Another Primary Care Doctor Caves in to Florida's Legislation.

Hi,
I'm new to the group and just wanted to tell my story. I came down with an illness in 2001 and never recovered. I've been DX'd with so many different illnesses but I think what I believe is what a pain specialist at a big university hospital told me. He said it doesn't matter what caused my chronic pain, now my disease is central pain syndrome, (chronic pain), and neuropathy.

Brilliant me decided to move away from the cold weather to Florida because I always feel better physically when I'm warm and not cold. I moved in May of this year. I had a PCP doctor who agreed to take me on before I moved here.

Two months after I started seeing him he told me there might be new legislation that would make it so he couldn't keep prescribing my pain meds. I didn't think too much about it. Why worry about something until it happens, right?

Well, sure enough the last time I saw he said he couldn't see me anymore due to the new legislation in Florida. He referred me to a pain clinic. I went to the pain clinic and they want to take me off the regime of medications that has worked for me for the last 7 years and switch me to completely different meds.

I know how long it took me to find a combination of medications that works and I dread going back to the way I was before I had adequate <sp?> pain care. I'm often terrified. I haven't been eating or hungry because I'm so anxious. I also dread the trail and error routine. I had pretty horrific experiences with other pain medicines. Plus the pain clinic is 2 hours away and I'm worried I won't be able to drive there if something goes wrong with the new medications.

The only reason he is switching me is because of the new legislation and the war on Oxycontin. It just pisses me off so much. I've read a lot about the subject and the whole war on drugs thing and I just think were looking at another 10 years of things getting worse than they already are.

I've lived with severe pain since 2001, so I'm thinking another 10 years of this to add to the 10 years I've already dealt with? I hate (I realize that is a strong word to use but it's true), this little world within in a world where good people are treated like criminals because of the real criminals.

So that's my story and I tried to put it in a nutshell but you know how hard that is to do. I've been lurking for awhile and thought maybe this would be a forum where I'd feel comfortable so thought I would join and post.

(None of us are truly alone though it sure feels like it sometimes).

Peace and Blessing,
Imme

Hi Patrick! Thank you for the welcome to the forum.

I know I didn't sound very optimistic in my last post. Some days I'm more optimistic than others. I think I just really needed a place to vent my frustrations.

In answer to your question yes I do know what the new protocol will be with the PM doctor. He will be switching to Opana ER, Cymbalta and upping my Nuerontin dosage.

It took me many trials of pain medications to find one that finally worked and allowed me to function. I've had bad experiences with Fentanyl, Methadone and MsContin. I won't bore you with details but it was pretty scary. I guess I'm just medication sensitive.

I've also tried many SSRIs and Tryciclics anti-depressants that again I did not tolerate. I've also upped my Nuerontin with a previous doctor and it didn't help but sure made it a lot harder to get out of bed in the morning, to say the least.

I tried to explaining all of these things to my PM but he just shrugged them off. I think his motto must be, My way or the Highway. I've seen wonderfully compassionate doctors and I've seen some that are total jerks. I have to put this PM doctor in the latter category for now, as it's really hard to give him the benefit of the doubt considering how my visit with him went.

I've seen enough doctors to be able to tell when I've found one of the good guys or not. 10 years aught to have taught me something by now, huh? :)

Again, thanks for the welcome. I hope your days are as pain free as possible.

Imme
PS: I like your sig, ie; Joseph Campbell

Fentanyl, methadone and oxycontin are the most abused and addictive of the laegal pain meds.
I am CP also, dx'd in 2005. Fentanyl and oxy for years...then they shut him down. Why? Because he believed patients shouldn't suffer needlessly. Silly him!!!! Then I went to a pain clinic, they cut me back to 4 hydros a day!!! With motrin and muscle relaxer. They were complete pill ****s, signa contract, pill counts pee test. I lived with it 'cause no other options. I wrote a letter of complaint to board of directors of the hospital and the clinic found a loophole to cancel contract and they did. Now I am blackballed and am in alot of pain.

They will take you off those meds, whether you need them or not. The dea has their nose way into their business, and they are kicking butt and taking licenses. Make sure they do it responsibly. Going to another clinic will not help, IHO

I share your pain and frustration. I'm afraid it will only get worse. Best of luck and take care

Maggie