New Va Pain Medication Policy

[Vync]

My VA PCP's have became more selective about writing prescriptions, narcotic or not. I was referred to neurology for pain/migraine medications and the allergy clinic for allergy/asthma medications. The pharmacy said my PCP could prescribe almost all meds, except a couple which are required to be written by a specialist. I'll try to see if I can get my specialist doctors to refer the scripts to my PCP.

[rpowell01]

Okay well the VA added Morphine to the soup of meds. So I am now on Morphine SR and Oxycodone and Lyrica and I pay for the Abilify but I changed Medicare to private medicare to get it cheaper. But, I can say whenever they added the morphine I have energy, FINALLY and I am somewhat active now. I still hurt really bad whenever I do things but I can deal with the pain instead of dwelling on it which is a difference. I also have a social life again, well somewhat.

What is the VA so reluctant to give Veterans what they need as in pain meds? Yes there are some who doesn't need them and they do give them too much but some of us, who were told by many doctors that I will have to live in pain the rest of my life the VA doesn't seem to be willing to give the proper dosages of pain meds. Yes I know they will only work so long and then quit working. BTW EVERY medication is like this including meds for diabetics. Usually they quit working whenever you get old but some they quit working while ppl are young and thats why they pass away. No medication is full proof but even to this day I feel the VA didn't want me to have any type of life and wanted me to suffer for so long.

[TALON II FE]

I went for my quarterly Botox and corticosteroid injections for migraines a couple weeks ago and I brought up my back issues getting worse, the additional pain it was causing, etc., and his response was "it sucks getting old".  I would agree, but I am 44, not 74 and I can barely get around.

[Chuck75]

Chuck,
You make really good points. I was doing great when given some "real" medications, but when they switched to generic versions, they do not work so well. I agree completely with you on pill splitters. Half the medications given by the VA do not split perfectly and some actually crumble.

I finally got an appointment with my new VA PCP the other day, but they also are refusing to give me pain medication. They are passing the buck to neurology which means a few months before I can get in to see them... So much for the VA's Patient Bill of Rights which says we have the right to receive treatment for our pain...

In your shoes, I'd likely investigate the possibility of a violation of "Standards of Care" Having to wait months to obtain proper treatment sounds like it just might

be a serious legal issue, (Besides Painful) and best dealt with promptly.  If you have to wait months, what about trying to use the choice program?

Further, the VA is currently claiming that vets can go to a VAMC's "emergency room" ,and see a specialist the same day, or at worst within two days or so.

Edited December 8, 2015 by Chuck75

[Vync]

Okay well the VA added Morphine to the soup of meds. So I am now on Morphine SR and Oxycodone and Lyrica and I pay for the Abilify but I changed Medicare to private medicare to get it cheaper. But, I can say whenever they added the morphine I have energy, FINALLY and I am somewhat active now. I still hurt really bad whenever I do things but I can deal with the pain instead of dwelling on it which is a difference. I also have a social life again, well somewhat.

What is the VA so reluctant to give Veterans what they need as in pain meds? Yes there are some who doesn't need them and they do give them too much but some of us, who were told by many doctors that I will have to live in pain the rest of my life the VA doesn't seem to be willing to give the proper dosages of pain meds. Yes I know they will only work so long and then quit working. BTW EVERY medication is like this including meds for diabetics. Usually they quit working whenever you get old but some they quit working while ppl are young and thats why they pass away. No medication is full proof but even to this day I feel the VA didn't want me to have any type of life and wanted me to suffer for so long.

Rpowell,
The morphine is a cheap solution, but I am glad they gave you the SR variety so that it lasts longer. You might have heard of problems when taking two medications together, but the opposite is possible. Sometimes two medications taken together might provide an enhanced benefit of one or both of the meds. I can't remember the exact medical term, but not all meds do this and they might not all work the same on everyone. I'm glad you are feeling more energetic.

The DEA tightened the rules on pain meds a while back for reasons like preventing addiction, helping keep them out of the hands of kids, help prevent overdoses, etc... The VA got a lot of bad press for the number of vets who were dying due to overdoses, so I think they decided to take extra steps.

 

[Vync]

In your shoes, I'd likely investigate the possibility of a violation of "Standards of Care" Having to wait months to obtain proper treatment sounds like it just might

be a serious legal issue, (Besides Painful) and best dealt with promptly.  If you have to wait months, what about trying to use the choice program?

Further, the VA is currently claiming that vets can go to a VAMC's "emergency room" ,and see a specialist the same day, or at worst within two days or so.

Hey Chuck,
Broncovet also mentioned the "standards of care" thing to me. I even contacted the patient advocate before, but they really were not much help on this specific issue.

Not sure if the (lack of) Choice Card program would apply given the fact that I just saw my new VAMC PCP doc last week for the first time. They said that I should talk with the neuro specialist about them because they were concerned about interaction with the migraine meds I take.

Been to the VAMC ER a number of times for acute pain due to migraines, TMJ, and spine, but it has been a year since I have had an ER visit. Unless you are literally dying, they will make you wait for about four to six hours, probably hoping you will get frustrated and leave. I have been able to get some relief from a really great chiropractor, but it is only temporary.