Help me with some advice please?!
Question: I have degenerative arthritis in my knees and ankles. Most days it is so bad I cannot walk. I've had a bone scan that showed how bad it was (very severe, and i'm only 31), then was referred to a dr for treatment.
Well, the dr won't give me anything more than Naprosyn, which isn't nearly strong enough. She says she doesn't like to prescribe anything that can be addictive, so no painkillers. Meanwhile, i can't even play with my child most days, can't get out of bed some mornings because I can't unbend my legs. I went to a second dr, who said he didn't like to prescribe painkillers either for the same reason. And that if I saw another dr for help, it could be considered dr shopping and I could get arrested for that. So what the hell can I do?? I am in crippling pain here. Should I go ahead and find another dr, even if it might get me in legal trouble? I need some relief. Life is intolerable like this.
Answers: I have degenerative arthritis in my knees and ankles. Most days it is so bad I cannot walk. I've had a bone scan that showed how bad it was (very severe, and i'm only 31), then was referred to a dr for treatment.
Well, the dr won't give me anything more than Naprosyn, which isn't nearly strong enough. She says she doesn't like to prescribe anything that can be addictive, so no painkillers. Meanwhile, i can't even play with my child most days, can't get out of bed some mornings because I can't unbend my legs. I went to a second dr, who said he didn't like to prescribe painkillers either for the same reason. And that if I saw another dr for help, it could be considered dr shopping and I could get arrested for that. So what the hell can I do?? I am in crippling pain here. Should I go ahead and find another dr, even if it might get me in legal trouble? I need some relief. Life is intolerable like this.
finding another doctor won't get you into trouble unless you've been "doctor shopping," or going from doctor-to-doctor getting opiates, et cetera. simply looking for a doctor who will provide you with narcotic pain relievers will not get you into trouble. it is when you obtain that sort of prescription from one doctor until he/she no longer will provide it, and continue to hop from doctor to doctor doing the same thing that you could be arrested. i hope this helps.
i would look into your condition and see if this class of medicine is often prescribed for your state and condition. if it is, and if you have not been "doctor shopping," you have a perfectly legitimate case to present when you seek out a new doctor.
What are they doing to treat the condition? I'm not saying you don't need some pain management, but what about something to slow or reverse the damage that has been done?
You should ask you doctor to refer you to a doctor that is comfortable prescibing painkillers such as a pain management doctor. They might be able to find other forms of treatment (e.g. non-narcotic) to help deal with your pain. I am in a similar situation where am 27 with severe DDD (lower back), and doctors are really hesitant to give anything addictive at this age.