I've been on pain meds for years andalready take a decent amount.
How do you get your doctor to increase your pain meds without looking like a junkie?
Question posted by sdroper76 on 4 April 2012
Last updated on 17 December 2021 by Charmk56
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5 Answers
Charmk56
17 Dec 2021
With the way the opioid prescriptions are controlled in today's world you need to substantiate your pain claim. Have him order MRI for your upper and lower back. The results will back you up for your medication needs and also protect your doctor. There are limits set for how many milligrams he can give you according to law.
StarrG62
16 Dec 2021
Beside being my Dr he's been a long time friend. Makes such a difference. He tells me that is why he worries. After losing most of my hip bone in 96 my I never complained about the pain until my practitioner one day asked if I would like some relief. I said sure. I had not dealt with such pain relievers. But she was right because they got me back on track with daily life. She had the doctor sign a script for 5 mg Endocet. Maybe a year later she raised it to 7.5 and so on.
So it's been this long and of course the meds are not helping to keep me pain free. Age and hard labored jobs have taken a toll on me. I have so much crippling arthritis through entire body. Not one or two but many prolapsed discs from top to bottom (still working hard ). So many I know complain with back issues and I use to say it's part of aging and work. But now I am in excruciating pain with neck and back. And the burning is real.
Actual burning in upper and mid back.
I ask my Dr to up the dosage but he's not doing it. I do understand his point of view yet if only he understood what I'm dealing with. I still work very hard and I'm feeling it.
Any suggestions as to what I can do? My doctor is a great guy and don't want to lose his friendship.
Windchimes123
2 Oct 2017
Hi sdroper,
Buddy and Anonymous gave you great advice.
It’s good that you are going to the same doctor and have established a relationship.
As mentioned, it is expected to develop a tolerance.
Probably the best way to present your case is to start a journal and bring it to your appointment.
Write down the times you are taking the meds and the time when the pain is taking control.
Write down how it’s affecting your life and how your lifestyle is being affected.
An example would be that you no longer go out walking because it increases your pain.
Write down your pain numbers throughout the day so he sees how many hours you are in pain.
They need to see how your life is changed in regards to basic functions.
Do NOT say you cannot go out on Friday nights. Lol... I’m being extreme.
DO say you are only sleeping 5 hours a night. You are eating only half meals twice a day because of the pain.
You are not active anymore for fear of it becoming out of control.
They use your pain scale and these words to justify increasing the meds for your chart. You are spoonfeeding him the info he needs for his documentation.
Good luck
:-)
Petersville
2 Oct 2017
First of all, never tell the truth. The doctors have a God complex. You can tell them that the pills have little or no effect, or are having little or no effect. Remind them that pain relief is what you came there for and you're not getting it
Buddy1971
5 April 2012
I've had some "issues" & was still able to get my meds upped by being honest & letting her know that they're not working well enough & not that I expect to be completely pain free but just controlled enough that my quality of life is good. That would be my suggestion or that you'd like to try something different but still have the option to go back to what you were on. Hope it works out.
Inactive
5 April 2012
I concur with buddy's answer. Honesty is the best policy. Most pain docs know you will build a tolerance so just tell them that. After years of being on them they don't work as well. Another option depending on what you take, would be a long acting pain med with the short acting ones for breakthru pain.
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