Unfortunately, that's the system that we're living in now. Doctors are supposedly soooo much smarter than us normal people, but they somehow managed to get the entire country hooked on powerful painkillers in less than a decade. Now, they've done an about face, not mentioning the fact that the whole thing is their fault and are treating all pain patients like criminals. They just can't seem to find that porridge that's just right. They have to have it either totally hot or totally cold, both sides being detrimental to the patient.
I'm not saying do anything crazy. I'm saying be honest, assertive, confident and present yourself in a fashion like "I am in pain that has been fully verified by MRI results and I will have my pain adequately treated. You're not taking no for an answer, but that doesn't mean getting aggressive or getting in anyone's face. It just means, don't let them bully you and push you into that box where all the addicts are. You're not an addict, that's not your thing and you will not be grouped in with them.
What I'm saying basically, is that you have honesty on your side. You don't need to fake anything. You have pain. It's legitimate. You need to act like you're prepared for battle, but you're not going into it yet. If they discharge you for demanding appropriate care, I say, hit them with everything you've got. Grievances, phone calls, complaints about specific Doctor's bedside manner. We are in a fucked up system here my friend, both for licit and illicit users. Sometimes you have to be aggressive.
As I said thank you for taking the time. It is really appreciated.
I have already done exactly as you said. I was always assertive. I always took their advice, but I always laid it all out for them. Even letting them know opioid treatment has become a very touchy nit picked topic and in some cases a last resort for treatment. I had to work my way up on dosages because they would of showed me the door. They knew that in reality its their office, their DEA number, their judgement. And I can try their options as well as ask for what really works which is opiod therapy. In lesser words the ball was knowledgeable in their court.
I let them exhaust all treatment options themselves, while even keeping an open mind that maybe, in fact one of these epidurals might be a sucess.
They already know my side, I explained myself well, I even explained I understand and respect them. Honestly, I never did take no for an answer, I always gave them the truth.
As of right now at my next appointment, all I can do is make an attempt to explain myself, with hopes I'm not interuppted and cut off on insight or my medications.
Its a dice roll now. NOT a very comfortable situation. With the information I've gathered from each appointment, this Dr has a temperment that will be shown. I dont want the bad side of it.
The way it looks, is I need to find another Dr, take my results and explain my knowledge and situation as briefly as I can with hopes they understand. I don't think this Dr will budge anymore, but I can only tell by how my next appointment goes. I'm feeling as if they will be offended if I ask for all my records at this practice and inform the Dr I would like a second opinion.
I'm really thinking their intentions are actual to discharge me for absolutely no reason just because of how "by the book" everything has gone, including my injections and medication adjustments. Its almost as if the Dr will say, " You are still in pain?? Maybe you should go somewhere else". Its a hard spot and its going to effect my month no matter what. I assure you too, that I do not misuse my medication. Its just another month with pain, with or without medicines. Medicines being helpful of course, but not meeting my needs.
