Is It Legal?

[Pete53]

Funny about rating pain my 7 may be your 3 or vice versa. I know my wife rates pain different than I do. You have to be very careful about what you tell Docs for one thing they write it down and sometimes use it against you.

I swear if I have trouble with VA over pain meds I will just see about talking to my Medicare Doc.

However, my experience at VA is that they usually give me anything that I ask for unless it is a new med.

[Hurting]

Funny about rating pain my 7 may be your 3 or vice versa. I know my wife rates pain different than I do. You have to be very careful about what you tell Docs for one thing they write it down and sometimes use it against you.

I swear if I have trouble with VA over pain meds I will just see about talking to my Medicare Doc.

However, my experience at VA is that they usually give me anything that I ask for unless it is a new med.

I have had multiple health problems that caused pain I rate differently. I had a heart attack which was one type of excruciating uncontrollable pain affecting multiple areas of my body. Also I have had pancreatic problems which is another type of serious pain and last but not least there is my chronic pain in my back in which I have to live with everyday. By far the most excruciating pain was the pancreas but that was taken care of and done and over with. Same with my heart but still hurts a little but not like it did. Problems are that my heart and the damage in my back is so close together. The bone structure pain, stiffness, and sensitivity does not go away nor does the pain from the messed up muscles in my heart. They both need to be treated and I am getting jerked around and having to live with the lack of mobility, constant pain in my back and neck and the stiffness that never goes away (not saying anything about missing the majority of the best years of my kids growing up). My back is what I am service connected on and I don't see how they can legally ignore the problems and pain associated with my service connected disability. Really pisses me off that they would do this after finding out what works to make me able to function in society and then strip it away and cause me to start out again at square one like after the accident.

[allan]

I had this happen to me.

I asked for an appointment with a Psychiatrist and asked the Psychiatrist to prescribe the best medicine for pain I can use since Im not able to use certain pain meds.

He ended up prescribing the same medication a PA just took me off of, that I was using for years. The reason is, it works for me with the least side effects.

A Psychiatrist is the specialist you need to see for pain medications.

Just ask your PA for a referal. You don't have to tell them anything more than it's for mental health issues. Pain is a mental health issue.

Oxycontin CR (slow release) is no longer on the VA's drug formulary. They changed it to terminal patients only. This is what they prescribe if you are intollerant to Morphine or Methadone

If you need this medication you will need to find it through a private doctor and pay out of pocket for it.

VA does carry the short term(3hrs) 5 mg oxycontin for break through pain & this can be prescribed by VA Dr's.

VISN 20 Formulary - Sorted By Generic Name

http://www.visn20.med.va.gov/wwwrx/rxbyname.html

[Pete53]

Most PA's are glad to let the Shrink do the prescribing for controlled substances.

[Hurting]

Most PA's are glad to let the Shrink do the prescribing for controlled substances.

I don't see a shrink.

[blanco63]

I don't see a shrink.

Does anyone get Dilaudid 8mg prescribed by anyone at any VAMC? I am sick and tired of having to get my painkillers from a private doctor when the VA service connected me 50% for migraines over a year ago.