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!

[RUREADY]

One or the other of your leg exams was bogus. Have you been to a real non VA doctor about this? You don't go from 55% blockage in legs to 87% open. Where did blockages go? Did they just dissolve? Smoking will make it much worse because it damages the arteries and makes them more narrow. The danger is , of course, that piece of blockage breaks loose and goes to lung, heart or head.

and I thought you were a smart man, where do all that stuff you put in your mouth goes? My Dr is from EMORY CARDIVASCULAR

CENTER in ATLANTA GA one of the best in this country. John they even have meds that make arteries larger so blood flow easier,

like my doctor he didn't believe but it was true it is open I had an ultra sound from my personal doc, he said there is little blockage on

the test. That's why I went to my heart doc at EMORY to confirm this and he was right 87% open both legs. Nothing bogus just eating right

taking the right meds that work, no grease when cooking food use canola oil no cals, and no cholesterol and it don't harden in your arteries

like Crisco freezes in the can and it will freeze in arteries.RU

Edited June 10, 2014 by RUREADY

[RUREADY]

Edited June 10, 2014 by RUREADY

[JayBrown1]

Just got a handbook in the mail from my doctor titled "TAKING OPIOIDS RESPONSIBLY for Your Safety and the Safety of Others" "Patient Information Guide on Opioids for Chronic Pain" VA National Pain Management Program VA National Center for Ethics in Health Care. It talks about long term effects of opioid use and how they are going to wean you off of narcotics for non-narcotic meds and the use of acupuncture and chiropractics as an alternative form of treatment.

[JayBrown1]

I was just reading a email I got from my Primary Care Physician and she says and I quote "We as providers are under a mandate to taper all veterans from opiates."

Yet, all they are offering is Capsaisin Creams and BenGay to replace the pain meds. Also she went on to say that they can offer chiropractic referrals and acupuncture. This is becoming more disturbing because not once did she have an answer for my question as to what happens if the alternative methods she is offering does not work as I told her that I am already experiencing an increase in pain.

How can they just wake up one morning and think this is a good idea?

[63SIERRA]

they are lying to you abt chiropractic care as well, I have a recorded recent message from my PC nurse stateing if I want chiro, I must pay for chiro. The chiro they offer is for acute injuries, like if u slip on a bannana peel.

""CHIROPRACTIC REFFERALS''' that tell me refer you to private care, if not they would say chiropractic appointments

Edited June 25, 2014 by 63SIERRA

[63SIERRA]

send her back an email asking.. who is it that mandated the new policy?