I know it is long but please help!

[why_cant_docs_be_honest]

I have had a bad pain in my shoulder/upper arm for as long as I can remember. As a child I didn't notice the pain as often. In my highschool years I started looking for help as it really effected things as simple as walking with my backpack, lifting my arm, and even in class I could not concentrate due to the throbbing pain. I have a large hemoglobin in my upper arm ( recent mri shows it is effecting pectorial, shoulder, all of upper arm) however all docs have told me that couldn't cause this, so they tried treating it as a rotator cuff injury (which I know it isn't because I have had it all my life) I never had any pain medicine but did physical therapy and ice packs, and the electric shock from a tens machine. I got sick of doctors treating me like I didn't have a problem so I stopped seeing doctors for a while. about 1 1/2yr ago I went to my family doc who referred me to a pain management doc. at first the doc seemed extremely helpful. he referred me to a vascular surgeon to have the hemoglobin looked at and to poss have the veins lasered, he scheduled mri, he put me on nerve meds, sleep meds, and lortab, blood pressure meds, etc. I started 1 1/2 ago with 7.5 lortab 4 times a day, I now take 10 mg 4x a day. I am a firefighter and I just picked up another job dispatching police, fire, medical graveyards. I sleep maybe 5 hrs a day and about 2 months ago I found I was taking an extra pill a day. I told my doc this and he said well I am going to try a long acting pain med so that you don't have to take as many. He ended up giving me suboxone. I told him that I am familiar with suboxone and I know it is for withdrawls and coming off opiates but have never heard it being used as a pain relief med. I ended up trusting him and I went home and took it. I hated the way I felt that day. I felt very dizzy and just "blank". I ended up calling in sick to work. the next day I called and told him this and the nurse said sorry but it is the only thing he is willing to do. I am required to tell my work all meds I take so I told them I was taking this which caused a major problem because my chief told me that is used for opiate dependency and what have I been doing. I said no it is for pain relief and he went to suboxone website and showed me that it states not to be used as a pain relief med. I ended up not using anything for about 1 1/2 weeks but the pain was horrible so I started the suboxone in very very small pieces throughout the day. I did this for about 1 week but it did nothing to relive my pain and I hated the way I felt so I stopped and didn't take anything for about 3 1/2 weeks. I finally made another appointment with my doc and I had this experience:
I told him what had happened. he said well looks like you should just wait it out til you get into your vascular surgeon. I said so I am expected to just wait who knows how long in pain. He said yes because Lortab is a horribly addicting drug. I was shocked and said I have never had any type of addictive symptoms and as a firefighter and paramedic I know the signs of addiction. I explained that I have been able to stop taking them without having any problems but I don't look forward to the pain.  He said but you do have problems, you have filled 3-6 days early almost every time. I was taken back by this because I have allways filled things a few days before I ran out. I thought most people did this so you don't end up not having your meds (besides the fact that pharmacy will not fill unless 80% has been used) so I never realized this would mean I am an addict. He then said look I will give you a very low dose of kadian (10mg which no pharmacies carry because it is so low and I now have to wait a few days for the pharmacy to get it) then he said oh and by the way before you leave I need you to take a urine sample to ensure that you don't have meds in your system that will interfere with the kadian. I then had enough and told him look I am not an idiot and as a doctor I am shocked at how much you have misinformed me or beat around the bush, I understand if you want to take a urine sample but be honest and approach it like this;" I am concerned because the lortab is not good for long term treatment, as your doctor I need to ensure your safety and what I am going to do here is take you off the lortab and try to manage your pain with a less likely addictive med, I also would like to do a urine test to ensure that you are not taking meds your not prescribed. lets start with this and we will see if there may be other options down the line. I do not appreciate you not being straight forward about my treatment" after I said this he just stood up and said I am sorry you feel that way, don't leave until you take the urine sample. He then just walked out of the room.
I do not know where to go from here. I feel like again I am on my own. I don't even care so much about not having the meds as much as I am sooo sick of doctors not treating me or making efforts to fix my problem.
Why is my doctor doing this? What do they really need the urine test for? what do they test for? I have heard rumors that all of this info is reported to the DEA.
I know some people will say well go to another PM doc, but If I did that wouldn't that doc take the other docs info and base his judgement on what my doc thinks? I am soooo sick of wasting my time. I have no trust for doctors.
What is sad is if I was addicted to meds I have access to more meds than any doc could prescribe me ( daily I respond to medical calls where some pt needs transportation and we ask for all meds that the pt takes, just yesterday I responded to a lady who tried committing suicide and when we arrived we asked for her meds and there was a box full of lortab, percocet, oxy, xanax, valium, ambien, vicoden, and I mean like bottles of 120, and the pt was completely unconscious, and just her and me in the back of the ambulance. I would NEVER EVER do such a thing but being around meds all day I feel insulted that I am being called out as an addict and I am now not being treated)...
Please what do I do. any suggestions? I live in Utah if anyone knows of a good doc here.

[here4theinfo]

Wow, thats terrible. I have a good doctor in AZ..I would do a search in your area to find another doctor, I think docs get scared sometimes, maybe overwrite scripts. Especially with it being so hard now a days to even prescribe medications because of the whole "addiction" theory, docs are scared to be accused of over prescribing or giving to much meds and then having to deal with the reprocusitons. Basically, alot of addicted people can get meds for allmost no reason, I have seen it in a couple different situations, and the people that need it for chronic pain get shafted because they are not believed. I would change doctors, even tell the new doctor about the old doctor to see what he says, if he treats you the same, make sure to find a doctor that can help. It is sad that people with chronic pain get catagorized as addicts, as much as I hate having to take my medications, I have too to even get up in the morning and lead a semi-normal life. I dislike having to explain this "I am in pain constantly" to everyone, it makes me feel weak. But this has happend, I have to accept it, and I guess I have to wait for someone to look further into why I am having pains. Maybe it is the profession your in that the doctor you currently have is uncomfortable prescribing meds to you. If thats the case, find another doc, dont quit. I know if painis bad enough, your whole life can turn upsde down, before you can see it..

[Kathi50]

I am just curious if you signed a pain contract or agreement with this particular doctor.