Is it so wrong to take opiates?

[jaydee2]

I'm glad I found this forum...I've been having ups and downs (and all arounds} ever since taking myself off of the methadone. Ever since my PM doc was raided by the DEA in April, I have come to figure out that even if you do go to a pain mgmt. specialist, and they give you an opiate, it will not be for long-term. In fact the new one I just saw today said he tapers patients off after 90 days (this being after he does a FULLWORKUP on you, ct scans, MRI's, of which I just had 2 done 10 days ago and he reviewed them and saw my bulging discs. I would like to know the point of all of this if he is just going to take me off the meds. I told him, no lie, I have been on all of the non-opiate meds out there. Since my 2 car accidents (June and July 1991) I have been to multiple physio-therapists, chiropractors and one guy who even was teaching me yoga and told me all the pain was in my head and to get on a better anti-depressant. I've had facet injections  for my myofascial pain syndrome and spine blocks, all to no avail, just temporary relief. I live in the metro Phoenix area of Arizona and if anyone does know who gives long term opiates, please, just let me know,
I've nearly been suicidal the last couple days (it's probably the withdrawals) and I really need relief!
Thanks,
Joyce

[Tuckamore]

Hello and Welcome to the Pain Management Forum. I am sorry I am tardy to your post. And I am very sorry that you have untreated pain.

I am sorry that we cannot suggest specific clinics or physicians. That is not the goal or purpose of the forum. There are various reasons for this. However you did receive some good suggestions on how to locate PMP that may be able to treat you.

It is not wrong to take narcotics as long as one has true pain and takes the narcotic prescriptions as prescribed. In my opinion it is very wrong to seek drugs for other reasons.

I know nothing of the situation or clinic that where you were being treated. The important thing now is that you seek pain management at a reputable clinic. Myofascial pain is real pain and not in one's head. You should find a physician that recognizes that fact. I am sorry that your current PMP is willing to manage your pain through long term opiates. However if he is able to manage it with other methods wouldn't we all want that? If he is not able to reach that goal he should be willing to manage your pain with opiate therapy. However there are others PMPs and some PCPs will treat you if needed with long term opiate therapy.

Please feel free to become active in our community. We are glad that you found us also. I wish you the very best and will look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
~Tuck

  

Being told that your pain was all in your head is difficult to get off your records so I hope this was not a written comment.

[namnam46]

I'm sorry I clicked send too soon.

PLEASE don't take this the wrong way BUT I thinkyour Dr. wants these MRI's and the COMPLETE WORKUP redone because you are coming from the "Pill Mill". He/She wants to be sure that you aren't bringing in false records.

I'm so sorry but you are having to pay for the crimes that your Doctor did. It's NOT fair but EVERYONE of his patients are going to have to do this.  Unfortunately, there was NO WAY that you could have known in advance what you were walking into when you went there.  I sure wish you had been sent to one of the Legitimate PM Clinics then you wouldn't have had ANY problems at all.  :)

Take Care.....Sherry

[namnam46]

I meant to ask, who did the MRI's here in Phoenix?

Your PM Dr. may want another because something doesn't look right or isn't clear. He/She is probably just wanting to be sure that they can tell EXACTLY what is happening with your injuries.

I've had to had on redone before beause it just wasn't showing what needed to be seen.

I can't emphasize enough that you MUST adhere to what they ask of you. You need help and you just have to follow there rules.

Good Luck....Sherry

[namnam46]

Hi jaydee,

I'm so very sorry that you are having to go thru what you are going thru!! I know you must be EXTREMELY upset by all of this.  

I want you to know that you are a VERY FORTUNATE Lady!!

I live in the Phoenix area and I KNOW about your PM Clinic. Your Dr. had THREE of the Pill Mills and you are VERY, VERY lucky to have walked out of there alive!! The Doctor is being investigated in the DEATHS of TEN of his Patients from overdoses. He had a Pharmacy that was in cahoots with him and the Pharmacy is gone too. He had you on 200 mg of Methadone and you were on a VERY high dose. I'm so HAPPY that you are here and ABLE to post on this Forum!!!

My Dear I'm so GLAD that you are out of there. You might have been next.

You are now in with a legitimate PM Clinic ( I'm sure you had NO idea what your OLD Dr. was up to) and you are going to have to follow what they tell you. I'm quite sure that ANY of them are going to get you off of the Methadone and start fresh so that you can get back to some SAFER doses that won't harm you.

If you REALLY don't like your current PM Dr. then you need to discuss it with your PCP and see if he/she will refer you to another PM Clinic.

I have a WONDERFUL PM Dr. BUT you MUST be referred to them. They DON'T take a walk-in at all.  There are MANY good PM Clinics here in the Phoenix Area but you will have to do the things that they ask of you until you have won their confidence. That's just the way that it works. They don't want to wind up like your Old PM Clinic Dr. did.

The REALLY good Dr.'s that CARE about you are out there.

I wish you the VERY best and hope you can get the care that you deserve....Sherry

[jamlws]

I am so sorry your in so much pain. I see a new pain dr on Tuesday and I have no clue what to think what is going to happen. I have seen this dr once and he said that he will start my treatment next time he saw me. So I am hoping for the best but getting ready for the worst.
I will keep looking for a new pain dr. There are some really good ones out there. I had one pain dr tell me it is all in my head also and that did it for me i knew he wasn't the dr that would treat this pain.
Please hang in there,
Jamie

[JadedSweetheart]

Usually if you call an office and tell them what type of medication has worked for you in the past, the receptionist can tell you whether the doctor prescribes more than tramadol or what.  I went to a few who would only prescribed tylenol-3 and darvocet and realized after the first appt that they weren't going to help me live a decent life.  The best thing to do is call around or like Running said, check ratemds.com.  I did a search for "pain clinics" in my area and found the one I go to now.  It's hard to find one that does the right balance of medicine treatment and other options.
I hope you find the relief you need!  Hang in there, suicide is detrimental to your family and it will get better!

[RunningMom]

Hello Jaydee and welcome to the pain management forum.  I was at two pain clinic that did not prescribe long term pain management medications.  However, they will do the injections long term.  In fact the one PM clinic did not prescribe medications at all.  I went to my PCP and he treated me until I found a pain management clinic willing to prescribe long term and I'm not forced to do any more injections.  

Please go to your PCP and ask them to treat you until you can find a decent pain management clinic.  I don't know anyone in your area, but I've found that ratemds.com is one of the best searching guides for doctors.  

I wish you the best of luck and please don't give up.  There is someone there to help you.