bueracracy WHY DON'T THEY GET IT

[gus220]

I HAVE DOSED IN AT LEAST SEVEN DIFFERENT STATES AND NOW WITH MULTIPLE HONEST PAIN ISSUES  -IN KY YOU WOULD THINK I AM A TERRORIST........I  WAS THE MOST SOBER I HAVE EVER BEEN IN MY LIFE .. AND THE CLINIC AFTER MY VOLUNTARILY DETOXING FROM 140MGS TO 65MGS.  OVER THE RIGHT PERIOD OF TIME -SUDDENLY SAYS THAT I NEED TO BE IN PAIN MANAGEMENT.   I  KNOW THIS HAVING PLAYED FOOTBALL THRU COLLEGE , SOME DAYS EVERY THING I HAVE HURTS. SO  THE WISE PROFESSIONALS WHILE TELLING ME I WAS GETTING THERE HELP TO GET INTO PAIN CLINIC...  AFTER A WEEK ON 65MGS AM TOLD THAT I'M BEING DETOXED  TEN MGS EVERY TWO DAYS .  THE REALLY BIG IRONY IS THAT I HAD BEEN AT 65MGS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND HAD REQUESTED  A 5 MG EVERY TWO WEEK DROP. THEY/ MD  IGNORED IT AND SEVERAL MONTHS LATER I AM NOW ON THE STREET AND A PAIN MANAGMENT CLINIC MAY OCCUR -BUT MY HOPE HAS GROWN DIM.  SOBRIETY IS SOMETHING THAT I WANT AND HAVE WISHED FOR BUT THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS STATE IS INSANE. THEY ARE THERE OWN WORST ENEMY. COMMON SENSE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY FEAR IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY . THE ONLY WAY OUR COUNTRY WILL EVER GET A GRIP ON THE "DRUG PROBLEM". 1.CREATE UNIFORM TREATMENT FROM STATE TO STATE -2 QUIT TREATING MARJUANNA LIKE HEROIN AND  BRING SCIENCE INTO THE EQUATION . 3 LET DOCTORS AND SOBER EXADDICTS INJECT{NO PUN HERE} MORE INTO THE HOW TO REALLY SOLVE THE "DRUG WAR".  THE ONLY CARTEL THAT IS KILLING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IS THE EXISTING "LEGAL" DRUG COMPANIES ON THE STOCK MARKET.  THEY DON'T WANT US CLEAN AND SOBER. WELL I  FILL LIKE DOGSH..T AND AM TRYING TO KEEP A POSITIVE FRAME OF MIND.  

[jaydee2]

I hope they send you to a good pain doc that will cure your pains, but beware, it seems that if you happen to need opiates, they might give you some send you on your way and tell you later on that "we will have to taper you off of it". End of story.
I loved my PM doc, but lost his license and there is no chance of me finding another one like him in Phoenix.
Good luck, gus220!

[JadedSweetheart]

Thank you for the warm welcome back!  You are such a wonderful lady, Sherry.  I would never want to contradict you, but I am terrible at organization!  It was sheer luck I found those documents.  I try to keep all the birth certificates and legal documents in the same file folder and I try to keep the important file folders in the same filing box, but actually getting around to organizing all of the papers around the house happens rarely.  I'm always so proud of myself when I sit down to do it, though!  I was pretty impressed with myself for finding the birth certificate AND the name-change because my husband already had the State of NH birth certificate order form up on the computer, lol.

Back on topic:  My doctor's office always requires ID at appointments, although for the med dispensing they don't because they dispense the meds immediately following the appt.

[namnam46]

HI Jaded,

I'm so HAPPY to see you posting again!! I've really missed you as we ALL have.

When I went on my Patches and Percocet CVS required that I show PROOF of who I am which meant a VALID Drivers License. Fortunately, I had changed my license EVEN thou my OLD license was still current for 4 MORE years!! If I hadn't I couldn't have received ANY medication that was a Narcotic. They ae supposed to ask for verification EVERY time that you have them filled BUT NOW they know me and I don't have to do that anymore.

I'm just SOOOOO glad that you were able to find the Documents that you needed. I NEVER would have been able to find them. When I went on SSDI I had to send away for my Marriage License AND my Birth Certificate s I COULDN'T find them ANYWHERE!!

You are A VERY organized young lady!  CUDOS to you my dear.....Sherry

PS Again so GLAD to have you on here again!  PM me and let me know where you stand on your move.  :)

[JadedSweetheart]

I know the thing about only with doctors who dispense on site.  My problem with this is that the medication my doctor has me on, roxicodone, is so hard to find at a pharmacy in this part of the state.  I finally found one that will fill it and has it, and then they required that I have an address in the city.  My lease didn't even count, it had to be on my DL.  So I went to the DMV to get my address changed and they required my birth certificate and court-ordered post-divorce name change in order to change my freaking address.
I finally found those things this week.  
It's just so frustrating to have yet another hoop to jump through.

[Tuckamore]

Hi Gus,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum. And while I admit I don't completely understand your post I do understand and read loud and clear your frustration with the medical delivery system of the US.

You are correct. It is vastly different from state to state. It is mind boggling. I am seriously re-considering a relocation out of my state because of the great care I receive here and our laws. In WI it is the primary care physician (PCP) that treats and prescribed for their chronic pain patients. I do not know of any other state that this is the case; certainly not FL where I was considering a re-location.  

My sister is a managing RN in KY. I do know that they have chronic pain patients that are treated well under PMPs. I assume that meeting the requirements may be like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel....near impossible if you want to survive.

I also beleive that our laws need to change. Treating THC like cocaine or heroin in my opinion is ludicrous but I don't want to open that can of worms. There is no war against drugs, there is a war against physicians that prescribe drugs and the chronic pain patients that require them to function without debilitating, life smothering and irretractable pain.  That war is very real.

I wish I had great answers for you. Unfortunately I do not. Please know that you are always welcome here. I sincerely hope that you will find the solutions you need to make your life bearable.

My Best to You,
~Tuck

[sandee1818]

The 72 hour law in Florida involves those clinics that have on site pharmacies. The on site pharmacies are not allowed by law to dispense more than 72 hours worth of narcotic medications.
This law is to cut down on the "pill mills" here in Florida.
I read this from the DEA site.

Gus,
I am so sorry your going thru this! The clinic should have took you into PM with your medications as 10mg every two days is tapering too fast. if this has worked for you for PM then the PM doctor would have most likely left you on the methadone.
I understand Kentucky is a tough state for PM patients. Due to the people in the state abusing medications it has made it a nightmare for the PM patients.
When is your appointment?
Has the clinic taken you off the methadone completely?
It is my understanding they have and it is a week until your PM appointment.
Please for give me if I am not understanding.
You might be able to get into the pain management clinic quicker if you call and let them know what is going on. Have them put you in if someone cancels.
The methadone clinic should have honored your wishes and tapered you as you asked.
the drug companies most definitely want people to take their medications but the government makes the doctor's and patent's to jump thru so many loops it makes it very difficult for the legitimate patients to get the help they need.
I agree that honesty is always the best policy:)

[JadedSweetheart]

I'm so sorry to hear they're doing this to you.  The beaurocracy and red tape involved with getting pain relief is ridiculous in this country.  It's even worse in Florida where they were talking about only allowing PMs to prescribe and dispense 72 hours worth of meds at a time.  Even to the most well-behaved patients.
Anyway, I have heard of a lot of people in areas like KY just going to the methadone clinic for pain relief.  It makes it difficult to get into a good pain management doctor because they automatically assume you're an addict when you walk in the door.  
Are you wanting to detox or are you wanting pain relief?  Your post is kinda vague as to what you are trying to do with the doc.  One thing we definetly understand around here is pain and the need for proper relief.  If you are looking for pain relief and the PM you went to won't help you, then I recommend going to a different one.  As long as you explain to the new doctor when you last saw the old doctor and what he prescribed, etc it's not doctor shopping.  Like you said, honesty is the only way to go in relationships and you want to build a relationship with the Pain Management doc to get the relief you need.  
I completly agree that reform needs to happen in the prescription pain business.  It's frustrating for people who are genuinely in pain to be treated like addicts and to see the addicts walk out of the office with bigger scripts than soneone really in pain would get.  I have to say, though, that many people are sober even when taking pain meds.  For most of us, it's like taking an advil for a regular person.  I do understand that it has some affect on moods and judgement, but that is just the way it goes for some meds, and it doesn't in any way mean that one is high because one has taken a pill.

If you are having issues with withdrawls or want to talk about addiction, the Addiction and Recovery forum here is really good and supportive.  They also know a lot about detoxing and how to be the most comfortable while you do it.
Best of luck!

[gus220]

Perhaps I need to yell? I was in a methadone clinic and as I said detoxed voluntarily from 140 to 65 mgs on my own over the course of a year.  In Ky. if you have chronic pain problems ,several yrs back one has to go to pain mangement clinics.... all Mds. at meth clinic toldme that was what I needed, since I was staying clean . As I said at 65 they froze me and I was wanting to detox at my own speed further but instead they felt pain managemant was where I belonged . then I get detoxed at ten mgs every 2 days while I am being placed or should I say accepted into pain managment. Well as I said I am now on my own and maybe capital letters best describe my situation. I own a home have 3 children ,2 in college and a 16 yr old son. They are aware of most everything since I have always told them of both the good and bad of life and honesty is the only way to go in relationships. Way too much bs in the World as is. I have not went off the deep end but when and if I do have another appt they will drug test me and its been a week since I last visited the clinic. I am well connected in this area and with my football body ..pain is a daily adventure.  I am so frustrated at the differences from one state to the next ... the powers that be don't want us sober my dear.

[sandee1818]

Hi and welcome:)
I am assuming that you were seeing a PCP and they have referred you to a pain management clinic. This is standard practice as most PCP's will not treat chronic pain for an extended period of time but will refer you to pain management.
I am a little unclear as to how your being detoxed. Is this your decision or is the doctor pushing this on you.
Do you have addiction problems?
I am in no way saying you do I am just asking.
You need to see the doctor at pain management and let them know what you were taking that worked and they will give you what options they have available.
Being dependent on medication and addiction are two very different things.
Could you please give us a clearer picture of what is going on.
What are your medical problems causing your pain and has your doctor dropped you and have you seen the PM doctor yet?
We will help you all we can and support you in any way possible we just need a little more information on what is going on. Your post is a little confusing.





Just a note, using all caps is considered yelling. I was not sure if you were aware of that as I was not when I first started on the computer:)