-brain barrier crossing?

The Revia insert says it used for opiate & alcohol dependence and not to give it to people who could at all be using opiates (recommends a naloxone challenge if unsure) to avoid precipitating withdrawal. Wikipedia (the most scientifically validated source in the world, I know) says that some places use naltrexone as part of their rapid detox protocol, and that some questionable places have been using sub-Q naltrexone implants as part of drug rehab (rather than trusting someone to take a pill daily). But I don't know much about it other than the stuff I read after briefly google-ing it...

[jtroy]

I agree with Dr. Lobel b/c he's dead on. Sure, the "low" dose Naltrexone isn't going to antagonize central mu opioid receptors and lead to huge pain and w/d symptoms but the long and short is that it simply isn't going to do a thing for your pain...may add a new one to your wallet.

Lin, I think I may remember you as somebody who used to come here long ago...not sure....either way, I tell people this all the time here and elsewhere who are in pain that can actually "function" in the real world (which I ENVY LIKE MAD) with their regimen who, like you, have remained "clean", managed, respectful of doc's orders, and so on who are encountered with this: Find a new pm doc asap (and a real boarded physician with a current license) on your own. Don't go to who your current physician assisstant or "new" doc wants you to. Your "old" docs are gone.

First: Make absolutely sure your clinic knows that you are looking for a "second opinion"/new doctor on your own. When or if they ask who you are planning on seeing just say that you don't know and that you may follow some guidance from pcp's, other specialists you see, physician friends, etc. but don't drop names.

Generally speaking, there is a reason why a clinic who has been treating you for a long while on a stable dosage of meds would want to now tell you that you need off narcotics....I won't speculate....could be "recordkeeping", could be you, could be them, could be alot of things. You've said that you have been on a stable amount of meds, have clean urine screens, abided the contract (ie, no early refills, etc.), and so on...it'd be a good idea to respectfully ask for all of those records (copies) immediately.

You may find people in your community or even here who can help you with docs in your area...I don't even know where you are hailing from...but I know in my case in the past I had to actually pull out the yellow pages and make calls asking to speak to a nurse about becoming a potential new patient...it's an unusual question the receptionist often hasn't had...probably 60% of the time I got the nurse and I simply asked the questions I needed answered (are you a block shop, are you a factory, does the doc actively seek non med txs, is he willing to script methadone to patients (some refuse), etc.)....and you will have essentially referred yourself....often you can give them your current pm clinic's info and that is all it takes to be seen...sometimes they will want a referral from your clinic which means you call them and tell them you would like to see dr. x for a 2nd opinion and have touched base with them and to please set up a referral.

Long and short: I am so so so sorry you are having to go through this. It is what we all fear.

Only recently (water-logged patches) a couple patches wouldn't stick properly....and I went through fulminant and hellish w/d for about 24 hours....and it's been years since I've felt those symptoms.....and now they terrify me even more.

So I feel you. If there is anything I can do...absolutely anything...look for docs, reach out to those I know, etc., I will....tjandfon@hotmail.com is my addy.

Wish you well,

T. Jones, DVM