Chronic Knee Pain Meds Question

[john999]

I get the fentanyl patch and oxycodone for feet, back and shoulder pain. When they ask me my pain level without dope I always say at least an 8-10. With dope I say 4-5. The VA could do more but the better drugs are not in the formulary. If you have chronic pain that is what the pain clinic is for is to treat that pain with narcotics or whatever gives your relief. They have given me morphine,methadone and it all just sucks to tell you the truth. In order to get into in-patient pain clinic they want you off narcotics. That is dumb. That is like telling you that to be treated for alcoholism you must be sober. Last time I was in the hospital I did not get enough pain meds and I was awake for three days. I am not doing that again. What I want is oxycontin which is long acting oxycodone. I tolerate that well but the VA says "NO". If I want it I must go to notorious pain clinics and pay cash. Is this decent treatment for service connected conditions? I am not a junkie yet.