Ok basically I was fine until a few years returning from Iraq in the army as an infantryman. I have scoliosis but never told when I joined and never bothered me. Went to local VA(hate them) about it. Started wit tramadol and all those bullshit ones. I now take 60 5/325 Vicodins. After 3 years taking them they won't help like they used too plus all the damn Tylenol. Went to doc at VA and they said I am too young to be taking hard pain killers and I shouldn't be in that much pain. I only know one guy I can go to find other means but he's clean now so I can't ask him and I dunno what to do someone help
I would get my Fam Doc to refer you to a pain Dr. Is the VA the only Dr.'s you have access too? If so, start visiting the ER @ the VA, tell them your story. Any Dr. knows about tolerance, your 1st Dr. is full of shit! Pain is pain, don't take no for an answer. If need be, ask for a 2nd referral or to see the VA Administrator, lol, worked for me, I didn't even have to make that appointment before I was upped to 120 10/325 Percocet!
Yeah, Bottlefed is right. The more documentation you have the better, and repeated visits to the ER at the VA will get that for you. But when you do go to the ER, just stick to telling them about your pain. Don't ask for a specific pain medication, that will just get you flagged as drug-seeking. I've had the VA for my primary medical care since 1997, so I've been through all this. I'm assuming you have a primary care provider at the VA as well. When you go in for a visit and they ask you to rate your pain 0-10, be realistic. Don't say 9 or 10, unless it's true. If it were 10 you'd be screaming. But it's ok to exaggerate somewhat. Just keep after them about it. They should know that after a while your tolerance will go up, and I don't see what age has to do with it. Pain is pain, whether you're 25 or 60. The VA has pain clinics, so maybe you should ask about that as well.
Im just going to say, getting pain med from the VA for a little back pain, its more aggravation than its worth.. If its truly injured, they send you to specialist. They give you the drugs. If you drive yourself there, you are not hurt enough. Sitting in the waiting area, antsy, pacing, getting up and down with out much difficulty.. Them rooms are bugged, and monitored by the staff. If your really hurt. the every other word out your mouth is fuck shit motherfucking, cocksucker and so on. if you have moderate pain. Which I thinks you do. Then youre only going to get meds when its severe. This means individual trips to the ER. ER will treat back you with Ketorolac, Soma, Tramadol, if you get lucky they might give you some opiates. They will give you follow up, go to that. Its the same old same. Maybe youll get a love shot doc, maybe you wont..
After reading my above post, I feel like I need to clarify something, because it just doesn't look right. It kind of looks like I'm encouraging you to abuse the system, and that's not my intent. Documentation will help your case in getting your medication improved, but the ER at the VA should only be used in emergencies or after normal clinic hours. Also, at my local VA at least, you don't necessarily have to have an appointment to see your primary care doctor. You can usually be seen as a walk-in, because people either no-show or cancel appointments all the time. It may take you longer to see a doctor though, and in some cases you may just end up seeing a nurse. But it all goes into your medical records, which can help your case.
Nor did I abuse the system, I just refused to take NO for an answer. I gave them 25 yrs, they were going to treat my pain or I was going to become a PAIN!
I wasn't suggesting you had abused the system, Bottlefed. In fact, my post was actually a clarification of my previous post, which was directed at the OP, not you. I apologize for any misunderstanding.
I know bro, I just added my part so no one got that idea! Some know how to use the VA system, some don't. The fact is most who go to the VA for medical care, see it as an extension of the care they received like they did on active duty. Thing is, unlike when one was active duty, and had to keep their mouth shut, If I don't agree with something, I immediately voice my opinion. What most have to remember is the Dr's that work at the VA, are working on a performance based pay system. If their patients start raising a stink, they take a hit in pay. I've only ever had to raise my voice to one Dr., who tried to blow smoke up my ass, about something I don't even remember, was almost 10 years ago. The only other time was when this younger Dr. suggested I stop taking Opiates and take Motrin Instead. I'm guessing that's the last time he told a VET his pain wasn't bad. They switched me to a Doc, old enough to be my Dad, lol. But that man, god bless him, hated his patients being in pain, and when the pad came out, he only question was, what can I load u up with!!!!!!
Yeah, I hear you. I had one doctor who treated me like that. He liked to keep the visits short, and he didn't want to hear anything from me. He would spend most of the visit looking at a computer monitor, going through my prescriptions and other things, then toward the end he would finally look at me and ask how I was doing. Fortunately he retired and I ended up with a doctor who actually cares, and will talk to me. I've heard some crazy shit from other guys who use this VA, though. One guy was sleeping on his couch when his girlfriend poured a pan of hot grease mixed with bleach and bug spray over his upper body. He ended up with 3rd degree burns over 30% of his body. After about 5-6 months he ended up with a young doctor who took him off his Hydrocodone because she didn't believe in pain. She told him that pain is all in your head, mind over matter, bla bla. Unbelievable. He went to the patient advocate, and they assigned him to a different doctor who restored his meds. Shit, I could talk about this all day. Overall, though, I'd say that most of my experiences with them have been positive, and I'm generally satisfied with the medical care I've gotten out there.
