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Titration of meds

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 6/1/2018 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi this is my first time posting in here. This is what I'm going through. I've had five back surgeries due to scoliosis since 2013. I have Hardware from L4 L5 to t7. I've been with my p.m. since 2016. My doctor was recently audit and I guess that's the word I'm looking for and there were 20 patients that were flagged for taking too much medication. I was on a 150 mcg of Fentanyl and 8 mg of Dilaudid every 4 hours. The DEA is making them take everyone off of their fentanyl patches the only way you can have fentanyl patch is if you have cancer. I've already been titrated down to 75 mcg a fentanyl patch. They're going to go in increments of 25 until I'm completely off of it and then they're going to cut my Dilaudid down to 4 milligrams every 4 hours. I don't know what I'm going to do I will be in bed crying cuz I will be in so much pain. One time I went a day without a patch and I ended up in the emergency room. I don't know what I'm going to do about getting fentanyl patches. I have a spinal cord stimulator put in January 15th and it's not working. The trial worked almost a hundred percent but after they pulled that out and put the permanent one in it doesn't work. They had a really hard time putting it in due to all the back surgeries I've had from the scoliosis. Should I talk to them about putting a pain pump in? And if they can I don't know if they'll be able to to put whatever they have to put in put in. I called my congressman and told them about my situation and they said a lot of people have been calling in with people in my predicament. But they didn't know what else to do. I'm from San Antonio Texas.
Posted 6/1/2018 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Treyb & welcome to the forum. Sorry to read about what you are dealing with. As you know Fentanyl has been in the spotlight for quite some time & has been given a lot of media coverage. Calling a politician will not yield help. They are also pushing the opioid crisis, its in the papers daily. Your dr was being monitored for quite some time before the DEA audited him. The dr should be looking at putting you on an extended release pain medication with something for break through pain. If he intends on giving you nothing but IR's meds he is doing you a great disservice. The CDC recommends this protocol to help with misuse/diversion of pain medications.

You asked about a pain pump. You should discuss this with him. With as much surgery you have had I do not understand why a pump wasn't discussed instead of an SCS unit. We have not had many success stories here over the years with the SCS units. A trial has to be done for a pump to see if you are a candidate or not. The medication used in a pain pump is much more stronger than any oral medication a person can take. This is why people end up on less pain medication with a pump.

A pump is certainly something to discuss with your dr. Keep us posted.
Posted 6/1/2018 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Susie. I just started my new strength of fentanyl last night 75 micrograms. I'm hurting it's not really extremely bad yet but I know it's coming. I don't know if it would even be an option to find another doctor but that would look like I was Doctor shopping. I'm darned if I do and darned if I don't. I couldn't believe the success I had with the SCS trial and then they put the permanent one in and I've had no relief so ever. such a shame. I will keep you informed on what's going on thank you for your reply.
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