I was wondering if anyone else is having a problem with getting pain medication?

[remar]

Since February of this year I've been having severe pain where my gallbladder used to be. My GP had been great at working with me to try and find out what was going on. She recommended a GI specialist, I saw him, had a scope done and he found sever inflammation. I was placed on a PPI and given a prescription for Vicodin to use as needed. My GP had no problem filling it, that is until I saw her Wednesday. She said she had no answers for my chronic side pain and would not be filling my prescription again. She also said I would just have to deal with the pain. I was shocked and feel like my Dr has given up on me and let me down. She did say it could be scar tissue from the gallbladder surgery but as of right now I can not afford any more testing as we have no insurance. All I can do is wait and hope for the open enrollment again to get insurance for more testing. I take the pain meds as needed, not as prescribed. Vicoden, no more than 2 pills a day. It does not take away all of my pain but it helps me to at least function. I've never asked for an increase or felt like I needed one so I don't understand why she would just take me off of them and say, deal with the pain. Are they becoming more strict with Drs prescribing pain meds? I understand that there are people out there that will abuse medications but what about the rest of us that truly need help and do not abuse our meds?

[remar]

Thank all of you for your comments. You don't know how much i appreciate the time you've taken to give them to me.
I don't have any health coverage so any more testing is out of the question as of right now. I'm really thinking too that this could either be gallbladder scaring or possibly a bile duct problem. I did have a CT scan and it showed no blockages of the bile duct. That's what my GI Dr said.
Not to get in to politics but all I can do right now is wait for the open enrollment for Obama Care. I tried my best to get it last time and was not able to. My husband is self employed and we used to pay for our own private insurance. When the economy got bad we had to make a choice of either making house payments, buying food or having health care. We just couldn't afford to pay for health care any more.
We're paying cash now for the testing I've gotten and with the costs mounting we can no longer afford any more testing.
I would really like to know why I'm having this pain. It's horrible!
Yes, I do feel like my Dr gave me the cold shoulder and so does my husband because he went with me. She offered no suggestions, just that she didn't know what was wrong with me and she would not give me any more pain medication. I've been on a small dose of a half pill 3 to 4 times a day because I don't even like taking medication. It takes the pain away just a little but it's such a relief when you're hurting so bad. I've never changed my dose so I don't know what my Drs problem is.
Sorry for the long post and rant. Any of you that are on this forum  must understand what chronic pain is like and my heart goes out to all of you.
My blood sugar is perfect Philnoir. That's never been a problem.
I've also seen 2 different chiropractors, several visits with no relief because I'm absolutely willing to try natural treatments.

[BetterGetBetter]

If I were you, I might try a couple things:

You could look for a second opinion -- not just regarding the pain medicine, but to get another opinion on the source (and reason for) the inflammation.

-or-

You could go back to your doctor and say that you understand that she doesn't want to prescribe more narcotics, but maybe there are other medications or treatments she could offer (for example, your doctor may feel a course of steroids may further reduce your inflammation, or that).

If your doctor feels that you are really willing to try anything to manage your pain, even non-narcotic options, she may soften and give you more vicodin to tide you over. Or better yet, may come up with a non-narcotic alternative that is superior to vicodin.

However, all that being said, though, they way you've described your doctor.... hmm.... sounds like she's giving you the cold shoulder, I sure wouldn't like that. Maybe look for a different doctor! (Once again, I agree with Philnoir -- he knows his stuff!)

[philnoir]

I have no idea what the pain clinic near you does -- there are good pain clinics with trained interventional pain doctors, and there are chiropractic offices calling themselves pain clinics, there are pill mill clinics that take money to write for opiates, there are shot jock clinics where docs will inject you 40 - 50 times without helping you.

Unfortunately, there's no easy answer.

Has anyone evaluated the status of your common bile duct, since you say the pain is coming from here? How's your blood sugar level?

[remar]

Thank you so much for getting back to me.
I'm wondering why my Dr didn't suggest this months ago? She's been my Dr for a few year now and I thought she was going to be there to help me until I could find out why I'm having this pain. Believe me, I do not want to stay on pain medication any longer than I have to. I just felt like she is done with me as far as trying to figure out what's wrong.
We do have a pain management clinic near where I live. Do you have any idea what they do and how they treat pain? Your input would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much again.

[philnoir]

GPs are not trained in pain management. It is not unusual for a GP to refer to a pain management specialist. However, removing pain medication before this referral is made is irresponsible.

If I were you, i'd find another GP.