Refuse To Prescribe (Top voted first)

I live in a very small town and the number of doctors here is limited. The number of good doctors is almost nonexistent. I'm finding that calling for an appointment as a new patient the office staff says right away, "We don't prescribe pain meds"! Also have heard "We don't take fibromyalgia patients"! This is said before I ever state what I need to be seen for. Assuming I did have pain, do I no longer have the right to have my pain relieved? I'm so offended by this. If you have chronic pain you are treated like a leper. Apparently it is automatically assumed you have a drug problem. Going to other towns is the same. No wonder people self medicate. Is this happening all over the country?

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It clearly states in government department of health, quote: "As a patient it is your right to have your pain addressed by your health care provider."

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To be clear, my post was supposed to reflect the fact that patients that call a Dr for an appointment are told immediately, "We don't take fibromyalgia patients", and "We don't prescribe pain meds". This is said before I mention I wanted to be seen for possible thyroid testing. I do happen to have fibro, but they didn't know that. And I do, if needed, have the right to have my pain "addressed".

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That's most unfortunate that Doctors now bow down to the government. I went through the exact same thing, so my comeback concerning the pain meds was, who do the drug companies make pain meds for a secret society? It's a sham

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It's really sad that when you have pain, you can't always receive the meds that your body needs because of people who abuse meds. I take Tramadol, Flector patch and Voltaren gel for osteoarthritis. I also do aquatics about 4 hours a week and yoga. Try meditation and walking on even surfaces, sit in the sun for limited time with sunblock. (I also have basal cell carcinoma) Pain meds can't always help make us pain free, sometimes we need to try anything else that will help relieve our pain. Good luck!

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In the local hospital there is a sign that states, and I quote, "You as a patient have a right to have your pain controlled". Their sign,not mine... I'm just saying...

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No Paddle You said it, You have the right to have your pain addressed, but its up to the doc to decide what treatment he is willing to prescribe. If you dont agree with his treatment plan you dont have to follow it. That just means you have to go somewhere else. Unfortunatley we all dont have doctorates to prescribe medicine. And Yes this is crazy when we know what works best for us, but the docs have protocols and they say they must start at the least amount first and work up from there. Very frustrating. There is no good answer. When I hurt, I hurt, I want what I want and I want it now! Sound familiar. Do the best you can and keep on looking and praying you'll find a doc that will listen to you.

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Yes it is sad. I have degenerative disk disease and 5 spinal fusions on top of that then a spinal cord stimulator put in and it helps some a lot at 1st. But something else has to be done about pain control I agree I have fibromyalgia additions disease and now vein disease in my legs and it gets ridicjous..

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Unfortunately yes, it is. Many people, all over the country, are having problems getting medications prescribed to help with pain.

The DEA issued some new directives last year to try to further curb prescription drug abuse and over prescribing, but it has just seemed to create more problems, so far.

People that have chronic pain are expected to see specialists to help get better control of it, but many of them are also worried about what and how much they prescribe of anything.

Are there any other questions or concerns?

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I'm laughing so hard.

I had a traumatic back injury and two surgeries for it.

They sent me to a pain clinic.

He didn't do s***.

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This is to BL, you seem to either have all the answers, or affiliated with the health field industry or a current or previous patient who seems very angry with other's who need medication or there questions answered, preferably by someone who isn't so disrespectful and doesn't know the person's whole story. And if you did I'm pretty sure that your attitude won't change. And I truly feel for you, even though, you could give a ___ about it. There's just so many better ways these so called PROFESSIONALS could handle this situation's. Doctors, Pharmacists, Pharmacy staff, Pain management team, PT, Dea team, etc. It stars with these educated Professionals to not speak among themselves or send letter's, notices about changes, but to educate the patient about what you may ask. Well when I'm sick or hurt I go to see a doctor. He is not only the first Professional I'm in contact with, but the most important Professional that not only is going to try and help me, but someone I can trust my health with, so I need to be educated by my Dr. and when I say educated I mean explanation of every thing that will help me to not only understand all the procedures at the Dr. office, but I need to be informed about what happens when I take a prescription to the pharmacy and run into some kind of new law, why wasn't I given a copy of this so called new law. That was supposed to be given to me or verbally, but I prefer in writing, because there is to many finger pointing or he said she said baloney. Coming right out the mouths of our Professionals, that's why I would like everything in writing. Because the insurance companies that collects our monthly premiums and let me tell you these premiums are high, so I expect from the Professional Dr. a education about my whole appointment today I want to know everything that has changed, the way I know it can be done new laws new policies what I can do if I run across any problems especially at the Pharmacy where I believe God resides. Because my monthly premium should get me a satisfying Dr. appointment that includes fully being informed of any new procedures that has to do with the doctor, Pharmacy Staff Pharmacist or even God. I don't want to leave this Dr. Office because the next patient is here for their appointment. Dr.'s should make sure the patient they are seeing has enough time to not only be treated but to be educated, we pay for our appointment,and you Dr.'s are compensated nicely. One word sums it all up Educate Me you see that's two words. I need to be educated from a Professional Doctor.

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I was speaking about a hospital setting. Hence. The sign at the Hospital

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BL You seem to always scrutinize people's words,shame on you.When I say educate me,I'm asking to talk to me,tell me about changes,that will affect me in any way,that might cause unexpected problems on my monthly visit. Are you following me BL,well one of the first thing we learn in school is the alphabets,so we can learn how to,here we go BL COMMUNICATE.Let me know is any procedures change any thing ,it would make every one and this world a better place to live.So BL if I sound like a jerk I'm sorry,you know that I just communicated how I felt toward you and my self.And I truly mean I'm sorry.Now to most of the people who are having problems with a Pharmacist or staff member,when was the last time you heard a true meant sorry from your great Pharmacy Team.

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Absolutely, it is happening all over the country. I have a pain physician but needed a family doctor to treat other illnesses. As the nurse called me back before I even opened my mouth she said, "we do not treat chronic pain"! I responded, " I wasn't asking you to treat chronic pain you dummy"!.. Then she said, "Oh"! If you have chronic pain, get a pain doctor who is very good. I have one of the best in the state I live in. It is true, that, if you have pain and go to a family doctor that they think you are 1) drug seeking, 2) an addict or 3) looking for pills to sell. Unfortunately, we with chronic pain, arthritis, spinal stenosis, degenerative disc and joint disease, scoliosis or have broken your spine at some point in your life, which all of the above apply to me are looked upon as drug seeking addicts. Its a fact because there are so many of the drug seekers, addicts etc, all of us are thought as such. Its very sad in this day and age too. I have a wonderful relationship with my pain doctor and I have NEVER, sold, traded or have given away my medications to anyone. They are that to me, medications. I never call them pills and everyone I know around me abuses, buys off the street and every month takes too much and run out of theirs. I did for about 11 months run out every month but couldn't figure out why.. I explain this later on... Its an illness just like any other except this one ruins families because people who are addicted often steal from their loved ones. My husband used to steal mine while I was going through chemotherapy and every month I would run out and I suffered.. I couldn't figure out why. My husband would never steal from me, the person he loved so much! I was naive and very wrong. I bought a very good safe and that ended that!!! If you do get on pain management, protect yourself by buying a safe and tell as few people as possible because many people you will now will be more of a friend because you have pain medications now. It happened to me!! Oh, she's got pain medications now so I will try to borrow from her!! It still happens even though I say know. Drug seekers can also spot you 10 miles away. When it comes to drugs, people's radars go off..

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I was speaking about a hospital setting. Hence. The sign at the Hospital. Please do not respond to what you think I am saying. I said a sign at a hospital which means in a hospital setting. No, in the real world we don't have the right to have our pain controlled. That is why I suffered, and I do mean suffered for over 20 years before I found a very good pain doctor. A good pain Doctor will help you, providing you have the correct documentation, x-rays, mri's, cat scans etc..

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It's no problem, really..This subject makes people mad, me included. There are people out there who make it hard for us to get pain relief, from some doctors who refuse to prescribe to those addicts, drug seekers and doctor shoppers..Not all of us are doing those things as have documented illnesses and injuries.. To me, it's infuriating and irritating that someone who has documented needs cannot get pain relief..

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@BL what is your problem? Dr. have a responsibility to their patients to address EVERY ailment that they PAY their doctors to discuss with them. it is their job to make their patients feel better. whether it be a simple cold or with pain. i am not sure who the hell you are with but you are not needed here with that attitude. i hate last word people. annoying as h3ll.

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Yes, this is a problem. But not just for the reasons people seem to be talking about.

Pain doctors are under increasing scrutiny regarding the medications they prescribe, as are all specialists.

My psychiatrist (who I see for sleep deprivation and the resulting depression that comes from not sleeping for days on end) was served notice from our state board that he was prescribing too many anti-psychotics and anti-depressants due to new standards in place thanks to the (Un)Affordable Health Care(less) Act.

He's a fricking psychiatrist for crying out loud.

My pain specialist, a neurologist who also practices sports and emergency medicine, is under constant threat of having his Schedule II prescription being denied because of Obamacare's increased governmental meddling and the crap science it promotes.

Now with every visit, I have to give a u/a to be sure I have therapeutic levels of morphine in my system. Because the state wants to make sure I am only barely able to walk. While the person who put me in this state of constant agony is living large on the state's teat in prison with his free medical, cable tv, air conditioning, crunchy or creamy peanut butter depending on his mood, and his cellie "girlfriend" for the next 25 years.

But I'm not bitter. Angry, but not bitter. Because I read the law. It took me nearly a year to do so, but I read it. I nearly went blind, but I did something that only a handful of Congressional aides did...because none of the jerks who voted for it read it. I can guaran-durn-tee it.

The insurance companies campaigned and wrote the law so that it is nearly impossible to get the care you need. No matter what it is.

It isn't political... It is strictly financial...

It isn't personal... It's business...

Some states allow you to grow and keep a certain level of medical, and in some cases recreational, marijuana. We'll be retiring to one of those states before much longer because it is becoming so difficult to get the meds I need. After all, THC is much less habit-forming than the multiple forms and doses of morphine I take every day just to function or the Ambien I need to get a few hours of sleep every few days. I'll still have to deal with pain, but not as much. I'll still be a little overweight, but that is just how it will have to be. And my blood pressure won't be a problem anymore...because I won't be stressed about having to cope with whether I can get a pharmacy to fill my prescriptions.

So look to your legislators and ask them why you cannot get the meds you need. They are the ones who did this to us.

Sure there are abuses. There are abuses is every system where the government decides to stick its nose and tell people how they can and cannot live.

Again, it isn't political...It's financial...

And until an informed public stands up for their rights and votes, not for the person who talks a good game and promises free stuff, but instead for the person who has a track record of making positive things happen and takes personal responsibility when things don't go right, things will never get better.

Because it is too easy to just sit back and grab the freebies they throw out to distract us while they obliterate our rights--to quality care, to freedom, to security.

Again...it's not personal... It's business...

And it's high time we made it our business to know what they are up to and how it screws us over.

So, yes. Yes it is happening all over the country.

It is happening to young and old, "rich" and poor (but mostly poor and middle class), smart and not-so-smart, healthy and not-so-healthy citizens.

How do we fix it? That is a question I don't have an answer to right now. But I do know that it is up to each of us to educate ourselves on our health situation and what alternatives are available in our care. Because one day filling a prescription simply won't be an option anymore.

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P450, I got to say, when someone like you who wants to be looked at as a know it all, done it all person, yet your blatant lies, tell me that your looking for attention. Now, there's some of us who can tell good advice from your advice (bul_s***) and you make it so difficult to be patient and understanding towards a very disrespectful person like you. I get a lot of good information and advice from this site, and there are people who truly are caring and helpful that actually know what they are talking about, so be respectful and you don't always have to be a mister know it all. Because you can hurt somebody with your nonsense, I know you're not going to like what I said, but I had to let you know how you came across to me, in one word, sad. This site is good and good people respect it, cause it lets others help each other with good honest advice. P450 I understand and feel you, take care.

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Angelina, I apologize for misunderstanding.

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BL
hat is not what I said. One more time: I have the right to have my pain ADDRESSED by my Health Care Provider.
I was not calling for an appointment to get pain meds in the first place!!! But if I have the need to have pain addressed, it will be done.
Please re-read my original post carefully and the followup "to be clear". Pain is not the focus of my discussion.

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