Talking to doctor about pain meds?

[crohnsdisease2]

Little backstory, I've had crohns for 8-9 years, a severe case and traditional meds just flat out aren't working or I'm allergic to them.


Painkillers allow me to at least semi-function and enjoy life a little. I have pain every day.


I started seeing my family doctor about 5 months ago...you guys know the drill, we started with anti-depressants, then tramadol, then codine, then hydrocodone, then to perocet 5mg 120/m, then percocet 7.5mg 120/m. I was on percocet 7.5mg for 3-4 months, and it worked great, I was able to more every day and felt better and more energetic and the pain was much better.
However last month he told me to try taking 1/2 a pill instead of a whole pill. I told him it didn't work near as well and I wasn't able to do it. Well this month he reduced it to 5mg so it would be a little more than half of 7.5mg.
It sounds like hes weaning me off and I'm afraid of losing the life saving prescription that was so hard to get in the first place.

It's week 3 of the 5 mg and it's just not working near as well, although I'm afraid to call or complain because everything looks like drug seeking behavior, and I just don't know what to do.

I wasn't sure where to post this but I figured you guys would have the most experience.

in my first visits with him I asked for a referral to a pain management doctor, he told me we didn't need to do that yet.

I'm not sure what to do...I can't lose this prescription, it's the only thing keeping me going every day. I'm not sure if I should call and say the 5mg isn't working very well...or wait until the next appointment...or not say anything at all and just be happy I get something in this opiate-phobic environment.

 

[Jabee]

Where are you located? I'm in Massachusetts where we have new legislation limiting amounts of opiates. I get my best pain relief from Percocet as well, and after my hospitalization in March was taking quite a lot because of the pain. My GP is very nervous about opiates and my GI doesn't prescribe pain relievers. I have found that they are willing to prescribe pain medication if they can see (via any sort of imaging) something that is causing the pain. Unfortunately things sometimes don't show up, and that can leave us suffering. On the whole I support my doctors' reluctance to prescribe opiates, but that does make for some painful days.

If you don't respond to "regular" crohn's medications, do they check to see what the damage to your gut is? Perhaps you could have some new imaging done? CT scan, MRE, or scopes?

Wishing you the best.

 

[Maya142]

You should definitely see a pain management specialist. Because there has been so much on the "opioid crisis", no matter where you are, it is going to be harder and harder to get pain meds. Seeing a pain management doctor will help - GP's really should not be prescribing pain meds anyway for chronic conditions.

My daughter is also on pain meds and she has to see a pain management doctor monthly to get them.

 

[crohnsdisease2]

You should definitely see a pain management specialist. Because there has been so much on the "opioid crisis", no matter where you are, it is going to be harder and harder to get pain meds. Seeing a pain management doctor will help - GP's really should not be prescribing pain meds anyway for chronic conditions.

My daughter is also on pain meds and she has to see a pain management doctor monthly to get them.

Yeah it's looking like that's going to be the route I'm going to have to go. It feels like hes hesitant to keep me on the sadly. I was hoping to stay clear of PM's due to how strict they are but it's better than not getting them for sure.

Thanks.

Where are you located? I'm in Massachusetts where we have new legislation limiting amounts of opiates. I get my best pain relief from Percocet as well, and after my hospitalization in March was taking quite a lot because of the pain. My GP is very nervous about opiates and my GI doesn't prescribe pain relievers. I have found that they are willing to prescribe pain medication if they can see (via any sort of imaging) something that is causing the pain. Unfortunately things sometimes don't show up, and that can leave us suffering. On the whole I support my doctors' reluctance to prescribe opiates, but that does make for some painful days.

If you don't respond to "regular" crohn's medications, do they check to see what the damage to your gut is? Perhaps you could have some new imaging done? CT scan, MRE, or scopes?

Wishing you the best.

I live in north carolina currently.

So far I've tried humira, pentasa, remicade, methotrexate, 6mp, and imuran. I'm currently on a clinical trial.

I had a colonoscopy done about 4 months ago showing ulcers/inflammation.
I do understand both sides, it's probably hard for the doctor too, but it's just so hard to live with pain everyday....I'd rather be able to live now than worry about the possible consequences to the future.

Thanks!