Dr. won't give pain meds, and I don't want to Dr. shop

[justme1119]

My situation is complicated.  I was on low dose 15mgs a day methadone, and Norco for breakthrough pain up until October last year.  I was getting them from pain Doctor. Was on the meds three or four years. My PCP referred me to the pain doctor.  I took it upon myself to ween off of the meds as it had been a year since having partial knee replacement.  My PCP of 8 or 9 years quits being a PCP and I have to change doctors.  My knees are giving me fits, seems to be a ligament tear.  I've been to my ortho, and he only wants to do more surgery.  I have lymphedema in my legs now and am hesitant to do more surgery.  I don't want to go back to the pain doctor.  I'm not even sure my PCP would refer me at this point.  I've endured long days of work and lots of pain for the past three months.  I don't know how to convince my doctor that I need something for the pain without sounding like an addict and making him even less willing to give them to me.  I honestly can put up with it if I don't have to work, but that is not an option for me right now.  Sometimes i think I should just give up on my desire to be mobile and do things, but I'm only 54.  It's depressing, very depressing.  How do people deal with so much pain?  Why won't the doctors treat your pain?  How do you get a doctor to look at you as a whole person and not body part that needs to be fixed?  I am so frustrated!  

[Jake_T]

I feel the same way about feeling like a strong person but now I'm not so sure.

But what I realized a while ago was, just getting up every morning and going to work and dealing with everything shows how truly strong you are. If you are confident that the pain management team can help improve your life then fight for them.

As marycarmel stated the doctors work for US, not the other way around. And about your body needing more medicine during work, I also work a physically demanding job, I need more medicine at work because it strains my body and in turn makes my pain worse. Don't feel guilty about something that you can't control or help feeling.

Just try to explain to your doctor how exactly you feel and how your pain gets worse when your working.

Just hang in there and stay strong.

-Jake

[marycarmel]

I feel for you.  I had a joint replacement in my thumb 5 years ago.  It failed and i wound up having 9 surgeries, all failed and then wound up with RSD.  They had me on boatloads of meds and it didn't help.  I weaned myself off and it nearly killed me. Now I take them as needed but also with lots of ibuprofen.  I did get some relief from the RSD pain after being put on Nucynta but I had a bad physical reaction to it.

Did you like your original pain management team? If not, interview some doctors.  Sometimes we forget that they work for us.

I wish you luck with this. Chronic pain is so hard to live with.  It takes a lot of energy to live with chronic pain.  Some people find help with a pain psychologist/psychiatrist.  I gave it a try, but the one I had wasn't a good fit.

This is a great forum to learn and at times to vent :)

[justme1119]

Thanks for the great advice.  It makes sense to me.  My last visit to the pain doctor was in October.  I do not have a current referral on file with him, so I would have to ask for a referral.  I'm seeing another ortho for a second opinion next Tuesday.  I do not want more surgery, but I may not be able to avoid it.  I've been through so much this year.  Getting of the pain meds and working through it was pure hell.  I don't think I am an addict, but my body needs more than normal for the meds to work.  It seemed like an endless thing.  To be able to stop took more intenstinal fortitude than anything I've every done in my life.  Putting up with the pain takes almost as much, but not quite.  To have to have surgery and get back on the train makes me very depressed.  I use to think I was a strong person, but I'm not so sure anymore.

[Dee1956]

Hi are you saying that you stopped going to the pain doctor?
If you were a pain patient can't you just go back?
Sorry for more questions, just trying to understand

[Jake_T]

Hello, I'm sorry to hear about what your going through. I have had chronic pain for almost two years now. It is constant 24/7 pain. What I would suggest is to be very clear concise and most importantly be firm.

What I mean by being firm is for instance what I have said to my doctor in the past. " my pain is very real and I am the one who has to experience this and the pain is past the point of my just dealing with it and my ability to function is almost non existent"

About the doctor shopping, if I was in your shoes I would press for pain management, The worst thing that can happen by asking is that he or she says no.

You have to be very straightforward and honest. Now I do not doubt you are in pain and your PCP may not doubt it either but, if you cannot paint the full and clear picture your PCP will not be able to help you like he or she could.

Now if you have done everything that I have stated and to no result. There is no issue with getting a new set of eyes by changing doctor's. From my experience I would definitely truly try to work with the new doctor and if there is an issue bring it up right away. If nothing is being done file a grievance.

If filing grievances doesn't get you anywhere change again. My point being if you don't like something about your doctor don't just switch right away try to work it out. Why that is so important is while trying to solve problems and filing grievances it shows that you as the patient is not just "Doctor Shopping",you are honestly trying to solve the issue and not just trying to get medication.

From my experience doctors are out to cover their own butt's rather than actually trying to help especially when narcotics are involved.

Hang in there and hopefully my advice will straighten out your issues.

If not feel free to post a reply and If you have any question's don't hesitate to ask the community.

I wish you good luck and I hope that your pain gets better.

-Jake