Devil's bargin - Pain Management Message Board

StMishl · 03-22-2005, 06:06 PM

As many of you know from reading my recent posts, I have been having issues the past few days with my back doctor being gone/unwilling/unable to refill my oxycontin script.

I finally get the nurse today and begged for another script for the oxycontin before Friday. She talks to the dr and calls me back and says they will fill it this one last time, I can pick it up tomorrow (Gee thanks, only 7 days after my last refill ran out), but I 'had better start weaning myself from it" because the dr has decided I shouldn't need it anymore.

Huh?? Since when? He hasn't even decided if I have a lose screw or if my fusion is taking (as appt he specifically said it wasn't taking) so why suddenly decide to drop me from my main med???? My back STILL hurts, and now is possibly more screwed up then when I first went to him).

Right now I feel like I'm being black mailed by my doctor - "Behave or no oxycontin". That has to be illegal or at least very unethical right????

Anyone have a good dr in AZ either a back dr or a pain clinic????

But my main question is this... Since I have now been without the oxycontin (except for 10mg /day Friday & Sunday) and am finally feeling less crappy due to the withdrawls (although my back is hurting as bad as ever), should I take the offered oxycontin perscription?

If it really is the last one, I will be right back in withdrawl again in 30 days (unless there is a way to taper off of it??) or unless I can get under a new doctor's care who agrees to the oxycontin. Would it be better just to tough it out off of the oxy?

I'd rather find a better doctor (as this was the original plan) and a pain doctor (can I do this myself or do I need my back doctor to refer me? Do I look even MORE "drug seeking" if I call a pain clinic??) to take over my care, but in the meantime I was MUCH more comfortable, better functioning on the oxycontin (I am taking vicodin now, which is mostly just causing me to be tired or feel "high" -which I don't like - it doesn't do much for the pain. I feel like i'm on a roller coster going up down up down). I feel like an idiot, and I feel like its unfair trying to balance what would be best for my pain (taking the oxy), vs. being labled a "drug seeker".

I feel like I am being black mailed by my doctor, that I started asking questions about why I wasn't healing, why I was still in so much pain (not fusing, lose screw, etc...) asking about further testing, basicly bucking his system of "being patient and take some pain pills" so now he is taking away the pain pills, like he's "getting back at me" for asking about a second opinion (am I just being paranoid now??)

So it comes down to do I take the oxycontin or not? I think i've gone thru the worst of the withdrawls (I hope) and although I am hurting and not sleeping, with the vicodin I have, maybe I can make it until I find another dr. Will it make a difference if I am taking oxycontin or not when they are deciding rather or not to take me on as a patient?

If I do take the oxy, is there a way to taper off of it in one month?

Am I right that what the dr is doing doesn't seem right/ethical?

What would you do? My brain is tied of having to DO this,,, I want a dr I can just trust to take care of me and to make decisions to keep me comfortable and to "do no harm" is that asking so much??

-Thank you,
Michelle

SheSparkles · 03-22-2005, 07:10 PM

Michelle,
I can answer more later but if it were I? I would exit the OxyContin...like yesterday. The reason? So many Drs. are NOT prescribing it any more. I would not pick up the prescription tomorrow and I would never use Oxy again...simply because sooner or later this was bound to happen UNLESS you are in intractable pain from a malignancy. And in hospice. And on your way out. Quick. I mean it...Drs. are getting weird about this med. I would get a new PCP and get referred to a new PM (altho I still say you don't need a PM Dr. for good PM) and I would expect to start using a different pain med. More later.
SS
yes..you have withdrawn so why go back into the fire??

twisten · 03-22-2005, 09:12 PM

That's kind of a tough decision to have to make. The vicodin are probably helping to keep away the worst of the withdrawal I would think. Is your doctor going to keep prescribing that or not? I guess a lot depends on how bad your pain is as to whether you should pick up this last script. If it were me I would and use it very sparingly until you can get into a different doctor. I don't find the big ***** hunt is as bad up here in Canada against oxycontin. Not where I live anyway. Good luck with whatever you decide and keep us posted as to how you're making out.

trowftd3 · 03-23-2005, 08:50 AM

The ***** hunt is also not on here in the Northwest. Unless I'm missing something.
Good Luck to you. You are the one who has to make the decision.
I hope your next doc is great. It is so hard to find a good doctor.
Take care~Mush

MomOf4VA · 03-23-2005, 10:03 AM

Quit the oxy. Do not go back and pick it up. It is almost impossible to taper alone and you are only buying yourself 30 days. Around here, it takes about that long to get in to see a good PMD, so if you take the oxy and you go to see a new Dr. you may be in full in withdrawls, he is going to think you are a drug seeker. Try to stay with the vicoden, for now. One more Rx of oxy is just not worth the price you will have to pay later.

Kim