Pain medication stopped

[Missmanga]

I was diagnosed with a chronic bladder condition about 6 years ago. I am in unbearable pain constantly Ive had many procedures and been on so many medications and the only ones that stop the pain are tramadol and naproxen. My dr called me the other day when I did my repeat prescription and told me the number of individual tablets I'd had over the past year whilst laughing... and said i need to accept i have a chronic pain condition. She has cancelled them as a repeat prescription and that is that. I feel deflated, I spend so much of my life in pain and this was the way I was able to function. I took a lot of consideration and weighed up the risks of a drug such as tramadol but the pros outweighed the cons for me, I have become dependent but it means I can still live and not be in constant, unmanageable pain. Now I am unable to get a prescription from my GP, I am at my wits end. Do I just live in pain? Some days life doesn't feel worth living with it. I've even considered buying it off one of those dodgy online sites. Just fed up 😦

That's terrible! I'd be ringing the surgery first thing and saying that if they are refusing to prescribe you appropriate pain relief you want a referral to the chronic pain team for further management and see what they say to that.

What alternatives did the go give you?
Have you seen a pain team?
You need to go back and ask what you should do

Tramadol is very addictive, which is why your GP has stopped your repeat prescription. However, your GP, should not have stopped the drug suddenly and can you request alternative pain medication and referral to your local pain clinic.

Oh god I have constant bladder pain so I really feel for you. The only two drugs which work for me are cephalexin which I get prescribed from the LUTS clinic. I did want to stop the high dose antibiotics and I know trimethoprim works as well at a low dose so asked my GP to put me back on that as a prophylactic dose. They did for a month and then changed me onto nitro which didn’t work, then amoxicillin which also didn’t work so I went back to LUTS as the gp said I had to change every month, I was in agony. Like suicidal agony. Have you tried trimethoprim?

You can also ask for a referral to the LUTS clinic, they won’t let you be in pain.

Your GP should be providing an alternative. You cannot be expected to suddenly stop any pain relief .

You should not have Tramadol stopped suddenly. Surgeries have the occasional clear out and check people's meds - and if changes are needed, in their view, then this should be done in proper consultation with the patient.

My surgery decided that everyone on a certain med should have it changed to a cheaper lower dose option, with no reference as to whether it was appropriate in each individual case. I had a long talk with the relevant specialist service at the hospital who were able to help me. Maybe a similar referral to a specialist team might the right thing for you, as others have suggested.

Many (not all of course) GPs seem to have lost their humanity post-covid. They have got too used to dealing with people at arms length.

That is wrong of the doctor. You should challenge them and ask for a second opinion. If you have chronic painful bladder syndrome you should also be under the care of a urologist who should be sympathetic (I have the exact same thing and they prescribe me Tramadol and Amitryptiline).

I have long term chronic pain - I have lupus and the same thing as you mentioned above - and I am able to get all sorts of things prescribed. I have a box of Tramadol on my monthly prescription and I also can request Cocodamol 30/500 as and when I need it.

Your doctor is so wrong - they really don’t know what they’re doing.

It’s awful isn’t it. I’m sorry to hear you have it too. The pain is all consuming and just so hard to function everyday, and then I finally found a balance of the two medications and now they are stopped. I have 1 days worth left and I just feel so anxious about it. My Dr are so hard to get hold of, you can’t call then anymore and have to fill in a lengthy form to have someone call you back within 3 days, and you have no choice which dr you have so many well have her again. Just feel so helpless now. Thank you for your support

Thank you for your support and validation, the dr made me feel so small. It’s so hard to speak to anyone at the surgery, they’ve stopped phone calls and you have to fill out a lengthy form and will get a callback within 3 days, I have 1 days left of painkillers and I just feel helpless.

Thank you, it’s all consuming isn’t it. I’ve tried so many things and this was the balance where I could function , and yes it is suicidal agony. It’s nice to hear from someone who understands, also it’s just so hard to think that it’s not going to get better and I have to deal with this always, and with no support from my dr. I am under a urologist but we’ve tried so many things over the last 6 years at our last appt he just said that we’ve done everything we can and that there’s not much he can do for me. It’s all deflating and I just want the pain to go.

I think you’re right, it all seemed so detached, there was no compassion and she was so cold. I really appreciate your advice and support. Thank you

Thank you for your support, they make it so hard to speak to anyone. You have to fill out a really lengthy form and then someone calls you back within 3 days, and you don’t get a say on who that is either so I may well get her again.
I appreciate your validation, it’s nice to know it’s not me being OTT

They haven’t. I will make another appt and just hope I get someone more compassionate

Is it possible they could issue another prescription but not as a repeat while they refer you to a pain management team and/or explore alternative medications?

Even if they don’t want to keep something on repeat, it doesn't seem right to just spring it on you that the next prescription that's due imminently won't be fulfilled with literally no plan in place for how you will manage living day-to-day.

Woahhhhh - you shouldn't just been withdrawn from tramadol cold turkey after years of it.

Usually - IME - they use tramaset and reduce the dose accordingly on a very carefully managed plan.

Ask for a second opinion asap.

Do you have any idea why the doctor would have been laughing whilst telling you the number of tablets you have had over the past year?
If it was a lot, they shouldn’t be cutting you off all at once like that; it should be switched to something else or weaned down only if you agreed to this.
If only a few tablets, what’s the issue?

Stay strong; this will be sorted. Xx

bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/tramadol-hydrochloride/#treatment-cessation

You need referral to a pain clinic. It may be a neurological pain treatment would work better .

And the tramadol should not be stopped abruptly but tapered. You will get rebound symptoms of withdrawal.

I would send a complaint to the commissioner of your gp surgery and the CQC. You shouldn't have been treated like this. Search for integrated care board and the name of your gp surgery or county.

Thank you I appreciate the support. Well she was laughing at the amount I think, but of course if you break it down per tablet over a year it’s going to be a ludicrous number. It was really frustrating and I just feel so anxious to speak to them again. It’s so hard to even get through to a dr

Thank you for your advice. I will do this

I am so sorry you are in such pain and I cannot believe the amswer is that you simply have to live with it. I know a surgeon who works with burns victims and they use hypnosis and it is effective.

If you can afford it.. maybe look into alternative therapies.. I have had six months of treatment with homeopathy and am finally feeling free of bladder pain.. still have some bladder issues but it is so much better after years of pain and trying everything under the sun!!