keltie

So I went to this pain management doctor with a great reputation. I specifically chose this guy because he does lots of alternative methods and does NOT just dole out medications. (I am currently battling a vicodin addiction.) He wants to give me an epidural spinal block and confirmed my disc problems/scoliosis, etc. which are the culprits in my pain.

So then he says to me "ok, so what are we doing for medications?" I figured he said this because it's going to take a while until he can give me the shot. I said "ok doctor, I want to talk to you about that..." and proceeded to honestly describe my addiction problems, which I thought he'd appreciate. I don't even think he was going to look at the "addiction" page in the 10 page questionnaire I filled out! I think he was going to just give me some meds and wouldn't have looked at it unless I pointed it out!

At that point I felt like his whole attitude toward me changed! He said I have an opiate addiction problem (with which I agreed) and said well we have two problems going on- your back problems and your addiction. I agree. He wanted me to consider suboxone. I said "what do you think?" and described my dosages and he said "well what do you think?" I was a little put off- I mean, he's the doctor!! I don't want to do sub- too expensive, and I don't want to get hooked on something else I then have to taper off of. My dosages are pretty low now! He then very quickly wrapped up the appointment, saying I want to see you in 1-2 weeks.

Right now my prescribed dosage is 20 mg vicodin per day, which I feel is pretty low. I asked him (via email) if I should continue my current medications until he gave me the epidural and under his supervision, taper off those medications. That was several days ago and he didn't answer me back. I can't quit my meds cold turkey! I want to taper, and with help I am committed to doing that. So I did refill my medications and am continuing to take them so I can walk and function!!

Anyhow, opinions please...I feel weird. Like he thought one thing then changed his mind when he found out I was an addict. I mean, I totally 100% admit my opiate problem but addicts can be in real pain too, can't we? Before he found out about my addiction, he listed all the very REAL reasons for my pain- bulging discs pressing on nerves, scoliosis pulling my muscles out of alignment, and degenerating discs...But, after he found out, I feel like he thought "oh, just another addict" and stopped listening to me even though I told him I chose him specifically because he does NOT simply provide drugs.

I know this is long and rambling. Thanks if you made it this far...I would love your opinions.

Shining~Again

I gotta tell ya, Keltie, that's pretty standard for a doctor & why I don't advocate laying all the cards out (that does depend on the situation though!!)

Once we admit to a addiction, things will often change. You can't ever "take it back."
/damn - interrupted. Will be back!

Shining~Again

ok - so till you get the epidural he just closed the appt with no med resolve? I don't understand that either? Not responding to your email either, kind left you on your own to make your own decision.

You wanted opinions so here's mine - till you get to know him better and him you, it's hard to tell how this is going to go. I'd not just drop it, then again you need to be careful of too much contact because now that addiction has been mentioned, it(too much contact) can be taken as drug seeking behavior. <---of course, HE is the one who totally f'd this up and let you walk out with nothing - other than a "want subs (do they do anything for pain????)" and that the epidural will take some time.

I'd be asking "how long till I get the shot? What am I to do in the meantime? What are my options for pain?"

Yes, addicts have real pain! The doctors are very capable of finding out from scans and xrays how bad the problem is. How well a patient can handle pain (pain threshold and all that) can be as different as night and day. I'd never try comparing my bulging disk pain with someone elses.Comparing hurts, whatever they may be, is a no win for anyone.

take care Keltie - hopefully he'll send you back a email once the work week begins.

keltie

Thank you Angel! It feels so GOOD to hear someone else "interpret" my experience for me...having your feelings understood is so healing. YES- he did F' up, letting me walk out with NO plan, no direction, etc! He left me totally on my own to decide and I'll be damned if i'm gonna go back to not being able to walk!

Thank you for responding and for your kind support and understanding.

Shining~Again

Hey, I'm just happy to have a post that just asks for my opinion 'cause advice types make me a bit nervous!
Plus I get to bend my doctor's ear with stuff like this and see what he thinks and where their brains are. Sometimes it's because of a news item that makes them (wrongly!) skittery. Some have a chip on their shoulder --- yet a pain specialist doing this to you really makes me go "GAH!!!!".
Also just the whole bit of him dropping the ball and letting you leave with jacksh*t makes my brain explode. Did he just lose the plot somewhere? What's HE on? <--yeah I know....too snarky. ;-)
Since I know these guys are hard to come by I can't say
(pssst - I poked Ivan as I'd love to hear what he has to say on this one)
Hang in there K!

Pandie

Hi Keltie,

Your situation is EXACTLY why I've told my therapist that I will NEVER tell my primary care doc about my issues with the pain meds he prescribes. I believe he already knows that there are "issues" with it just because I've been on it for several years. Once when I spoke with him about my fears of addiction, I jokingly asked if he was going to "flag my chart" and he assured me that I would not be "flagged", then adding that people who are drug-seeking would never talk to him like I was doing. He appreciated my honesty. I commend you for having the courage to "out" yourself, it seems like this would make the doctor more attentive to you and your pain. I say give him a week to answer your email before trying to contact him again. Then I would just remind him that while you are an addict, you are having real pain and need a short-term prescription to get you through until you can get the injection.

Hope all works out, keep us posted

~Pandie

lovemyhusband1

This seems to be the same thing my husband experienced with his pain doctor. I went to an appointment with him, and also spoke to the doctor about alternative means to opiates.

My husband had a series of epidurals, which did helps for a while... but in the process he contracted pnuemonia from the hospital during the procedure. He then was in the ICU for days. So this sucked. But then he continued to go to the doctor asking for ways to fix it without using the oral meds. It was fruitless and this guy was just dismissive and treated him like a child or an 'Addict'. Instead of addressing the issue he was more concerned with my husband using his max dosage of pill per day.

He is suppose to have a nerve procedure that will sever the pain nerves in a part of his back. so hopefully this will be the alternative to oral meds.

I never really understood pain doctors until this year... and honestly I question their ability. They have to know that the patients they serve will have addiction issues. It seems like they just want to turn a blind eye to this and just prescribe the same thing for everyone to make their job easier.

I'm really upset with this doctor for not listening to my husband, and not understanding addiction and how NOT to treat pain for an addict.

keltie

Thank you SO much for all your responses. It helps so much to hear what others have experienced. Please, keep sharing...

goingtokicksoon

Quick comment (just about injections): Be careful about expecting too much from the them. My second one worked like magic, and gave me the space/pain relief to wean off meds. My first one made things much worse on the pain scale, and (while this does NOT constitute ADVISE but simply OPINION) I would not have wanted to endure the first shot without opioid analgesics.

Good luck with the doctor. A second opinion could always be consulted.

NoWhereGirl

This is a difficult situation but one my husband has told me this is very common with doctors dealign with back pain patients, like himself. Unfortunately, the real ones get bunched in with the drug-seeking ones when they are not, even when they are being perfectly honest like you were! It's unfortunate and I truly sympathize because I see my husband deal with his back pain every single day anmd it is not easy, addict or not, pain is pain He however, has different pain management, surgery, and general practicioner doctors, and gets second opinions when he feels he has to which I think I would in your case to see what another says without stigmatizing you unecessarily right off the bat.

I'm on suboxone and while I can say it does work it's not the overall answer and I'm hoping to go off of it soon. I'm tapered very low and my sub doctor did not renew with my insurance plan so I'm not going to pay out of pocket for it either. Plus, if I'm remembering correctly, any 'regular' (read:opiate) pain medication you take for your back would be blocked by the sub so I don't know if that would even be helpful or right in your situation. I'm kind of surprised he would recommend that but he might not know much about it. Many "regular" doctors don't.

I wish I had better advice, I can only say I understand and hope it works out whether with this doctor or someone else to get you relief in some way or other. There has to be a way, someone will understand and maybe you just haven't found the right one yet? Sounds like you got labeled and that was that. Sad, unfair and so not helpful. So sorry.

p.s. my husband has had injections too and they helped but are not long-term so after they wear off, he was right back to where he began in a sense. I don't know if you can do them continually or not but in his case, they weren't approved by insurance regularly enough to make that much of a difference, sadly.

Hang in there and good luck with whatever you decide!

keltie

Thanks everyone, for the great advice and opinions. I feel so much better after reading what you all wrote. I may seek a second opinion. This doctor left me high and dry and has not even answered my email (which I sent last week!) asking what to do for pain in the meantime!! I've been thinking of these epidurals as the "cure all" but I see now that they may not always work, they might work only sporadically, and I might have breakthrough pain.

If he's labeled me and is as "cold" at the next appointment, I'm seeking another doctor. Just because I'm an addict and was honest about my addiction, I should not have to suffer in pain!