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Opiate Pain Medication
My husband suffers from severe chronic abdominal pain and has been for last 9 years. He is on very high doses of opiates. We currently live in California but would like to move out of his state. His pain doctor is concerned if he moves to another state, he will not be able to be prescribed the meds he is currently on because now they are only prescribed for patients with terminal cancer. Has anyone heard of this or had any experience with something like this? Personally I don't think this makes sense because he's been on these meds for years so I'm trying to understand why this would be an issue.
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I should have mentioned what and where my pain is, my neck has degenerative disc’s with bone spurs. I also have both in my lumbar area, I have a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I have both meniscus in my right knee torn. Then I have neuropathy in both feet, I have had chronic pain for last 15 years.
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2 ReactionsI think nothing will change for the better until, maybe, people running for office or reelection include the terms of their health care insurance as part of disclosure requirements. Florida is making it very difficult for doctors to write prescriptions for any controlled drugs. My physician that it's an effort to push people onto medical marijuana. I was seeing him for bronchitis and he could only write a hydrocodone for 3 days worth. Then I had to call a dozen pharmacies to fill it as most aren't even stocking it anymore because so few prescriptions are being written as doctors hate the red tape requirements. I caught whooping cough while sailing 10 years ago. Hydrocodone made sleep possible, not blissful, but possible. I don't know what I would have done without it but am positive that marijuana wouldn't have been a substitute.
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4 ReactionsWhen I moved from Ohio to Arizona, I had to find a new Pain Management Dr, and not all pain management facilities are accepting new patients. If the facility is accepting new patients, the wait could be a long. When I came to Arizona, I had a 30 day supply of pain medication and the wait for an appointment with my new Dr was 2 months out.
It is good advice that you are receiving from your husband’s current Dr., depending on what state you are moving to, they may not even accept you for pain management with your diagnosis.
I’ve been treated for chronic pain for 19 years, by a total of 3 doctors. Each has prescribed opioids for my conditions. In February, the DEA revoked my pain doctors license to prescribe opioids because of the 2016 CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines. Those guidelines are what started the nightmare of pain patients getting opioid medication. Unfortunately, instead of focusing on the real problem of overdose by illicit fentanyl the CDC set it’s sights on pain patients. I have been screened/tested every few months by my pain doctors for meds in my system. I have never violated use of my opioid medication. In March, 2022 a new doctor took over writing opioid medication for my last doctor. I was cut off of one of the medications I was taking (for 19 years) without taper. I was told he would prescribe the second opioid I take for 45 more days, then stop it. I’m looking for a new pain doctor now. I’ve seen one doctor who agreed to fill my Norco, but reduced the quantity. I’m suffering horrible withdrawal. Restless leg keeps me up at night. I’ve always been tapered off any drug I’ve taken, why wouldn’t a doctor do that with opioids? It’s cruel. All I asked for was to be tapered. My pain is unrelenting, no sleep, awful withdrawal… I’ve lost faith in our government. The fact that government agencies would do this to pain patients is unconscionable. The CDC Guidelines are being ‘revised’ right now. They promised to change the language of the 2016 guidelines regarding limiting opioid medication to 50MME (morphine milligram equivalent) justifying raising to 90MME. But I’ve reviewed the new guidelines, and that language is the same. They did not remove those damaging limitations for chronic pain patients. That is why pain docs are leaving the field or are being forced out by the DEA and CDC. The CDC needs to get out of our doctors offices! Take action and learn more on dontpunishpainrally.com. Even though states are passing laws to protect pain docs, these are federal agencies so pain doctors are scared to lose their licenses and practice.
I’m new to this forum. It’s nice to meet everyone! I’m fighting for myself and all of us to change the damage the CDC has done. I truly wish everyone success finding adequate treatment for chronic pain!
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7 ReactionsBe very careful about making a move right now in the current climate regarding obtaining opioid medication! If your husbands current doctor is prescribing more than 90MME (morphine milligram equivalent) which you can find information about online, I personally would be very concerned about finding that dosage from another doctor. It’s not fair to chronic pain patients, but it’s a reality! All my best to you and your husband!
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2 ReactionsIt seems that the government's restriction appear to do more to harm the avg. citizen than to curtail the activities of criminal.
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6 ReactionsThank you!
I too was told
To do a fast taper after my TKR. I've had chronic pain from a prior femur break which I could sometimes control.
I hated the dependency, and when my pain was tolerable I would detox. However it's hard mentally and physically and I need to do it when I am able. My PC would not ever listen to me I felt
Invisible and so dis respected.
I doubt he has had to endure chronic pain or withdrawal.
Anyway my Physiatrist helped me. What was so disturbing was my PC knows everything I have been through and how hard
I try!! But that did not matter.
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4 ReactionsI’m so sorry that you have had such a terrible experience.
I’m concerned as many people who are denied opioids turn to using illegals and then heroin and fentanyl which has caused thousands of deaths. I agree that the government needs to get out of medical care and stop making doctors and patients criminals.
I hope you will be able to receive the treatment you need.
My heart goes out to you. ❤️Jilly
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5 ReactionsThank you! You are correct, some patients have turned to street drugs for pain relief. To me, that’s like playing with fire, you’re bound to get burned. Many have lost their lives. It takes so little fentanyl and it’s being mixed into so many street drugs now. I know of several people who have chosen to end their lives rather than live with the pain. The actual percentage of pain patients who abuse opioid medication is very low. Especially compared to overdose by illegal fentanyl. The CDC actually misrepresented the percentage figures in their 2016 Guidelines. It’s just like politicians to avoid admitting they’re wrong about something!
I will continue to pursue finding a caring pain doctor who is willing to help me and work with the doctors I already have on my team!
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2 ReactionsAnn4u, it’s great to hear you have help in dealing with your pain control.
It’s time for Americans to put a stop to the governmental overreach into medical care.
The regulations are cruel, making doctors into an extension of law enforcement is inappropriate all the while ignoring the real problem created by illegal drug traffickers and drug manufacturers.
I join with you and others who want to change this problem.
Best to you. Jilly
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