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Several years ago, I was diagnosed by a spine specialist (surgeon) that my condition was inoperable. He wanted me to do epidural steroid injections but my PCP didn't agree, based on what I did for a living, and other factors. Instead, he chose to treat me with an opioid that I could get from my pharmacy without any problems. Since the CDC's campaign became headline news, my doctor won't write it anymore, for fear of losing his license.
I can end this life, or try the black market, but my pension(s) are supporting me and my wife.
I don't know how much longer I can stay the course, as the "pain days" are getting pretty intense. Is there any way to get the government out of my personal life beside taking it? Get back to cheap medicines that work?

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Time to get a second opinion from another spine specialist and see what type of treatment is available now a days. Pharmacies are always developing new and improved meds for many medical situations, or maybe surgery is now available where it wasn't several years ago.

I can understand your current doctor not wanting to write a prescription for opioids, as one can become too dependent on said meds, and the opioids will eventually not be enough thus causing you to seek out meds you can't get through the normal route.
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Pain management physicians have access to something equivocal to your old med. I know what you mean as my hubby goes to Pain Mgmt has been told by his provider that med will no longer be available. He's trying something else -
Hang in there, don't despair, just work with your physicians to see what is effective.
Good Luck!
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Please don't take your life.
We really need some funny people who can lighten up the others (and themselves) carrying a heavy burden.
I don't know why pain doesn't kill a person, it just hurts a whole lot and then some.

I am medically interested in what type of job you have that steroid injections would be contraindicated, but that opiods would not. Hoping you are not out climbing poles or using dangerous machinery.

In states such as Mo., your very own doctor could be one targeted for past over prescribing opiods. That doesn't mean the doctor was wrong, but you are correct, the government is cracking down. And, again, that doesn't mean the patient is an addict, imo.

Try a pain specialist, a neurologist, and alternative sources of pain management, such as physical therapy, chiropractor, medical acupuncturist.

Have you heared of Prolia injections? An orthopedic m.d. and others (neurologist) can perform these. And, new back surgeries (minor) are being perfected, but I don't know what they are called. See a specialist, but at the same time, don't go do too much doctor-shopping to get your fave drugs, because you will be labelled and cut off, with only Cannabais to keep you high enough for pain relief. Could you do your work then?

So keep trying....there is hope. Swimming too, strengthen abdominal muscles to help your back. You are not that old yet.
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Your PCP has been called on the carpet for something. Get a new doctor who is not afraid of doing the right thing for you. imo.
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Ok, maybe I did not have enough information. Saw your other post.
Is your condition due to muscle spasms?

What do you know as the cause if what you have said:  "Crippling eleavator ani spasms?".
Maybe someone on here knows.  Is that your diagnosis?  Do you have sciatica-pain down a leg?

Have you tried ice, heating pads, massage, to decrease your need for pain meds?
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You should get to a pain management specialist immediately. But I agree that your doctor is not telling you everything, I am on opioids. My doctor will only prescribe me a 100 pills non-refillable at a time. He writes a new prescription every time I need a refill and he sees me every 6 months to assess my pain. But he has never even hinted to not prescribing me the opioid. I don't have crippling pain, but I do have arthritis.
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Yes, can you describe your symptoms and diagnosis? Where is your pain?
Maybe re-evaluate and agree to the injections if you aren't working climbing poles,etc.
Good Pain Mgmt doctors will work with you to find what works for you but this entire national clamp down and additional laws for opiates are very detrimental to this with chronic pain.
I wish every state would identify & investigate certain practices in pain mgmt by demo/zip code and run status reports on those practices quarterly or something. Leave the centers with good statistics and patient outcomes alone!
Try another provider. Make sure the provider is in your insurance network so you don't get hit with more expensive co-pays.
Please as you mentioned in your post - call the suicide hotline where ever you are - you can always get another doctor but there is only one you....Seek help.
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Myaching; Have you been to physical therapy for this condition?
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Consider trying a naturopathic practitioner, such as an acupuncturist or chiropractor. Sometimes they have effective solutions that conventional medical doctors lack.
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This has to be terribly challenging, and I'm with lilacalani, it will be very good for you to seek out an acupuncturist (and physical therapy, if you haven't already taken advantage of that). The body gets out of whack and you deserve something song with just numbing. Good luck.
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Please take a deep breath and seek out another doctor...pain mgmt, neuro, etc and please let us know how you are
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My back pain has been helped enormously by the following: Physical therapy that I do every day at home, including stretches and strengthening exercises; daily workouts on my stationary recumbent bike; Tai Chi practice; and I recently started a ketogenic eating plan and much of my inflammation is already gone -- I even broke into a trot the other day - something that been unthinkable for several years. Realizing my solutions are just that -- my solutions -- I share them in case there are any you have not yet tried. The pills are definitely easier, but the advantage of the list above is that the results get better over time instead of wearing off like a pill does. Pain sucks the energy out of us, so I hold you in prayer as you find your way through this dilemma. While taking our own life can be tempting, you are wise and loving to realize that the impact on the wife you love would be devastating emotionally, not just financially. Keep searching, and try things that may seem counterintuitive - we never know which thing is going to restore our balance and life quality, but there are many non-prescription things out there that do just that. To your health!
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I have been on opioid for a very long time for osteoarthritis throughout my body and sjogrens. I have had no addiction or abuse. I have been extremely worried about your issue of no longer getting. It gets harder to get refill everytime. I take muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatories and none allow me to be a caretaker and activites of daily living without the opiod staying ahead of pain. Once again the abuse of some affect those of us that can't function without. I depend on donated care so I do not have access to a pain mgmt doctor or ortho for back issues. I appreciate the physicians that care for me but they also are being scared by government crackdown. Please look other places for answers so you can help those of us facing same issues. I so hope you find answers without taking your life. Let us know what you find out.
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I too suffer from chronic pain, and all I can say is that you present a difficult issue with many factors (diagnosis, pain levels, pain tolerance, insurance coverage, physician access, addiction risk, alternative therapies, the ongoing opioid epidemic crackdown, etc.) and no single best answer.

First, if you are considering suicide, please seek new help for both your suicidal thoughts and your pain. If your insurance offers it, talk to a (nurse) case-manager, and seek out a referral to a pain management specialist from either that case manager or your primary care physician. If your pain was well controlled on your opioid regimen without other impairment of function, then you should be able to get into a pain management program that will allow you to continue with that therapy.

However, once the immediate pain is under control, it would be worthwhile to start from scratch, obtain a thorough re-evaluation, and seek other therapeutic options. As you are the primary steward of your own body, you need to become educated on your symptoms, diagnosis, and possible treatments. Thankfully, that is easier to do via the Internet, now-a-days, but it still takes time and effort. As the opioid epidemic crackdown is not going to stop, it is likely to become even harder to obtain opioid medications going forward, particularly from primary care providers for non-terminal diagnoses. You need to anticipate as much.

Best of luck to you.
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As an RN, I have seen this happening more frequently. You need to be referred to a pain management specialist. They are permitted to write prescriptions for long term use of opoids and they are required to oversee the patient to assess pain levels. I know it is discouraging, but hang in there....you may get even better relief.
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I would return to the Physician who specializes in spinal problems and also visit a pain control center.
It does not sound like your Primary Care Physician thought your spinal problem through.
Also, please be aware of the impropriety of Doctor Shopping for pain killers.
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I have to agree with those who say you need to seek a pain management specialist who specializes in spinal procedures. There is so much help now. I had back surgery last June. I was in so much pain, I could not imagine how people coped years ago without it. I still have some issues; but I am no longer in pain and do not take pain meds. I also had an steroid epidural months before I had the surgery and it was a tremendous help, it got me up and walking. I don't understand why you were told not to do it.

You said you were diagnosed years ago. A lot has changed. Get a another opinion from a spine center or a doctor that is using advanced technologies. There is help out there.
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Definitely go back to the doctor or call - there could very well be another pain medicine that will work equally well and be available.
Another option is a neighboring state might still be selling the pills.

My DH was taken off Tramadol and put on Lortab - but other than the name, it worked just as well without the risk factor.

I do know people that order from Canada and/or Mexico - so you still have options - but I'd start with calling the doctor first.
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Just want to address the over prescribing opiods. These are a DEA controlled substance. A doctor can prescribe all he wants to a patient but...the pharmacy should catch it. I worked for a parmacutical wholesaler. A DEA drug could not be gotten without sending in the order by mail. No Xerox copies no faxes. The pharmacists has to prove to the DEA that for every drug he ordered thru us he had a presription for. If a pharmacist saw a customer was getting too much it should be questioned. Many a pharmacist has caught a med mistake by a doctor. Yes, opiods should have not been used the way they have been. They were manufactured to be used on terminal patients. NJ makes it seem that this is a new thing, I haven't worked for that company in 14 yrs and  opiods were a problem back then. Over seven yrs ago a local woman was campaigning against them and had local doctors signing off saying they wouldn't prescribe them. Her BFF lost two out of three sons to drug overdoses.
To the OP. Like said, you need to see a pain management doctor. You probably already have an addiction.
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This is getting ridiculous. Seniors who have few yrs left anyway, being denied
pain meds. Soon marijuana will be legal everywhere. Personally, I hate narcodics. I came off cold turkey and just wanted to die as it was horrible.
I have a terrible feeling about drs who cave to the govt. Drs know our pain.
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When I had a double knee replacement the best pain killer was not an opiod but a med that is also used by epiletics that calms the nerves called 'gabapenten' [sp?] - after I left hospital that was all I needed plus extra strength tylenol - maybe time for an overhaul on meds anyway if you are having that many pain days
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Sorry, I should say that it was Oxycodone (Oxycotin) the opiod I meant by my post. I agree with the posts you need to see what is "new" out there for pain therapy.
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Just want to mention what I found out about meds and insurance companies. My nephew was taking an ADD med that his prescription plan said he needed to replace it with something similar because they were no longer covering it. So his Dr. called them and said my nephew had already tried the alternatives and that this particular med was the only one that worked so the prescription company allowed it. Our local Office of the Aging helps people on Medicaid insurance, which my nephew had. We went to see them and we were told, at the time, that for $5 a month my nephew could go up a tier and that med would be covered. So we did it and never had a problem having that med covered. The cost did go up every year. Not sure if this type of thing can be done with all companies or not.
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Believe it or not, the best pain remedy is actually through your diet. Look at what's going in your mouth and how much of it. If you're badly neglecting one area or another, it'll definitely cause more pain than necessary depending on what you're facing. For simple arthritis, I would switch to a mostly or all natural diet of mostly plant-based with a little meat here and there. Another thing you'll want to consider is the possibility of upping your water intake if you don't already drinking off throughout the day as the human body need 64 fluid ounces and also get more into dairy if you're not already. Whole milk is actually better than skim
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If one has back pain that includes a disk, and you get that shooting pain down your leg, the best thing I ever did as "traction". I was on pain pills and walking with a cane, even wore a machine that would zap the pain. Physical therapy didn't help at all :(

I know when my doctor first mentioned traction I thought of some med-evil type of torture machine. Actually it was an easy machine to be hooked up to, and two sessions my back pain went away.... that was almost 25 years ago and I never had an issue since.

I realize that not all back pain is created equal, so this may or may not work. Worth a try if your doctor says it is ok.
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With all the focused attention on opiods, has also come information..... they were never designed to be for long term pain control due to the extreme addictiveness and negative side effects on the body. Pain management specialists look for alternative (often multi discipline) methods to help manage pain without addiction issues. I would suggest seeing what is available to manage pain and increase your quality of life.
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Those that suggested Canada drugs or other mail order. I have been unable in the three states i have lived to get narcotics mailed at all. Either thru insurance ir not. Dont know if its national but am betting it is. If not it soon will be.
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My mother has had five neck and back surgeries. Her spine is practically made of titanium. She was prescribed a ton of Norco which ended up becoming a disaster (for several reasons). To make a long story short, I took her to a pain management doctor. The doctor put her on a Butrans patch. The patch worked out well since it slowly releases the painkiller. She puts on a new patch once a week. There are other patches that work the same way but have different painkillers. I thought that I should share this with you since this is another option. Bringing my mom to the pain management doctor changed her life.
Also, I agree with what others said about a second opinion from a surgeon. My brother is a neurosurgeon (and very good one) and performs spinal surgery all the time. He operates on many patients who were previously told that there condition was inoperable. Don't dispair, there is always a solution.
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My wife has had pain issues for years. Tulsa, OK is the nearest place we have found to get some relief. In fact, she is getting her ablations done mid upper back two weeks apart and that is for not only upper back pain but referred pain to her abdomen. NOW, she also has a Medtronic pain stimulator in place for her lower back and right leg pain. WHO did we find? Pain Management doctor who has practiced anesthesia first and then now is in pain management. The laws for dispensing too much pain medication is what they are exposing, but going to a group of physicians for pain management is to her and me the answer. I am a retired RN and know many of the challenges that the doctors face. Demanding is NOT the answer. She also has oral pain meds and is also on a pain patch. Help is there - find a Christian doctor who cares and treat them as you would want to be treated. The police is frequently parked outside there large office building and my question to the staff was: "why"? So many times there are druggies who demand medications was the answer. Enough said.
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