- pain meds

[Guest guest]

I know you mentioned before that your rheumy does not prescribe pain meds,

, and it doesn't make me happy to hear that - not before and not

now either. First of all, the rate of addiction for all users of all pain

meds is quite small in relation to those who use them legitimately.

Secondly, I would wager a large sum that the rate of addiction amongst

rheumatic disease sufferers as a group would be even smaller than that first

figure. Thirdly, it's more trouble for whom than it worth for whom?

Obviously, what your doctor is saying is that it is too much trouble FOR HER

to implement a system through which to responsibly prescribe pain meds even

though it would make a world of difference to be pain-free FOR YOU. It is

too much of a hassle FOR HER although FOR YOU it would mean a great deal in

your day-to-day life. That kind of attitude, and pardon my language, sucks.

Furthermore, she has the nerve to say that it's OK for your primary to

prescribe them, but she doesn't want to be bothered with the whole process.

So she is not opposed to your having the meds, she just doesn't want the

responsibility of dispensing them. This is not someone who has your best

interests at heart.

[ ] Re: shoulder...

> Don't mean to but into the conversation, but my Rhuemy does not

> prescribe pain meds either. She refuses, she says that they are more

> trouble than they are worth, that too many people get addicted. Said

> there are lots of Rheumys out there who do, and that if my PCP wanted

> to precribe them that was OK with her. I tend to agree with you

> about the dependant, not addicted point of view. I have been a drug

> addict, and I am now revovered. I have had to take pain meds at

> times (got them from my PCP)and I had no desire to abuse them. I

> wanted them to be there when I needed them. I don't know why these

> doctors try to play God with our lives. It is scary sometimes. Just

> wanted to vent, tee hee. I'm done now.

>

>

>

>

> > ,

> >

> > I hope the shot (cortisone, I assume) works, but I would still want

> to know

> > exactly what the problem is with your shoulder. Especially since

> you have

> > such degeneration in your knees and hips already, I think having

> your

> > shoulder checked out would be a good idea.

> >

> > The rest of what you said is fairly disturbing. What combination of

> meds

> > were you discussing? It's not as if you shouldn't be concerned

> about FUTURE

> > damage. Now, if your rheumatologist is confident that the Enbrel is

> holding

> > the destruction in check, that's a fine assumption as long as he is

> > monitoring the progression carefully and you seem to be stable.

> What sort of

> > x-rays or MRIs or scans of your bones have you had and when? What I

> really

> > want to know is from the time you were diagnosed with RA until you

> started

> > Enbrel and up through now what has been done to document your

> status (hands,

> > feet, knees, shoulders, hips)?

> >

> > Please refresh my memory about the different pain meds you have

> tried and

> > why your rheumatologist is so opposed to prescribing them for you.

> That's

> > horrible. I know that, sadly, you haven't had any success so far in

> getting

> > any good pain relief. Does he believe that you should just suffer?

> If this

> > is so, you should consider seeing someone else. Or does he believe

> that the

> > replacements will take care of your pain and that you should be

> able to live

> > in great pain until then? This is making me angry! Your other

> doctors didn't

> > seem to be too helpful in the pain management department either.

> What about

> > a pain specialist?

> >

> > Sorry.

> >

> >