Anyone Have Insight Into Medical Discrimination in the UK??

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

I'm not sure if this counts or not?

My doctors are deliberately, SEVERELY under-prescribing me pain medication (they've even admitted so to my face) due to my having suffered addiction in the past (alcohol and opioids). I have not had a problem with alcohol since 2017 and I have not abused opioids since 2015. I also stopped methadone in 2015.

Is it medical discrimination? I understand them having to be careful and trying to prescribe the minimum amount, but I think that is very different to deliberately and severely undermedicating me to the point where I literally cannot walk some days. I'm on a daily basis in so much pain it's a HUGE struggle just to get myself a glass of water or go to the bathroom.
If I'm in so much pain that I sometimes consider suicide because of it (and they know this)...surely it's a LEAST negligence?

 

[AlsoTapered]

The BNF clearly states that someone's former or current use of opioid analgesics should not influence the prescribing of appropriate medication where indicated.

But of course, the indication for strong opioids is 'unacceptable distress'. Not pain, distress.

So after only 21 years my new GP took one look at my X-rays, swore in German and gave me oxycodone with the note 'you WILL need to take these for the rest of your life'. So I do my best NOT to use it.

Beware - OxyContin (or, rather, the generics) are a trap. They don't last for 12 hours so you go into WD twice a day. I had to barter with my GP to give me 30mg OC BID and 15mg OC BID.... which makes 30mg TID...

 

[SpiralusSancti]

Hmm.. I’m not in UK but also can’t get pain-relief meds as it’s assumed I would abuse them. I can’t get anything for muscle relaxation for same reason. And I really need both. But if I would want it, I can get huge dose of bupe and benzos for addiction problems lol.. And I can get it so easy, all I would need to do is, to say – Well I feel I might start using drugs, could I get something to prevent it?

 

[MsDiz]

I'm not sure if this counts or not?

My doctors are deliberately, SEVERELY under-prescribing me pain medication (they've even admitted so to my face) due to my having suffered addiction in the past (alcohol and opioids). I have not had a problem with alcohol since 2017 and I have not abused opioids since 2015. I also stopped methadone in 2015.

Is it medical discrimination? I understand them having to be careful and trying to prescribe the minimum amount, but I think that is very different to deliberately and severely undermedicating me to the point where I literally cannot walk some days. I'm on a daily basis in so much pain it's a HUGE struggle just to get myself a glass of water or go to the bathroom.
If I'm in so much pain that I sometimes consider suicide because of it (and they know this)...surely it's a LEAST negligence?

Have you been referred to pain management by your GP?

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

The BNF clearly states that someone's former or current use of opioid analgesics should not influence the prescribing of appropriate medication where indicated.

But of course, the indication for strong opioids is 'unacceptable distress'. Not pain, distress.

So after only 21 years my new GP took one look at my X-rays, swore in German and gave me oxycodone with the note 'you WILL need to take these for the rest of your life'. So I do my best NOT to use it.

Beware - OxyContin (or, rather, the generics) are a trap. They don't last for 12 hours so you go into WD twice a day. I had to barter with my GP to give me 30mg OC BID and 15mg OC BID.... which makes 30mg TID...

So what they're doing IS illegal then?
And, yes, definitely distress as well as pain. I have increasingly frequent suicidal thoughts because of this issue...like they are under-treating my pain so severely that I sometimes literally wish I was dead.

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Hmm.. I’m not in UK but also can’t get pain-relief meds as it’s assumed I would abuse them. I can’t get anything for muscle relaxation for same reason. And I really need both. But if I would want it, I can get huge dose of bupe and benzos for addiction problems lol.. And I can get it so easy, all I would need to do is, to say – Well I feel I might start using drugs, could I get something to prevent it?

Unfortunately, where I live, people lie at methadone/similar clinics so often that they stopped all benzo prescribing several years ago as people would use it as an excuse to get free benzos on top of what they buy...they now also so regular blood and urine tests because people would take co-codamol to test positive for opioids and lie that they were taking heroin in order to get their methadone increased. So now they test you and send it to the lab to find out WHAT opioid is in your system and HOW MUCH. So I'd literally have to go out and use heroin or fentanyl or something for several days leading up to going there :/

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Have you been referred to pain management by your GP?

Yes...and also sent the pain clinic notes NOT to prescribe me ANYTHING. SO all the pain clinic could do was physio...which (Surprise!) does fuck all good when it's NERVE DAMAGE and ORGAN pain...like, you can't use musculoskeletal exercises to undo damaged nerves or heal a pancreas :/
I could have told them that....Pretty sure anyone who passed 6th grade biology could have told them that.

 

[MsDiz]

Yes...and also sent the pain clinic notes NOT to prescribe me ANYTHING. SO all the pain clinic could do was physio...which (Surprise!) does fuck all good when it's NERVE DAMAGE and ORGAN pain...like, you can't use musculoskeletal exercises to undo damaged nerves or heal a pancreas :/
I could have told them that....Pretty sure anyone who passed 6th grade biology could have told them that.

Ok, so you have diagnosed conditions which are painful and you aren’t getting adequate pain relief. Have you asked them about the complaints procedure at the practice you are at? Have you gone to citizens advice and asked them what you can do?

I’d probably go to citizens advice first then ask your practice about its complaint procedure. I’d assume they will give you the practice managers name and you’d start there then escalate. It’s a lot of work and you’ll have to be very factual rather than emotional in your letters, would help to have a friend who is a solicitor help you.

It’s all I can suggest. I don’t suggest going to get methadone. If people don’t challenge Drs who won’t prescribe adequate pain relief then nothing will change.

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Ok, so you have diagnosed conditions which are painful and you aren’t getting adequate pain relief. Have you asked them about the complaints procedure at the practice you are at? Have you gone to citizens advice and asked them what you can do?

I’d probably go to citizens advice first then ask your practice about its complaint procedure. I’d assume they will give you the practice managers name and you’d start there then escalate. It’s a lot of work and you’ll have to be very factual rather than emotional in your letters, would help to have a friend who is a solicitor help you.

It’s all I can suggest. I don’t suggest going to get methadone. If people don’t challenge Drs who won’t prescribe adequate pain relief then nothing will change.

I've applied to a new doctors practice and I'm accepted as a patient there as of today, so I'm gonna see a doctor there and hopefully they'll help with my pain and be more sympathetic.
Yeah, I was on methadone once and definitely don't want to go back on it.

 

[MsDiz]

I've applied to a new doctors practice and I'm accepted as a patient there as of today, so I'm gonna see a doctor there and hopefully they'll help with my pain and be more sympathetic.
Yeah, I was on methadone once and definitely don't want to go back on it.

Ok well be factual about your level of pain without being too OTT. Tell your Dr you realise that you don’t expect to get to 0/10 for pain but would like something that will help your day to day activities.

Your notes will be shared, you know this, it’s on the system. Don’t deny anything like being on pain management, if they ask say you tried what they suggested. Say you still do your physio exercises, that you have a hot bath or do cold water compress’ etc.

Be honest, don’t exaggerate your pain. I wish you luck with the new practice.

 

[SpiralusSancti]

I’m gona try out this approach too.