Opioids in America

[FinalCountdown]

8-9 years ago, I suppose I was in about as much chronic pain as anyone could possibly be in - (I’m male, and it was later confirmed that my pudendal nerve was “severely entrapped” between my sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments, and also “severely scarred.” A transgluteal surgery helped greatly (not completely, but greatly). Anyway, that’s the very brief backstory.)

About 10-ish years ago, as most of us know, opioids became nearly impossible to get. I live in Virginia, and the most a physician can legally prescribe is 75 mme (morphine milligram equivalents) per day, if I recall correctly. But! I have yet to find one, single physician who will prescribe ANY opioids, for any reason, for longer than a week or so (and even that is for post-surgical pain).

At one time I was on 3x80mg OxyContin daily, plus 5x15mg OxyCodone daily (*) for “breakthrough pain” … no longer. I had an unrelated surgery recently and was prescribed 2.5 mg Hydromorphone tablets - I didn’t need them for post surgical pain, but they helped *greatly* with residual pudendal pain - I used my last two days ago, and as Agatha Christie wrote,”And Then There Were None.”

Does anyone know of a physician, anywhere in the 48 continental states, who will prescribe small amounts of opioids such as this for breakthrough pain? I need them, and can’t find them anywhere. Last night I said “To hell with it,” and basically OD’d on Valium and Ambien (not a good idea - it didn’t help with the pain, and didn’t even put me to sleep!)

I would travel anywhere, on a monthly basis, even for 30 2.5 mg tablets of Hydromorphone, but don’t know where to begin. Hell, I’d drive 2,500 miles to Oklahoma if I needed to.

Does anyone know how to help me? I’m not drug seeking; but I AM drug seeking, if that makes any sense.

Kind regards,
FC

(*) Which, incidentally, didn’t even touch the pain I was in.

[Violet M]

Hi FC,

Well, I could go on a long rant about why I think it is insane that another human being, be it a doctor or a lawmaker, can prevent another human being who is in pain from obtaining medication for pain -- but I guess it wouldn't help you in the long run if I went on that rant, other than to let you know that I sympathize with you.

Taking oxycodone once a day so I could sleep is part of what got me through the worst of PNE, and by just taking it once a day I didn't develop an addiction or a tolerance to it. So, I think it makes complete sense that you would want to take it once a day so you can sleep.

If I knew of a doctor who would prescribe the medication for you, I would private message you so as not to get that physician in trouble. If I learn of a doctor who would, I will PM you. The CDC has relaxed it's guidelines for prescribing opioids so it might be easier to get them than it was several years ago. https://www.health.com/condition/chroni ... lines-2022

Violet

[onlysams]

Have you tried pain management specialists? Sometimes they're more open to options.

[FinalCountdown]

Have you tried pain management specialists? Sometimes they're more open to options.

I apologize to both of you - for some reason, If I write a long note (which I did), this board signs me out, and the note is lost. I recently sent a long message to a member here who is in agony, and it, too, was lost. I’m just now realizing that this is the problem.

Violet, your link is very useful!
onlysams, I’ve seen three pain-management practices, and none of them prescribe opioids now - I’ll keep trying (which is why I asked the original question).

Cheers,
FC

[Violet M]

Hi FC,

Sorry you lost your message. I've been timed out before too, so I started doing Control C (copy) before hitting submit, in case I lose the post, then I can start over and Control V (paste). Or I save it to Word before I submit but that takes a little longer.

Violet

[Cind53]

Hi all,
I would have to think that the suicide rate will go up quite high if patients experiencing pain are unable to get pain medication. I suppose I should count myself fortunate that I have gone to two pain management doctors (one in Ky. and one in Ohio) and I have been prescribed opioids by both due to the unrelenting pain of pudendal neuralgia. So, it may be a special requirement of the state you are in. I also know that in Ohio, they are able to prescribe THC for pain patients. I do not myself take that, but some do say they know people who have used it for pain. I hope that helps. I feel very badly for those who continue to suffer from this crazy problem for years. I plan to get some serious psychological help this year as well as go to PT and try yoga as long as I have the blessing of the therapist and try anti-inflammatory diet and see if the combination will ramp down this pain.
Continued Hope for all.

[Violet M]

That's a good point that the availability of opiods may differ from state to state, and that some doctors are more willing to prescribe opiods than others.

Good luck with PT. Hope it goes well for you.

Violet