Responsible drug use - pressure from doctor

I'm 41 and I've been dealing with chronic pain for over 10 years. about 3 or 4 years ago I finally was referred to a physical medicine doctor. We have tried a lot of things with varying success; physical therapy, home traction device, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatories, and most recently nerve ablation. The nerve ablation gives me decent relief, but I still get flares of pain once every week or two.

My conditions all seem to be related to auto-immune issues; crohn's, arthritis, neck pain, headaches. Everything that comes up, I do research and find auto-immune at the core. I also have a genetic fusion of C3-C4. The nerve ablations are on both sides, C3-C4-C5. I first had it done in November of 15 and just recently had it done again (so 2 years of some level of relief.)

I also see a psychiatrist for numerous anxiety/stress/depression issues. So I am on a few scripts from him. Back to what brought me back here to post. My doctor has been giving me 5/325 Percocet for the last 2 or 3 years. For at least the last year it has been 30 pills at a time and I request refills every 30-40 days. To me this does not seem excessive at all. Reading other posts here, it seems like a very mild script. Earlier this year he started drug testing me when I picked up the refills. I understand this, given the "epidemic", but it made me feel uncomfortable none-the-less. Yesterday I called for a refill. I have 2 pills left from a 11/08/17 refill; ~35-40 days on 30 pills. Today they left me a voicemail telling me my script was ready, but he won't refill it for 60 days now.

I once again feel like a criminal for asking for relief from pain. I do everything I can before I take a pill; ice, s-hook massager on my shoulders, traction if possible, sleep if possible. Still I get days where I need to keep going at work or with my 4 kids and if I am in pain, I have to take 2-3 pills in a day just to keep the pain at bay. Am I wrong to feel ... insulted? I certainly don't feel addicted nor as though I'm abusing it.

Just looking for support/advice. Thanks.

Countrydad,

Like Susie said, these days most of us being treated for chronic pain get drug tested by our prescribing doctor. It bothered me at first, too, as I also felt like I was being suspected of abusing my meds/treated as if I had done something wrong, which I absolutely do not do. But then I realized why the doctors were doing this, and that it was just something that every patient had to go through (no one is singled out -- I've even been randomly drug tested at times when I've not been on opioids, because ALL my doctors patients are subjected to the same rules), and now it doesn't bother me. As I said, I'm doing everything right and have nothing to hide, and so if that is what I have to do to keep my doctor and my meds, then that is what I have to do. It is sad that there have to be so many rules like that in place, but some people do abuse their meds, and the government is making things just as hard on the doctors as they are on the patients because of it. Don't take it personally.

As for the 60 day thing, you can always call your doctor and ask to speak to him/her in order to clarify why your meds have been changed. Or making an appointment to discuss your medications may be an even better approach. If your doctor is not a PM it may just be that he/she is being pressured to prescribe less opioids, so like Susie said, it may be time for a PM doc. Although many of them have not cut back on meds, too/for the same reasons... It's a tough time to be a chronic pain patient.

Skeye

Pain patients can no longer push themselves because they have pain meds to help with their pain. If you see a Pain Management Doctor you will have to go in and see the doctor every 30 days. You will have to sign a pain contract. And also agree to routine drug screens. Some doctors also do pill counts.