Va Pushing To Decrease Pain Medication

[JayBrown1]

I recently called in a renewal of my pain medication and when I checked my doctor decrease it from 90 pills to 60. I had agreed that I would decrease it 120 to 90 until my next appointment and then we would decide if I can tolerate it at that level but just after a month and a half I told I couldn't too much pain at this point instead she decrease it without letting me know in advance. I secured message her and she told I was right and that we did say we would only drop it 30 but the VA is pushing to get veterans off of opiates and suggest that I get some bengay or capsaicin cream to help with the pain. I have been taking 2 pain meds for over 20 years now and using Capsaisin creams for over 10 years and I am still in a lot of pain and now within 2 months they have already cut my meds in half. My pain level has not been under 5 since 2004, some days I don't even get out of bed especially with the pain that runs through my legs. I had to quit working in 2008 due to severe pain.

This is scary because next the only thing I will be getting is Tylenol. I wrote in my response to my doctor that whole the VA is looking at reducing our pain meds they will create alcoholics because veterans will have to find alternatives to deal with their pain.

Has anyone else had their meds reduce!

[john999]

When the VA prescribes addictive drugs to a vet for ten years and then suddenly decides this is a mistake this calls into question their entire system of medical care. You simply can't just abruptly stop taking benzos and opiates and many other drugs for anxiety and pain. There needs to be consultation between patient and doctor. The VA told me that I should go to in-patient pain program. However, to do this I must be off all opiates and benzos already. This is not rational or reasonable. I might consider a withdrawal program and then non drug pain program, but first I need real help getting off the pain meds and I need something to help me do it. Now I can go to private pain clinic and they have drugs that blunt effect of opiates. I don't know if the VA has anything like this and I sure don't trust them. I was hospitalized some years ago and the first thing they did was stop my pain meds cold turkey. I did not sleep until I could get my wife to get me out of there. The shrink did threaten me with jail if I acted up on the ward. I was there due to big problem at work where stress drove me into voluntary admission to psychiatric ward. I wanted OUT of there and would never go back as inpatient without serious ground rules.

[JayBrown1]

John this is exactly what scares me because the way my doctor is talking she wants to cut me off quickly. I am already feeling the effects of the reduction. I am noticing the increase in pain, I am not getting a full nights sleep and if can't seem to get comfortable during the day. I believe this is just the start of a bigger problem. These people at the VA have no idea of the effects this decision will have on us.

[john999]

It is malpractice. Do you have private insurance? I would find private pain clinic if I have private insurance. Maybe even consult with VA lawyer. I think I would write certified letter to medical director and explain your concerns. Let them know you will be talking to congressman Jeff Miller or local congressman about this issue. The VA addicted you and now they want to dump you. They have tried the same thing with me and I raised some hell and they backed down. It is really horrible to depend of such scumbags who don't give a damn.

John

[JayBrown1]

Thank you John, I will get on it today!

[Pete53]

The only thing that we can do is fight any decision that is not for us but for some thing that VA wanrs

[lotzaspotz]

Whatever happened to, "First, do no harm." Does this have 1151 potential?