Pain Relief Reduced by GP

[Bunion10]

Having had failed surgery in 1998 on my lower spine L5/S1 i was due to have a spinal fusion op 2years ago but was put on 60mg oxycodene 2ce a day and improved greatly tht i turned the op dwn! Recently my GP has reduced and continues to reduce my Oxycodene (Longtec) dwn to 20mg 2ce daily and im back to being crippled again! I atteneded the Pain Clinic and they advised my Gp to leave me alone and keep me on the doseage off 40mg Oxycodene 2ce dsily as I continue to work fulltime and care for my 3young kids on my own 3days per week every wk. But my GP has completley ignored the Pain Clinic Dr's recommenations and continues to reduce my monthly scripts! Ive already had time off work and had to contact the Dr on Call few wks ago as I was unable to get off the settee with spasms in my lower back. The Dr at the Pain Clinic told myself I made the right decision in turning down the Spinal Fusion Operation! Yet my GP continues to back me into a corner by reducen and taking away the only pain relief that over 20years have brought me a quality off life I have enjoyed over these past 3years. Any advice welcome

[Daisychain12]

Darling I sympathise. I e had severe fibromyalgia for over 25 years and found oxycodone marvellous. But you know what? It STOPS WORKING eventually. That’s probably why your doc is doing it. He should explain to you though. In the end you need more and more and it still doesn’t work. Then you find you keep going into withdrawals. It’s hell. I’m so sorry I wish I could help. Please keep looking for options xx. Get help from the council or charities. Sending you massive hugs xxx

[Bunion10 in reply to Daisychain12]

He just sayd that they were issued with a circular that every patient should be on more than 100mg off tramadol every day and gave me a box off Naproxen and Amptiryine along with backlofene which im also on to substitue just giving me the longtec or oxycodene at the correct doseage which inturn is in keeping with what the Dr at the Pain Clinic told him to do? Even my chemist told me he is doing you more harm by giving you a cocktail off other drugs and reducing your oxycodene to supplement them instead off just keeping you and leaving you as you were!

Many Thanks

[happytulip]

Can you change your GP or get your prescription directly from your pain doctor?

I had a similar problem with another medication that a specialist said I needed but my GP wouldn't prescribe.

In the end I changed my GP who agreed to follow specialist advice and I also contacted my specialists secretary asking if they could prescribe my medication directly if I had problems in the future. The specialist agreed.

GPs are under a lot of pressure to reduce opioid prescriptions but for some people the medication is a necessity and GPs need to see the broader picture.

[Bunion10 in reply to happytulip]

Hi my chemist who administrates my scripts despensing them weekly told me the same thing! Too change surgies maybe one that is out in the country were oxycodene isnt being overley prescribed as he feels its the area my Dr's is in which is the problem and the clamp down on doseage! Even the Dr at the pain clinc told myself that if any inspector was to look at my file they would see there is enough medical evidence to warrant prescribing Oxycodene at that doseage instead off reducing it and trying to supplement it with a cocktail off drugs which inturn is doing me more harm than good!

Many Thanks

[Kaliastra]

Hi. Have you tried looking into other ways of pain management such as CBT or psychological therapy designed to help with chronic pain. They work well in the majority of cases.

[Bunion10 in reply to Kaliastra]

Over the years ive been on every medication there is available! Only oxycodene at the doseage off 40mg twice daily with 200mg maxi tram twice a day has been successfull. My doctor continues to reduce my oxycodene down to 20mg now and supplements it with diazapam which makes me sleepy and as stated i still work fulltime and have done threw out needing a spinal fusion operation bcose off tge success off oxycodene at the right doseage! I was told about that CBD oil but have yet to try it? I instead have be sourcen the internet to buy oxycodene myself and pay myself for it if needs be.

Many Thanks

[Kaliastra in reply to Bunion10]

My point was that medication won't always work and isn't good for you. You can control your pain through therapy and retraining how your brain sends pain signals.

[Hidden in reply to Kaliastra]

I have read about neuroplasticity too. I understand what it is but not how to implement it .. how do you cope ? what strategies do you have ?

[chris7300]

Hi I have been through similar it is due to people dying; so my doctor had insisted. I took it to senior practice management, the practices senior pharmacist and my rheumatologist. I have now been put on slow release tramadol 2x 100mg twice a day.

I supplement with extra high dose vitamin D and on days off I use CBD oil to sleep as well as heat patches (2 for £1.00) from Poundland!!! Not the best scenario though like many people here I have 16 separate diagnosis including severe Fibromyalgia and arthritis...

Really I wish you the best of luck with it; I have found aromatherapy helps a little with trying to relax your body while still in severe pain. I even use hypnosis and soothing soundscape apps... Anything that helps give it a try; some people use camomile tea - though iI am allergic after using too much of it..

[LifeOnSarz]

I'd suggest speaking to the pain clinic again to see if they can do anything. If they can't, they may be able to suggest who you can contact to get your situation sorted out. Some GPs very often think that they're a law unto themselves and - in my NHS days - I've seen a lot of patients suffer at the hands of a GP who thinks that they know best.

As others have said, there are alternative therapies that might help, but at the end of the day, you're in pain and everyone except the GP agrees on your best course of treatment so, tough as it is probably going to be, you need to fight to keep that treatment in whatever way possible.

[Bunion10 in reply to LifeOnSarz]

I rang and spoke to the girl in the Pain Clinic who actually typed the letter and sent it out to my GP and she agrees with myself that what was advised was to keep myself on a stable dose off 40mg Oxycodene 2ce daily with 200mg Maxitram 2ce daily as it was proving to be working. She actualy rang the Surgery and explained that to the Chemist in my Dr's Surgery and to leave me alone messing my scripts about! But they just ignored her and done their own thing in continually reducing my scripts! The Pain Clinic have been great with forwarding me a copy off their Report and telling me any problems just to contact them. But did say that its The GP who Issues the scripts the Dr at The Pain Clinic is only advising the GP! But my point is then why ask the Pain Clinic Dr for advise and then totaly blank his advise and go against it ?? Cheers

[Hidden]

GPs are retarded in this country. Try changing surgery

[johnadams]

What was the name of the pain specialist? I’d get a copy of his letter, and find another GP practice.