Does anyone think that it's Illinois docs that predominately shy away from pain meds?

No states doctors prescribe , "liberally" anymore. The DEA has come up with so many restrictions and policies for doctors who prescribe narcotic pain medications that many doctors are afraid of being sued, of patients who take more than they are prescribed, of the liabilities associated with treating chronic pain patients, that they either don't, won't or can't anymore.
Those who do treat chronic pain prescribe just enough medications for 28-30 days, and no more.....and the patient must abide by a contract that says that if they fail a urine screen, or they are called for a pill count, they must come in with the correct number of pills, no more , no less, otherwise they get dismissed.
The DEA has made it difficult for patients and doctors alike.

IMHO Florida is the most strict, or soon will be, when it comes to prescribing narcotics, and no I don't live in Florida, I live in Illinois as well.

I have not had a huge problem getting pain meds, but I have had to jump through all the hoops first and work my way up to something that works. I had to do this twice as I had to switch doctors a couple of years ago.

Doctors all across the country though are skittish when it comes to prescribing narcotics to anyone except terminal patients. Part of this is due to the idiots like those doctors in Florida who ran "legalized" dope operations and part of it is due to public misconceptions about the use of narcotics and their confusion between tolerance and addiction thanks to too many one sided stories ran in the press. This has led to politicians, FDA and DEA personnel who know nothing about the prescribing and use of narcotics to be influenced by lies and partial facts to make some bad policy which in turn has many doctors running scared.

I agree with the general consensus. Beyond pain, I've noticed that doctors aren't terribly interested in symptoms of any sort. They don't even nod their heads and pretend to listen, they just tune you out and go on staring at their laptops or strike up a completely new and off the subject topic. (Jim1969-- only two doc.s?? Lucky you! I've been through more than I can count.)

I think doctors in general have a little switch in their heads that goes off the minute the word "pain" is mentioned. They each have their pet drugs (antidepressants, souped-up-aspirin like Ultram, or if they're generous, Darvocette or Tylenol w/ Codeine) and I've actually had more than one reply to me, after I've I've told them it didn't make a difference with the pain, 'It works for the rest of my patients.' I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be jealous, cheer these other patients on for their success and hope it somehow rubs off on me, or punish myself for not responding the way he wanted me to. When you think about it, it's really a sort of mean thing thing to say. Not one of them ever followed such a statement with any sort of address as to what that means for me, the one it didn't work for. Not surprisingly, other aspects of their practice with this patient were equally lacking in imagination and good sense, and I ultimately fired them.

I have actually in the past got angry enough to ask them why pain meds were even created in the first place. I was told "to treat acute, short-term pain." I reminded the doc. that that is exactly what I was suffering- an acute flare in a chronic situation. No one said the prescription had to go one for months or even weeks, just something to get through the peak of the excrutiating pain of a fibro flare up. I said I was amazed; without a pill ever crossing my tongue, he's got me already addicted, in advance, just through sheer verbal explanation of how someone, anyone, might become addicted. Truly amazing. I countered that it wasn't possible to become addicted in such a way, that I would have to actually first TAKE the drug, and do so over a period of time , not just over a few days. The doctor looked kind of cowed and sheepish, but stuck to guns by golly and refused to treat me.

So, no, it's not just Illinois. A rare few of us are actually able to break down the wall and eventually get something that works, but most of us are left to our massive doses of Ibuprofen or to explore alternative avenues. Hope you find a good doc. soon, and please don't let this one off the hook if you can mange it!

   (ReadDeeply, this is a family oriented forum. Please be careful of the language you use when posting.

I have edited your reply.) Thanks! SE

Post Edited By Moderator (Screaming Eagle) : 4/29/2011 9:09:06 AM (GMT-6)

I am on prescription pain meds and I get them as part of my treatment at a Chronic Pain Center at one of the major teaching hospitals in Chicago. I take the meds only as prescribed and my Doctor monitors the meds carefully. Without them I would be a recluse and could not get out and about.

Rx pain meds to work. They are effective. They must be respected. And working with a Doctor who is trained in chronic pain treatment is key.

I was wondering if anyone can give me informattion on a doctor in the chicago area that will give me my pain meds I am on my husbands company offered him a transfer to work out there but I need these meds to get through the day have had to failed back surgeries and fybromyalgia and osteoarthritis severe...Thanks

I live in central il and have a wonderful PM doc who is willing to prescribe any med that is working for me, and also willing to try something different if price is a factor or the meds are not working as well. He does mention the DEA often, they must be a major pain in his you know what! I guess I'm lucky to have found a very caring doctor that is willing to prescribe what is needed!

I am not from Illinois but I am from Ohio. I have a great pain management doctor and team - they are attached to a cancer hospital and that I how I found them. I had Leukemia back in 2004.

I have been on narcotics for pain since 2003 through this same hospital and have actually been in their pain management program since 2007. Before that, my doctor prescribed for me. When it was clear that my cancer was not coming back, he referred me to their pain management clinic. I have had the same pain management doctor all of this time and have only had one my entire time - I am very happy with him.

I would definitely recommend that you find a pain management clinic that is attached to a teaching hospital. They do get examined by the DEA rather frequently, but I have never had a problem. I used to get seen once a month, then once every 2 months and then it went to once every 3 months. Just recently, for the past year, I only have to go see my PM doc once every 6 months. But it took several years to develop that type of trust and for my doctor to get my pain under control enough that I do not need frequent med changes.

Hope this helps!
Trudy