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How can I get pain meds when my surgeon says no?

I recently had what is considered the most painful plastic surgery there is: a lower body lift. Many years go I lost 150 lbs. I needed to have surgery to fix the aftermath. My surgeon separated my skin from my muscle from the bottom of my ribs to my upper thighs then cut off 10 lbs of skin (a 12 inch belt) from around my torso as well as repaired the muscles of my abdomen and then stitched me back together. It was awful pain and still is 4 weeks later. I expected him to take care of my pain while recovering, however, he said no more pain meds after two weeks! It was only vicodin, which really didn't help all that much anyway. Just took the edge off. I've done lots of research on this surgery and most patients get Percoset for at least 4 - 6 weeks. I just happen to get a "conservative" doctor. If I go to my primary care physican, she will say it's my surgeon's deal and he has to deal with it. How do people get pain meds going around their surgeon? I can't keep taking tylenol and advil for this! I don't live in PA. I live in Texas. That would be a bit of drive but thanks. My surgeon is the head surgeon. He's the only one in his practice. I considered going to the ER but I have a feeling they wouldn't want to step over another doctor's bounds... like maybe he has reasons for his conservatism. I understand the whole dependence issue but seeing me through the pain, 4 - 6 weeks, certainly doesn't mean an automatic addiction. I've read pain causes stress which of course effects the body's healing.

Public Comments

1. Go to Pottstown PA and buy some on North Evans street. The cops there only stop you if you turn right on red lights
2. As someone who has to deal with pain everyday, I feel for you. But you should try your primary doctor first. There is no legal way that I know of getting pain meds. without a prescription. Tell your doctor exactly how hard it has been. If she sends you to you surgeon, go to him and try and make him understand how hard it has been for you. Of course I guess you could go to another Doctor and lie about what kind of pain your having and try that, but i could never lie very well and I really don't suggest this. Just tell your doctor your in a living hell right now and need help! You have to make them understand. Just don't assume your doctor won't help you if you make your case understood. What they worry about is you getting addicted, and many people do after surgery.
3. I think that's ridiculous that other people are getting a stronger pain medication for 4-6 weeks and you were stuck with Vicodin for 2 weeks. I would tell the surgeon about this and if he won't do anything talk to the head plastic surgeon and tell him that this isn't fair for you to be living in pain. I just had a D&C 3 days ago and the ob-gyn that did it wouldn't give me enough pain medication to help me throughout the healing. So, I went to the ER today and the ER doctor did something about it. If all else fails and you can't get it through the suregeons head that this isn't right and Tylenol and Advil aren't helping your pain go to the ER and they'll do their best to get your pain under control! Best of wishes to you!
4. I strongly beleive in getting pain medicaiton from one doctor. Don't go behind his back, because they have ways of looking it up and finding out since its a controlled narcotic. I'd tell him that you trusted him to take care of you post operative pain. If he tell you that most patients recover after two weeks, tell him that pain is very individual and all that someone's elses experience is not your own. If he still refuses, ask him if anticonvulsants like lycria (spelling) would be appropriate. This is good for nerve and skin pain. However its very expensive and can cause weight gain. Not something you want. It would help you sleep as it makes you drowsy. I wouldn't be taking tynenol based medicine everyday as its hard on your liver. If you are desperate, ask to be refered to a pain clinic. Every hospital has one. They would be more experience in treating you and not afraid to treat your pain.