Dr's are eliminating break through meds at my clinic anyone else?

[tia1976]

I have suffered from chronic pain for years now. I have had multiple back surgeries and I also have osteo arthritis of my hips and a severe inflamatory skin condition and a few other things. I was referred to a pain clinic about 6 years ago. They have me on MS Contin and 4 Percocets a day for breakthrough pain. I have always followed their rules as far as not getting scripts from other Dr's. I dont call early for refills, I take drug screenings everytime I go in to the Dr and always pass them. I am not a problem patient. Over the past year th clinic I go to has had a problem with keeping Dr's there and PA's there. I see a new PA almost everytime I go there. It's frustrating because I feel like I have to start over from the beginning with a new person each time. At my last appt the new guy I am seeing said to me that they have decided as a clinic to stop prescribing breakthrough pain meds to all of their patients due to the fact of so many deaths in UT from pain meds. He said they will increase my long acting and take me off my breakthrough completly over the next three months. I understand the concern with opiod abuse but I feel it is not fair for people who are taking their meds as perscribed to be treated as a number and not a patient. I dont care what another patient gets there. I want my treatment plan that my Dr feels is apprpriate for my problem. I have spoken to another patient at this clinic at was told they have not done that to them. In fact they just increased her breakthrough meds.The dr told me all patients were going to go through this and they would not play favortism to anyone.He also said if another Dr feels I need breakthrough meds then he can prescribe it. Isn't that breaking their rule of having other docs write me a script? Yes it is. I dont know what to do. I tried a few days of not taking my breakthorugh and I was so miserable. I am not looking to score a high. I want to live my life to the fullest without being in pain. I dont know what to do.

[tuaninpain]

Have you tried adding medical cannabis to your pain regimen? I've had great results with medical cannabis in reducing my opioid intake and have reduced it by 75% in the past year and feel much better as a result of it. With the pain meds for me came massive constipation and that of course required multiple laxatives every night. That has also been cut by similar percentages.
Has anyone watched the silvertour.org? It's a guy in southeast Fla promoting awareness of the medical benefits to seniors. I'm not a senior yet but not that far away and am happy to testify as to what it's done for me.

[Mollyrae]

Never heard of such a thing. What next??
Makes me mad that they have to change everything all of the time.
UGG,
Molly

[jamlws]

I am so sorry your going thru this. It isnt fair cause you have been going to this clinic for 6 years and have followed all the rules and now they are doing this to you. When others break the rules it makes people like us suffer too.
Is there another clinic or pain dr you can go to? I mean you are still going to that one but since you always have to see another dr every single time you go there that alone would be a good reason to change. Sounds like you really need your break threw meds and I hope you are able to get another dr that will give them to you. i would also tell the dr about the other person getting her breakthru meds. That is so not fair. I understand that you are not looking for a high and I am not either, we just want this pain controled so we can live our lifes.
Best of luck to you and keep us updated.
Jamie

[JadedSweetheart]

You said that another patient is getting their BT meds upped, maybe you should mention that another patient (no names) told you that they are getting their BT meds upped, and you were told that this was an office-wide policy, not personal, and no favorites.  
Also, did they PA you saw mean that if another Doc at your office feels you needs the BT meds, then they can prescribe them?  I went to a practice where we saw the PAs most of the time and they always referred to the doctor in that way.  Like "If the doctor feels you need to take this, then we'll prescribe it, hold on and I'll ask".
Just a few ideas for you.  They have been punishing PM patients here in FL because of addicts and drug seekers as well.  It's very frustrating when our already difficult lives are made harder because some people want to get high.  I really wish there was more trust for those of us who don't abuse our meds, and prove ourselves trustworthy for years, but there just isn't.

[namnam46]

Hi Tia,

First, I want to Welcome you to the Pain Management Forum and let you know that we are glad that you have found this Forum. I also, need to be sure that you understand that there are NO Doctors on this Forum ONLY  CP (Chronic Pain) Patients that help each other with our expertise and experience with our Pain issues.

I'm really sorry that your PM (Pain Management) Clinic is changing their Procedures on you at this stage of the game.

Do you mind telling us how old you are as sometimes (even tho it's VERY unfair) the PM Clinics will make decisions based on the Age of the Patients. How long have you been on this particular regimen of meds? Long-term and BT meds?

I hate to say this but it's possible that you will either have to accept theire rules OR change PM Clinics. Do you by any chance know where any of your previous Doctors  have gone that have left this PM Clinic. I was thinking that you might follow the Dr. that you started with that put you on this particular program of meds.

Have you asked any other Dr. in the Clinic about this new policy? Have you thought of having someone call in and ask what their policy is for BT meds? See if whoever calls in and asks gets the same answer that this Dr. gave  you?

I hope that you can get some answers. Please keep us updated on how you are doing and what you find out.....Sherry