Does anyone get discriminated being on Opiods (Narcotics for Severe Pain) and how?

Question

Just wondering, as I got struck by a SUV, walking in the crosswalk, and I am now suffering with Nerve Damage (Radiculapathy) and Herniated disc (L5, S1). Since the accident, the "OTHER" Docs, that don't know about the incident and refuses to see my test results of EMG's and MRI's, treat me like a drug addict, as I know Percocet is addicting, but I am on the lowest dose, and take as needed (about every 4, 6, 8 hours) and it seems people like my Family Doc and Psychiatrist (See because of accident) think I am taking meds just to take them, eventhough I have a Pain Specialist. Why do I feel bad on them and feel terrible off of them, due to unbearable nerve pain in my leg. Love to hear other stories and how you handle it! Thanks a lot~

Answer 1

If you are seeing a Pain Specialist, then none of the other docs have anything to say about how the specialist chooses to treat you. If you have prescriptions for those drugs, you cannot even be drug tested, or denied a job as a result of one.
However, most Psychiatrists understand the "anatomy" of pain and the human response to it, as do Pain specialists, and I would say that you may reconsider how dependant on those drugs you are. If you are addicted, then you would feel bad when you take fewer of them and may want to consider asking the specialist about other ways available to control the pain in your back and leg. The pain of getting off the percocets can't be avoided, but it does pass fairly quickly, and yes, it hurts to get off a drug to which you are addicted.

Answer 2

Unfortunately people only seem to understand pain when it happens to them. They have no idea how awful it is to have the condition that you have.
I have had unsuccesful surgeries on L5 S1 and L4. I can hardly walk, can't sit for too long, can't get comfortable to sleep, my right leg jerks by itself, and I have constant pain from my butt down to my foot. My foot is numb and doesn't do what I want it to do half the time.
I have had this for the last 4 years and have come to the realization that I have the choice of being high as a kite or suffering. There doesn't seem to be any drug that releives the pain and allows you to be clear-headed. I've tried many, many drugs and find that I prefer to have the pain and feel like i'm alive than use the various narcotic drugs that get me stoned.
The only little ray of hope that I can offer is that there are some new neurological drugs available that could help. Unfortunately I don't know the name, but they are second-generation drugs akin to Gabapentin. You should ask your pain specialist.
I hope you can get this fixed, I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on my worst enemy. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

A lot of people are in horrible chronic pain because of the stigma attached to opiate abuse.

There's been numerous suicides because doctors won't prescribe pain relief medication.

I have degenerative joint disease and the bones are grating together between my lumbar three, four and five...I have stenosis as a result which means the nerve bundles are getting squeezed together and this stuff shows up clearly on an MRI and doctors KNOW it causes lots of pain but I can't get effective pain control.

So the answer is yes....you will get looked at like an addict even though you're in wretched pain.

The whole thing just sickens me....

Answer 4

your doc (sounds like) is being a complete pain in the botty. ain't he the one who prescribed you the crap in the first place?! Is your doc a bloke.? if so, that would explain a lot. Get in touch with your solicitor cos you are being abused by the very people who should be taking care of you. I personally would splat their face in for misconduct of practice! but that's me.