DR wanting to reduce my medication

[Daz75]

I suffer with a degenerative disease of my lumbar spine I have been through the pain management system twice. At first I was perscribed 400mg of MST Continus, 12.5ml of Oramorph, codeine, amitripyline, gabapentin which was a very large prescription. After a while I went and on my own fruition I reduced my levels due to being very conscious of the amount. After many trials and exhausting all treatment options I was finally put on a prescription of 7x30mg codeine, amitripyline, gabapentin, 120 mg of MST Continus twice daily. Which I was told was a maintenance dose and in the event of a flare up my MST would be temporary increased until my flare-up subsided. I stayed on this perscription. In the event of moving to another location I joined a new Doctors surgery. Due to the level of analgesic medication I was taking I was asked on the behalf of my Dr and the Partners to attend a Specialist Input and Review with regards to my medication. I attended all meetings and discussions took place and I was given the ok and I continued to take that prescription for two years. Unfortunately my Drs of 30 year tenure was up and he retired. I then saw the Dr that on occasions I saw when my main Dr was away or sick. Due to past experience and mistakes that have happened I only see one Dr. " to many cooks spoil the broth" My new Doctor wrote to me saying she and her partners were concerned regarding the amount of analgesia I was taking. To show that I wanted to comply and show I wanted to work collaboratively with them I reluctantly reduced my MST Continus by 60mg. This was the biggest mistake I agreed to and has happened to me. I have been in pain even since. I have been to hospital on a few occasions. Even taking to hospital after taking being on holiday. I have suffered with serious pain and spasms and my Dr remains stoic and even wants to further reduce my pain medication. I have had many appointments to try and reason and justify to her that I'm in serious pain and my day to day activities have seriously suffered. I have also had a very serious infection on my leg which I have had many, many appointments with my Dr a Hospital appointments and one 9 day admittance in hospital. I have had 4 different diagnosis on which all turned out to be incorrect. I am in pain and at the end of my tether. I have always had great trusting relationships with my Drs but this is different. If I cannot get help and pain relief from the people who are appointed to look after me then please can someone advise me on what to do. Many forums I have been on have told me to smoke cannabis. I have never smoked in my life and I don't intend to now. What other choice have people got to receive pain relief. Do I need to go out a seek the local drug dealer for help??? This is serious guys.

All the best

Take care

Darren

[Happyrosie]

This sounds awful Daz75. Some people talk about CBD oil, which is derived from cannabis. I’ve not tried it myself.My own doctor took an additional degree in pain relief so is very knowledgeable. I am in pain because of arthritis, some degeneration in the spine (though I expect that everyone my age, 74, would have this) but particularly the side effects of a drug I take to prevent the recurrence of cancer. My doc tried several types of pain relief over about a year and we have settled on Butec (look it up). This damps down the pain and I take ibuprofen to supplement Butec once or twice a day, together with lansoprazole to counter the effects of the ibuprofen. I started on the lowest dose of butec and this has been gradually increased. I am probably addicted to it so coming off in a few years will be fun cold turkey.

I expect you’ve had a chat with your pharmacist- some of them are really knowledgeable about medications and their side effects and combinations. If your pharmacist isn’t one of them you might find another who is better. Some High Street pharmacists do stints in hospitals to brush up their skills, so they are not just people who dole out pills.

I wish you well.

[Daz75 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi Happy Rosie

Thank you for your advice and understanding but to take cannabis oil which mainly contains THC is illegal the last time I checked in this Country. Drs have a duty to ensure that people are not in pain. Its not for me to break the law so I can get pain relief. I have been through the pain clinics and my Drs have unilaterally changed what the Pain Consultants perscribed to me. This is totally wrong and they should be held to account. As for them leaving you in cold turkey that is illegal and you should go straight to A&E to seek help.

I really do hope you the best in the future

Regards

Darren

[Happyrosie in reply to Daz75]

I didnt make myself at all clear, Daz!! I apologise!

There are things derived from cannabis which have had the hallucinogenic component removed and perfectly legal. If you are in the UK, you can get them from a well known high street purveyor of pills and potions (or ‘health products’ ) which were not closed in the most recent lockdown. I won’t name them in this forum as it’s probably not allowed here but they are the best known and have initials H and B.

I totally agree that the medical profession should help you as far as pain is concerned.

I have to take my cancer pills for another four years and at that point will need to come off Butec. This will be done under medical supervision but it’s likely to be a bit difficult, hence the cold turkey. I have read the NICE guidance on this.