When doctors help patients become addicted to narcotics

I completely understand why people change from prescription pain medications to heroine. I was under the care of a neurologist for 6 years for chronic migraines. Trying to find preventive measures to combat my pain without success. For these 6 years my neurologist turned to narcotics to relieve my pain.

At the beginning I was hesitant but willing to do whatever possible to relieve my suffering. Every two weeks my refills included sixty 10/325 percosets and thirty 10/325 vicodine. This was consist throughout the six years. I took my medications as prescribed which prevented hospital trips to relieve my pain.

After six years of treatment with my neurologist I was unable to schedule my follow up due to his schedule being backed up. The receptionist recommend I schedule with the nurse practitioner which I in turn scheduled with her. The nurse practitioner was not impressed with my doctor's treatment plan. She immediately cut off my percoset prescription and dramatically reduced my vicodine prescription. Her reasoning was to start weaning the narcotics which I understood. Although I still suffer from chronic migraines she didn't offer any alternative pain relief. She stated her goal was no more then three vicodine six days in a month. Which would make sense if I wasn't suffering from severe daily head pain. On top of the head pain I know the withdrawal symptoms would not be pleasant which I expressed my concern. She refused to offer any treatment to reduce the withdrawal symptoms and told me I would have to tolerate the withdrawal process. When I left the appointment I was scared out of my mind. I later called my neurologist after having a couple panic attacks. I received a return call from the nurse practitioner stating since I saw her I would no longer receive treatment from my regular neurologist. She in turn told me I would be fine and she wouldn't be changing her current treatment plan. Five days later I was in sever pain which included vomiting. I again called her which she responded with just work through it but schedule a followup within two days. Scheduling couldn't get me in to see her for over a week at which time she did nothing but refer me out to another specialist. I was told she would continue my prescriptions until my evaluation with the specialist. When I needed my refill she denied my request. At this point I called my original neurologist and explained the situation. In turn the nurse practitioner returned my call and explained neither her or my neurologist would fill my prescription for pain relief. Even though I explained an alternative to narcotics would at least be worth a try for my pain. Again I was denied relief.

Currently I'm in sever pain while going through withdrawal. I feel it is unethical to steer patients to narcotics leading them to physical dependence then to eventually flat out cutting them off leaving them to suffer through the withdrawal without assistance and leaving them in the original state of severe pain in which you originally entered into the office for relief and proper treatment. I understand why people turn to buying prescription drugs on the streets and inevitably turning to the cheaper and more assessable heroine for relief of withdrawal and their pain. I am a wife and a mother of four beautiful children, serve on the schools PTO, am involved in the community, live in an upper class community. . . Society would judge me as a junky just as my doctors office views me after their line of medical treatment.