Chronic Pain Support Group

Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...

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/ Chronic Pain Support Group

general ranting

yadlim
yadlim
So by now most of everyone on this board has heard the big to do about hydrocodone going to Schedule II and the issues it is causing. Sigh... and my trials and tribulations are on going with this, what should be a simple matter.

I got a letter in the mail saying that I needed to go and sign a Narcotic Medication Plan to get any refills after mid-Oct. Fine, does not sound like that big of a deal. Just an apt, right? Sigh. But this is the VA system, nothing is that easy.

We start by calling the automated system to refill my prescription - but I am out of refills and it has to be Dr approved. Great, but I knew that was coming.

Since I was last seen by my gen physician, apparently they changed the name of the clinic and the location by two blocks. Tweek. OK. An hour of tracking it down and we got the correct number to call for an apt. It takes three tries to get someone to answer the phone??? Fine. Hubby gets a live person on the phone and asks to set up an apt.

But wait! It has only been 9 months since I last saw my primary care provider and he specifically only wants to see me every 12 months. The nurse tries to dissuade hubby from making an apt for the next 20 minutes. Then she is sure we are taking about a NEW prescription for a new med... no, been on this same med, same dose for almost 4 years. But why would we need to see the Dr if nothing is changing?

After a total of 45 minutes on the phone, hubby has gotten an apt two days before I will run out. Cutting it a bit close, but the nurse is going to see if the Dr can do the paperwork without me so she can cancel the apt...

Really? Is there no reason why I might need to see and talk to my doctor more than once a year???? After we get this figured out, I am ditching this doctor like a bad apple!!!

Ok, done ranting. Nothing can be done about it just must keep poking through the paperwork with the phone number of the Patient Advocate on speed dial!!!
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
Under federal law you're suppose to see your dr at least once evey 90 days if you take a Schedule II for chronic pain. Be sure & read the Narcotic Medication Plan carefully and get a copy to take home. You may want to ask what to do if something happends and you have to to to the ER and you receive a rx for pain. If it states you aren't to be prescribed pain meds by any other dr, that usually includes ER drs as well. It will be your responsibility to go by the agreement, Saying you didn't understand something or weren't clear about it, usually does not matter. There are no refills for Schedule II. They require a new rx.
yadlim
yadlim
Oh my doc is going to HATE that!! Definitely have to start the paperwork for a new one.

I am already on so many pain killers just to function for a brief time, usually less than a couple of hours a day, that going to the ER for any reason does not get me a Rx for more pain meds - not even when I tore my rotator cuff.

I will have to make sure that it does NOT say that no other doctors can prescribe me pain meds as I am in a horrifically SLOW process of getting my pain managed by the pain management clinic - who prescribes my non-opiate pain meds.

The goal is to get off the opiates - at least that is my goal. I am not there yet, but I hope to be sometime in the next year!
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
Usually when it says no other drs can rx pain meds, it means meds that are only used for pain. Not other meds that can be used like antidepressent. But, it is best to have it clarified with your dr. Assume Nothing.
billwfriend
billwfriend
hugs
yadlim
yadlim
I am going to have to really read this contract. Through the VA I have four different doctors who prescribe one or two different meds each - the only thing that connects them is the VA system. Sigh, too many specialists not enough communication!
jeremy1999
jeremy1999
That sounds bass ackward to have the GP prescribing you opiates and the pain management doctor prescribing you non-narcotic meds. But you have to do what you have to do in order to keep yourself healthy. I wish I could have a pain management doctor that prescribes me six Norco a day while trying any other non-narcotic medication under the sun. I'm really open to any form of non-narcotic pain control option except the spinal cord stimulator. I want to try Lyrica next. Then I want to explore the pain pump. My pain levels have been off the charts for the past few days to the point that I'm having a hard time walking. I need stronger meds, but I prefer meds that would be directed right at the source of the pain. Since most of my pain is in my right leg, I would benefit from local pain treatments. Any how, I hope your doctor gets his head out of his colon and starts treating you properly. I hope you feel better soon Yadlim. Hugs my friend!

Jeremy!
yadlim
yadlim
Oh it is so screwed up.

I have PM docs who have cold turkey ripped me off addictive meds (that was so NOT fun) and who want me off all meds BUT the non-narcotic pain meds.... That doc wants me off opiates, which I do too, but not until it is replaced with something that works. The PM doc also wants me off my PTSD medication... oh 'cause that is such a great idea!!! My Psych doc says 'heck no'!!

so, in the VA system, I have -
Psych doc who gives me my PTSD meds - two of them.
Endo doc who takes care of my Post cancer meds
Gen doc who inherited my opiates when my last doc passed away
PM who are experimenting with non-narcotic meds


Oh - and we got a call back from my gen doc... it has not been a full year and he won't see me. Since there is no change, he is going to do all the paperwork internally and I just have to call in to his office for my hydrocodone refills rather than the pharmacy.
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
The 90 days for seeing your dr that treat chronic pain won't officially begin until the new law goes into effect, Oct 6. Although they may go from when you get your first hyrdocodone rx after that date. It will be interesting to see if your VA drs go by federal law on seeing patients at least every 90 days.
sugar09
sugar09
In my opinion, Pain Management docs are USELESS.
MaddyfromOz
MaddyfromOz
Wow, I'm sorry you have to go thru so much drama to get the meds that allow you to have some sort of quality of life and bearable pain moments..

How inconsiderate of you to try and see your gp more then twice a year - some docs are just unbelievable! I hope you find a decent one soon Yadlim.
billwfriend
billwfriend
that all is ridiculous...
yadlim
yadlim
... and it is not that he will only see me every six months, only once a YEAR. That is right, the follow up on my possible torn rotator cuff is 12 months after the injury... no actions have been taken other than by me...

I hate doctors
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
Did he sent you to PT for the rotator cuff or anything else that might help ?
ItsJustMe2012
ItsJustMe2012
Or do an ortho referral ?
yadlim
yadlim
For my shoulder, which I have worked back to about 40% mobility, the ER doc did x-rays, but my Primary care sent me to acupuncture after diagnosing it from the far side of the room. Well, the acupuncture made it worse. I see my PM doc within the next month and I am going to have them look at my shoulder now that they mostly have the spine pain under control - though with more side effects than I can cope with....
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