[Debpurpletiger]

I have chronic low back pain due to 3 slipped/bulging disks at L3, L4, and L5. One is also torn.

I have been on Narcotic painkillers for 4 years now and I take 60mg of MS Contin in the morning, and another 60mg at night = 120mg daily. I can also take 2 5mg Percocets per day if I need to.....I always need to because the MS Contin does NOT get rid of all the pain. I used to be on Oxycontin, had to switch due to expense.

Been on the morphine for one year and originally was prescribed (If I remember right) 40mg in morning and 40mg at night = 80mg per day. Like I said, now I am on a total of 120mg per day.

Last visit I asked for an increase of 10mg in the am and 10mg in pm so that would = 70mg am and pm totalling 140mg per day.

Dr said no to that and also no to having 3 Percocets to take per day vs the 2 I get now.

How should I approach this again. She is not a pain dr., just an Internist. I do not want to look like I am drug-seeking as I am not. My tolerance has gotten higher. Any advice on how to approach dr?

[Robert_325]

If you've been in the industry four years, RX drugs are your forte and you're very educated in this area it would seem you would know how to approach your dr. You show them your medical records, explain the pain isn't being controlled whatsoever and ask for new medication that helps you.

Patients are the clients, drs are getting paid to provide a service not morally judge anyone. If the service is necessary then it shouldn't be that difficult to explain it to the dr just by telling the truth. Your dr knows RX opiates cause a tolerance and it IS the dr's responsibility to handle the patient's pain satisfactorily.

I had to see a dr yesterday that I had never seen before. I showed him my medical records, my request was justified and I was prescribed exactly what I asked for no questions asked. Just shooting straight with drs usually works best for me. God bless.

[Debpurpletiger]

My dr has all my records, MRI's, etc...... Her reason for not wanting me to increase the dose is, "I don't want to see a young gal like you on Narcotics for the rest of your life." (I am 40)

So I just don't know exactly how to word it, again.....since she said no at my last visit. I do have an appt with a pain dr but it is not until DECEMBER!!!

[Robert_325]

Forgive me if I come off as being a wise guy. I don't mean to do that. I just answer so many posts here on this forum that some of these drs piss me off royally. Forgive me for not sounding like the Christian that I am but some of these drs need to realize they don't rule the world.

I would tell the dr that I don't want to be a young gal on opiates either but I also REFUSE to be a young gal who can barely function without excrutiating pain. What is she going to say? She has to do something to help you. That is the law. Fix me or make it go away .... the choice is hers. Tell her.

I guess that I've always held drs in high esteem but they are no different than me, they just went to school a couple more years. I won't allow a dr to tell me that my pain doesn't justify meds if it does in fact.

I personally got off 900mg of Roxicodone per day in 2002 after decades of pain meds so I understand pain and pain drs. I haven't taken a RX opiate in several years. But YOU are the customer. Tell the dr to either give you some medication or fix you. It's up to them but you're sick of feeling so badly and don't have any intentions of continuing living like that.

That's how I would do it if I needed medication the dr didn't think I should have because he/she was judging me. I'm paying for a service, not a psychological evaluation. I wish you the best. God bless.

[Debpurpletiger]

Thank you, Robert, for what you said...I appreciate it.

I know alot of Doctors have the "power of the pen", Lololol but what is even worse is the PHARMACISTS who think they are higher up than Doctors!

I did see my Dr again today and she did UP the Morphine from 60mg in the morning and 60mg at night to 70mg in the AM and 70 in the PM so thats a start.......