Pharmer.org

My PM doc claims my injury is only allowed (per the DEA) 7.5mg oxycodone or 10mg hydrocodone, every 6 hrs. My injury is in my ankle, however, and my job is such that I'm on my feet all  day, so my meds are not enough, and I come up short consistently. My questions:

-is the DEA spiel a lie? Is he just using this as an excuse to not give me stronger meds? It was all I could do to get him to put me back on percs instead of norco...but I WAS on 50 mg Kadian 2x a day w hydro or oxy for breakthrough at first, but they insisted on weaning down, even though my ortho doc says I'm arthritic and my ankle will get only WORSE, never better...In fact they wanted to drop me to 5mg hydro, but I said "no way"...Do I need to speak up more, will that get me what I need, or am I gonna get into trouble if I demand what I think I need?

-And...if the DEA stuff is true (or not, for that matter), does anyone think I could get Fenyyanyl patches for my injury, so as not to come up short...is that comparable to what I'm taking? Do docs like to prescribe patch as opposed to pills (to avoid abuse?).

I just know I need a better solution than what I have now...any input will be appreciated.

From your post, it sounds like your current doc won't be giving you the patches any time soon, if ever. That's the bad thing about people like us "speaking up." They hear that and automatically assume we are drug seeking or just trying to be a pain. I've never heard of the DEA thing you mention but maybe someone on here has. Dr. Lois? Have you ever heard of that? Sounds like you might need to start the search for a new doc. Not fun!

Good Luck.....KK

(edited) 

I would print out all the informational essays and pampfels I could find on the internet and put them in his office. On the desks and magazine and ask him to do some reading. I say the heck with all these doctors now loving to apply what they heard on CSI into their daily practices no matter how much it makes sense on TV. I would love to hear the DEA actually giving advice on medicine. I would take my car to a piano store and try selling it in the window...DEA knows NOTHING about medicine and if they did they would see they have no business doing there and would have to get out of it. Cheers!!!1!

I hate it when doctors lie!  It makes all of us look bad!  The DEA does not even suggest treatment protocols, thank goodness!  The states may regulate drugs more strictly than the federal government (DEA), but I cannot imagine micromanagement of doctor's prescribing practices at this level.  It is bad enough that the state and federal legislatures have been successful in legislating what proceedures doctors can and cannot do for a patient or how they must present an informed consent, and how they must prescribe a certain drug.  I am hoping you misunderstood what he was saying.

Arthritis usually does get worse over time, it also can wax and wane in intensity.  So sticking with the lowest dosage of narcotic possible makes a lot of sense, if you have to be on a narcotic.  Are you taking a NSAID?  Have you tried cortisone shots in the ankle?  Would surgery help?  How about an orthotic for your shoe?  Have you tried the Diclofenac patch?