Withdrawl and Dr, Visit etc.

Thank's for your input Gramps. I don't need a lecture. I'm a young guy and unfortunately through turning 23, I was dropped by my parents insurance. Combine that with 4 different insurance plans in the last 5 months in an attempt to keep coverage. I have not had the ability to receive the adequate care which I have needed. I finally got on a plan where I can see the same doctors which I need to.

I'm actually really happy about getting into a pain clinic. I think that it will be much better for me. It's a move I tried to make over a year ago, and they saw me once and discharged me back to my regular doctor. I guess I wasn't in bad enough shape to be accepted in.

College,

I just want to tell you how very hard it is to find a doctor that understands what chronic pain patients go through. I feel very blessed that my primary care doctor has been understanding through the process of getting me into a pain doctor that will work. I've been to one that just suggested physical therapy - which I did and was told by the therapist that if 8 weeks of therapy didn't change anything something else was going on. Went back and was told that she couldn't help me then. Went back to PCP - who sent me to another - who only did shots - and was told by him he believes it's scar tissue build up which meant he couldn't help me. Then waited three months for a pain appointment that was supposed to happen on monday to be called a week before and informed the doctor was no longer accepting new patients.

Running out of pain medication prior to it's date if you are in a pain management clinic or a pain contract with your doctor can be a serious offense. Some pain clinics will drop you for that very reason, and leave you out to dry. My pain contract with my current doctor states that she cannot and will not fill a pain script before it's due, not even by one day. Which I'm going to have to discuss with her to find a way to get a months supply of mediation for a trip to Virginia I have coming up, kinda out of the pain schedule.

I wish you the best of luck in finding pain relief, it's a hard long journey, and it's tough to find a doctor who is compassionate enough to treat us like humans sometimes.

I wouldn't take what Gramps said as a lecture, just some words of advice. Doctors are getting exceedingly cautious with narcotic pain meds. Prescription med abuse is the number 1 growing drug epidemic in the US. Docs who are legitimately prescribing pain meds are getting heat from the DEA, so any little think can often get you a mark on your medical record. Once your record has some type of pain med flag, we are looked at as seekers or abusers. So point being doctors are VERY cautious with the meds as we should be too.

I have personally lost pills, dropped them in the sink drain had them fall on dog doo while I was cleaning it off the floor ect... But I'd never, ever say anything to a doctor about it. I know it's sad to say, but we have to act this way. doctors have heard it ALL before, and they will rise a brow in suspicion when told any story (truth or not).

Did you run out early because of taking extra, or did you miss place some? The only advice I can give is stick to what your script says. If you find yourself in pain and you are already maxed out, take a nsaid, a hot bath, use a heat pad or talk to your doctor (I wouldn't flat out say I need more). I'm not sure if I missed if you said what your pain is caused by?

***Take this with EXTREME caution*** some oxycontin pills can be broke in half so you can take less med more often,this can sometimes help to keep a more stable amount in your system. You will have to consult with your pharmacist about your specific med!! Some OC pills method of release is aided by the coating, so breaking the pill will affect the integrity of the slow release!! Some OC pills use a binding agent which is within the makeup of the pill, in this case breaking the pill in half should have ill affect. Caps lock is not for yelling just attention!! DO NOT DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH SEVERAL PHARMACISTS AND OR THE DRUG MANUFACTURER!!! I'm sure this advice will not go over well but this is what I have been told by my sister in-law who is a pharmacist. One of the issues with oxycontin is that somewhere around 60% (I think) of the drug is released within the first 2-4 hours, so the extended release is really releasing a low dose for the later part on the extended release.

***DO NOT TAKE MY ADVICE**** (except to take meds a rx'd) I have written this for informational purposes only and to help spark some ideas for research.

If none of this makes sense, please excuse me I'm lacking a bit of sleep.

I agree with everything that was posted except the advice about cutting or breaking open the pills.
Gramps and the others were trying to give you some solid advice about taking more than you are prescribed and what can and does happen if you do that in pain management. Doing that, will get you thrown out of the PM clinic/office and you will go through some serious withdrawals.
No one wants to be in pain, but we, as the patients have to hold up our end of the bargain when we enter into pain management, and that means, we take our meds as prescribed. If they aren't working , then we discuss it with our PM doc's , rather than adjust our dosage ourselves.
With the current environment in pain management and the DEA investigations, no doctor is going to put their livelihoods on the line for a patient who is taking more than he should be.
Anyway, I hope that you can find a support group, but again, I agree with Gramps, this one is a great one.....they tell you like it is, and if someone says something that is hard for you to hear, maybe it's time to think about why it is that it bothers you.
Sandi