Hello Jim,
Welcome to our Pain Management Forum. I am sorry to hear about your pain and at situation. Did your post get moved here? I didn't see it yesterday. Sorry if I missed it.
First my friend in pain, Medicare will and does cover visits to a PMP (Pain Management Physician). So let's talk about that for a minute. In addition to basic Medicare one needs supplement plans, a Medigap or Advantage. In Advantage plans you actually give up your Medicare and take an insurance plan for Medicare eligible ppl. They dictate which physicians you can see - hence it's my guess that's the plan you've chosen. Those plans are often less expensive - but they have greater control over your health care options - like which physicians you can consult.
If you select a Medigap plan you can see any physician that accepts Medicare. Medigap works along side your original Medicare helping to pay Medicare covered expenses that are not paid for by Medicare due to deductibles and coinsurance.
You have several more weeks to change a supplement during this open enrollment time. Again the choices are a Medigap or an Advantage Plan. If you select the Medigap you will not have to give up your PMP - provided he/she accepts Medicare.
Your real questions was how will you withdraw from an opiate. It's tough but it can be done. Ask your current PMP about a taper which will help decrease the withdrawal SX (symptoms). There are also medications they can prescribe to ease those SX. It's still going to be tough. Exercise, activity like walking, warm baths in Epsom salts and healthy eating can be beneficial.
Small amounts of acetaminophen is not going to destroy your liver - though there are acceptations.Consult your Doc. The FDA has offered guidelines of the amount of acetaminophen that is safe on a daily basis. Stay within those guidelines or better yet stay far below them. The FDA has set the recommended maximum for adults at 4,000 milligrams per day. Most medical providers never order over 325mg per dose/per tablet.
If you decide to stay with your new insurance what will you do for pain management? Can you tolerate your pain without opiate therapy? All things I encourage you to consider. We're here to help.
If you chose to go off opiates which will result in withdraw SX I encourage you to post on our Addiction Substance Abuse Forum. No - I am not suggesting you have an addiction or abuse problem - but for withdrawal SX I can't think of a better place to go for support and suggestions than our Substance Abuse Forum. It's where I would go if I were facing withdrawals.
Here's the link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse
If you have additional questions please feel free to ask. We're here to offer our support and information.
Good Luck,
~Tuck