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  1. #1

    Default Pain Killers and Possible Malpractice

    Hello,

    I have a problem and I dont know where to go for help. I had a back operation 2003 and was sent home with pain killers. For a long period I was alot of drugs at once. I was taking Morphine 30mg, Norco 7.5mg, Neurontin 400mg, Duragesic 100. This went on for a long time because I was still complaining of pain. I had another back operation in 04, which I stated to Dr. it fixed my pain, but I also said still feel some pain in my lower back.

    I mentioned about trying to stop taking all the med and he said you will have to do it slow. He then gave me Subox one (Not sure on spelling) I tried it one day and told him I couldnt finish because it was nasty. We never had another talk about taking a different med like Subox which is to help with withdrawals. I stopped taking the Neurontin and finally about 4 or so months ago, stopped taking the Norco on my own. But I'm still taking the Morphine and wearing 2 Duragesic patches at 100mc, which comes to 200mc every 2 days.

    I feel like the Dr. makes it too easy for me. He never asks me to check my blood, he has not asked me about taking a med like the suboxone again since I last tried it...nothing! I know I'm in charge of my own body but I can begin to explain how screwed up my life is now. I hate being addicted to these pills.

    ** Do I have a malpractice against this Dr. for this and if not, why?


    Thanks for taking the time to read this.


    Jon Kessler

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Pain Management

    It is impossible to tell from what you describe if you have a case - that's something to discuss with a local malpractice lawyer, who can review your situation and medical records in detail.

    The fact is that if you are on daily opiate pain medication for a long enough time, and take enough to manage a chronic pain condition, you will become dependent upon that medication. There is a difference between dependence and addiction - in simple terms, somebody who is dependent can still function normally, doesn't engage in drug-seeking behavior beyond their prescribed dose, and benefits from the amelioration of pain. A person who is receiving an appropriate dose but is dependent will have an improved quality of life from the medication. An addict will see a gradually diminishing quality of life, and may well seek out medication beyond the prescription, or ignore dosing instructions. Both addicts and people dependent on opiates will experience withdrawal if their medication is suddenly unavailable.

    It sounds like your doctor gave you suboxone - which is normally a hexagonal orange pill you dissolve under your tongue. If you take Suboxone as instructed, it should block the effects of other opiates - it is a medication that is often given to people who want to wean themselves off of opiates. As it can put some people into a state of withdrawal, it should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor.

    If you are serious about getting off of your pain medication, you need to find a way to wean yourself off of your present doses - at those levels, that sounds like something you would want to do under medical supervision. And it sounds like you may benefit from consulting a pain management clinic which focuses on non-opiate pain relief for people with dependency issues. You need to take the initiative here, whether with your current doctor or with a new doctor, as right now it sounds like you are acquiescing in the situation even as you find it less and less livable.

  3. #3

    Default

    Hello,

    Thank you for taking the time and sharing your advice. I understand to some degree that it is my responablity to make the effort to stop or know when to say 'no' but I feel like this Dr. made/makes it too easy for me to continue with all these drugs.

    It was me who mentioned about starting to ween off the meds, and that was when he mentioned to try the 'suboxone'. After giving this a try and telling him I didnt like the taste...I stopped using it and he never spoke to me about it, or even mentioned about trying a different drug like suboxone, to help me with stopping.

    To be 100% honest...after writing this first post and truly thinking about stopping all the drugs...I'm not sure if I really want to stop. Part of me wants to stop because it has continued to F-up my life, and effect my work, but I also like the feeling of being able to forget my problems and not feel any pain...be it real or not.

    I'm not looking to sue a Dr. just to do it...but I feel like he had and still does have some responablity to make sure I dont do harm to myself. If my case is not a malpractice one, then what would be a example?

    Thanks again for all the help,

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    28,906

    Default Getting Off of Opiate Pain Medication

    The alternative to an office-based treatment for opiate addiction which involves a substitution of medications, such as Suboxone, is typically methadone maintenance, which in most states is offered through methadone clinics (and in some states, not at all). Otherwise, to the best of my knowledge, you're looking at detoxification and abstinence programs.

    I know enough addicts to understand where you are coming from, and also where you are headed. You're at the proverbial fork in the road. In one direction, recovery and no more euphoria. In the other direction, drug-seeking, perhaps ultimately through illegal sources, and perhaps even developing into a heroin habit... until you get close enough to 'rock bottom' that you decide you have to change, or people who care about you pull off a successful intervention. (Or you end up a homeless, hopeless addict, but let's not take things that far.) There may be a third path; I just don't know what it is.

    You can try to be more candid with your doctor, to explain that you feel you are addicted and have to change. But a big part of that is wanting to change.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    1

    Default

    It's really hard to get pain meds usually, so I don't really see why this is a problem. If you need em take them, if not quit. It's not hard to quit. Tell the doctor you need to wean off. I think you should count your blessings.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    1

    Default Seek your states law on this.

    Hi, I know what you are going thru. Right now im involved with negotiating a ADR (alternative dispute resolution), out of court. My family doc of 23 years, turned me into a addict. I already know what most of you are thinking right now, but hear me out) :wink: . This was my whole family's doctor, when my mother took me to him after my pediatric age, and while under his care, i had developed an addiciton to cocaine at the age of 17, he was informed of this, i then had a DUI when I was 23, again he was aware, even the one to tell me I was an addict (due to my BAC), however, from the years of 2002-2004, I became a prescription drug addict ranging from Xanax to Oxycontin 80mg. I am 16 months sober and drug free after finally checking myself into rehab, after almost having a severe car accident. however, 1-1/2 days in rehab, i was then rushed to hospital by ambulance with a liver count in the high 5,000 (not good), i was admitted after suffering 5 seizures (did not know their are 2 drugs that can kill you trying to stop alone - xanax and oxycontin). Thankfully, i was detoxed and have never relapsed. Last year I had a visit from out states fraud investigator, summing this up, this doctor was overbilling my ins co., Just in the year of 04, he wrote 193 scripts, totalling 14,900 pills, ranging from Codeine#4 - 80mg of oxy. There is to much to put in this forum, but right now, the doc shut his practice in my state however joined an HMO where he is salary. The medical board in my state will be revoking his license hopefully by April. I do have medmal attorney, and we are trying to settle out of court, which was his idea, and will negotiate from there. My bottom line "he knew of my addictions but yet made so easy to obtain", abused his authority to the max. If you want, I will give you my e-mail. Good luck!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    9

    Default Re; Pain Killers and Back Problems

    I just read the post on this. This sounds JUST LIKE ... what I have gone through over the past 10 YEARS.
    I injured my back in 1995. Since that time , I have been in and out of the doctors offices , done physical therapy , occupational therapy where they combine "psychology and physical therapy" together. NOTHING worked. Finally , in 1997 .. they did a fusion on my back after a "discogram" concluded that I had a severe herniated disc. I did ok the first year , after recovering from the initial surgery , that is. Then, I slowly started declining. Leg pain worsened , back pain worsened .. and I was then back in the doctors office EVERY month .. instead of .. every three months. Now .. I am in a pain clinic .. and have been for the last three years. I do NOT want to continue with narcotics .. as it has totally interfered with my lifestyle , makes me tired and sleepy .. not to mention , I simply do not wish to be "dependent" on narcotics to make me feel "normal". This is just masking the problem .. and not FIXING it. Last year ,they placed a stimulator in my spine for my "leg pain". However , since last year , I have DEMANDED .. they take me off of ALL narcotics. I was taking the Duragesic 100 .. and the Avinza (slow acting morphine) .. which was a 180 mg. dose per day .. with Oxycodone for breakthrough. I am NOW .. taking on 5 mg. of Hyrdrocodone 4 times per day. Needless to say , I cannot WALK. The pain is excruciating .. and is WORSE than it was BEFORE the stimulator was put in my spine. The doctor told my husband that he had to "dig and drill" through alot of scar tissue to get the stimulator in. Naturally , I am sure between that and the stimulator .. this is WHY my back in hurting so badly. I cannot get up and do anything. As long as I am sitting or laying .. I am ok.
    The minute I get up to walk or do anything around my house , I cannot finish it .. I have to stop what I'm doing and go sit down.
    When I confronted the doctor about this via email , he emailed me back and told me that I was not taking enough pain meds. I emailed him BACK .. and said "that would be defeating my purpose , that I wanted OFF of ALL narcotics with minimal pain in my legs and back. Whatever we need to do to accomplish this .. is what I want". I haven't heard back from him and I am not due in to see him again for at least 2 more months. The thing is .. I cannot WAIT two more months .. because the pain is keeping me from LIVING. I am only 48 years old .. and I feel as if I am 90 !! I want off of the narcotics .. and I want minimal pain. I feel that this CAN BE .. accomplished if the appropriate route is taken. Only because it was my LEG PAIN .. that took me into the pain clinic to begin with. Not my back pain. Now .. my leg pain *is* under control with the stimulator .. but the stimulator has caused problems in my BACK PAIN. Its a double edged sword !! What do I do ?
    I have also been told that doctors in these pain clinics are being sued for placing stimulators in injured spines and spines that have sorted problems. Is this correct ? And , if there are other alternatives , please let me know.
    Thanks for your time.

    Rain Dove

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    9

    Default

    I also wish to express ....
    Pain meds are NOT the answer .. no matter WHO you are .. or WHAT the problem is. Whether dependent or an addict .. no one should have to STAY that way.
    IMO , doctors who prescribe massive doses of pain meds .. are simply covering up the problem and not addressing it head on.
    Scar tissue can be removed. It will more than likely come back .. *but* ... one would get relief for at least a few years. Leg pain can be controlled with "snipping" the bad and/or injured nerves instead of placing STIMULATORS .. in the injured spine !!!
    The problem I have more than anything .. is that the very first surgery I had .. has failed. And it is THAT doctor .. that I wish to get my hands on !!! Of course , back in 97 .. they did not have all the data they have today .. on doing fusions.
    If you have a back problem .. DO NOT GO THAT ROUTE.
    They have discovered that fusions cause great stress on the spine which results in MORE herniations and scar tissue as well as damages nerves that lead to your legs.
    My nerves in my legs were pinched for SOOOOOO long after the fusion .. and even with my complaining about the leg pain .. THEY DID NOTHING .. and TOLD ME NOTHING .. that it PERMANENTLY damaged the nerves and the damage .. CANNOT be reversed.
    So now .. I am literally .. disabled .. and half crippled !!!
    What can I do ???

  9. #9

    Default Re: Pain Killers and Possible Malpractice

    Hello again,


    CharterBoat...please contact me thru private message, I really could use some help with my problem. I'm also thinking about possible court.


    Thanks everyone else for taking the time to give some advice,


    Jon

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    7

    Default Re: Pain Killers and Possible Malpractice

    apparently you have never had a genuine addiction to pain killers. i had always considered myself so strong willed and in control of myself that i laughed and shook my head when i seen or heard of someone addicted to something especially something as "silly as painkiller's". until i had some hydrocodone prescribed for a tooth extraction. that's all it took and that was around 10 years ago. hopefully i will get off of them sooner or later, but i will never say it's easy to stop.

    sincerely, darrin+

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