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Can doctors just stop prescribing pain medication to patients after yrs prescribed them?

I have been diagnosed with lower lumbar degenerative disease back in 1997. Back then it was only classified as arthritis, I am now only 36 an back then 25 and I was given Motrin 800mg 3 times a day. This worked for a few years but working at jobs being on my feet 8-10 hours a day the medication was just not doing the job. I went to my primary Dr. who unfortunatly where I live is a small clinic with mostly residents who leave after a year or 2 having me to start all over with another who most always has a different opinion of what treatment is best. After 2+ years of trying multiple medications and being without insurance at the time I went through medications like Celebrex, Vioxx, Peroxicam, and every NSAID there was with little to no relief. Well I was eventually fired from my job due to the fact my productivity was showing decline do to back pain. I had 1 MRI done in 1998 an then another 4 yrs later at that point I was put on 7/325 mg Hydrocodone 3 times a day. This was amazing how much relief I had gotten after all these years. I still have been on the Motrin 800 for the past 12 yrs which they do nothing but following doctors orders. Last year I had been given a new Doctor/Resident and I asked if I could have a recent MRI done, she responded no because you have degenerative disease that its only going to show more degeneration why should the money be spent on it and continued to prescribe the medications. On July 5th I was in another vehicle motor accident adding upper back pain to my current condition so my doctor, at this time was a new resident, who had increased my hydrocodone to 6 at 10/650mg per day. After 2 months of this I felt this just was too much medication and spoke with her about some type of long acting 12 hour pain medication, She mentioned Methodone, I agreed with the methadone due to the fact it can also get me off or minimize the narcotics I was on and the Hydrocodone was dropped to 3 a day an given 2 methodone per day. 4 days later I started having memory loss, I was bloated and had huge red blotches all over my body. I was taken off the methodone immediatly. But instead of offering something to try an help me get off the narcotics she put me on MS Contin which in my opinion was yes may help with pain but not help me get off the narcotics. As of last week my 12 yr old daughter who is bipolar and now in a treatment facility for medication review had decided to run to the doctor an throw out a long tale of how I am not myself anymore an the medications have changed me. Even though my daughter stated to her that she is a pathalogical liar and lies constantly. The only reason I can think why she did this was because me an her mom had a large argument the night before because she wanted to go out with friends on a school nite an she threw a tantrum and eventually tried to jump out her 3rd floor window, I stopped her but was injured by getting kicked in the groin and abdomen but made calls to her therapist and was making appointments to get her into a Pediatric EMH program to get her help. The Doctor had child services take her and again she is getting the help she needs but after hearing a 12 yr olds story she called me in and proceeded to decare that I am officially to recieve no more narcotic medications ever again. She has even claimed that she is going to mark my charts in bold letters "NO NARCOTICS". This doctor wanted nothing to hear what I had to say about the incident believing my daughter 100%. have been on the Hydrocodone for over 5 yrs and the MS Contin for 3 months there are days I will admit I may take an extra 1 for a long day working outside an then other days I may take less but I guess my original question is...Is a doctor allowed to just stop you dead on all your medications just like that and not to offer you any help either finding a detox facility or any help...it has now been 7 days off my medication an I can barely get out of bed or I get woken up multiple times per night because of my back pain. I have tried every place that does inpatient or outpatient detox by use of Suboxome but all are full or not booking until January. This doctor has taken my home and my family an torn us apart an had made our lives just each day more an more stressful, I cant go running from ER to ER because that is wrong and I know I shouldnt but when my Doctor said if I dont get to a detox facility I could end up looking for heroin on the street. What kind of Doctor says that to a patient?
Are doctors allowed to stop narcotic medications immediatly even if I have a documented medical back problems? and who can I contact because of this.
Mike
40 Responses
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Avatar universal
I am very knew here so I don't know about dr however I do know that after 4 years of hydr0 10/325 4 times per day; i cut to 2 per day for 1 day and the 2nd day i only took a half. Even though i was "anxious" and felt like crap my 13 year old daughter made the comment (She thought it was because i was out of RLS meds) and the emotions CRYING was PMS.)

"Even though you got RLS and are PMSing, you have smiled more the last 3 days than I have ever saw. YOUR DIFFERENT!"

As she said this she had a grin from ear to ear which my husband & had noticed in the last year were becoming less and less frequent. We  thought puberty, hormones etc.

Even though my whole detox process started less than a week ago; every day that I get better, i see changes in her for the better.

i grabbed what i thought was a new notebook out of her desk when i started my detox journey that I was going to use to journal. Before writing in it i skimmed the pages to make sure she wasnt using it. I found 1 page in the entire 5 subject notebook that had been written on. She is a singer/muscian and it was where she was writing a "song" titleded mom. There was only one line written and it said more than a million other words could have.

"Mom why do you hate me?"

I don't, won't and can't EVER hate her. But thats how she felt. And because of the medications I have been taken (as prescribed by dr) I could not tell how I was treating her. Her actions were reactions to mine.

I have a little experience with Bipolar. My husbands little sister & her son have it. I know that makes the situation unique. But PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE read this and think VERY hard about the things she says about you.

Ps pain meds can make pain "worse".
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Avatar universal
BUDDY I BEEN ON THEM FOR TEN YEARS,GOOD LUCK I GOT OFF
ONCE ,THEN I HURT MY LEG AND GOT REAL BAD ARTHRITIS ,CANT TAKE NSAIDS THEY MAKE ME BLEED,DONT GET HURT OR HAVE TO
GET OPERATED ON  OR YOU WLL BE PUT RIGHT BACK ON THEM LIKE I WAS GOD BLESS YOU
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Avatar universal
THE DOCTORS GOT LOTS OF PEOPLE
ON DRUGS THAT NEVER HAD OR NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD A DRUG
PROBLEM IN THERE LIVES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS WRITEING HYDRCODONE MEDS AND GETTING PAID FOR EACH ONE THEY WROTE.NOW THEY ARE HOOKED AND NOW THEY WANT TO CUT  THEM OFF AND GO COLD TURKEY.THEY WERE LEGEAL DRUG PUSHERS,NOW THE LAW AND THE COURTS ARE MAKEING MONEY
OFF OF THE SAME POOR HURT PEOPLE THAT TRUSTED THE DOCTORS FOR HELP AND IT WAS ALL FOR MONEY AGAIN
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Avatar universal
hi buddy I have been on Norco for 10 years now  I got osteoarthritis ,in both knees.they need replaced I will not let them do it,i got it in my shoulder I got to get it fixed also.its in to many parts of my body,i cant take nsaids they make my kidneys bleed,i started with 7./5 for year or so then 10/500 4 years right side was sore thought it was my liver,keep in mind I don't drink or do any other drug,never took more then 3 a day.tolddoctor cut it down to 10/325 now I take 3or4 a day,if  the pain from the arthrititis
don't hurt that day,i  have to take it for the withdraw pain which makes the arthritis pain worse and wakes it up.now I don't want them but my body depends on them.i told the doctors he says for as long as I been takeing them im maintaining them well just keep doing what im doing.bad I know now im a pill jukie thanks doctors
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Avatar universal
My doc just switched me from oxymorpho e to oxycontin as my extended releae in addition to the 4 30mg i was prescribed daily. Since day 1 I explained that since it has been 4 years of same dosage, 6 worked better for me. This oxycontin kept me in a state of withdrawal and even my pharmacist asked, " what is your doctor doing? With your history you should have more medication!" The nurse practitioner said," I wonder why he started you so low?" She knew I was taking 6 a day and ran out early every month but never requested early refills. I was under the i impression that due to the DEA scare tactics, docs hands were tied a d we were both on the same page. Nurse practitioner told me to save one or two pills to take near visit time so they would be in my system. So 2 weeks later after she increased dosage of oxycontin, I get a letter telling me I am dismissed due to over use of meds and foreign aubstance in my system (which they knew I was taking for the withdrawal every month)it seems e very time I finally get a doable dose without any adverse effects, im discharged. No 30 day notice, no weaning meds, no withdrawal meds, nothing. Just a list of rehabs
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Avatar universal
Did you ever find out any thing about what you can do?
Best
Jerry Moore
***@****
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Avatar universal
I know exactly what you are talking about and going through.  I have been searching online for a WV state regulation regarding a similar situation.  Don't seem legal that a pain management doctor can keep postponing patients' appts., therefore, denying them access to their pain medication for weeks. Haven't found anything yet.  Seems there should be a law regarding this because withdrawal along with severe pain is not anything to play with.  If anyone knows about this subject, please inform me!
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Avatar universal
What do you think we as chronic pain patients should do then? Suffer from pain 24/7? I am on 100% disability and I hurt constantly. I know that addiction does comes with Narcotics, however, I wish that Medical Marijuana was a option in my State. You no longer have to smoke it, there are many ways in using it now. I REFUSE to live my life in pain 24/7. Since MM is not legal here in my State I have no other choice but to take Narcotics. With Medical Marijuana you may suffer some withdrawals but none compared to the withdrawals from Narcotics. I am talking about the Strong Narcotics. MM is known to help with chronic pain, depression, etc.... Again, do you think we (THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE IN PAIN) should just suffer????
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Avatar universal
Skypilot I love what you said about walk a mile in your shoes and see how they feel.

I have had back pain for over 10 years and my Orthopaedic Doctor send to a surgeon to cut a buldge off my disc.  Well the pain is worse than it was beford the surgery.   I have  had two nurses accuse me just wanting pain meds.  I just wish I could pass my pain to both of thess nurses just for awhile and see how quick they ask for pain meds.  Now the surgeon has thrown me to the curb and does not want to do any thing for me even though he is the one who cause the extra pain.  I just want to live a normal life and not sitting in bed all the time.  I know I am not hooked on these meds, because my new pain management Doctor prescribed  me the same meds and is very strict about me following his instructions to letter. I sometimes forget to take my meds.  I think if I was hooked on pain meds I would be watching a clock.


    


I hope every gets the relief you all deserve. I really think there should be something out there for all of the people who have severe back pain. There should be a way to weed out all the Adicts.
There should be a law in place, so doctors don't leave someone in sereve pain.
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Avatar universal
--------------Old Post-----------started Nov 2007-----------------------

Savas posted last Dec, this thread is 6 years old. Start a thread for yourself if you are looking for advice or support. You have to watch the dates if you are responding. Just trying to help.
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Avatar universal
I have been on narcotics - a stable dose, for over 20 yrs. to say they stop working is ridicules - I have had several decreases but had to have a small increase in my breakthrough. Who is ANYBODY to tell what the quality of my life is - You could no more deal with my back and other problems then I could fly to the moon. In other words, walk a mile in MY shoes(iwish I COULD walk a mile) before you start talking about things you may have read about but not experienced.
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Avatar universal
My doctor was a person I knew outside the office. While I was a patient of his he asked me to do some work at his house. After the work was done he didn't agree with the price so when my meds came time to fill the pharmacy said they weren't called in. So the next day I called him and he said have fun with the withdraws and laughed and hung up. Doctors think they are god and love to play the roll of him. They have huge egos and play people like puppets. I had to join a methadone clinic to deal with my pain and not ever have to deal with a doctor on my prescription again. I have a great counselor and love where I am. Consider joining one if you have this problem here we have both methadone and suboxone at the clinic and you can choose which you want. Hope this helps doctors can do what they want you just have to keep headed forward in life and find an alternative.
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Avatar universal
anyone can build a tolerance to pain meds, just like they can with alcohol. one major point I have yet to see, we as people are different, what works for you may do nothing for me, that is why it is called practicing medicine and we all need to remember that.
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Avatar universal
i also have a issue with my back and my neck and both of my hips. i had went into a dr office in 2000 and something and i told him straight up I need a dr who will manage my pain. He grabbed me and walked me down the hall and he told me. I know what you are doing here and by the way you are not going to get it from here.. He never gave me the chance to explain to him. i have spyndho. in s1 L-5 also i have 9 vertebraes that are deteriating and i have had a hip replacement and i need another one. I said i cannot take no more. I kept going to the er. One day a dr came and told me i know what you have. Surgery was done. Now i have 4 screws in my back and also when i lay in bed at night i have to lay my legs a certain way and when i do. I wake up and I cannot move at all. the pain is so sever it takes me an hour to move i have to close my leg and lay it against the other one just to move it. He told me to go find someone else. at the end of me seeing my surgeon i had gotten a primary care dr. they did not want me on the stronger stuff but i had found a script and while in the change i ran out. so I took it to get it filled they called my surgeon and they told the pharmacist that their hospital was not going to write me any. I told them ok. Luckly i went to a primary care dr who was compassionate cause i seen him 4 year earlier. He wants me to go to a pain clinic. I told him that if i did they would change the meds i was on and i did not want that cause they helped. My point is ask friends who go and see who will not mind in writing them. I had to i have no choice. As i am typing now i hurt so bad. But i have to wait until it is time for my other one. The only way they can ban you from getting them period is if they red flag you. i know this idiot who runs from one to another and the dr caught him he was red flagged. ask your pharmacist i did. they will tell you. if it is not working tell your dr. but call them and ask them if you have been flagged cause if you have you will not get any from anywhere.
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Avatar universal
Just wanted to mention you have posted on an old thread. If you start your own post with this same question, you will get more replies...good luck!
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Avatar universal
That is not right of your Dr. I have never heard of such a thing. So sorry, Meanwhile get the supplies for the Thomas Recipe on the bottom of this page, Read some post on here on all the natural detox tricks. How many pills a day were you taking and what mg. What is a long time as far as pill use? Keep posting for support.
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Avatar universal
I just had neck surgery after taking pain medications for a long time now and the day the doctor released me out the hospital he cut me cold turkey. I'm still fighting with that because the surgery pain is far worse then what the pain was initially. I don't understand how he can just cut me off and tell me to bite the bullet. Why would you even let someone go through surgery pain and DT at the same time. I am not a suicidal person but I could see that happening to someone. I still can't move around and I am basically laying in 3000 positions trying to get comfortable without hurting my neck. This is not a good situation.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying so quickly/ I have such awful nerve pain it is the only meds that work. I am going today to the Dr that prescribed this origionaly. The Dr that pulled me off was a man that never gave me any warning! This med works for me I tryed everything. Then I went on this medication. I am not happy to take it, but I don't wanna go back to being dysfunctional with out it.
Again thanks so much.
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1416133 tn?1351123217
Yes, Dr.'s have the right to stop medications if they are concerned that you've become addicted.  He probably feels like he's helping you because he's concerned for you - so if you really don't think you have a problem, find a new Dr.  It is absolutely your right to get another opinion.

Good luck to you :)
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Avatar universal
I have Fibromialgia,osteo arthritis &severe nerve pain in my eye my scalp & right through my gums every day since 1991. I pulled 14 teeth due to thinking I had nerve tooths.. I eventually wentt to a neurologist & for 7 yrs was put on Nurontin of which made me appear to be drunk  I was on Percocet as well. I stoped taking that as well on my own. I had to see a knew Dr as my regular dr was away. I had taken no pain meds & the pain had returned. I was given oxycontin & didn't like the fact that it was in my system 24/7 so I was given oxycodone. I started with 10mgs & it did not work. I was then given 20mgs, that was not strong enough for this awful nerve pain. So I finally went on 30mgs 4xa day. I until yesterday was doing fine with it.I had to go back to the origional Dr I mentioned earlier. I did. I was having trouble getting to this other Dr.Well let me tell you this Dr took me back emmediatly well knowing I am on the oxycodone & prescibed it to me for 4 months. Yesterday when I went he cut me off & called me a junkie out of the no where!! I now have 2 tablets left, no place to get another prescription & the reason for this pain was caused by a stroke I had in my 7th month of pregnency 24yrs ago. I was shocked & I am in pain & was told to go to a hospital for detox. I told him I went to school to be a CASAC which is a drug & alcahol counsler. I explained to him there is a difference between dependance & a junkie! I now am going to go into convulsions since this drug is a semi synthetic. This Dr said to me "You will be surprised how you wont notice any difference & simply walked out & left me with nothing to take to relieve my symtoms or G-D forbid siezures. Bad enough I will have extreme cramping & diarea, vomiting etc. I wanted to find out if this is legal for him to do this. He told me to come back on the 21st.for other health issues.Please can someone give me an answer? I am a 56yr old woman who has HepC as well & I am frightened because I know what will begin to happen in the next few hrs.I know Sabaxone is used to detox, but is it a pain medication as  well?please can anyone help me? ***@****












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Avatar universal
HI MIKE MY NAME IS ANNA AND I AM 25 YEARS OLD. I WAS PRESCRIBED LORTAB 10/500 MG BACK IN OCTOBER OF 2005 AND I HAVE BEEN SEVERELY ADDICTED TO THEM EVER SINCE. I STARTED OFF TAKING ONE TO TWO PILLS EVERY 4 TO 6 HOURS. BUT AFTER TAKING THEM FOR 5 YEARS MY BODY STARTED TO DEVELOP A TOLERANCE TO THEM SO I STARTED TO TAKE MORE BECAUSE IF I DIDN'T I WOULD EXPERIENCE SEVERE WITHDRAW SYMPTOMS WHICH WOULD MAKE ME VERY SICK. I AM CURRENTLY TRYING TO GET OFF OF THEM RIGHT NOW. COLD TURKEY BUT I AM USING ATIVAN (OR LORAZEPAM) 2 MG TABLETS TO HELP ME THROUGH THE WITHDRAWS. I HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE AND THE ATIVAN WORKS REALLY WELL. THIS WILL BE PROBABLY BE MY 5TH TIME TRYING TO GET OFF WITHIN THE 5 YEARS I HAVE BEEN ADDICTED, BUT I THINK AND PRAY TO GOD THIS WILL BE THE LAST. IT TAKES ABOUT 14 DAYS TO GO THROUGH THE WITHDRAWS AND THE FIRST 5 DAYS ARE THE WORST BUT AFTER 5 DAYS YOU CAN START TO FEEL YOURSELF GET BETTER AND BETTER. BUT ATIVAN (OR LORAZEPAM) 2 MG WILL HELP YOU SO MUCH THROUGH THE WITHDRAWS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO INTO A HOSPITAL TO GET OFF OF THE NARCOTIC ( OR OPIATE) PAIN MEDICATION. YOU CAN DO IT AT HOME. BUT YOU NEED TO ASK YOUR DOCTOR TO PRESCRIBE YOU 120 2MG ATIVAN TO BE TAKEN 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY TO HELP SOOTHE YOU THROUGH TO WITHDRAW PROCESS YOU WILL GO THROUGH FOR 2 WEEKS. YOU CAN GET OFF OF THIS STUFF AND BECOME HEALTHY AGAIN. I THINK DOCTORS NEED TO STOP PRESCRIBING SUCH HIGHLY ADDICTING NARCOTIC (OR OPIATE) PAIN MEICATIONS BECAUSE THEY ARE SO VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO STOP TAKING THEM. WHAT REALLY MAKES ME MAD IS THAT THEY PRESCRIBE THEM TO PEOPLE AND THEN THEY THINK THEY CAN JUST STOP PRESCRIBING THE MEDICATION TO PEOPLE ANYTIME THEY WANT WITHOUT WARNING AND THEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE A JOB TO GO TO EVERYDAY, RESPONSIBILITIES, FAMILIES TO CARE FOR ARE PUT INTO A TERRIBLE SITUATION BECAUSE THEY WILL GO THROUGH HORRIBLE WITHDRAWS. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT NARCOTIC (OR OPIATE) PAIN MEDICATIONS MUST STOP BEING USED COMPLETELY. THE ONLY TIME THEY SHOULD BE USED IS IN PEOPLE WHO HAVE A TERMINAL ILLNESS OR AS A EMERGENCY MEDICATION ONLY, SUCH AS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND HAVE BROKEN LEGS, OR FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEVERE INJURIES AND SO ON. NARCOTIC OPIATE PAIN MEDICATIONS RUIN PEOPLES LIVES. AND UNTIL THE DOCTORS AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES STOP HANDING IT OUT LIKE CANDY TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW EASY IT IS TO BECOME SEVERELY ADDICTED TO IT THEN PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE SUFFER BY BECOMING AN ADDICT TO NARCOTICS. IT MUST STOP.

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1260027 tn?1269659292
hi mike, i almost didn't read the last few post - glad i did or i wouldn't know that you found a suboxon program. i am glad you're not suffering from w/drawel. but ... geesum, are you still in pain??
did you file a complaint w/the board of medicine?
have you talked w/the suboxon dr about your pain? some docs do both pain management and detox.
where abouts are you located? and have you tried websites that rate doctors in your area?
i wish i felt well enough to read all of the responses to your post.
any way, i hope this finds you well and no longer suffering.
best wishes
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271792 tn?1334979657
Me neither john?
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Avatar universal
I don't understand your post????
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