sabby,

you are quite likely right. the problem is that the pain docs are pretty much all under a constant microscope. the DEA is constantly breathing down their necks. unfortunatly, until something is done about the DEA there is not much that can be done for the docs. i have seen the same gp for 17 years and he handles my pain control but even knowing me as well as he does i still have to do the pain contract and all that nonsense every month, and i have reached a level where i am getting less and less good from my meds and he is afraid to go any stronger.

the methadone clinic will keep your daughter from becoming ill from withdrawls, but they will also worsen her addiction. they build you up on a level of methadone that they consider is going to keep you ok. that means not "dope sick". it has nothing to do with pain, and methadone loses it's pain killing quality long before it leaves you sick. i wish i knew what to tell you, she needs a new pain doc but will probably have a REALLY hard time finding one who will take her.

personally i think the DEA has no business having anything to do with the process. hubby was on 40mg methadone 4 times a day, 120 pills a month. as of 1/1/08 because of the DEA he now has to take 16 pills a day, 480 a month because the DEA decided only addiction treatment could possibly need 40mg tabs.

the whole system sucks.

lost