My elderly mother (91) needs pain medication and doctors are unwilling to prescribe it - do you have any helpful advice?

[M1Gringo]

Thanks in advance.

 

[dmpi]

Time to dip into your personal stash.

 

[LouC]

Thanks in advance.

Find different doctors.

Were you in the office when her Doctor said no to giving her pain meds?

 

[vegas giants]

Thanks in advance.

Depends on the why but she can certainly try pot

 

[mrjurrs]

Thanks in advance.

Get in front of her doctor. Lay out the reason you believe she needs relief. Ask why she isn't getting it. No satisfaction, make an appointment with another doctor.

Personal direct involvement is the key imo. If that doesn't work, read this and then get nasty with them.

Causes and Consequences of Inadequate Management of Acute Pain

Abstract. Context. Intense acute pain afflicts millions of patients each year. Despite the recently increased focus on the importance of pain control, managemen

academic.oup.com

 

[M1Gringo]

Find different doctors.

Were you in the office when her Doctor said no to giving her pain meds?

Mom has dementia so, yes, I'm always with her. I've taken her to multiple doctors and they don't want to prescribe opiates, which is what she needs. She's taken them in the past and tolerated them very well.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Did the doctor recommend use of OTC medications for her (unspecified) pain?

 

[LouC]

Mom has dementia so, yes, I'm always with her. I've taken her to multiple doctors and they don't want to prescribe opiates, which is what she needs. She's taken them in the past and tolerated them very well.

Take her back to that doctor who prescribed the pain med in the past.

 

[M1Gringo]

Did the doctor recommend use of OTC medications for her (unspecified) pain?

Mom received an injection in her right shoulder blade from a pain specialist and it had ZERO effect. He then suggested that we try a TENS unit but first I have to take her to her doctor's office tomorrow to try the TENS unit while they connect a machine to her pacemaker to ensure that the TENS unit does NOT interfere with her pacemaker. He suggest an MRI but cannot have one with her pacemaker. I am going to see if I can get her heart doctor to replace her pacemaker with a more modern version that CAN be used in an MRI.

He suggest that we see an orthopedic doctor but he also said that he's not confident that any surgeon would recommend surgery on a 91-year-old patient. But I'm happy to take her there too.

He's got her Pregaballin, which is supposed to interact with the nervous system to diminish pain but I have no idea if that provides any benefit.

We give her 500 Mg. Tylenol gel capsules.

I just wish she could have some opioids while simultaneously trying to resolve the root of the problem.

I took her to a primary care doctor yesterday (on the recommendation of another) and then found out that their policy is that they don't prescribe opiates to anybody with the exception of those who have had certain surgeries but NEVER for long-term care. They're afraid of the government, according to the doctor.

 

[multivita-man]

What reasons did they give for not prescribing them? What kinds of pain meds are we talking about?

 

[M1Gringo]

What reasons did they give for not prescribing them? What kinds of pain meds are we talking about?

A couple of them simply believe that their too dangerous, particularly for elderly patients. Other doctors have told me that they don't prescribe them because they don't want to deal with the government or with potential lawsuits from people who claim to become addicted.

I live in Florida and one doctor told me that Florida is very strict when it comes to prescribing opioids.

 

[multivita-man]

A couple of them simply believe that their too dangerous, particularly for elderly patients. Other doctors have told me that they don't prescribe them because they don't want to deal with the government or with potential lawsuits from people who claim to become addicted.

I live in Florida and one doctor told me that Florida is very strict when it comes to prescribing opioids.

Well, then that's that, unfortunately. As others have suggested, maybe medical marijuana could be an option if it's legal in your jurisdiction, but I don't know about Florida. And even if it is, you'd want to run that by your doc, I'd guess.

 

[TheGoverness]

Well, then that's that, unfortunately. As others have suggested, maybe medical marijuana could be an option if it's legal in your jurisdiction, but I don't know about Florida. And even if it is, you'd want to run that by your doc, I'd guess.

Florida does have legal medical marijuana, thankfully.

 

[M1Gringo]

Well, then that's that, unfortunately. As others have suggested, maybe medical marijuana could be an option if it's legal in your jurisdiction, but I don't know about Florida. And even if it is, you'd want to run that by your doc, I'd guess.

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread to see how much it helps!

 

[multivita-man]

Florida does have legal medical marijuana, thankfully.

Great.

I'd still ask the docs and do some reading about the effects of MM, especially on elder patients with whatever comorbidities she might have. There could be quite a difference between someone who's 91 and frail and someone who's 41 and in fair health.

 

[multivita-man]

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread to see how much it helps!

Do your research. Check it with your docs, especially people who specialize in elder care.

 

[Chock Full o Nuts]

I'd say part of the problem is Florida was the go-to pill mill for a time. "Pain Clinics" and such. People would drive from states away.

Haven't kept up, but guessing they cracked down.

Looking up, looks like CBD oil is legal there. Good luck with your Mom.

 

[nota bene]

Great.

I'd still ask the docs and do some reading about the effects of MM, especially on elder patients with whatever comorbidities she might have. There could be quite a difference between someone who's 91 and frail and someone who's 41 and in fair health.

Thank you for saying this; it's critically important advice for anybody reading.

 

[TheGoverness]

Great.

I'd still ask the docs and do some reading about the effects of MM, especially on elder patients with whatever comorbidities she might have. There could be quite a difference between someone who's 91 and frail and someone who's 41 and in fair health.

Absolutely.

 

[aociswundumho]

What reasons did they give for not prescribing them? What kinds of pain meds are we talking about?

The reason is the doctor is worried about losing his license.

 

[multivita-man]

The reason is the doctor is worried about losing his license.

That's a really stupid thing to say without knowing someone's medical history.

Tip: not every topic is suitable for your pro-anarchism rants.

 

[aociswundumho]

I took her to a primary care doctor yesterday (on the recommendation of another) and then found out that their policy is that they don't prescribe opiates to anybody with the exception of those who have had certain surgeries but NEVER for long-term care. They're afraid of the government, according to the doctor.

This disgusting situation is caused by the progressive regulatory state, where the government decides how much pain medication someone needs - not the patient and not the doctor.

My ex-wife was a chronic pain patient, and she would have killed herself if not for me being able to get her percs on the black market.

 

[vegas giants]

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread to see how much it helps!

Doctors can prescribe opiates for 91 year old patients but the dementia complicates things. You can say you will administer it but the doctor may think you are just getting them for yourself. And with her dementia she may not be able to report that to the doctor

Oxy made opiates a dirty word

 

[trouble13]

You can try talking to some nurses. They know which doctors are more merciful than others.

 

[aociswundumho]

That's a really stupid thing to say without knowing someone's medical history.

You don't know shit about it. Every doctor is monitored by the DEA, and they are terrified of being accused of "over prescribing" opioids. Because of the progressive regulatory state, pain patients are treated like criminals.