Question about addiction and chronic pain management, stigma

Hello, I am new to this website and want to thank anyone in advance for any advice the might have. Here goes, my situation is kind of complicated. I am a 27 year old female with a history of heroin addiction. A few years back I was rear ended at 70 mph and suffered a whiplash injury, for which I did almost 1 year of physical therapy for. The pain seemed to go away and never really resurfaced.

Three months ago, I started having excruciating pain in my back neck and shoulders and was unable to sleep, could no longer lay  on my side or stomach and had numbness in my arms as soon as I was able to fall asleep. After going to my primary care Dr, she basically dismissed my pain. I felt like yes this is my problem and what I get for having been an addict in the past. My pain persisted and got worse, so I went to my neuro who I had originally seen for my car accident injury. After examining me and running tests and X-rays, he confirmed that I had mild scoliosis, an impingement in my shoulder, and thoracic outlet syndrome. He told me that with physical therapy the pain should get better, he prescribed me Soma and Percocet, which didn't help due to my tolerance do I just stopped taking them.

After two months of PT twice a week, I am still unable to sleep and have moderate and persistent pain that is truly making my life miserable. I am currently on Subutex and have been clean for one year (yay!) So I finally just couldn't deal with the chronic, everyday pain anymore, and had my neuro give me a referral to a PM doctor who I found that had great reviews on heath grades and vitals.com I am hoping I can get on the Butrans patch. I have a high tolerance for pain medication AND pain. But I just don't think I should have to live in pain everyday because of my past. I am hoping with my neuro records and the fact that I am doing PT an active in my treatment hopefully this will be the doctor who can understand and treat the complexity of my case. I have never actually abused medication prescribed to me, crazy as that is, and I want to be as upfront as possible with this doctor in order for him to be able to treat me properly.

I am just afraid the first thing that is going to happen when I go there is he will say you were an addict? Sorry cant help you. I have been stigmatized even by addiction specialist doctors! And this has made me lose hope and really feel low self worth that I am just labeled an addict. I feel stuck in a catch 22 having a history of an addiction but also chronic pain. I am just wondering if there is anyone else in a situation similar to mine and have any advice about how to approach the first appointment? Like do I tell him right when I see him before anything that I have addiction history? How about when I make the appointment on the phone do I mention it then? I am just so nervous, more about being rejected and having to continue living with pain each and every day, not to mention the lack of sleep and how it affects my life, as I work and am in school full time finishing my bachelors degree, one more semester to go! I just know I want to be as upfront as possible, I just wish everyone appreciated that honesty is the best policy and how hard it is for me to open up with the situation time and again with another doctor who may not understand. Please, anyone who has any advice I would so appreciate hearing it!!! Thank you again

[Emmy_84]

Why would the doctor repeat everything that I have already taken recently? Makes no sense. There are plenty of drug addicts that ARE using that get pain management! Plus I have never lied to any doctor and have always been upfront, plus I am clean. Pain management is usually a last ditch effort when nothing else works, pain management doctors do just that, manage pain AND medication, counting it etc. I know a lot of people who go to clinics just to get meds. A doctor will be able to tell if you are abusing them, you have to report to get your meds counted take drug tests etc. Your opinions are not what I am looking for, I am looking for optimism and SUGGESTIONS not opinions

[msnova74]

I would be upfront with your doctor.  I know that in my area there are many pain specialists that will treat someone with a history of addiction.  If this doctor will not, then call around until you find a doctor with a brain.  You should not have to suffer because of your past history.  If you search addiction pain management speciaists you may find one in your area.

Hope this helps