I was diagnosed with Scoliosis when I was in high school. It is not severe enough to require surgery, but I have almost constant pain because of it, to the point where I often can’t sleep at night. My treatment has been abysmal. Physical therapy was hardly the answer to my pain problems, and using Advil, Tylenol, etc. is just a joke. I am considering asking my doctor for some medication that actually works, but I have heard that this often results in being “flagged” for trying to get painkillers, with me getting perhaps a recommendation for more physical therapy. I was just wondering how common it is to receive Vicodin, Percocet, etc. for this condition. I have had friends offer me painkillers, but I really don’t want to have to go the illegal route to obtain necessary medication. However, I sure can’t imagine spending the rest of my life being severely achy and sleepy because my stupid back wants to make me miserable.
#1 by The Mad Catter on January 25, 2010 - 7:42 pm
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This is NOT a cut and paste answer. This is from my experiences and reading, and research. It’s long but every word is my own!
I don’t think it’s inappropriate to report to him inadequate pain relief. He needs to know. I wouldn’t ask specifically for Vicodin or Perc only because docs are so freaked out because of the idiots in the “war on drugs”. The DEA are basically tying doctors’ hands. Do you allow indadequate pain relief in your hurting patient or provide solid adequate pain relief with appropriate opiate medication and run the risk of the DEA raiding the doctor’s office one day with AK-47s and seizing all your charts and your medical license. Insanity. I’m not exaggerating, This is happening and it’s only getting worse. I sound like a conspiracy theory freak with a hatred for the DEA. I’m not. I’ve been reading about this because I suffer from severe migraines and don’t receive good pain relief. I’m made to feel like an addict because I’m well informed and name specific meds and this is apparently “drug-seeking behavior”.
It may take some time and money and will cause you to be impatient with doc. He’s gotta dance the DEA dance. These are all things that I’ve been through. I’m not a doctor or anything. He will start with something harmless like a script for a NSAID (celebrex, vioxx, etc.) Then maybe on to Darvocet, it’s no better than a tylenol and just as useless. Then he may go to something like Tramadol which is more like an NSAID but has some miniscule twice-removed derivative of an opiate. Some get a mild high on this at first, God forbid. Some don’t. Some people swear by its pain relief, it’s ineffective for others. If none of these are effective there’s not much you can do that won’t be suspsicious. Suck it up, give each week or so, then let him know if they don’t work and whatever intolerable side effects you may have. Then he should go on to the FORBIDDEN opiates. LOL. This will also be a hassle until you get an effective titration dose figured out.
He may be ultra-conservative and fight you all the way. What good is 7.5 of Vicodin if he only gives you 10 of them and says take 1/2 tab every 6-8 hrs? Or, he may be a “maverick” LOL, and more generous with amts, dosages, times, etc. Any variation of these is possible, obviously you know that. If he’s just an ***, or falsely accuses you of drug-seeking or refuses to help you get adequate relief then move on. You may get lucky and he’ll be agreeable and helpful and willing to give you what you need the first time.
I think the M.D.s are going to have fight the DEA and drug laws from the inside. They are gonna have to raise hell, fight tooth and nail to be able to practice medicine as they were taught, based on patient care and feedback and be able to prescribe what they know will work. Opiates are effective, few serious side effects and studies show not as addictive as previously thought. Your body WILL become physically dependent on them if taken over a period of time for chronic pain. This is a normal effect of the med, doctors know this, it’s not permanent, it’s not bad, it’s expected. The DEA lies about the addiction rates, and o.d.’s and death rates to strike fear in people. They have no business “practicing medicine” and telling docs or patients what they can or cannot put in their bodies. Get the government out of my dr appointment and out of my medicine cabinet!
All this being said, opiates ARE abused,sold and blackmarketed and there are crooked careless doctors who shovel out dangerous drugs in exchange for money or sex or whatever. This doesn’t mean we go insane and lose all rational thinking!
Oh and Scoliosis is a painful condition, this is well known. My aunt has it and she takes oxycontin, vicodin, percocet, she knows now what’s effective for her pain and takes what she needs. Otherwise she would bed-bound.
Sorry so long and involved. I’m pissed about the delusion of the war on drugs and idiotic drug laws and ever-increasing government intrusion into our private lives! Best of luck to you!