seeing pain doc tommorrow.need advice on something asap

Hi everyone

OK so I have been seeing this new PM doc for about five months now and he sucks. I tell him I'm in excruciating pain but he doesn't seem to care. He won't raise my dose of oxycontin 30 mg, which according to his own words isn't a very high dose anyway. I told him that I wanted to be 100% pain free or at least enough pain free so I can go back to college and work again, he told me I can never be pain free or get down any lower than I am now..LIES!! I'm too old at age 31 going on 32 to go to college he tells me..jerk he is. But that won't stop me I'm still going once my pain is less. The fact is he will not prescribe methadone yet methadone gets rid of my pain 100% !!! But methadone does get rid of my pain 100% and the best part is I don't get a tolerance on methadone. Since he already said he won't prescribe it should I look for new PM doctors? Or try to bring the subject up again. The last time I brought it up was when we first met, maybe I can change his mind?

Thanks

(Don't think I've seen you on here before...maybe? bad memory. If not...Welcome!).

--To start off...the following is just my advice/feelings. I don't want to come across as condescending. I do wish you the very best! --

I deeply understand your frustration, IH8Pain(very fitting name! ). We all would love to be pain free, and while I don't want to say you will NEVER be pain free...it's better to set smaller goals. How long have you been dealing with this pain?

Also, even if you don't reach the ultimate goal of "pain free," doesn't mean you can't eventually go back to college/work. It's a personal situation and I HATE when doctors give personal advice...I suppose they feel comfortable with their patients when they do...but I wish more doctors would keep things professional.

After years, and some of us decades, of being in pain...we begin to start to accept the fact that maybe, perhaps, we will never see a pain free day...but that doesn't mean we have accepted defeat...just that we now know what we face, are accepting of it, and will begin to cope with it and set small goals for ourselves.

One day, hopefully, many of us WILL have a pain free day...but you have to pace yourself.

Especially when it comes to medications like opiods. Taking the medication in order to be "pain free" is playing with fire. Not just because of risk of OD...but because tolerance will come a hell of a lot faster if you take the medication daily to be pain free.

I hope I didn't come across as condescending, I've only been dealing with my pain for, almost, a decade...and just beginning to accept the realization that I probably won't be pain free.

about looking for new docs...you can, but don't accept any Rxs until you officially leave your current PM doc. You can visit/meet with/discuss your situations with other docs, but be careful...don't want to blacklisted...maybe another member can give better advice.

1. Methadone is kind of the end all when it comes to pain medications after a person has given the others very serious attempts.

2. If you are going in a asking for Methadone this is a red flag for drug seeking behavior. Not saying you are drug seeking only that is what it says to the doctor.

Very well put Josh and condescending or not, it is what it is and anytime we demand to be "pain free " we're putting our Drs on guard! They know it's not a reasonable expectation for CP with opiate treatment alone or in combination!

If you really believe your tolerance to methadone doesn't change your kidding yourself and that's from someone who spent 13 years on low doses and 3 trying to wean off!!

Drs are finally realizing that putting someone on methadone is condemning them to a possible lifetime on it as everything shows few are ever able to get off. At 20 or even 30 that's a very very longtime to have your body subjected to a drug known to carry life threatening side effects.

In all honesty if your looking to live life methadone is not going to give you that. Years into it's use it begins to rob you of more then it gives.

Do a forum search here and read the horror stories of coming off.

I don't think you truly are understanding what we're saying about methadone! Yes it works for some but it's impossible to come off of, it causes a heart problem that can be fatal with extended use and it will rob you of more then it gives!

You won't know until it's too late, example :hearing changes, taste, weight gain, eye problems, memory loss, dementia, to name a few.

In many states on Drs that obtain certification can prescribe methadone so you may be asking something he couldn't do if he wanted too!!

I hope your appt goes well but I do not think for a moment that you will walk out of there with a script for Methadone. If the dr has said I do not prescribe that medication then he is not going to change his mind because you say it works for me. The others on here especially Vickie has given you excellent information about what happens over time when someone is on Methadone. It is truly a very last resort type of medication; however, we are seeing fewer drs prescribe it because of the problems that come with it.

It is everyone's dream to be pain free again but most of us know its just that, a dream. My one pain mgt told me, the only way anyone with chronic pain can be pain free is if they are a zombie or dead, neither of these appeal to me.

We have seen plenty of people on here go to school & work & perhaps you will be able to do the same. Everyone has to find what works for them the best but I can assure you its not just taking pills to get there. What may work for me may not help you a bit.

Good luck with your appt.

To IH8pain,

No one is calling you a drug seeker here. We are trying to help...

I echo Mercy, a great Psychologist(along with PT, medication, etc) can help a lot when it comes to dealing with the pain.